Xi Jinping’s World of Treachery and Sacrifice

In "The Foreign Affairs Interview," Dan Kurtz-Phelan interviews Orville Schell, a China expert, about the U.S.-China relationship, focusing on the dynamics between leaders like Trump and Xi Jinping. Schell discusses the paradigm shift where China has gained leverage, the unpredictability of Trump's China policy, and Xi Jinping's adherence to Leninist principles and the historical narrative of China's humiliation. They explore China's geostrategic opportunities, its relationship with Europe, and the potential for conflict over Taiwan. Schell emphasizes the importance of understanding the personal characteristics and formative years of these leaders, and he reflects on the engagement period between the U.S. and China, as well as the enduring democratic legacy within China.