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2026 has had an extraordinary start, plunging the world into a bizarre no-man's-land between "madness" and "normality." On the one hand, some powers are striking: The U.S. launched a surprise attack on Venezuela, threatened Latin America, and coveted Greenland; NATO was embroiled in turmoil; Chaos loomed over Iran; And unilateralism roared like the "Texas Chainsaw." On the other hand, routines are being maintained: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi continued the tradition of the first visit of the new year to Africa; And leaders from the Republic of Korea, Ireland, and Canada visited China. This diplomatic schedule of strengthening dialogue and cooperation reflected a sense of certainty. When the blatant declaration "I don't need international law" and the firm statement that "the sovereignty and security of all nations should be fully protected under international law" both resounded simultaneously throughout the world, they presented not only a stark contrast in diplomatic approaches, but also a core question of this era: Should power be driven by whim or constrained by rules? Within two weeks, we see two worlds. Standing at the crossroads, what's your choice?

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