Are America and China Headed for Military Conflict? w/ Elbridge Colby & Paul Heer

A suspected Chinese spy balloon has exacerbated tensions between America and China. Is conflict inevitable? Or can it be headed off? Do the two sides have more incentives, particularly in the economic realm, to cooperate than is often assumed?
To address these critical questions, the Center for the National Interest invited two leading foreign affairs analysts for an expert discussion.
- Elbridge A. Colby is cofounder and principal of The Marathon Initiative and a former deputy assistant secretary of defense. He is the author of The Strategy of Denial.
- Paul Heer is a senior fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a former national intelligence officer for East Asia.
Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of The National Interest, moderated the discussion.

[@familyglover2997]

Great conversation. Fascinating issue.

[@penrylee5965]

Great discussion.

[@mistman5640]

Great discussion. Glad to see the speakers views evolve

[@Ffsniper-zi1cx]

@35:40 That is the key to avoid war. That needs to be work out very urgently, if the desire to avoid war is genuine.

[@Brynden-Rivers]

Im just a regular guy from boston. I have befriended many chineese friends over 30 attending harvard, mit, bu, northeastern etc.. about half a dozen ive become close with and trust. Theyve all said behind closed and in confidence more or less the same thing. As far as the ccp is concerned the cold war never ended.....

[@dindu551]

This dude thinks Russia is going to lose? Holy moly. What history are these people looking to in support of the hope that Ukraine wins (which must happen for Russia to lose). These people are kinda nutty

[@anuragsinha2013]

China is the new Soviet Empire, has all the hallmarks of Imperial Japan and China has the ambitions like Mongol Empire.

[@9879SigmundS]

Ukraine “war to retain its sovereignty.” Victoria Nuland’s recorded phone call mocks you. Doesn’t mean the West shouldn’t strive to win, but please.

[@joem0088]

"Are America and China Headed for Military Conflict?" is a silly question. It's anybody guess if there will be war. Ask if there will be WW1 in 1909 and most people would have given you the wrong answer.

[@petervote7914]

What are the U.S. goals and vital interests in Asia Pacific exactly that Colby wants to reach detente with China with? If he is talking about U.S. hegemony in Asia Pacific, then forget about it. China would rather fight world war than cede Asia Pacific to U.S. hegemony.

[@dindu551]

Naval dominance, obviously. If the United States were interested in continental dominance in Asia, it would have nuked china's coastal cities when MacArthur pushed for it.

[@dindu551]

Why are they bothering with this crap? Taiwan is an ally and a flourishing democracy in Asia. We are obligated to defend Taiwan if China attempts to invade Taiwan it the US must defend Taiwan. This isn't hard.

[@chunyu5683]

American need to stay out of the conflict with China

[@steveiliev8912]

Aren’t we going to finish off Russia first, then go for China, or we gonna attack the Martians too!?! But honestly , my favorite is about humiliating Russia! 👍🏻

[@rpgbb]

Taiwan has been playing a double game, they do support China and try to benefit from America as well. Sadly it’s the same all over Asia, same for Singapore, Japan, Korea, Thailand, etc

[@petervote7914]

This guy Colby looks at Taiwan like a pawn to destroy China while Taiwanese look at him as a clown. Lol. Ludicrous situation.