Join Rob and Ruairi as we examine the factors that have contributed to the worsening of US-Chinese relations in recent years. It's pretty clear to Rob that we're doing the New Cold War Wrong. We identify the pillars of the past half century of relations between the two countries, and go into the very real reasons why the US needs to revise one of them. The trade pillar has to change, the Taiwan pillar really doesn't, which makes many of the Biden administration's actions somewhat inexplicable.
We delve into the historical context, unpacking pivotal events and policy decisions that have shaped the United States' approach towards China. From trade disputes and intellectual property concerns to military posturing and regional conflicts, we explore how these actions have strained relations and contributed to escalating tensions. Throughout the episode, we analyze the question of who is actually the aggressor here, and delve into controversial topics such the one China policy, tariffs not sanctions, and the Pentagon's "great power competition" national security strategy. It's a pretty good episode.