China–US, Trust in an Age of Trade Tensions and Civilizational Politics

Описание: What does trust look like in Chinese foreign policy? Can two fundamentally different political systems - China and the US - ever truly trust one another? And how do rising tariffs and nationalist politics fit into this picture?

In the latest episode of the TrustTalk podcast, I speak with Feng Zhang, Associate Research Scholar in East Asian Studies at Yale MacMillan Center. A leading voice on Chinese foreign policy, Feng offers a fascinating take on how Confucian traditions, strategic competition, and civilizational pluralism shape China’s global posture today.

📌 Here’s what you’ll hear:
▪️Why traditional Chinese diplomacy emphasized relationships over transactions - a long-term, relational approach that stands in stark contrast to the transactional style of the Trump administration.
▪️The tension between China’s self-image as a peaceful power and its increasingly assertive nationalism.
▪️How Western democracies and China might rebuild trust - not by erasing their differences, but by recognizing them as legitimate.
▪️Feng’s powerful case for civilizational pluralism: the idea that countries don’t need to converge on one system to build trust. Instead, trust can emerge from mutual respect for distinct cultural and historical paths.
▪️Why the US-China relationship faltered despite promising moments, and how status competition (not ideology) may be the key to managing future rivalry.
▪️Thoughts on Xi Jinping’s #Global #Civilization #Initiative - is it a genuine alternative vision or just defensive rhetoric?

❗️Important context:
This interview was recorded on March 19, 2025, just before President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports. That move only intensifies the urgency of Feng Zhang’s call for managed competition and selective cooperation in a deeply divided global landscape.

visit our website for more interviews: https://trusttalk.co