Geoff: China's XI jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin inaugurated a new era of partnership just before Taiwan inaugurates a new president Monday. A book argues Taiwan is at the center of China's challenge to U.S. Power and influence in.
Asia. >> The Biden administration calls China the only country in the world with the will, intent and strength to change the world order. It says China threatens U.S. And allied interest all over the world in now the u.s.'s national.
Security strategy prioritizes confronting China. How did Washington and beijing get to this point? How strong are they compared to each other? How should the U.S. Approaches relationship to China? Those questions are at the heart.
Of a new book, world on the brink. Dimitri, the author, joins me. You start the book with a scenario. It is after election day 2028. Beijing decides to invade Taiwan. Is that the future we are.
Heading toward? >> I think that period of 2028 through 2032, where you would see XI jinping at the twilight of his power, and I believe he wants to do it on his own watch, just like code and to invade Ukraine — just like Putin wanted to invade Ukraine.
They don't only want to take these countries, but they want to be the ones to do it, because they want to go down in the pantheon of history. >> You call it cold war II. >> When you compare it to the first cold war, the similarities are numerous.
We have an ideological struggle, authoritarianism versus democracy. You have an arms race, a conventional one at a nuclear one. You have a space race, a trade war, a tech war, a spy war and a global competition for supremacy.
Between the U.S. And China that plays out in the diplomatic sphere, the military sphere and economic sphere all over the world. >> You write that China achieving presence in the Bradley islands in the south China sea was a microcosm of the.
Modern China challenge. America's failure to read China directly — correctly and America's failure or disinterest in acting to counter its rival's rise. >> The Chinese have been practicing this strategy where they have been building up these.
Artificial islands, encroaching on the disputed territories of Vietnam and the Philippines, and building on military installations. You look at the south China sea and it's become a lake for the Chinese Navy. They are trying to do the same.
Thing in the east China sea. >> What should the U.S. Do about this? You describe the overall approach to China as this, an echo of what the U.S. Did to the soviet union. Patiently practicing deterrence and waiting out the inevitable.
Economically driven decline. >> We believe we have all the strengths and China is weak. It's economy is in stagnation. It is contained. China looks out at the world. It sees Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, surrounded by military bases, U.S. Allies.
It's Navy is not able to get out to the broader pacific without going through the chokepoints. >> There are some people who are worried the U.S. Is not dong enough militarily and China would be able to practice the denial of U.S. Ships in the territory that it claims as its.
Own. >> That's right. Even though we are stronger on paper, on spreadsheets, spreadsheets don't go to war. Context matters and there's no question we could defeat the Chinese military easily in the atlantic, but that is not the.
Case. We would be fighting in the east China sea, in the Taiwan strait, and that's where they have been practicing and building capability. >> Not only has the Biden administration expanded the military footprint but also.
Political agreements with Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines. Does that kind of thing deter XI jinping? >> It's all about creating dilemmas for him. If you think there will be U.S. Military forces shooting.
Missiles at his ships crossing the straight from the Philippines, from Japan, from Guam, potentially Taiwan itself, that will make it more difficult. >> Why is Taiwan so important to the U.S.? >> A lot of people talk about.
Chips and that is certainly important but it's also much more important than that. If you control Taiwan, you dominate east Asia. It's next to Japan and the Philippines. Those countries would feel less safe if China controls Taiwan.
And is able to project power on the eastern shore of Taiwan across the pacific, push the U.S. Back to Hawaii and establish dominance in the region where you have 50% of the world's gdp, most of the supply chains and economic growth. >> The Biden administration is.
Announcing new tariffs on electric vehicles. They have continued most of the trump era tariffs. Does economic pressure deter XI jinping? >> I think it helps and you have to apply all elements of our power, military, diplomatic and.
Economic to deter him, to convince him that even if he succeeds in taking Taiwan, the impact on the Chinese economy would be disastrous. >> Do you think Taiwan is taking enough steps to defend itself? >> They are moving that direction but to slowly.
They are not focusing enough on asymmetric capabilities. The key is to prevent China from coming across the Taiwan strait in significant numbers. If they establish a significant presence on the time island it's over. If they bring in hundreds of.
Thousands of troops it will be difficult for the Taiwanese to defend themselves. But if they managed to sink those ships and defend their cities, they can win. >> Is the U.S. Doing enough to help Taiwan defend itself? >> Again, we are doing a lot.
The admiral believes he can defend Taiwan if he is ordered. We are certainly building capabilities. The command you visited in Hawaii, they are preparing for war and getting most of the resources now. Will the president, well they.
Ordered Americans to fight for Taiwan? I think it's a 5050 proposition. >> How America can be China — can beat China's author, thank you. >> Thank you very much.
