From The Economist.

Reporting on China is challenging. The country’s leaders seldom give interviews to Western media and when they do they tend to stick to prepared official lines. To understand China, journalists rely on well-connected academics who know the workings and worldview of the Communist Party.

The Economist’s Geopolitics editor, David Rennie, speaks to one of China’s shrewdest experts on America, Da Wei. He is a professor and director of the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University. They discuss China’s view of Taiwan and how Beijing could take the small island nation.

00:00 – Could Trump sell out Taiwan for a trade deal?
02:24 – How China can win over the Taiwanese
03:35 – How Taiwan would be governed under China
06:01 – The opportunity from a Donald Trump presidency

Watch the full show: https://www.economist.com/insider/inside-geopolitics/chinas-grand-plan-taiwan-tech-and-the-trump-effect

Read our China coverage: https://www.economist.com/topics/china

China proved its strengths in 2025—and Donald Trump helped: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/12/18/china-proved-its-strengths-in-2025-and-donald-trump-helped

Beijing insiders’ plan to play Donald Trump: https://www.economist.com/international/2025/11/11/beijing-insiders-plan-to-play-donald-trump

Xi Jinping has Vladimir Putin over a barrel: https://www.economist.com/china/2025/05/12/xi-jinping-has-vladimir-putin-over-a-barrel

China and Japan are in a vicious game of chicken over Taiwan: https://www.economist.com/china/2025/11/18/china-and-japan-are-in-a-vicious-game-of-chicken-over-taiwan

If China invaded Taiwan, who would enter the war?: https://www.economist.com/asia/2025/06/12/if-china-invaded-taiwan-who-would-enter-the-war

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