Listen now | Geoffrey Cain is an award-winning foreign correspondent, author, technologist, and scholar of East Asia. His first book, Samsung Rising: The Inside Story of the South Korean Giant That Set Out to Beat Apple and Conquer Tech, is the definitive text on the rise of the world’s largest technology conglomerate. His second book,
Having lived in Central Asia (Kazakhstan), I knew Uyghurs. In Central Asia they have lived among and worked on behalf of the other Turkic peoples (Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks), often looked down upon, valued primarily for their labor and ability to get things done ("fixers"). I grieve for them, suffering in the hands of the CCP. This is, in essence, the Holocaust of the 21st century - an attempt to wipe away an entire people (or at least the 80% who live in China). And, as you have pointed out, so few seem to care in the "Enlightened West".
With regard to Taiwan, is it possible to "give the bully a bloody nose" without it escalating into a nuclear conflagration? I agree with the strategy, but I worry that my ignorance of the psychology of the CCP leaders (particularly Xi) make me less confident of my opinion. From China to North Korea to Russia, I do not understand the motivations or goals of most authoritarian regimes. And I fear that, though the State Department is full of the brightest people they could hire, it suffers from both hubris and massive group think (if not an increasing anti-Western / anti-US bias) that is leading to the sunset of US influence and hegemony. We are dealing with countries who look for and attempt to exploit any weakness they perceive in their opponents. We are trying to play nice with wolves. The rest of the world is not like the US, Europe, and the British Commonwealth.
I am afraid I sound like a fanboy, but thanks for a great interview and food for thought.
Unfortunately, I don't think any among us possess the necessary insight into Xi's psychopathology to answer that question. But I think if it is limited to a battle between the 7th Fleet and China's navy, I personally doubt Xi would risk the annihilation of Beijing and his own certain death over Taiwan. He may be an evil tyrant, but like Putin, he's not a moron nor a madman. But yes, I do think we've dropped the ball with regard to Asia. Leaving the TPP, although there were reasonable concerns from unions, was a mistake—and China quickly filled the gap.
Having lived in Central Asia (Kazakhstan), I knew Uyghurs. In Central Asia they have lived among and worked on behalf of the other Turkic peoples (Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks), often looked down upon, valued primarily for their labor and ability to get things done ("fixers"). I grieve for them, suffering in the hands of the CCP. This is, in essence, the Holocaust of the 21st century - an attempt to wipe away an entire people (or at least the 80% who live in China). And, as you have pointed out, so few seem to care in the "Enlightened West".
With regard to Taiwan, is it possible to "give the bully a bloody nose" without it escalating into a nuclear conflagration? I agree with the strategy, but I worry that my ignorance of the psychology of the CCP leaders (particularly Xi) make me less confident of my opinion. From China to North Korea to Russia, I do not understand the motivations or goals of most authoritarian regimes. And I fear that, though the State Department is full of the brightest people they could hire, it suffers from both hubris and massive group think (if not an increasing anti-Western / anti-US bias) that is leading to the sunset of US influence and hegemony. We are dealing with countries who look for and attempt to exploit any weakness they perceive in their opponents. We are trying to play nice with wolves. The rest of the world is not like the US, Europe, and the British Commonwealth.
I am afraid I sound like a fanboy, but thanks for a great interview and food for thought.
Unfortunately, I don't think any among us possess the necessary insight into Xi's psychopathology to answer that question. But I think if it is limited to a battle between the 7th Fleet and China's navy, I personally doubt Xi would risk the annihilation of Beijing and his own certain death over Taiwan. He may be an evil tyrant, but like Putin, he's not a moron nor a madman. But yes, I do think we've dropped the ball with regard to Asia. Leaving the TPP, although there were reasonable concerns from unions, was a mistake—and China quickly filled the gap.