GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution The Plane Truth: Playing Chicken with China, Trump Goes Gulf-ing, Tensions in South Asia
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May 15, 2025 U.S.-China relations take center stage as tensions flare over tariffs, likened to a high-stakes game of chicken. President Trump's foreign policy in the Middle East raises eyebrows, especially with troubling ties to his family's business. The complex dynamics in South Asia reveal deep-rooted issues among nuclear-armed nations. Discussions on Chinese espionage in academia emphasize the need for security, while the evolution of AI in education sparks debate on its future role in shaping learning.
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US-China Tariff Game of Chicken
- The US-China trade tariff dispute resembled a game of chicken, with the US escalating tariffs but eventually needing to de-escalate first.
- This economic brinkmanship risked mutually assured destruction, similar to Cold War nuclear brinkmanship.
China Supply Chain Dependency Risks
- Over-dependence on Chinese supply chains in critical sectors creates vulnerabilities requiring diversification.
- Complete economic decoupling from China proved impossible without massive disruption as revealed by tariff experiments.
Balancing Security and Trade with China
- Strategic national security concerns justify restricting Chinese components in military and critical infrastructure.
- But indiscriminate import restrictions can be economically costly and risk paranoia without clear evidence of direct espionage.