— ZeroHedge Debates (@zerohedgeDebate) June 17, 2026The Chinese Century?Host Erik Townsend argued that the current Hormuz crisis may highlight a strategic advantage China has spent decades building:"I'm sorry, I know a lot of Americans don't want to hear this, but sometimes the truth hurts. China has by far, by far, the most advanced nuclear energy program in the world. They've done more to diversify their energy resources. They've been smarter than anyone else, including us, about planning."Referencing Currie's recent Carlyle Group research paper called the "New Joule Order," Townsend suggested that energy strategy ultimately shapes geopolitical power."Who's in charge of the world really derives from military power," he said. "Military power derives from energy dominance. Energy dominance derives from energy strategy and energy policy. And China's is a hell of a lot better than anybody else's, including ours."“We went from the British Empire to the American Empire… I think the Chinese Empire is next and I think energy policy is what takes them there."Currie agreed that the existing global framework is reaching an inflection point, though he argued the next era will be defined by a different form of energy competition."I definitely think that we ran the course of Bretton Woods, which was defined by the U.S. Navy, the U.S. dollar, and the global oil trade," Currie said. "I think it's come to a head right now and we need to replace it."pic.twitter.com/xgSNhQPV6M