As August approaches, concerns are mounting on both sides of the Pacific as the 90-day China-U.S. tariff truce nears its expiration and U.S. President Donald Trump moves forward with his plan for so-called "reciprocal tariffs."

While some Western analysts have expressed worries about China's economic rise and rapid technological innovation, Adam Tooze, director of the European Institute at Columbia University, argues that China's progress in innovation should be viewed as a global benefit—"a kind of free gift of technology."

"I buy the story that was so fundamental to an entire generation," Tooze said, "which is that China's integration and opening up is not just historically positive—it's a necessity."

Reporter | Gu Yuebing

Video Editor | Lu Xiaoyue

Video Script | Gu Yuebing, Liu Xiaodi

Cameramen | Gu Yuebing

Text | Gu Yuebing, Liu Xiaodi

Editors | Yao Yijiang, Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He