School of War Ep 168: Nadège Rolland on China’s Vision of Strategic Space
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Jan 7, 2025 Nadège Rolland, a renowned expert on Chinese strategic issues and author of Mapping China's Strategic Space, offers insights into China’s geopolitical landscape. She discusses the formation of mental maps by Chinese strategists, historical perspectives from Mao, and the implications of perceived encirclement by the U.S. The conversation also touches on China's Arctic ambitions, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the delicate balance of asserting regional power while avoiding overextension. Rolland's analysis reveals the complexities shaping China's global aspirations.
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Mental Maps of Strategists
- Strategists and political leaders possess mental maps of the world, influencing their understanding of physical space and its significance.
- Nadege Rolland compares Chinese strategists' thinking to the 1940s CFR group who envisioned a "grand area" for U.S. access to resources and markets.
Mao's Three Worlds Theory
- Mao Zedong's three-worlds theory divided the world into superpowers, allies, and oppressed nations, demonstrating early global geopolitical thinking.
- Geopolitics in China was later associated with imperialism, hindering its development.
BRI's Geopolitical Roots
- China's strategic logic predates Xi Jinping, with roots in the early 2000s, influenced by events like 9/11 and China's WTO entry.
- The Belt and Road Initiative's geopolitical undertones were evident even before Xi, demonstrating a longer history of this thinking.
