Orville Schell, a veteran China scholar and the Arthur Ross Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations, shares deep insights into Xi Jinping's worldview shaped by his formative years. They discuss why Mao Zedong offers more compelling literature than Xi, delve into China's reciprocity issues globally, and reveal U.S. officials' secretive reactions to Tiananmen. Schell also reflects on the evolving dynamics of U.S.-China relations and the significance of Taiwan in current politics, framing these discussions within historical and ideological contexts.
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insights INSIGHT
China's Darkness
China's darkness stems from tradition and Leninism.
These forces ingrained autocracy and control into China's political system.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Thinkers on China
Hu Shi, a Chinese ambassador, believed democracy requires practice.
Even Mao Zedong's writings offer insights into China's current issues.
insights INSIGHT
Xi's Formative Years
Xi Jinping's formative years in the Cultural Revolution shaped his worldview.
He learned control and distrust, impacting his leadership style and foreign relations.
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How did Xi Jinping’s formative years influence how he views the world today? Veteran China scholar Orville Schell, the Arthur Ross Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations, looks back at decades of writing and working on China, weathering the cycles of the country opening up and shutting down and gives his two cents on what’s going on in Xi’s head.
We also discuss
— Why Mao Zedong is a better read than Xi
— China’s reciprocity problem on the international stage
— How US officials reacted to Tiananmen in a secret meeting with Deng Xiaoping
— A history of accessing China for academics, businesspeople and journalists
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