A Global Perspective on Asia's Next Decade: In conversation with Dr. Kevin Rudd AC and C. Raja Mohan

Global geopolitics currently centers on the strategic competition between the United States and China, compounded by the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and climate change. Dr. Kevin Rudd, a scholar-diplomat and former Australian Prime Minister, argues that while the US faces domestic political volatility, its fundamental capacity for reinvention ensures continued global engagement. China’s trajectory under Xi Jinping prioritizes a techno-industrial strategy, necessitating a framework of "constructive strategic stability" to manage competition and prevent kinetic conflict. The discussion emphasizes that while narratives of decline persist, the US remains a dominant force, and the future of the international order depends on establishing clear protocols for AI risk management and cyber defense. Ultimately, nations must balance national security imperatives with the preservation of democratic values as surveillance technologies become increasingly pervasive and invasive.