On January 5, 2026, the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University (IIS Fudan) released Shock and Reshaping: Fudan International Strategic Report 2025. The launch event was chaired by Wu Xinbo, Dean of IIS Fudan and Director of the Center for American Studies, Fudan University. Thirteen specialists in area and country studies, including Song Guoyou, Lin Minwang, Sun Degang, Xing Liju, Zhao Weihua, Zhang Jiadong, and Wei Zongyou, delivered thematic briefings.
Nearly 200 faculty members and students from Fudan University, together with participants from more than 40 universities and research institutions nationwide, attended the event both online and in person. Journalists from domestic and international media, including Beijing Daily, Jiefang Daily, and RT, were also present.
In the Preface to the Report, Professor Wu noted that 2025 was marked by profound shocks associated with “Trump 2.0,” which accelerated changes in the international landscape and drove deep transformations in global governance. Against this backdrop, China demonstrated strategic resolve and the responsibility of a major country.
Professor Wu observed that President Trump’s return intensified the “America First” agenda, manifested in a global tariff war, disruptions to industrial and supply chains, and renewed pressure on the multilateral trading system. The United States also adjusted its regional strategies: reviving elements of a “Monroe Doctrine” approach in the Western Hemisphere, pressing for a ceasefire in the Russia–Ukraine conflict in Europe, and seeking to contain escalation in Gaza in the Middle East. At the same time, Washington’s efforts to recalibrate relations with Russia, its China policy that shifted from sharp confrontation toward a softer landing, and the adjustment of transatlantic relations all signaled new dynamics in major-power relations. Under these shocks, multipolarization accelerated, Western influence further declined, and the Global South gained momentum.
Professor Wu emphasized that China’s major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics achieved notable progress amid turbulence. In response to U.S. pressure, China acted with resolve to safeguard national interests, strengthen public confidence, and enhance international credibility. The military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory in War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and World War II demonstrated China’s commitment to the postwar international order and its defense capabilities. The Tianjin Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization outlined priorities for the coming decade and injected momentum into regional security and economic cooperation. China also advanced global governance through concrete initiatives, including climate action, the establishment of the Hong Kong International Mediation Institute, and the proposal to create a World Organization for Artificial Intelligence Cooperation. These efforts, he concluded, highlighted China’s role as a responsible major country and a constructive force in international affairs.
The 2025 Report is structured around 15 thematic chapters that provide a comprehensive analysis of global political, economic, and security developments. It examines the systemic impact of the “Trump shock” on international politics and the world economy, assesses China’s diplomacy and China–U.S. relations, and analyzes political and social trends in the United States. It also offers in-depth regional studies covering Russia, Europe, Japan, South Asia, the Korean Peninsula, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, as well as focused discussion on the Russia–Ukraine ceasefire process. Together, these chapters present an integrated picture of how global and regional dynamics interacted in 2025 under conditions of heightened uncertainty and restructuring.
Since 2013, IIS Fudan has released the Fudan International Strategic Report annually for 13 consecutive years, establishing it as a flagship think tank publication with wide social impact. The Report series received the CTTI 2022 Special Prize for Outstanding Think Tank Achievements.
Download Shock and Reshaping: Fudan International Strategic Report 2025. (in Chinese)
Link to the news in Chinese: https://iis.fudan.edu.cn/b0/50/c6840a766032/page.htm
