The Foreign Affairs Interview

Another China Is Possible

25 snips
Jun 5, 2025
Rana Mitter, S.T. Lee Chair in U.S.-Asia Relations at Harvard Kennedy School and a leading historian of China, challenges the assumptions driving U.S. policies towards China. He argues that predictions about China's future often fail. The discussion covers China's political and economic shift under Xi Jinping, exploring its assertive global stance. Mitter highlights China's push for moral leadership through green technology and the potential for political liberalization. The conversation also delves into the U.S.-China dynamic and the implications of education on bilateral relations.
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INSIGHT

China's 90s Model Inspiration

  • China's elite in the 1990s looked more to Singapore than the U.S. as a governance model.
  • This shaped China's path as authoritarian with some space for civil society, not full liberalization.
INSIGHT

Xi Jinping and China's 2008 Confidence

  • Xi Jinping's leadership reflects China's economic confidence since the 2008 global financial crisis.
  • Significant investment in R&D and infrastructure fueled China's technological and economic rise.
INSIGHT

China's Taiwan Ambitions and Risks

  • China under Xi is confident about reshaping its regional order, especially regarding Taiwan.
  • However, a full military invasion of Taiwan remains unlikely due to risks and potential economic fallout.
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