ChinaTalk Jake Sullivan on Playing the Long Game
52 snips
Nov 18, 2025 
Jake Sullivan, a former National Security Advisor and current Harvard professor, shares insights on managing crises and U.S. strategy during the Biden administration. He discusses the evolution of industrial policy, risks in the Taiwan Strait, and how experience shapes decision-making in high-stakes environments. Sullivan also explores the implications of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and the complexities of U.S.-China relations. He emphasizes a balanced approach to crisis management while maintaining long-term strategic focus.
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Look Past The Crisis To Play The Long Game
- National security requires looking past immediate crises to build long-term strength across power, prosperity, and values.
- Jake Sullivan says disciplined, dedicated teams kept long-term projects alive during simultaneous crises.
Delegate Urgent Crises To Preserve Strategy
- Delegate deliberate responsibility: assign crises to deputies so the NSA can focus on long-term strategy.
- Check in periodically but resist being consumed by every urgent matter.
Personal Ownership Of Chips, Tech, And China
- Sullivan personally drove industrial policy, tech-national security integration, and U.S.-China strategy while at the NSC.
- He created a technology directorate and pushed chips, clean energy, and allied coordination aggressively.
