The Indian Express article accurately reports that former US President Donald Trump's tariffs succeeded in reducing China's bilateral trade surplus with the United States. Data indicates that China's trade surplus with the US decreased from $327 billion in November-end 2024 to $257 billion in November-end 2025, with Chinese exports to the US falling by approximately 20% over the year 2025. This aligns with the intended effect of tariffs, which aim to make imports more expensive and reduce demand. However, the article correctly highlights a more significant global trend: despite the decline in trade with the US, China's overall global trade surplus surged to an unprecedented $1.19 trillion (nearly $1.2 trillion) in 2025, marking a significant increase from $992 billion in 2024. This record surplus underscores China's ability to thrive without relying solely on the US market. China achieved this by successfully diversifying its export destinations, significantly increasing shipments to other regions such as Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. For instance, exports to Africa surged by 26%, to Southeast Asian countries by 13%, to the European Union by 8%, and to Latin America by 7%. The "world's headache" aspect of the headline is well-substantiated. This massive global trade surplus is causing widespread concern among international trade partners. Economists and governments are increasingly worried about China's industrial overcapacity leading to an influx of inexpensive Chinese goods flooding global markets, thereby impacting local industries in Europe, Japan, and developing nations. This shift reflects a reconfiguration of global trade under strategic competition, where trade has become a tool of geopolitical power rather than just mutual benefit. China's consistent export performance, driven by its powerful manufacturing sector and weak domestic consumption, continues to fuel these global imbalances.