U.S.-China Strategic Competition

Richard J. Ellings is Co-founder, President Emeritus, and Counselor at NBR.
Aaron L. Friedberg is Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and Co-director of the Woodrow Wilson School’s Center for International Security Studies. He is also a Counselor at NBR.
Laura Junor is the Director of Research and Strategic Support at the National Defense University, Institute for National Strategic Studies.

Time Stamps

[2:18] Junor introduces the panelists and topic.

[5:16] Friedberg discusses how the rise of China has affected U.S. strategy.

[7:17] Ellings delineates the United States’ economic “twin” goals.

[9:03] Friedberg discusses China’s opening of its markets and how the United States perceived China’s reform.

[10:48] Ellings explains strategic cooperation by contrasting China with the Soviet Union.

[12:20] Friedberg expounds on how China and the United States mobilize their resources for their individual strategic purposes.

[15:18] Ellings compares the United States’ and China’s economic capacities and recommends how the United States should act moving forward.

[17:28] Ellings discusses how to boost U.S. capacity.

[19:21] Friedberg explains the need for increased defense spending to mobilize resources while in competition with China.

[24:08] Ellings introduces market mechanisms as a means to attract citizens to participate in one economy rather than another.

[25:53] Friedberg comments on the importance of the IP Commission.

[28:33] He explains the process of “disentanglement.”

[32:55] Ellings elaborates on China’s industrial policies and theft of U.S. nuclear secrets.

[35:16] Friedberg discusses misperceptions of Xi Jinping.

[36:43 Ellings explains how the Belt and Road Initiative is a global policy with long-term implications.

[40:50] Friedberg addresses China’s interest to expand the initiative to other regions.

[43:43] He discusses how other countries assess China.

[46:35] Ellings discusses the influence of North Korea on China’s actions.

[52:08] He emphasizes the importance of nurturing area specialists.

[56:03] He addresses the threat of a Sino-Russian alliance.

[59:41] Friedberg discusses how Russia and China share an “anti-ideology.”

[1:03:06] Ellings enumerates his suggestions to deter Russia.

[1:06:30] Friedberg explains the different challenges that China and Russia present.

Related Event

Asia Policy Assembly 2019 was held on June 18–19 in Washington, D.C. Learn more.