Part 8/14:

The narrative paints a picture of an imminent geopolitical divide—one that likely entrenches the world into two competing blocs: a Western-democratic coalition and an authoritarian, Chinese-led sphere. The strategic goal for China is to extend influence globally, making other nations increasingly dependent through initiatives like the Belt and Road but also through economic and technological integration.

The US, meanwhile, faces the challenge of de-risking its reliance on China. Strategies include manufacturing diversification, onshoring critical industries, forming alliances with Europe and Asian democracies to mitigate dependency, and investing heavily in American innovation, particularly in AI and clean energy technologies.