Baker’s Dozen: China’s Internal Challenges and External Policies

In this episode of the Stratfor Baker's Dozen podcast from RANE, host Rodger Baker speaks to  Michael Cunningham, a geopolitical analyst and “China watcher” who has assisted multinational companies manage and maneuver changes in China’s political, regulatory and security environment. The refocus on great power competition has brought about a surge of new analysis on China, focusing on the Belt and Road Initiative, on its naval build-up, geoeconomics coercion, and Wolf Warrior diplomacy. With talk of a Cold War 2.0, there is a similar risk of oversimplifying perceptions of China, of painting them as 10 feet tall, century-planners who appear always successful. As with any country, the reality is far different. China’s leadership is perhaps even more concerned about the domestic socio-economic balance than it is about U.S. FONOPS in the South China Sea.  Follow Stratfor on Twitter. Find Stratfor on LinkedIn. Connect with Stratfor on Facebook. Sign Up for the Free Stratfor Newsletter from RANE.