China's Strategic Competition with the United States

China's Strategic Competition with the United States

Author: Modern War Institute at West Point September 5, 2025 Duration: 54:15
The United States is engaged in a strategic competition with China. On issues ranging from Taiwan's security to the question of which country will most shape the geopolitical order in the years and decades to come, Washington seeks to secure its objectives, promote its interests, and deter Chinese aggression. But what are China's core objectives? And more fundamentally, how does Beijing conceptualize the US-China strategic rivalry? To explore those questions, John Amble is joined on this episode by Ali Wyne, the senior research and advocacy advisor for US-China relations at the International Crisis Group and author of the 2022 book America's Great-Power Opportunity: Revitalizing U.S. Foreign Policy to Meet the Challenges of Strategic Competition. The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Hosted by the Modern War Institute at West Point, this series offers a direct, thoughtful examination of the ideas and strategies shaping contemporary and future battlefields. Each episode brings together the institute’s deep analytical resources with voices from the field, creating conversations that are both academic and grounded in real-world experience. You’ll hear from senior military leaders, policy experts, historians, and scholars who dissect complex topics-from emerging technologies and hybrid warfare to geopolitical shifts and the enduring human elements of conflict. Supported by the West Point Class of 1974, the podcast serves as a primary forum for the institute’s work, moving beyond headlines to explore the underlying mechanics and ethical considerations of modern defense. The discussions are detailed and nuanced, designed for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of national security challenges without the jargon and oversimplification. Tune in for a rigorous, accessible education on the art of war in the twenty-first century, where every conversation aims to inform and provoke thoughtful consideration.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Modern War Institute
Podcast Episodes
Breaking Down the Hypersonic Missile Threat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:30
Hypersonic missiles have become an increasingly frequent focus of defense and security discussions in recent years and the subject of growing public attention. But what truly sets them apart, beyond just velocity, from e…
The Future of European Defense [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:07
This episode features a discussion with retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges. He served until 2017 as the commanding general of US Army Europe and now holds the pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Polic…
Understanding No-Fly Zones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:45
This episode of the MWI Podcast tackles the topic of no-fly zones. Almost immediately after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began calling for a no-fly zone to be implemented over h…
Germany, NATO, and the Ukraine Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:26
In recent weeks there has been a considerable amoung of questioning in public debate in the United States about Germany and—when it has been stated most bluntly—how reliable Germany is as an ally. The reason this is all…
How Capable is Ukraine's Military? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:59
From 2016 to 2018, Colonel Liam Collins played a key role in US efforts to assist the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense with a series of substantial reforms—ranging from organization and command and control to military train…
The Robotic Revolution is Already Here [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:22
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with August Cole, coauthor of a new book called Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution. It’s a techno-thriller and a work of fiction, but it is also based…
Modern War in 2021: Year in Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:28
What did we learn about modern war in 2021? What issues defined the most important conversations in defense circles? In this special year-end episode of the MWI Podcast, John Amble speaks to the directors of MWI's four t…
When Security Force Assistance Works—and When it Doesn't [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:09
After twenty years of America’s post-9/11 wars and the US military’s struggle to build capable and effective security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is an important discussion taking place about what role security…
A Looming Showdown Over Ukraine? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:34
Recently, large numbers of Russian military forces have been moved to areas near Russia's border with Ukraine. This has set off a wave of reporting and analysis about what it likely means. But there’s a considerable degr…
Taiwan, China, and the Poison Frog Strategy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:53
In this episode, John Amble speaks with Chris Dougherty of the Center for a New American Security. He and his colleagues recently conducted a wargame that sought to identify what strategic options the United States and T…