The Gray Area with Sean Illing Coronavirus has pushed US-China relations to their worst point since Mao
Mar 30, 2020
Evan Osnos, a New Yorker staff writer and author of 'Age of Ambition,' delves into the fraught U.S.-China relationship amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses the alarming rise in nationalism on both sides, warning that rhetoric could escalate into armed conflict. The conversation highlights how economic downturns affect China's political stability and the implications of its surveillance practices on global norms. Osnos also explores what genuine de-escalation might look like and what both nations truly want moving forward.
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Nationalism as a Political Tool
- The need to maintain political energy amid declining growth could fuel Chinese nationalism against the U.S.
- This is especially true given rising tensions and the U.S.'s rhetoric, creating a dangerous context.
Deterioration of US-China Relations
- US-China relations are at their worst since 1972, worsened by tensions over trade and technology.
- Xi Jinping's increasingly authoritarian regime views the U.S. as a threat, contributing to the strained relations.
China's View on Ideology
- China believes the Soviet Union collapsed due to ideological flexibility and Western influence.
- They see their controlled, "birdcage economy" as the key to their success, not ideological promiscuity.
