No — China is not yet the fully dominant "economic war captain" of the world,
but it is one of the two superpowers (alongside the United States) fighting for economic leadership, and its influence is massive and growing.

More precisely:

In short:

• China is a dominant trading superpower in Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe.

• The U.S. remains the overall global economic captain — for now.

• The world is now basically in a two-pole system: U.S. and China.

• China's warnings you asked about ("don't side with America against us") show it’s strong enough to threaten serious retaliation, especially in Asia.

• But China still has vulnerabilities (especially reliance on exports, weak yuan, tech dependence) that prevent it from fully replacing U.S. dominance.

If current trends continue (China making big deals with Asia, Africa, Latin America, building its tech sector), China could become the world's largest economy in raw size by the early 2030s — but "leading" and "controlling" the world are two very different things.

Global Economic Influence: China vs. United States (2025)

China's Economic Influence

• Asia: China is the largest trading partner for many Asian countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

• Africa: Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China has invested heavily in infrastructure projects across the continent, strengthening economic ties.

• Latin America: China has increased its presence by investing in energy and mining sectors and becoming a significant trade partner.

• Europe: While the European Union maintains strong ties with the U.S., China's trade with Europe has grown, especially in manufacturing and technology sectors.​

United States' Economic Influence

• North America: The U.S. remains the dominant economic force, with strong ties to Canada and Mexico through agreements like USMCA.

• Europe: Long-standing alliances and trade agreements keep the U.S. as a key economic partner.

• Asia-Pacific: The U.S. has been working to strengthen ties with countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia, both economically and militarily.

• Africa & Latin America: The U.S. has a presence but faces increasing competition from China's expanding investments and trade relationships.

By John Ikeji-Uju
https://afriprime.net/Ikeji

https://afriprime.net/

https://corkroo.com/DriftTheory