Gordon Chang

And especially, remember, Xi Jinping, I know this is going on a little long, but I need to give you some context. Yeah, please. When Xi Jinping took over in 2012, no senior Chinese leader got too much credit or too much blame because every decision was made by consensus across the top of the political system.

But by taking power from everybody else, Xi Jinping ended up with total or near total accountability, which means when things are going bad, Xi Jinping is being blamed for everything because he's got nobody else to blame. So you can see how that system can work where enough people get together and say, Xi Jinping, you're out.

But by taking power from everybody else, Xi Jinping ended up with total or near total accountability, which means when things are going bad, Xi Jinping is being blamed for everything because he's got nobody else to blame. So you can see how that system can work where enough people get together and say, Xi Jinping, you're out.

But by taking power from everybody else, Xi Jinping ended up with total or near total accountability, which means when things are going bad, Xi Jinping is being blamed for everything because he's got nobody else to blame. So you can see how that system can work where enough people get together and say, Xi Jinping, you're out.

And by the way, we've got a lot of unhappy military officers who are ready to come in to Zhongnanhai, which is sort of like their White House. So things can be a little dicey there right now.

And by the way, we've got a lot of unhappy military officers who are ready to come in to Zhongnanhai, which is sort of like their White House. So things can be a little dicey there right now.

And by the way, we've got a lot of unhappy military officers who are ready to come in to Zhongnanhai, which is sort of like their White House. So things can be a little dicey there right now.

Well, I really appreciate it, Mike, because this is an important conversation that you wanted. So thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Love to do this again.

Well, I really appreciate it, Mike, because this is an important conversation that you wanted. So thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Love to do this again.

Well, I really appreciate it, Mike, because this is an important conversation that you wanted. So thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Love to do this again.

It not only has port operations at both ends of the canal, it's got infrastructure there. It's got a lot of state enterprises. So there are many ways that Beijing can block the canal if it wanted to. And some people say that the first indication that we will have that China intends to use force in East Asia will be an accident. in the Panama Canal because that will prevent the U.S.

It not only has port operations at both ends of the canal, it's got infrastructure there. It's got a lot of state enterprises. So there are many ways that Beijing can block the canal if it wanted to. And some people say that the first indication that we will have that China intends to use force in East Asia will be an accident. in the Panama Canal because that will prevent the U.S.

Navy from surging ships from the Atlantic to the Pacific fleets through the canal. So there's the concern.

Navy from surging ships from the Atlantic to the Pacific fleets through the canal. So there's the concern.

I think the Chinese regime is a little unhinged because the rhetoric certainly is not justified by what's occurring today. And I think it reflects a couple of things. I think, first of all, the Chinese are just enraged that President Trump is not deferring to them. For millennia, Chinese diplomacy has been intimidation of others. And Xi Jinping has been particularly good at it.

I think the Chinese regime is a little unhinged because the rhetoric certainly is not justified by what's occurring today. And I think it reflects a couple of things. I think, first of all, the Chinese are just enraged that President Trump is not deferring to them. For millennia, Chinese diplomacy has been intimidation of others. And Xi Jinping has been particularly good at it.

I think the Chinese regime is a little unhinged because the rhetoric certainly is not justified by what's occurring today. And I think it reflects a couple of things. I think, first of all, the Chinese are just enraged that President Trump is not deferring to them. For millennia, Chinese diplomacy has been intimidation of others. And Xi Jinping has been particularly good at it.

And probably Trump right now has just said he's had enough. But the other thing is that these tariffs do pose a danger to the Chinese economy. Xi Jinping has turned his back on consumption as the basis of the Chinese economy. That means his only way out is to export. And it's not just Trump's tariffs. When Trump does this, he's giving inspiration to others.

And probably Trump right now has just said he's had enough. But the other thing is that these tariffs do pose a danger to the Chinese economy. Xi Jinping has turned his back on consumption as the basis of the Chinese economy. That means his only way out is to export. And it's not just Trump's tariffs. When Trump does this, he's giving inspiration to others.

And probably Trump right now has just said he's had enough. But the other thing is that these tariffs do pose a danger to the Chinese economy. Xi Jinping has turned his back on consumption as the basis of the Chinese economy. That means his only way out is to export. And it's not just Trump's tariffs. When Trump does this, he's giving inspiration to others.