Both these speakers have written books about the China relationship. Pilsbury's book The Hundred-Year Marathon describes what he argues is China's long term strategy to become the global hegemon and how Western elites have wittingly or unwittingly assisted it. Cable's latest book The Chinese Conundrum (just out) makes the case for continuing the very policy of engagement that in Pilsbury's view has helped propel the CCP regime to its current powerful position.
Despite their widely differing views, the two manage to have a thoroughly polite and civil debate, sadly something of a rarity these days.
China has increasingly dominated headlines as a growing economic superpower whose growth and foreign policy are rapidly restructuring international politics. This head-to-head debate will consider China’s place in the world, whether the balance of global power has tilted towards China, and what the true nature of Sino-British and Sino-American relations are. Has China won? What does winning actually mean for China? Our two speakers will consider these questions and more as we explore how China is remaking the modern world.
1. Rt. Hon. Sir Vince Cable
Sir Vince Cable is a British Liberal Democrat Politician who served as Party Leader and spent five years in the coalition cabinet as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. He authored The Chinese Conundrum, which explores relations between China and the West.p>
2. Dr Michael Pillsbury
Dr Michael Pillsbury is Director of the Center on Chinese Strategy at the Hudson Institute. He has held numerous defence and foreign policy advisory positions in the US Government and is considered the architect of Trump’s China policy.
3. Professor Rana Mitter (Moderator)
Professor Mitter is a Professor of the History and Politics of Modern China. He has served as the Director of the Oxford China Centre. He is the author of numerous books on China, including A Bitter Revolution: China’s Struggle with the Modern World.
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