School of War
Ep 183: Tom Cotton on China
Mar 11, 2025
Tom Cotton, a U.S. Senator from Arkansas and author of "Seven Things You Can't Say About China," shares insights from his military service and political career. He discusses the CCP’s global ambitions and highlights bipartisan concerns over China's influence on human rights and security. Cotton analyzes China's early COVID-19 response and its potential economic stagnation, which could lead to increased aggression towards Taiwan. He also delves into the challenges posed by geopolitical threats from Russia and Iran, emphasizing the importance of a strong U.S. defense.
36:14
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Quick takeaways
- Senator Tom Cotton emphasizes that China's ambitions to dominate globally pose a more significant threat to U.S. supremacy than any terrorist organization.
- The bipartisan concern over China's influence is complicated by a growing faction on the left that downplays its dangers, highlighting a shifting political landscape.
Deep dives
China as a Central Threat
China poses a significant threat to global stability, particularly due to its ambitions to replace the United States as the leading economic and military superpower. Unlike Islamic terrorism, which focuses on chaos, China seeks to establish a world order where it dominates economically and politically. Senator Tom Cotton emphasizes the distinct nature of this threat, noting how China's economy and continental size enable it to challenge U.S. supremacy more effectively than any terrorist organization could. As such, the rise of China should be treated as the defining foreign policy issue of our time.
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