When is the risk of war the highest? And what should the United States be doing about it? One of the most important but underappreciated questions in international politics is how states think about the future balance of power. Countries that believe their position is improving often choose patience. Those who fear their position is deteriorating may feel pressure to act before their advantages disappear. In this episode, Ryan is joined by Dean Cheng, Mira Rapp-Hooper, and Amanda Hsiao to explore how Chinese leaders may be thinking about time, power, and Taiwan.

This episode is sponsored by Kibu, which ensures you always know who’s on the other end of every conversation, wherever it happens. Learn more about Kibu at warontherocks.com/kibu.

Image: NASA Worldview