Face-Off: The U.S. vs China Two Strongmen
43 snips
Feb 11, 2025 
Minxin Pei, a Claremont College professor and expert on US-China relations, joins Rana Mitter, Harvard Kennedy School's modern China specialist. They discuss Trump's complex relationship with Xi Jinping, touching on tariffs and military tensions over Taiwan. The conversation dives into the challenges of economic rivalry, AI dominance, and how Trump might strategize to counter China’s rise. They also explore Xi's leadership paradox amidst tightening global dynamics and the fate of U.S.-China ties in an era of increasing geopolitical uncertainty.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump's Grand Visit
- Trump's 2017 Beijing visit, dubbed a "state visit plus," featured elaborate pageantry.
- Xi Jinping gave Trump a VIP tour of the Forbidden City, including the usually off-limits Jianfu Palace.
Three-Phase Relationship
- Minxin Pei describes three phases in the Trump-Xi relationship: transactional, trade war, and pandemic freefall.
- China initially misjudged Trump, believing they could control him, but the relationship ended disastrously for them.
Shifting Power Dynamics
- China is currently in a weaker economic position and less able to handle a trade war than before.
- The global landscape is more dangerous due to Russia's war in Ukraine, but China has Russia's support this time.
