What Does China Want? The Authors of a New Paper Challenge the DC Consensus

Kaiser Kuo hosts David Kang, Jackie Wong, and Zenobia Chan to discuss their academic paper, "What Does China Want?" The conversation explores their research methods, including computational text analysis of Chinese official rhetoric, historical patterns of territorial claims, and quantitative analysis of leadership statements. They argue that China is primarily a status quo power focused on regime stability rather than external expansion, challenging the dominant narrative in Washington that assumes China seeks global hegemony. The discussion covers the implications of their findings for U.S. strategy, regional dynamics, and the global order, while also addressing criticisms of their approach and exploring alternative perspectives on China's ambitions and foreign policy.