Interviews

Broken Engagement

July 14, 2024

Our series of interviews with top U.S. policy makers of the last 30 years has revealed how and why the American approach towards China has morphed from seeking closer ties to a desire for estrangement.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/07/14/broken-engagement-american-policy-makers-china/

Robert O’Brien on America’s Greatest Foreign Policy Failure Since the 1930s

June 30, 2024

The former national security advisor discusses the possibility of bombing Taiwanese chip fabs in any conflict, the fallout from January 6th and how a second Trump administration would approach China.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/06/30/robert-obrien-on-americas-greatest-foreign-policy-failure-since-the-1930s/

Rahm Emanuel on Seeing China as a Strategic Adversary

June 9, 2024

The U.S. ambassador to Japan talks about China’s threat to the Philippines and other nations, shoring up America’s alliances in the Indo Pacific, and why he likes to send tweets trolling Beijing.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/06/09/rahm-emanuel-on-seeing-china-as-a-strategic-adversary/

Gary Locke on Family and Trade Ties with China

May 12, 2024

The former Commerce Secretary and ambassador to China talks about how his background shaped his approach to dealing with Beijing, the pivot to Asia and negotiating Chen Guangcheng's release.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/05/12/gary-locke-on-family-and-trade-ties-with-china/

Jay Shambaugh on Getting China to Change Course

April 14, 2024

The Treasury’s top international official gives an inside-the-room account of the latest talks between Treasury Secretary Yellen and the Chinese leadership, including the U.S.’s efforts to get Beijing to address overcapacity and economic imbalances, how the two countries would deal with any future financial crisis, and whether China is deliberately letting its currency devalue.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/04/14/jay-shambaugh-on-getting-china-to-change-course/

Sarah Bianchi on Setting the Trade Agenda

April 7, 2024

The recently departed deputy U.S. trade representative discusses why the U.S. needs to be on high alert when dealing with China, and how the Biden administration's approach has differed from its predecessor.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/04/07/sarah-bianchi-on-setting-the-trade-agenda/

Nancy Pelosi on Fighting the Fight over China

March 17, 2024

The former Speaker of the House talks about her long involvement with Chinese issues, why she visited Taiwan and how ‘big money’ interests have dominated the U.S.’s approach to China.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/03/17/nancy-pelosi-on-fighting-the-fight-over-china/

Jason Matheny on Tech, National Security and China

February 18, 2024

The chief executive of Rand Corp talks about semiconductors, AI and the future of Chinese investment in the U.S.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/02/18/jason-matheny-on-tech-national-security-and-china/

Michael Rogers on China’s Cyber Threat

January 21, 2024

The head of U.S. Cyber Command under Presidents Obama and Trump on why it's been difficult to change China's behavior and the need for a new strategy on cyber.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/01/21/michael-rogers-on-chinas-cyber-threat/

Robert Gates on the Military’s Relationship with China

November 19, 2023

The former Defense Secretary under George W. Bush and Barack Obama talks about Xi Jinping's relations with the PLA, Taiwan and how the U.S. should deal with China and Russia.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/11/19/robert-gates-on-the-militarys-relationship-with-china/

Mike Froman on the China Trade Question

November 12, 2023

The Obama-era U.S. Trade Representative discusses the U.S.'s need to figure out what it wants from China economically, the problem with tariffs and his regrets over TPP.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/11/12/mike-froman-on-the-china-trade-question/

Robert Rubin on Whether the U.S. Should Want China to Prosper

September 10, 2023

The Clinton-era Treasury Secretary and banker discusses why investors should steer away from China and the issues with linking trade and human rights.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/09/10/robert-rubin-on-whether-the-u-s-should-want-china-to-prosper/#

Brad Setser on the Myths and Realities of China’s Financial Power

July 23, 2023

The economist and former Treasury official discusses China's currency policy, its influence over U.S. markets and the best way for Washington to respond.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/07/23/brad-setser-on-the-myths-and-realities-of-chinas-financial-power/#

Kurt Campbell on Talking to China Again

July 16, 2023

The Biden administration’s Asia chief discusses how its approach to China differs from the Trump era, Beijing’s support for Russia and its intentions towards Taiwan.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/07/16/kurt-campbell-on-talking-to-china-again/#

Myron Brilliant on Business’s Role in Dealing with China

June 25, 2023

The longtime U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive VP talks about the rights and wrongs of China's WTO entry and how companies should deal with the current tensions in the U.S.-China relationship.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/06/25/myron-brilliant-on-businesss-role-in-dealing-with-china/

Nicholas Burns on Managing the Competition with China

June 4, 2023

The ambassador to China talks about the airing of grievances; the military-to-military stalemate; and if there is really a 'thaw' in U.S.-China relations.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/06/04/nicholas-burns-on-managing-the-competition-with-china/

Yao Yang on Why China and the U.S. Need to Talk

April 23, 2023

The Chinese economist discusses why a prosperous China is good for the U.S.; recent changes in the Chinese leadership; and how Beijing sees relations with Russia, the U.S. and Europe.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/04/23/yao-yang-on-why-china-and-the-u-s-need-to-talk/

Stephen J. Hadley on Keeping China Relations on Track

April 2, 2023

The former national security advisor talks about George W. Bush's approach to China, Jiang Zemin's response to 9/11 and 'Track Two' engagement with Beijing.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/04/02/stephen-j-hadley-on-keeping-china-relations-on-track/

Mike Pompeo on Sounding the Alarm about China

March 19, 2023

The former secretary of state talks about how the Trump administration changed U.S.-China relations; why he accused Beijing of genocide in Xinjiang; and why U.S. politicians should visit Taiwan.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/03/19/mike-pompeo-on-sounding-the-alarm-about-china/

Thea Lee on Tracing Supply Chains and Protecting Workers

January 8, 2023

The longtime labor advocate and current Biden administration official talks about the U.S.'s lopsided trade relationship with China; enforcing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act; and why labor rights problems in China are so systemic.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/01/08/thea-lee-on-tracing-supply-chains-and-protecting-workers/

Keith Krach on Weaponizing Trust

December 11, 2022

The business veteran and former State Department official talks about pushing back against Huawei; 'tech statecraft'; and fighting back when the market is no longer free.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2022/12/11/keith-krach-on-weaponizing-trust/

Ash Carter on the Pentagon’s Lonely Pivot to Asia

October 2, 2022

The former Secretary of Defense talks about what went wrong during the 'rebalancing' effort; Xi Jinping's big mistake with ethnocentrism; and the 'Great Firewall of self-isolation.'

https://www.thewirechina.com/2022/10/02/ash-carter-on-the-pentagons-lonely-pivot-to-asia/

Robert Zoellick on Accepting China as It Is

August 5, 2022

The former U.S. Trade Representative, diplomat and World Bank president talks about his 40-year relationship with China, including refreshing the WTO deal; the danger of fortress economies; why engagement hasn't failed; and what he thinks about Xi Jinping.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2022/08/05/robert-zoellick-on-accepting-china-as-it-is/

Lawrence Summers on the Principles of a Multipolar System

July 17, 2022

The lionized economist talks about alternatives and counterfactuals in the U.S.-China relationship; the lessons from both the Japanese and Russian experiences; and why truculence is never productive.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2022/07/17/lawrence-summers-on-the-principles-of-a-multipolar-system/

Matthew Pottinger on Flipping the U.S.-China Paradigm on its Head

June 26, 2022

A key figure in the Trump administration, the former reporter and Marine talks about the reality of the Chinese Communist Party's ambitions, the value of concrete actions vs. rhetoric, how Xi was flummoxed by Trump, and why the CCP just can't help itself.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2022/06/26/matthew-pottinger-on-flipping-the-u-s-china-paradigm-on-its-head/

Charlene Barshefsky on Why Engagement with China is More Important Than Ever

May 8, 2022

The chief U.S. negotiator when China joined the WTO reflects on the surprises and failures of that landmark deal and why she thinks the U.S. can stay preeminent, even if it's not predominant.

https://www.thewirechina.com/2022/05/08/charlene-barshefsky-on-why-engagement-with-china-is-more-important-than-ever/