CONFLICTED

chevron_right

Why China’s Rise Cannot Be Stopped

whatshot 58 snips

Feb 5, 2026

Guest

Kishore Mahbubani

Kishore Mahbubani, veteran Singaporean diplomat and former UN ambassador, reflects on Asia reclaiming center stage in the 21st century. He discusses decolonising minds, Singapore’s pragmatic development model, Western double standards, the UN’s limits, and the risks and responsibilities of rising Asian powers. Short, sharp, and provocative takes on geopolitics and global order.

01:05:49

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Asia's Rapid Economic Reemergence

Kishore Mahbubani argues the 21st century will be the Asian century based on rapid economic catch-up by China and India.
He cites that China matched the EU by 2026 and will be far larger by 2050, reversing historic balances.

insights

INSIGHT

Middle Class Boom Drives Asia's Influence

The Asian middle class exploded from 150 million in 2000 to about 2 billion today and may reach 3.5 billion by 2030.
This demographic shift underpins massive consumption and global economic rebalancing.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Adopt The MPH Formula

Implement MPH: Meritocracy, Pragmatism, Honesty to emulate Singapore's rise.
Prioritize selecting talent, copying effective solutions, and eliminating corruption for development.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Why the 21st Century Is the Asian Century

04:03 • 3min

chevron_right

Historical Perspective and the Century of Humiliation

07:00 • 5min

chevron_right

Decolonising the Mind and Intellectual Emancipation

11:43 • 3min

chevron_right

Wittgenstein, Philosophy and Analytic Thinking

15:06 • 4min

chevron_right

Idealism to Pragmatism in Public Service

18:43 • 3min

chevron_right

Rawls, Inequality and Practical Reform

21:36 • 3min

chevron_right

Rights Versus Responsibilities

24:28 • 3min

chevron_right

Multi-Civilisational World and Learning From Asia

27:10 • 3min

chevron_right

Singapore's Secret: Meritocracy, Pragmatism, Honesty

Slaying Sacred Cows: NHS and Co-Payments

35:40 • 2min

chevron_right

Non-Alignment: Solidarity and Realism

38:06 • 3min

chevron_right

Successes and Failures of Post-Colonial States

40:36 • 3min

chevron_right

Receptiveness to Western Investment

43:43 • 1min

chevron_right

The UN's Weakness and Great Power Choices

45:00 • 3min

chevron_right

Why Strong Multilateral Rules Matter

48:07 • 2min

chevron_right

Optimism About Global Resilience

50:00 • 3min

chevron_right

Western Hypocrisy on Human Rights

52:35 • 3min

chevron_right

How the World Sees China

55:50 • 2min

chevron_right

U.S.-China Relations and Shared Responsibility

58:14 • 3min

chevron_right

Pragmatism of Recent U.S. Policy

01:00:54 • 2min

chevron_right

What an Asian Century Would Mean

01:02:56 • 2min

chevron_right

Final Reflections and Unasked Questions

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

The discovery of India

Jawaharlal Nehru

Written during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar fort, 'The Discovery of India' is a monumental treatise that examines Indian history, philosophy, art, religion, science, economy, society, and movements. Nehru starts from ancient Indian history, including the Indus Valley Civilization, and moves through the Vedic era, the Upanishads, the epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and notable figures such as the Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. The book provides a broad view of Indian culture and history, reflecting Nehru's deep knowledge and personal insights into the nation's development and its struggle for independence.

#2225

• Mentioned in 20 episodes

Philosophical Investigations

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Published posthumously in 1953, 'Philosophical Investigations' is a seminal work by Ludwig Wittgenstein that challenges many of the ideas presented in his earlier work, 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus'. The book is divided into two parts and consists of short observations or 'remarks' that delve into topics such as the theory of language, language games, meaning, symbols, concepts, and categories. Wittgenstein argues that the meaning of a word is derived from its use within the context of a language-game, rejecting the idea that words gain meaning by referencing objects or mental representations. He emphasizes the importance of understanding language as a tool for communication and social interaction, rather than as a system for representing objective reality.

#37095

Can Asians think?

Kishore Mahbubani

In this book, Kishore Mahbubani presents a series of essays that discuss the economic and social development of Asia, the differences between Eastern and Western values, and the implications of Asia's rising economies on global politics. Mahbubani argues that Westerners need to recognize and adjust to the changing global landscape, where Asian economies are poised to surpass those of Europe and North America. He also critiques Western condescending attitudes towards the East and highlights the success of Asian models of development, such as Singapore's, while acknowledging the complexities and challenges involved.

#32303

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

The new Asian hemisphere

Kishore Mahbubani

#33596

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Has China Won?

The Chinese Challenge to American Primacy

Kishore Mahbubani

In 'Has China Won?: The Chinese Challenge to American Primacy,' Kishore Mahbubani provides a clear-eyed assessment of the U.S. -China relationship, highlighting the significant differences in their values, governance structures, and approaches to global affairs. Mahbubani argues that the rise of China does not necessarily signify a loss for the West, but rather a complex geopolitical dynamic where both sides must understand and respect their deep cultural and historical differences. The book examines key areas such as China's economy, political system, culture, and global influence, and it challenges the prevailing zero-sum mentality in discussions about China's rise. Mahbubani emphasizes the need for both countries to communicate effectively and cooperate on common interests to avoid catastrophic conflicts and ensure a better future for humanity.

#10607

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Living the Asian Century

Kishore Mahbubani

#1885

• Mentioned in 23 episodes

The Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

Ludwig Wittgenstein

#30249

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Has the West lost it?

Kishore Mahbubani

In this Conflicted Conversation, Thomas speaks to veteran Singaporean diplomat Prof. Kishore Mahbubani about his thesis that the 21st century will be remembered as ‘the Asian Century’, and how the West can prepare peacefully and optimistically for China's return as the fulcrum of world history.

Drawing on his books Living the Asian Century, Has China Won?, and Can Asians Think?, Prof. Mahbubani explains:

Why the 21st century will be the Asian century and why this need not require Western decline
How colonialism shaped Asian self-perception, and the need for intellectual decolonisation
How other countries can adopt Singapore’s model for success
His meeting with Fidel Castro, Hafez al-Assad, and Yasser Arafat
The hypocrisy of Western power and diplomacy
How the United States keeps the UN weak on purpose
Why Pres. Trump’s China realism has been a good thing
The threat of war in Asia

Follow Prof. Mahbubani on X: https://x.com/mahbubani_k

Join the Conflicted Community here: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm

Find us on X: https://x.com/MHconflicted

And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted

And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conflicted is a Message Heard production.

Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren.

This episode was produced and edited by Thomas Small.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books