Foreign tourists interact with performers during a lion dance performance at a scenic spot in Sanya, South China"s Hainan Province, on January 17, 2026. Photo: VCG

　　These days, TikTok feeds are filled with a recurring set of visuals: Young people from the US and other countries hold steaming mugs, seriously declaring to the camera, "From tomorrow, I"m turning Chinese."

　　Some replace cold salads with a bowl of hot congee (porridge), some try to boil apple water on the stove for the first time, others slip on thick socks and step into slippers, or try soaking their feet while sipping ginger tea.

　　One person bought a bag of goji berries for the first time at the supermarket, captioning the video: "Very Chinese time in my life."

　　These are not isolated acts of curiosity or imitation, but part of a growing global social media trend: "Becoming Chinese."

　　The hashtag #chinesebaddie has already garnered more than 2,300 posts in the past month, with the algorithm continuously pushing this lifestyle to a wider audience of young users.

　　On the surface, this appears to be a pop culture trend centered on health and lifestyle. But in the global context of 2026, it carries deeper implications.

　　When US President Donald Trump officially began his second term, he brought back his "America First" agenda - marked by high tariffs, transactional diplomacy, and relentless pressure on allies - once again forcing the international community to contend with a highly unpredictable US.