Acharya Prashant addresses the question of how China can be a superpower without religion, countering the notion that progress is possible without spirituality. He begins by stating that the picture of China's success is incomplete and that what is known is often misunderstood. He points out that China is the world's number one emitter of greenhouse gases, the largest consumer of meat, and a leader in all kinds of pollution. Furthermore, he asserts that China supports and supplies weapons to rogue states, including India's neighboring country. To illustrate his point, he draws a parallel with Germany in 1938, which was also experiencing a surge in industrial production and military might under a single party and a single leader. He cautions against admiring such a model, reminding the audience that this path led to a world war and the Holocaust. He argues that any economic or military progress that is not backed by high principles and spirituality is ultimately destructive. He warns against becoming a quick admirer of China's progress, suggesting that such a path is perilous. Acharya Prashant describes the lack of freedom in China, where citizens live in fear and cannot speak against the government or the Communist Party. He contrasts this with the freedom of expression available in India, where people can openly criticize leaders and institutions. He cites the suppression of religion, the ban on websites like Google and Twitter, and the Tiananmen Square massacre as evidence of an oppressive regime where the entire population lives as if in a large prison. He also notes that while China is economically ahead of India, the gap is not insurmountable and that India's per-capita income was once higher than China's until the mid-1980s. He concludes by emphasizing that a country is defined by its people. Just as an individual needs food for physical survival, they need spirituality for mental well-being. Therefore, a country's well-being cannot be separated from the spiritual health of its citizens. A nation that suppresses spirituality and religion becomes hollow and sick from within, posing a threat to the entire world, much like Germany did in the 1930s. He argues that China has paid a heavy price for its economic progress, which is the freedom and well-being of its people.