Glenn Diesen - Greater Eurasia Podcast Einar Tangen: The U.S. Instigates Japan-China Conflict
Nov 30, 2025
Einar Tangen, a Senior Fellow at Teihe Institute and CIGI, dives into the complex dynamics of U.S.-Japan-China relations. He argues that the U.S. is exacerbating tensions between Japan and China, influenced by past economic conflicts. Tangen highlights the dangers of accidental war due to miscalculation and discusses the generational differences in attitudes towards conflict. He also critiques U.S. economic vulnerabilities and proposes a multipolar approach involving Europe and BRICS to mitigate coercive policies.
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Rare Earths Drive Diplomatic Theater
- Donald Trump pivoted rare-earth strategy into diplomacy, urging partners to supply minerals while threatening tech sales to China.
- Einar Tangen argues this is impractical because building alternative supply chains takes years and contradicts export threats.
Hawkish Posturing, Weak Economics
- Japan's PM Kishida (Takashi) uses hawkish posturing to boost domestic popularity without a coherent economic plan.
- Einar Tangen warns her policies risk recession due to damaged tourism and lack of structural reforms.
Accidents, Not Grand Plans, Spark Wars
- Pushing red lines risks accidental war through miscalculation, not necessarily deliberate grand strategy.
- Einar Tangen emphasizes the danger of localized naval encounters escalating beyond control.