Decoding Geopolitics Podcast with Dominik Presl Sarah Paine Interview Part 2: Avoiding WW3, War Over Taiwan & Future of Europe
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Jun 27, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, Sarah Paine, a professor of History and Grand Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College, delves into the evolving grand strategies of China and the U.S. She highlights the historical comparisons between China’s assertive stance and Japan’s pre-WWII rise. The discussion also navigates European unity amid challenges like the war in Ukraine, stressing the need for a cohesive defense policy. With insights on leadership dynamics, Paine underscores the impact of generational differences on military decision-making.
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China's Unique Grand Strategy
- China's grand strategy now prioritizes maintaining Communist Party control over political liberalization.
- The Chinese system values political stability and group obligations over individual rights found in the West.
Contrasting Civilizational Values
- Western civilization emphasizes individual rights, analytical thinking, and rule of law.
- Chinese civilization prioritizes avoiding chaos, group obligations, and hierarchical guanxi networks.
China vs West: Opposing World Orders
- China and the West operate on fundamentally antithetical world orders: rules-based versus Sinocentric influence.
- China prefers bilateral relations, treating smaller powers as inferiors, contrasting Western multilateral cooperation.