Eyck Freymann

And they have more ability to do it for a long period of time in multiple theaters in parts of the world.

And we can only deal with this problem if we treat it as an all-of-government, interdepartmental problem, not just a military problem, and if we work with allies, and if we try to make some kind of bipartisan consensus that national economic resilience matters.

That, to me, is the lesson of Hormuz.

Thanks so much for having me on.

Thanks, Alice, for having me.

Well, the first thing to understand is that Zheng is a controversial figure within Taiwan.

And she hasn't fully consolidated her control over her own party.

Within the KMT, she's seen as relatively pro-Beijing, or at least soft on Beijing.

And part of the point of meeting with Xi Jinping is to show, no, I'm the boss, even he says so.

Of course, the price of the meeting was she had to make some comments harshly criticizing the idea of Taiwan independence, essentially blaming the current president, Lai Ching-du, for the tensions.

So I think if I'm Xi Jinping, I see this as a prime opportunity to drive a wedge between the U.S.

and Taiwan and to encourage a more friendly KMT going into the 2028 elections.

In 60 seconds or less?

In 60 seconds or less, yes.

I'll do what I can.

So, look, Taiwan is the unfinished business of China's civil war.

The Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang, Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek, they fought for control of the mainland.

Chiang Kai-shek's forces eventually lost control of China.

northern China.

And over the course of 1949, they withdrew to Taiwan, taking many of the treasures of the imperial palace with them.