scripod.com

China vs the US: Kishore Mahbubani on a Zero-Sum Rivalry

Shownote

Beyond this week’s talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, there’s an epic tale that has been unfolding for decades. It’s a battle to be the world’s number one power and a much bigger story than the latest meeting of these...

Highlights

This episode features Mishal Husain in conversation with Kishore Mahbubani, a former Singaporean diplomat and expert on global governance, who offers a long-view analysis of the US-China rivalry beyond the optics of recent summits.
00:00
Kishore Mahbubani suggests the US and China should avoid a zero-sum contest
03:37
The US-China rivalry is the most important contest of our time
05:53
When Biden launched tariff wars, only China stood up to the US
06:28
In the US-China context, it's a zero-sum game, and there's a consensus in Washington to stop China's rise
07:32
It's unwise for the US to try to stop China's rise as it can no longer be halted
08:40
US-China collaboration is vital for global challenges
16:33
Over 130 million Chinese travel abroad and return each year, showing they are not as 'unfree' as portrayed
18:32
The West's concerns about Chinese Muslims are a political tool to embarrass China
23:27
His mother escaped communal violence in 1947 and embodied extraordinary resilience
29:54
China's remarkable and dramatic rise is reshaping the Asian regional order
34:06
US Middle East wars are gifts to China, enabling its growth

Chapters

US-China Rivalry and the Avoidance of Zero-Sum Conflict
00:00
“The most important contest of our time”
03:34
“It's not about personalities”
05:50
“China can no longer be stopped”
06:26
US versus China: It’s a “zero-sum” game
07:28
Bill Clinton’s first meeting with Jiang Zemin
08:40
Cold War Comparisons
12:35
Growing up in Singapore in the 1950s
18:30
"My mother never cracked”
19:53
“China has become a tiger”
26:25
US war is a “gift” to China
30:24

Transcript

Speaker 5: As industries evolve faster than ever, companies need an environment that accelerates strategic growth, and Michigan delivers on that promise. From emerging startups to global enterprises, Michigan offers what executives value most, a resilient,...