In this interview podcast, Dwarkesh engages with Victor Shih, director of the 21st Century China Center, to discuss China's economic and political systems, elite politics, and its approach to AI. They explore the decentralization of China's fiscal system, the backgrounds and competence of Politburo members, and the influence of Xi Jinping on policy decisions. The conversation covers the role of technocrats versus political acumen in governance, the party's focus on preserving power, and the reasons behind economic policy decisions. They also delve into China's local government debt, financial repression, and the potential for AI to impact economic growth, as well as the succession plan after Xi Jinping, and the possibility of a Taiwan invasion.
