In this episode of The Foreign Affairs Interview, Dan Kurtzfahlan speaks with Rana Mitter, a historian of China at Harvard, about his essay "The Once and Future China." They discuss the past predictions about China becoming more like the West, the role of Xi Jinping, and the shift in U.S. policy towards China. Mitter argues that China's future is not predetermined and that a more moderate path is possible, influenced by its sense of security and comfort in the world. He also touches on China's ambition to be seen as a moral actor through green energy initiatives and the potential for a more open civil society. The conversation explores the dynamics between the U.S. and China, the impact of Trump's policies, and the importance of understanding China's perspective on the international order.
