Face-Off: The U.S. vs China THE GREATER WAGER EPISODE 5: The Break-Up
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Oct 28, 2025 Discover how Nixon's ambitious strategy to engage China shaped U.S.-China relations for decades. Tensions rise as Xi Jinping's assertiveness signals a power shift. Experts discuss today’s diplomatic pitfalls and the complexities of economic reliance. With Taiwan becoming a flashpoint, fears of military confrontation loom. Can the U.S. reclaim strategic leverage like in the 1970s? The conversation navigates the challenges of collaboration on pressing global issues and reflects on Nixon's legacy of engagement over isolation.
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Farewell Lunch That Revealed Hostility
- Jane Perlez describes a 2019 farewell lunch where a Chinese official berated the U.S. for four hours.
- The exchange crystallized for her how bitter bilateral sentiments had become.
Mutual Perceptions Of Weakness
- China projects U.S. decline while the U.S. increasingly doubts its own institutions.
- Perlez warns mutual perceptions of weakness amplify rivalry and mistrust.
Deep Economic Interdependence
- Economic interdependence deeply ties U.S. consumers to Chinese manufacturing.
- Robert Gates highlights benefits like cheap goods alongside concerns about lost manufacturing jobs.