🏀 “The World Has Become the Basketball of the US and China” – The Economist’s Cover, October 25, 2025 London – In its October 25, 2025 issue, The Economist depicts the tense balance of global power with a striking cover. The image shows American and Chinese players facing off on a basketball court — with the Earth itself used as the basketball.
This symbolic illustration emphasizes how the world has become a plaything in the rivalry between two superpowers. The magazine’s cover implies that the intensifying competition in trade, technology, diplomacy, and military affairs has evolved into a “game” that affects not only these two nations but also global stability and third countries.
🎯 Themes Beneath the Message Trade and Industrial Competition: The United States strives to maintain its leadership in high-tech manufacturing and AI investment, while China strengthens its supply chains and accelerates its “Made in China 2035” strategy. The magazine’s message is clear: there will be no real winner — the one paying the price will be the world itself.
Global Repercussions: Europe, Asia, and developing countries are like spectators in the stands — watching the contest but feeling every impact of each shot. The direction of the dollar, energy markets, production networks, and investment flows are all being shaped by this rivalry.
Geopolitical Tensions: Strategic friction between the two powers continues to rise — from Taiwan and the South China Sea to AI technologies and semiconductor production. The “basketball court” on the cover is a metaphor for the global arena
