Bloomberg Talks Elizabeth Economy Talks Trump/Xi Relations
Nov 25, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Elizabeth Economy, a Hargrove Senior Fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution and an expert on Chinese politics, delves into critical topics like Xi Jinping's military reforms and the rising threats around Taiwan. She analyzes China's view of Trump as an unpredictable strategist and explores whether Taiwan could be a bargaining chip. Economy also highlights China's long-term strategies for global influence and the growing tensions with Japan, while addressing uncertainties regarding U.S. commitments to its allies.
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China's Military Transformation And Instability
- Xi Jinping has radically reorganized and modernized China's military since taking power, reshaping leadership and structure.
- Frequent purges of senior commanders raise real questions about top-level readiness for military action.
Taiwan Under Rising Pressure
- China has increased military pressure around Taiwan with more flights and crossings of the Strait's median line.
- Beijing signals a 2027 readiness target, but that doesn't guarantee an invasion; rhetoric and probing continue to intensify.
Chinese Official's Stark Warning
- Elizabeth Carney recounts hearing from a retired senior Chinese foreign policy official saying China 'is not prepared to wait 200 years.'
- That remark underscored the delegation's sense that Beijing may accept varied forms of military action.
