Is China Trying to Sever Plato from NATO? Chang Che on Beijing's Embrace of the Greco-Roman Classics

China's growing interest in Greco-Roman classics is examined, questioning whether it's purely state-driven or reflects genuine intellectual curiosity. The conversation explores the state's increasing involvement, marked by funding and active participation in shaping discourse, and considers whether this aims to decouple ancient Western thought from modern Western ideologies. Referencing Xi Jinping's letter to Greek scholars, the discussion analyzes the framing of China and Greece as Eurasian civilizational poles, potentially sidelining modern Western constructs. Chang Che, a writer for the New Yorker, shares insights from his article "How China Learned to Love the Classics," discussing the influence of Leo Strauss and the complexities faced by scholars like He Yanxiao navigating both Chinese and American academic systems. The discussion also touches on the porous nature of ideas between China and the U.S., and the cultural asymmetries in understanding Chinese versus Western civilization.