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Is a US-China Thucydides Trap Unavoidable? With David C. Kang from the ChinaTalk Podcast

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Apr 13, 2025

David C. Kang, Professor of international relations at USC and author, challenges Western views on East Asian geopolitics. He argues that a stable regional system has existed for centuries, emphasizing internal dynamics over external conflicts in U.S.-China relations. Guests Jordan Schneider and Ilari Michaela add depth by exploring historical perspectives, including Vietnam's quest for independence and the civil service exam's role in promoting stability. Their discussion critiques the Thucydides Trap theory, suggesting a more nuanced understanding of power dynamics in East Asia.

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INSIGHT

Internal Challenges

Great powers often stumble due to internal issues, not external threats.
This historical pattern applies to both the US and China today.

INSIGHT

East Asian Peace

East Asian states formed around the first millennium.
Since then, land-grab wars, common in European history, are rare in East Asia.

INSIGHT

Threats to China

Conventional wisdom suggests China built the Great Wall to defend against smaller nomadic groups.
This contradicts IR theory, which posits larger countries threaten smaller ones.

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