Lessons of the Twin Towers disaster: How the 9/11 attacks turned China and Russia into superpowers

An analysis in The Wall Street Journal argues that it was not the 9/11 attacks themselves that changed the world, but the US response: the wars in the Middle East diverted attention from China and Russia, allowed China to join the WTO and grow, and enabled Russia to act unhindered, thereby shifting the global balance of power.

An analysis published in The Wall Street Journal argues that it was not the 9/11 attacks themselves that changed the world, but the US response. The United States launched a massive war on terror that consumed all its resources, leaving it unable to address the rise of China and Russia's aggression. A significant turning point occurred on December 11, 2001, while the US military was bombing Afghanistan, China officially joined the World Trade Organization. Chinese exports soared from $266 billion in 2001 to $3.58 trillion in 2024. Western corporations transferred technology and production capabilities to China, helping build America's biggest competitor. Meanwhile, Russia exploited the lack of attention: from the invasion of Georgia, through the annexation of Crimea, to the war in Ukraine. William Burns, head of the CIA, noted that the administration was repeatedly drawn into adventures in the Middle East instead of investing in shaping a vision for America's role in Asia. The failure to manage China's rise and the loss of manufacturing jobs led to public anger. According to Pew Research Center data, by 2025 only 17% of Americans trusted their government. The fracture fueled isolationist and nationalist movements.