One of the most common talking points among policymakers and analysts in Washington is the belief that China aims to replace the United States as the world's dominant power. Variations of that narrative are also widely shared in many European capitals.

There is little doubt that China is asserting itself more forcefully in global affairs, especially amid a new era of Great Power competition. But senior officials in Beijing have also made clear that they have little interest in taking on the full responsibilities and obligations that come with traditional global leadership.

In a recent Foreign Policy article, Jeremy Friedman, an associate professor at Harvard Business School, explored the limits and ambitions of China's expanding international power. He joins Eric to discuss what China wants… and what it does not want from a changing global order.

📌 Topics Covered in this Episode

• China's global ambitions
• The future of U.S. power
• Why Beijing rejects hegemony
• Taiwan and regional security
• Trade, tech, and critical minerals
• The emerging world order

Show Notes:

• Foreign Policy: How Far Do China's Ambitions Reach? by Jeremy Friedman
• East Asia Forum: China's ambitions are narrower than Washington thinks by David Kang, Jackie Wong & Zenobia Chan

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