Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Popular political mythology usually thinks of Russia looking east and west, like the double-headed eagle of its state emblem. In reality, Russia has always treated the east and the west very differently.
Carnegie's China program hosted Brad Roberts of the Institute for Defense Analyses to explore the different approaches of China and the United States to the nuclear dimensions of a possible Taiwan crisis. Dr. Ashley Tellis of Carnegie served as a commentator, and Dr. Michael Swaine, also of Carnegie, moderated the discussion.
The Carnegie China program held a breakfast seminar during which Dr. Minxin Pei analyzed the CCP's strategy of "illiberal adaptation," one that maximizes the resources of the state to co-opt new social elites, neutralize emerging societal threats, and ward off external pressures for reform.
See what these leading experts have to say on such key questions as, are the United States and China on a collision course? And, what are the economic and strategic implications of China's transformation?
Despite its incredible pace of change, China continues to carry echoes of its past. And yet, the difficulty of drawing any direct links between its past and present is demonstrated by the fact that any topic can shift in perspective depending on where you enter China’s vast chronology.
Beijing seeks to reassure the world that it is a gentle giant. This strategy of emphasizing peaceful ascendancy will likely satisfy Chinese interests until it becomes a true rival of the United States. Washington should recognize that if it mishandles its relations with its current or prospective partners, it might be faced with an absence of allies precisely when it needs them most.