One of the most common talking points among policymakers and analysts in Washington is the belief that China aims to replace the United States as the world's dominant power. Variations of that narrative are also widely shared in many European capitals.

There is little doubt that China is asserting itself more forcefully in global affairs, especially amid a new era of Great Power competition. But senior officials in Beijing have also made clear that they have little interest in taking on the full responsibilities and obligations that come with traditional global leadership.

In a recent Foreign Policy article, Jeremy Friedman, an associate professor at Harvard Business School, explored the limits and ambitions of China's expanding international power. He joins Eric to discuss what China wants… and what it does not want from a changing global order.

📌 Topics Covered in this Episode

China's global ambitions
The future of U.S. power
Why Beijing rejects hegemony
Taiwan and regional security
Trade, tech, and critical minerals
The emerging world order

Show Notes:

Foreign Policy: How Far Do China's Ambitions Reach? by Jeremy Friedman
East Asia Forum: China's ambitions are narrower than Washington thinks by David Kang, Jackie Wong & Zenobia Chan

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Why China Doesn't Want American-Style Hegemony

The China-Global South Podcast

Why China Doesn't Want American-Style Hegemony