ChinaTalk US-China Ideological Competition
Mar 30, 2021
Dan Tobin, a Professor at the National Intelligence University, delves into the ideological competition between the U.S. and China. He discusses how Xi Jinping's leadership has shifted China's political narrative towards a blend of national rejuvenation and socialism. The conversation touches upon the complexities of CCP ideologies, critiques simplistic interpretations of China's ambitions, and emphasizes the need for collaborative democratic responses. Tobin also highlights the importance of adapting area studies to better inform contemporary policy-making regarding China.
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China's Motivation
- The conventional narrative of China's motivations is that the party primarily aims to stay in power.
- This leads to a research agenda focused on China's problems and how it's failing, neglecting its agency and long-term vision.
National Rejuvenation
- The CCP's goal is to make China strong, using nationalism and ideology for national rejuvenation, not just governance and modernization.
- Socialism with Chinese characteristics is an instrument to achieve this goal, not the other way around.
China's Number One Ambition
- China aims to be the world's number one power because of its vast resources and population.
- This ambition, combined with its Marxist-Leninist values, is a major driver of tension with the U.S. and other free world nations.
