Is war with China inevitable? | David Kang | Big Think

Is war with China inevitable?
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Some Westerners fear China's rise but a strong China usually means less fighting, says David Kang, Professor of International Relations at USC. The conventional wisdom about East Asia is often wrong because it's too Eurocentric. Our governments and businesses hire people who think like them and don't really understand the history and the nuances of the region.
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DAVID KANG:
David C. Kang is Maria Crutcher Professor of International Relations at the University of Southern California, with appointments in both the School of International Relations and the Marshall School of Business. At USC he is also director of the Korean Studies Institute. Kang's latest book is "American Grand Strategy and East Asian Security in the 21st Century," (2017, Cambridge University Press). He is also author of "East Asia Before the West: Five Centuries of Trade and Tribute"; "China Rising: Peace, Power, and Order in East Asia"; "Crony Capitalism: Corruption and Development in South Korea and the Philippines"; and "Nuclear North Korea: A Debate on Engagement Strategies" (co-authored with Victor Cha). Kang has published numerous scholarly articles in journals such as International Organization and International Security, and his co-authored article “Testing Balance of Power Theory in World History" was awarded “Best article, 2007-2009," by the European Journal of International Relations. Kang has also written opinion pieces in the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as writing a monthly column for the Joongang Ilbo in.
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TRANSCRIPT:
David Kang: One of the most interesting patterns in East Asian history-which is quite different from the European pattern-is that when China is strong and big there’s a lot less fighting.
And when China falls apart then there’s some vicious fighting as everybody jockeys for position.
So whether we go back to the transition of the Ming dynasty in the 17th century or we get to the collapse of the Qing dynasty in the 20th century, when China is weak there’s a lot of fighting. When China is strong, in many ways countries get along better.
Well, the rise of China in the last 20 years in many ways has been accompanied with increasing stability around the region.
If you go back 40 years ago to 1978, that’s the beginning of China’s economic reforms and its phenomenal economic growth. Before then, China was a poor country caught in the throes of a cultural revolution where maybe a million Chinese died; they were fomenting revolution and supporting revolutionary groups around the region.
Since that time over the last 40 years China’s economy has exploded. 400 million Chinese have gone out of poverty. It looks nothing like it was before.
So China’s domestic situation is far more stable than before. At the same time, what’s happening to trade in the region? Everybody is now trading with China. Countries may not like what China is doing politically, but they don’t fear invasion. Vietnam isn’t worried about invasion. Korea is not worried about invasion. But what do they do? They are trying to rapidly expand their economic links with China.
So the region now is getting knit together in a way that it used to look like before, and so there’s more interaction among these countries, not less.
One the things that’s not that surprising -but also really important-is how little we in the West, we in the United States know about East Asian history. Almost all of our theories in IR, almost all of the history we learn, whether it’s in high school or college or even graduate school, is about Europe. And that’s fine. Sure. I understand why it is.
But the fact is there’s a lot of East Asian history that doesn’t look anything like European history. And if we want to understand that reason it might help to actually understand East Asian history.
You know, I do think that there is an incredibly important role for area studies knowledge, for scholars who know the region who have spent their lifetime studying.
In many ways this Eurocentric focus really does put us at a disadvantage in making policy towards Asia, because in some ways we are talking ourselves into conflicts that I don’t think necessarily have to exist. And the perfect example is this whole Thucydides trap.
If you go to DC right now or if you read almost any foreign policy magazine-or even scholarly journals-that talk about East Asia it is essentially a conventional wisdom now. Essentially I would say...
Read the full transcript at bigthink.com/v...

[@davidmoss2576]

When debating with American or Westerners in general about East Asia it's a double wall of ignorance and arrogance. Even when its clear they have no idea what they're talking about and have never set foot in Asia they will still argue with conviction on their viewpoints. These are the type American media love to highlight and label as experts

[@44bett]

So true, well said.

[@oneearhamster4069]

Hi David!I heard an interesting theory that China is one cultivation culture and this is why as you said when China is stable the region is stable.China do not expand by wars,because they believe they already have the best positions.China was invaded by nomad cultures such as Mongolian,or pirate cultures such as Japan,West cultures when China is week.

[@limitlesssky3050]

I personally support this argument. China's Han supremacy mindset and the West's White supremacy mindset and end goal are different. Western endgoals are the conversion of every countries and cultures into a western one, while the Chinese endgoal is the recognition by everyone that they are the greatest and most civilized. Conversion of cultures require regime change and war to occur, while recognition only requires potrayal of wealth and military deterrent.

[@WillayG]

I've been thinking this for a while now. I live in korea and speak Korean and the way local news covers events here and how they are covered by the world press are vastly different. To be fair Reuters and AP generally do a pretty good job of getting the story right but other sources tend to quote 'experts' with no apparent background in East Asia. My only advice on this is when CNN, VOX, Fox news or even the BBC quote an 'expert' do a google search to see what their background is. I'm really sick of 'experts' with no background in Asian culture or society weighing in on hugly improtant issues such as North Korea or China. So yea, I loved this video. Nice job.

[@XYZ-mn2zu]

Thanks for the comment. It's really nice to hear an opinion from someone who has some actual experience in what they're talking about. And thanks for sharing the sources you like to turn to for info

[@ellengran6814]

China has the history of yin and yang. - Two equally important forces. The goal is to keep those forces equal/keep calm. EU and US has a history of God and Devil. - The goal is to make "God" win.

[@drchrone]

this has nothing to do with totalitarian communist regime

[@Marsbati]

@@drchrone brainless

[@laomark9583]

PERFECT! After living in China, dealing w/ it for close to 30 years and studying Chinese culture & philosophy for almost 40, I totally agree w/ David. Am also, due to this hands-on experience, astonished of how much, from the very top of western business & political food chain to the bottom feeders, is ignorant about East Asian history, especially the Chinese. How sad is to see ignorant biases be driven out of self-centered arrogance, w/c risks conflicts and misunderstandings.

[@tomasbickel58]

I doubt you. You can point to Chinese exceptionalism as much as you want, but at the end of the day, the Chinese individual bows to its lizard brain as everybody else. Sociology, Economics and Political studies are at the end of the day just studies of lizard brain behavior. Thousands of years of Chinese monarchy has as little to say about 21. century China as Thousands of years of European monarchy explains European democracy. Extrapolating the past into the future only works over a few years. The Chinese government runs into the same few issues as anybody else, and has the same few options as anybody else. The difference is - being Chinese - they can actually pick a solution which would be dismissed in the West, like that Social Scoring Program. Embracing it is specific Chinese, not inventing it.

[@khan-cricket]

Then you saw the "East Asian" from the China point of view. The East Asian history you are talking about, did you read it from Chinese researchers ? Do you even consider to look it from another countries perspective in Asia ? Talking about history, China consider them to be center of the world since ancient and now they still think the same way with economic burst, oversea powers, how some part of the world look up to China to bring down US ( at least in economy ). So to me, it is China who is being arrogant think they will have Asia under their Sino-sphere again.

[@tomasbickel58]

jinse, you failed so hard, it's not funny anymore. Studying means you add knowledge, not burn it. Even when a huge junk of Vietnamese history is recorded in traditional Chinese, we have differentiate between Chinese people recording events in Chinese and Vietnamese people recording events in Chinese. Then they are probably source in Vietnamese, and most likely records form other neighboring nations. Loa is like claiming. having "studied Roman Empire and Italian History in Italy", that would qualify for insights into European politics. .. and you come along, saying "everybody should burn their sources in Latin". WTF?

[@khan-cricket]

Center of the world ? Of the region only and with high population ( most likely due to the traditional of big family and having a son which still present till today and some geography situation ) Do you even know of Roman empire or Persian empire ? According to some source i read it was Persian empire that the most powerful in history ( in some perspective of course ) Talking about Vietnam, i admit that Vietnam was in inflluent of Chinese culture before the colonial period . Because of that, Chinese history was well known in our country for centuries. Some even said that we know Chinese history better than our own. Cause you know, China like a model to follow untill the France came and we finally find out that we were lack of vision :))

[@kevinlification]

nguyen khanh stop coping and deluding yourself. are the vietnamese becoming white worshippers? at least china can stand up for itself after hundreds of years of being gangbanged by foreign powers who don't fight fair. people are talking about the east vs the west and you are making vietnamese people look like white ass kissers who want to be dogs of white supremacy playing conquer and divide. it's a bad look.

[@erichaynes7502]

David Kang you explain it all very well. I was over in E. Asia for quite some time and you're absolutely right. There are so many misconceptions about Asia it boggles the mind.

[@jetthapeterkhoo]

I can't help thinking the "misconceptions" is deliberate rather than out of ignorance. The West knows well China has no interest in subjucating any other nations, big or small, poor or rich.

[@after1001]

He didn't make any actual points, he just repeated the same opinion for 6 minutes. Could have done this in 30 seconds.

[@appleapplepie2504]

How this dude talks is so chill, it’s amazin

[@gsilcoful]

Thank you. Sadly, we don't seem to be living in a time of reason. Emotions and ignorance rule the day.

[@thstroyur]

And the night

[@binkysteaver9880]

Well.... here we are 11 months after this video was published and China is building a naval base on the coast of Cambodia, another base in Pakistan, threatening the use of force regarding Taiwan....and Hong Kong. Your an east Asia expert??? No your just wrong that’s all.

[@ex0duzz]

Where are the Chinese naval ships in Cambodia and Pakistani? It doesn't take 2-3 years to build a naval port. You're the one who has no idea. They also aren't in east Asia, and China isn't going to war or invade from those ports in Cambodia or Pakistan even if they use them. Taiwan is part of China as recognised by international law and 99% of the world. China has never renounced the use of force to reunify completely with Taiwan. So this means nothing. Other than that China isn't invading anyone.

[@soneomeelse]

老美几十年前跟同样是红色政权的苏联(这里按照美国人思路强调一下意识形态)差点爆发全面核战争，所以他们害怕一个正在崛起的中国不无道理。第二部分关于insider的说法核心还是种族问题。

[@dejiamoo]

The war doesn't have to be with guns and ships. It can be war by other means. Economics, political, lawfare. The Chinese are smart. We have to be smarter.

[@elyazidelhamriti7101]

gypsydanger a virus

[@markfrellips5633]

Not sure if it's based on nothing to say that the Chinese PLA is not expanding militarily and territorially brushing against it's neighbors if not strictly taking claims into their own hands in defiance of soverignty and international norms. A lot of policy decisions aren't necessarily based on eurocentric or asiancentric perspectives, but on the actual actions China has taken in the modern age.

[@petef.4688]

"Maybe a million died" that's a little understated...just a bit

[@dawnmoon90]

What? How's he understating it? He's literally demonstrating what he said a second ago, which is when China's poor the country suffers more chaos and fighting.

[@petef.4688]

DawnMoon he said maybe a million. The actual figure from mao is 45mil on the low end and 75mil on the high.

[@dawnmoon90]

He did say during the cultural revolution, which at most the estimates were 1.5 million (not saying that's a small number either). But yes the number you gave is the very rough estimate of death during Mao's entire rule, including the great leap forward which some say around 30 million death.

[@yellowbird1170]

Pete Foggia. Yes, just a million. Nothing compared to the millions of Vietnamese who died by American bombs.

[@DiscipleOfChristDV]

Pete Foggia still a tiny proportion of their population, and definitely less in absolute terms over the long run if China remained a broke ass third world country

[@jackwood8307]

Thanks for a reasoned logical view on this issue!

[@Cookedfam]

Lol the cringe is real. The dude is right, as a Chinese immigrant i can tell u that Chinese history has nothing to do with external conflict, the majority of conflicts are internal. People say you can predict the future base on the past, so there you go.

[@Cookedfam]

Mongols are Mongolians.

[@kevinlification]

lol the West keeps bringing up the same Chinese internal conflicts over and over as "human rights" argument. Apparently massacring your own people is worse than massacring people all over the world outside your own country.

[@Cookedfam]

it is all media manipulation, when was the last time fox news or cnn report anything other than Trump Trump Trump. China has the same thing, the chinese media never report anything that endangers the public trust in government. Honestly the US media rn is so polarized, it is like watch a fuking drama show.

[@ganikus8565]

What you call internal, was not yet internal when Han invaded all the lands that are now China.

[@h0kaki]

China is at war. China is putting Sun Tzu art of war in practice. "The greatest victory is that which requires no battle." Sun Tzu. The difference between the west and China is the west think like a chess player, the goal is to take out the king to win the war. The Chinese think like a Go chess player, were the aim is not about eliminating, but about surrounding more territory than the opponent.

[@jamesryantaylor6391]

"The greatest war every fought, and are still fighting, where more people have been defeated and died, is the war within." Only if we as individuals can win every battle within ourselves to be free our own selves can the world will ever be at peace. The world outside is merely a reflection of the world inside. We can't solve the problems of the world if we can't even solve the problems in our own selves. " Know thyself" , "Conquer Oneself or you will be conquered by your own self" "Rule your mind or it will rule you" These are but the very teachings of the great Humans and masters which most people never realize nor actualize. Time to awaken from the sleep and once awaken to the beauty and power that you have, that you are. We can do it!

[@thesuperproify]

go China !!

[@trevorpollo]

Yeah! China, go right to hell!

[@zelongxiong5078]

Cyberphobe such a hole🙄

[@milescao7539]

OMG, he is really a professor! Very knowledgeable and insightful!

[@JHope66]

What about the history of Japanese economic development? No parallel to China in East Asian history?

[@CelestialTrieye]

David Kang danced around the topic - It is inevitable.

[@amolsinha9871]

In one word: yes.

[@andyprem]

This is so true . There was hardly any conquest in Asia when these countries were powerful . You may point to Gengis Khan but he was hardly a Chinese . The Europeans started the conquest and subjugation .

[@pooi-hoongchan8680]

Genghis Khan was never an emperor of China. His conquests are Mongolian conquests.

[@44bett]

Europe more wars than any other continent.

[@Conn30Mtenor]

So the fact that China is building military bases in Africa, the Philippines and Pakistan is about local knowledge?

[@jacintochua6885]

Thucydides wrote about the Greco-Spartan conflict. It was a lesson to be learned, not an inevitability. Politicians and some scholars now use this event to justify their geopolitical plans. They claim its inevitable. It's a LESSON, not a prediction. Wars can be avoided war if we learn from history. Then weapons used were swords, spears and chariots. Now the weapons are deadlier.

[@magnaviator]

more ethnocentrism being misapplied by cretins with zero historic or cultural perspective.

[@parkerbohnn]

Yes.

[@bruceelisha3017]

Great talk,thank you. Ignorance is bliss for the main stream media and the people who read it as gospel truth,

[@thstroyur]

Military actions (war) are inevitable as long as we enforce nationalism and fragmentary sovereignity; you or time may prove me wrong - yet I highly doubt either will...

[@philipwoodgate9555]

Not from Australia point of view

[@ytubeanon]

this guy is weird: 3:33 "East Asia is more stable and defense spending is not a big as people think"... people aren't saying there will be a physical war, they're saying there will be an economic and cultural war based on China's desire to expand, productivity, sheer size, political control (communism/fascism), willingness to cut corners/tolerate corruption, etc... they're playing the same global power game but with different rules.

[@gekkanshounen5112]

I certainly hope not because total war would apocalyptic for everyone and Fallout would actually be a picturesque version of post war shenanigans

[@NightcorEDM]

People click this obviously because of the title..

[@chfgbp6098]

Nothing is inevitable. Enlightened self interest will prevail.

[@stephbl3786]

I’m obsessed Asian drama, that’s history enough for me!

[@samsonthepipe]

So this isn't a video explaining the chances or the likelihood of an inevitable war with China but a video about the necessity and prevalence of foreign relations experts about China and of East Asian nations.

[@hostemhumanigeneris6427]

Why are you leaving out the South China Sea?....

[@wildhorse023]

Philip Cannon South China Sea is not war

[@wildhorse023]

Philip Cannon Shut up Idiot too bad for me ? Fuck Off

[@kevinlification]

Philip Cannon didnt take to show your true colours aye. Makes sense people with heads like yours commit genocide on several continents, invade china, then try to play the moral high ground. Your living proof that sinophobia and sinophobic propaganda stems from a fear of white supremacy falling. Sad and pathetic.

[@hostemhumanigeneris6427]

KGrace why you ignorant little pig..

[@zelongxiong5078]

Philip Cannon stop it get some help

[@shubhankardasgupta4777]

Without China and India in ancient world nothing could exists. Chinese trade a lot with Indians which in turn also that our lord Buddha was born and now followed all over the world. Really but have to say China you are going in right path please try to make more mutual relationship with India as we both with our buddy Russia could help everyone so this world will develop a lot and Europe and USA also includes South America and Africa all together for a complete environmental freindly and socialy positive to each other and all living in one united mutual planet in search of explorations and new scientific age of new laws of physics and lot's more things. By the way China you deserve appreciation!!

[@shubhankardasgupta4777]

Ardian Sulaj firstly try to write correctly and also you idiot Greeks came to India as we have evidence as Greek sculptures are benchmarked in India and also I am not here to speak about who was greater but I want to say let's all together fight against ills of humanity by close inspection including in our countries too. We after all are humans and humans means an species of intelligent speices so if we really have brains then we should together work against ills of humanity.

[@ardiansulaj9521]

Shubhankar Dasgupta intellegent are they who have develop country like west no india you dont have yet toilets let alone doing things

[@ajinkyaubale9713]

Ardian Sulaj who invented toilets ?? Guess what you will never know , people in the west are truly ignorant . Just keep talking about toilets and we will surpass you

[@ardiansulaj9521]

Ajinkya Ubale guess who doesnt use toilets you know very well because you are indian

[@shubhankardasgupta4777]

Ardian Sulaj actually this is the most idiotic conversation between you to me. Do you know we were the developers of Mathematic system which you uses today. India invented zero and also invented shampoos today what you use to make your hair comfortable. Trignometry also was invented in India and who said India was an undeveloped country, The Indus Valley civilization, the first city Mohenjodaro in world is also established in India and Pakistan. Also, Indians invented drainage and water system including we invented toilets at time when europeans didin't know what is civilization. XXD

[@44bett]

NO! If the US understands we now live in a multipolar world. Good discussion.

[@GijsTheDog]

The big mistake you're making is thinking China is a free market economy. It is not. Maybe on a small to middle scale, but big and international level are under surveillance by the state on how they do their business. If the CEO is not to the liking of the party he'll be removed for someone more favourable. The only way to do business on the inside of China from an Economic standpoint, is if you are willing to accept the political control surrounding it. As for war (Which the video title is about): I don't think there will be war in East Asia, however China does play the power politics game against surrounding countries, and I expect a lot of strain in the region for years to come.

[@MarkoKraguljac]

Dont fool yourself that huge western companies are not de facto under similar control of their governments. If Chinese came and wanted to buy Apple or Siemens, answer would simply be *no* . I don't care for reasons, end result is the same. China is ruled by CCP, west is ruled by rich clique.

[@bluffdotcom5504]

I guess you got all your news from the western media...

[@mohacs1000]

Knowledge is power.

[@fluttergirlsfly]

And ap world is cutting out East Asian history..:

[@doctorale666]

So this talk has actually nothing to do with the title, its click bait so it gets a dislike.

[@mviktormvvv2009]

Hola greetings from Costa Rica

[@vishmonster]

What? Structural Realism doesn't argue that because history unfolded a certain way therefore it will unfold the same way in the future - it argues that states respond to structural factors in the international system, namely international anarchy, unverifiable intentions and the ubiquity of military capacity. China isn't magically absolved of dealing with these issues because it unified - on the contrary a unified China is bordered by many states with which it has historical enmities and conflicting geopolitical imperatives. Furthermore the regional political layout of Asia is now more similar to prewar Europe than Pre-1800 Asia so the historical comparison doens't even make any sense.

[@xia]

The US doesn't allow anyone to challenge it's power. That's the bottom line.

[@ganikus8565]

Major General Zhu Cheng hu " China will use nuclear force to destroy hundreds of American cities if the US stay in the way of China unification with Taiwan" General Wen Zong Ren "... in order for China to rise, China must have a fateful battle with the US" General Chi hao tian " It is indeed brutal to kill one or two hundred million Americans. But that is the only path that will secure a Chinese century....after solving the issue of America, the western countries in Europe would bow to us, not to mention Taiwan, Japan and other small countries..." Colonel Qiao Liang wrote a book - " warfare beyond bounds - subtitle - China's Master Plan to Destroy America " in which he calls for dirty war against the West saying there's no rule; no restriction to fight the US and it’s allies...

[@IM-iw7wd]

It won’t be much of a war.

[@DrEhrfurchtgebietend]

What happens when the US will not or can't repay their debt to China

[@737tech]

Bring all the troops home..... Leave the rest of the world alone....

[@cc_fffknow]

Yes at this time,China and Russia have interests, as well as China and the United States. To be honest, at the current stage, the interests between China and US are 10 times greater than the interests of China and Russia, it also means china keep better relationship with western but it cannot be said that we will abandon the interests between China and Russia! How China-US relations develop depends on pragmatic attitude of the US government. I am very disgusted by the U.S. government's constantly using Taiwan and Xinjiang to provoke aggravate tensions between US and China ，I believe this is also the reason why most citizens dislike the U.S. government in recent years.

[@dirtysaint5324]

Your logo. Like... why the long ass 'i'? Why the upside down 'g' as a 'b'? *:(*

[@bobmarloeiaiwe8094]

China Uncensored, check it out.

[@Michael-4]

The only thing that suffered globally is the planet.

[@PimWSmit]

The belief about the world is formed in Europe? At 3:58?

[@Chris-xc1vd]

Think of peace

[@82spiders]

Countries rarely go to war with their largest trading partners.

[@kevinlification]

you're the only person in the comments section who gets it.

[@dantaehiruma5918]

No sane people in Asia is worried about an all out war with China. We know they're not going to invade by military, just like we know there's not going to be a ww3 in our lifetime. What we're worried about instead is cultural and political invasion. We look at how Chinese government is treating their people and how their people are treating each other and we decide we dont want to be a part of that. Yet with their increasing economic importance in the region, everyone can see clearly how they're influencing our culture and politics. And how they're flooding other countries with their own people and ideologies. And that's what makes us truly scared.

[@NangongReng1973]

Dantae Hiruma When did China even attack your beloved West? How are the behavior of those European nations ? How many ctries are not colonized by them? How often have your Christian missionaries running around Asia, persuading them to forsake their religion to become a Christian and said those who worship images will be thrown to Hell.Aren’t all these fabrications? I know why Europeans always accuse China of being a monster.To cover their guilt and fear.A pot calling a kettle black. Hypocrisy at its best.

[@dantaehiruma5918]

WTH. Who said I was European? Who are even talking about Europe or the West here? Do you have problems with reading comprehension?

[@NangongReng1973]

@@dantaehiruma5918 Oh, sorry about that.Hey, ur name seems to be a Japanese. Uncommon to see an English speaker from Japan.(if u are a Japanese).

[@DucaTech]

It's ironic what Japanese did. Comfort women, Nanjing Massacre, Pearl Harbor and invasion of all of Southeast Asia lecturing about Chinese invasion. That's pretty rich

[@nokoolaid]

I'd take a class with him.

[@a9udn9u]

The world will be much more peaceful if it's led by East Asian countries. Or at least East Asia is collectively as powerful as Western countries.

[@oneearhamster4069]

emmm you have really thoughtful opion.many people may start to blame you just bcoz you are cogitative.

[@nevadataylor]

I dont think there was ANY proof presented either way. What a waste of time.

[@maxlewis8271]

Lovely advert for this guys co

[@deathless3518]

World War 1 and 2, the Cold War and Mutually Assured Destruction Doctrine. You Europeans sure got this peaceful world game down pat.

[@johnpremberg1614]

Until mmid-Qing, China was underpopulated with vast lands and under-developed resources and spend far more worthwhile time and effort internally developing itself than musadventurers in the poor impoverish foreign lands. We the latter are more than happy to acknowledge the Big Brother (they think as OverLord) to supply at high prices and grow very rich. We were saddened when it periodically collapsed and elated now that She returns to Her Largesse.

[@lominiski]

Sounds like the French advisors for Vietnam. Look what the French interrupted the Vietnamese to be and that was wrong.

[@jynxkizs]

Ancient Chinese history might not shed much light on the present, since Mao uprooted culture by purging or subjugating: teachers, monks, and elders. Chinese history is still taught in China, albeit without its traditionalist roots. Some aspects of tradition clearly survived and were adapted to the 21st century. I'm going to do more research.

[@conquergravity2525]

Actually most rural areas in China are still very poor. They seem to be the same as 50 years ago

[@defMain]

as per title and then video, it still does not make sense, inevitable ??

[@jetthapeterkhoo]

I don't think the West lack the knowledge and understanding of the Chinese culture and civilisation, and its purpose, outlook and position in the world. The West just refuse to acknowledge what they know, preferring instead to divide the East and West out of unfounded fear that China and/or Russia would rule the world like what the Europeans did aggresively to the rest of the world in the past few centuries. I am sure there are enough experts in the US and its 5 eyes allies and EU who know well that China only want peace and prosperity, and in helping less developed nations to grow and prosper with their BRI. The success and prosperity of these 3rd world countries will also surely benefit all other nations economically, share prosperity, trade with them meaningfully instead of colonising, subjucating and exploiting their resources and people. The US just want war to control the world for their own selfish economic and military interests and imagine themselves in a Thucydides trap. Peace is possible if they so wish; it is a matter of choice.

[@Vontux]

Taiwan still needs to worry about Chinese invasion.

[@ハッピーチャンネル-r3h]

Stop warmongering.

[@supremereader7614]

Knowing Chinese culture, war is probably more likely than European conflicts. Living in China, you can’t imagine the rage from the people when anything pops off from South China Sea to South Korea.

[@tyrranicalt-rad6164]

This guy is going to look real stupid when war does breakout.

[@theolich4384]

And we all will look really stupid when the war does end.

[@markaw9243]

wait so yes or no, and answers with a call to action for better area studies.

[@yuriyanu2694]

How is stronger china = more stability any different than pax americana?

[@mottscottison6943]

U didn't see all the wars instigated one eya or another by US?

[@yuriyanu2694]

@@mottscottison6943 hard to remember 5yrs ago, but I think that was my point. The one with all the power is going to abuse it whether it is pax Americana or pax China.

[@liruizhu2146]

This guy don’t understand China, the true about people there, why they become who they are today.

[@ajwo5984]

The truth is none of your comments matters.

[@douglasoak7964]

A million?!! Who paying you off! Try 100 million! And don't confuse the CCP with the mandate of heaven

[@Matthca1235]

Thing is: he didn’t address the question. China as a regional hegemon may be ok, and that’s what he talk briefly about. The problem is that China may be moving toward world hegemony, which is the place the US currently occupies. Some of the fundamental interests of the two states are violently contradictory. I do not see how this can lead to anything but conflict. Also; I have a brother going into the US marines, so I really don’t want a war. I don’t want to be blind to the probability either.

[@conornorris6815]

not neccisarily saying hes wrong but hes using evidence from when africa and north and south america were all pretty much out of the game so this isnt neccisarily true also almost all of chinas water comes form one area of fast depleting glaciers on the border between pakistan china and india and china is currently building artificial rivers that will make an unnatraul dependence on water that isnt usually in those areas so this could very well spark a conflict we havn't had a pretence for there will also be a huge age difference between china and india right as the fuse is running out because of the respective birth rates and this will put alot of stress on china to care for its elderly something traditionally put on the children more so than in the west so their productivity will be down a bit, i dont know everything but its always fun to think about these things, oh ya i also almost forgot bangledesh destabalizing the area they got like 300 millionish bangledeshi people split between inda and bangladesh proper and all there water comes from the same area as well and they will lose most of their country to sea level rise in all lilihood destabalizing southesat asia and india with mass immigration

[@matthewantonello5029]

lol where maybe a MILLION chinese died??? what cutural revolution is he talking about???? during mao like 100x that died as a result of communist revolution and opression

[@USONOFAV]

It will happen.

[@christopherapps3025]

....Paving the way for the new overloads

[@srinivasreddy562]

here's what history says-in the last 500 years there have been 16 cases where a rising power threatened to displace a ruling power and 12 of those cases resulted in war. 'the rise of Athens instilled fear into sparta that made war ineivitable' - Thycidides

[@Growthunlimited]

European history that considered other history as non-existenece

[@timetraveller2300]

so european history and experience are universal? how disgusting

[@timetraveller2300]

oh you are an indian. hahah

[@NangongReng1973]

This scholar do know about China's and Asia mindset.He must have studied about Asia for a long time. One of preconceived ideas of Western scholars or people is Asians can't think for themselves so they need the West to teach them what should or should not be done.

[@NangongReng1973]

conan263 Ya, they can’ think for themselves and yet find themselves becoming one of the greatest power of modern times. And it is still half of the journey to their full potential. What an irony!

[@NangongReng1973]

conan263 Who wants to be America? How long had they reign supreme in this world.Since world war 2? China has been the world leading economic power for 1800 years and most of the nations around her was her vassal states for hundred of years. You can check and see what I had say is fabrication or not. US place in this world can’t even be compare with the weakest empire of ancient times. You know that country Iran which was bullied by brash America . Their ancestors are the Persians which once hold a large territory and had fought against the Greeks long , long time ago. Where is US place? You can bully them right now, but that is only a short period out of thousand of years history.No historian in future will treat US seriousy because their role in history is insignificant.Do u understand?

[@gregoryrollins59]

I know what you mean not a lot of in-depth information about China that's out that's like right in your face. You have to look for it, it's not advertised.

[@klarkewang]

He is the guy with courage to speak out truth in the west and US allies... However, ppl like him, will never be appointed to certain position in USA policy making team. Democracy or not, freedom of speech or not, at this topic, is pointless. After all, it's called national interest. Dont you dare take away my cheese! Happen to Japan before lol

[@bunnyfreakz]

Why Big Think go downhill and downhill? With inevitable war clickbait over and over.

[@wildhorse023]

Trolls on China trolling on China.

[@liamwinter4512]

Good lord I hope not.

[@willchu]

This man speaks the truth!

[@shivendunarayan]

Why does this guy speak so pro CCP?

[@wildhorse023]

The British stolen most land who doesn't know this, You are blind if you don't see this.

[@1kyleabc]

So I'm copy/pasting this comment from the other China video because it is still quite applicable. The thing is, this guy is thinking too short term. No there won't be any China/US conflict in the next 15 years, but within the next 30-60 years there definitely will be. You have to understand that Chinese and US society's and governments are fundamentally different, with vastly different goals, ways of life, and internal societal factors including but not limited to, population, age, tradition, liberalization, and openness to outside culture. Remember that China is almost entirely a homogeneous society (especially so in the ruling class) so it's basic structural common tenet will always be in some way "us against the world". You also have to take into account that no country/people want to forever be "second best", which is especially applicable to the Chinese where they've already had to endure centuries of invasion, occupation, and outside influence. And now that after enduring all that they've climbed to the top of the world stage, have the largest economy, and the most power in Asia, they are actually in a position to challenge the one remaining superpower for dominance to secure their place once and for all. It is fallacy to think they will be complacent and pacifist and just ignore the chance. The Chinese see the U.S. hegemony as the biggest external threat to their continued expansion of their sphere of influence and economic opportunities. This commentator also seems to be entirely ignoring the geopolitical ramifications from China's continued expansion/growth. Yes, while the occupation and militarization of a few small islands in the South China Sea is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, do you really think they're going to stop there? This is merely the first move in a chess game that's going to be played out for the next 20 years. How long until they're established and comfortable enough to fully take the Paracels, or even move on Taiwan? The rate at which the PLA Navy and Air Force has been expanding is the fastest of any nation since the beginning of the Cold War. They're poring billions into ballistic missile technology and electronic warfare. There's hundreds of cyber attacks every day pointed at various U.S. intelligence agencies and defense contractors. I'm not implying that the Chinese plan to take the U.S. military head on or that the U.S. aren't doing the same things, but they want to be in a position where the threat of a military engagement is greatly diminished. Now he is absolutely correct that the number one threat to China (and probably the US) is internal conflict. This is a country of 1.4 BILLION people. A country of 1.4 BILLION people controlled by a communist authoritarian regime who only manage to keep control by being a communist authoritarian regime. Don't forget this is a government who don't allow basic human rights or access to information. This is government that maintains authority by forcing compliance. This is a government that will throw tens of thousands into "re-education" camps who don't agree or comply or fit in with their views. This is a government that will mass murder it's own citizens and then cover it up and act like it never happened. Now 1.4 billion people is a lot of people to care for and I can understand the challenges in trying to keep this vast populace contented, but at the end of the day China is still a country held together by power, and fear when need be. A government that fears it's own people will never last. This guy is too optimistic, and while that is preferable to the usual fear mongering and over reaction in the mainstream media it is foolish to be short sighted and not realize that there will undoubtedly be a future conflict between the U.S. and China. What that eventual conflict will look like, and when it will take place, no one can say for sure and all we do is speculate, but be assured it is coming. When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.

[@Nikola95inYT]

1kyleabc why to start war, if China can buy anything if it wants? Everything is perfect, however, there's some lack of new technologies, which China certainly will obtain in the future. It would be good if USA shared their patents and blueprints of 5th generation weapons with China, it will ensure peace and stability on this planet.

[@shaundudley4576]

I don't know, I think I'd rather believe a person who knows the region and it's history inside out and from that position of knowledge provides a hopeful and reasonable perspective. Than a random someone spouting exactly the prejudices he so eloquently warned against, telling us that Armageddon is inevitable. Just me? I hope not.

[@xiongmu1]

Our good professor Kang should take a closer look at the history of Chinese aggression in Asia. During the Ming Dynasty, a period of strength for China, the Emporer Yongle invaded Vietnam and attempted to make Vietnam into a Chinese province, and destroyed much of Vietnam's classical culture in the process. Asian history is in no way fundamentally different than Europe's, or any other part of the world. Powerful countries will seek to exert themselves against their neighbors - just as China today has militarized vast maritime areas in resource-rich regions off the coast of Vietnam and the Philippines.

[@woahfarout8793]

I wonder what the Taiwanese and the Tibetans think of this.

[@tielohnoms]

I've only been to the Tibet but only for a week, and from what I can tell you; it isn't like how the media portrays it. Yes, there was one instance I was followed by cops there, but that was because my friends was drunk and loud.

[@woahfarout8793]

So you're saying the Chinese government isn't exporting millions of Han Chinese there?

[@kylehamma]

Charles Koch foundation... One of the guys who manipulates the republican party. Good job big think.

[@sugarly69]

A very informed scholar

[@MarkMiller304]

Depends if America wants to continue its plan for a one world government

[@eboy4032]

South China Sea?