Stephen Roach’s new book, Accidental Conflict: America, China, and the Clash of False Narratives, examines the ominous trajectory of conflict escalation between the United States and China and offers suggestions for resolution. In just four years, two countries have entered a trade war, a tech war, and perhaps a new Cold War. This conflict between the world’s two most powerful nations would not have happened but for an unnecessary clash of false narratives. The United States falsely blames its trade and technology threats on China yet overlooks its shaky saving foundation. China falsely blames its growth challenges on America’s alleged containment of market-based socialism, ignoring its failed economic rebalancing.

In an interview conducted on December 19, 2022, Stephen Roach argues that much of the rhetoric on both sides is dangerously misguided, more a reflection of each nation’s fears and vulnerabilities than a reasonable assessment of the risks they face.

0:00-3:35 U.S.-China uncomfortable codependency

3:35-10:23 False narratives of technology and IP theft

10:23-17:36 Bipartisan rhetoric and economics

17:36-23:48 the trajectory of U.S.-China trade

23:48-26:15 Does China need the U.S.?

26:15-30:35 Economic competition

30:35-Conflict resolutions

About the speaker: https://www.ncuscr.org/event/us-china-false-narratives/

Follow Stephen Roach on Twitter: @SRoach_econ

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