The President’s Inbox Are We Ready? | China's Campaign to Reshape the Global Order, With Hal Brands and Michael Kuiken
Nov 26, 2025
Hal Brands and Michael Kuiken share their insights on China's strategy to reshape global power dynamics. Brands highlights the coalition-building efforts of China and its implications for rival nations. Kuiken discusses China's military modernization, particularly regarding Taiwan, and the effects of leadership purges in the PLA. They elaborate on the 'axis of autocracies' and the material support China provides to Russia. Both guests emphasize the urgency for the U.S. to adapt its economic and security strategies in response to these shifting tides.
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China Enables An Authoritarian Network
- China acts as a decisive enabler for a network of autocracies, amplifying threats from Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
- That cooperation accelerates military modernization and worsens strategic challenges for the U.S. and allies.
Taiwan Crisis Could Come Soon
- The Taiwan military balance is shifting rapidly and a crisis could arrive within a few years.
- The U.S. must stop treating Taiwan conflict as a distant eventuality and plan for near-term contingencies.
PLA Modernization Is Accelerating
- China's military modernization is advancing quickly and the trajectory is concerning.
- Public reporting suggests President Xi has set aggressive timelines, and capabilities appear on course.