American Prestige E220 - The Perils of Competition With China w/ Michael Brenes
Jul 29, 2025
Michael Brenes, historian and co-author of 'The Rivalry Peril', dives into the complex dynamics of U.S.-China competition. He critiques both Biden and Trump’s strategies, suggesting they're fostering an unwarranted existential threat. The conversation highlights the detrimental impacts of rivalry on American society, warning against societal division and violence. Brenes also discusses lost opportunities for cooperation, like climate action, emphasizing the need for a more respectful engagement with China to address global challenges.
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Biden's China Strategy Mirrors Cold War
- Biden's China competition strategy echoes Cold War liberalism aiming to rebuild democracy domestically and abroad.
- This approach risks inflating the China threat without understanding its true historic consequences.
US Policy Continuity on China Rivalry
- Both Biden and Trump continue policies aiming to constrain China, rooted in Cold War rivalry tactics.
- These efforts have largely failed in limiting China's technological and economic advances.
Cold War Framework Shapes China Rivalry
- Policymakers seek a familiar Cold War framework to manage China rivalry after failures like the war on terror.
- They aim for competition without catastrophe, believing they can handle great power rivalry more safely this time.
