Why do many people always think that when a country changes its leader and adopts a new set of policies, it becomes a different country? Because most people only see the changes in the news. Today, this person takes office; tomorrow, that policy is implemented; the day after, international relations change again. So many people believe that these things determine everything. But in fact, the hardest thing for a country to change is never its policies, but the long-standing social inertia. The United States is the same, and China is also the same.

Today, the United States can be governed by the Republican Party; tomorrow, by the Democratic Party. Trade policies, immigration policies, and diplomatic policies can all be adjusted. But the culture, institutions, business environment, and behavioral habits formed over hundreds of years in American society will not be completely changed by a single election.
The same applies to China. Throughout history, many dynasties have changed, many leaders have come and gone, and various development paths have been experienced. But many deeper elements have always persisted. A society’s cultural traditions, organizational methods, thinking habits, and people's understanding of order do not vanish instantly because of a policy adjustment.
Therefore, often people overestimate the influence of front-stage figures but underestimate the power of society itself. Policies determine the next few years, but social inertia often determines the next few decades.
Many people think that the president decides the United States, and the emperor decides China. In reality, most of the time, what determines a country’s direction are those things that last longer than a president’s term or a dynasty’s lifespan.