There's been a lot of talk about how big and modern China's military has become, and it's true that in terms of size and and technology, it's improved significantly over the last few decades. But there's a human factor that has to be taken into account when talking about China's ability to win a war, and that could be China's biggest weakness. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss one big weakness of Chinese soldiers, how we're already in Cold War 2.0, and how to combat the popularity of communism. Joining us in this episode is Professor Madhav Das Nalapat, the vice chair of the Manipal Advanced Research Group, and the author of the new book "Cold War 2.0: Illusion Versus Reality."

China has been playing a bigger and bigger role in the Middle East, which for the time being, has been a boost for its energy security. But there are fires on the horizon that China might not be able to be able to put out that could permanently sour the relationship. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss China's strategy in the Middle East, it's alliance with Iran in defiance of the US, and the trouble China's already facing in the region. Joining us in this episode is Jonathan Cristol, a professor of international affairs at Yeshiva University in New York City and author of "The United States and the Taliban before and after 9/11."

China has vowed to take control of Taiwan, an independent democratic country about 70 miles from its coast. But that's not all China wants. China is seeking world domination, and Taiwan is just the start. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss how Taiwan could be the first domino in China's quest for domination in space as well, how Japan's islands could be next, and why China's exploration of the moon could determine its dominance on earth. Joining us in this episode of Rick Fisher, Jr., a weapons expert, a Senior Fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center, and author of the book "China's Military Modernization: Building for Regional and Global Reach."

The Chinese Communist Party has been waging war against the US since it came to power in 1949. Part of the problem with the US response is that it doesn't see itself as being at war with China. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss China's smokeless war against the US, how China could cripple the US with the press of a button, and how the US can fight back. Joining us in this episode is Bill Holstein, co-author of the new book “Battlefield Cyber: How China and Russia are Undermining Our Democracy and National Security.”

The Chinese Communist Party is facing some strong headwinds, and there are signs that Xi Jinping might be in trouble. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss what would happen if the Chinese Communist Party were to fall, what might happen if Xi Jinping were overthrown, and how western democracies could easily win back some of the nations that China has begun to control. Joining us in this episode of Cleo Paskal, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

For a long time, there was a pervasive belief in Washington and other western capitals that China would liberalize once it's population had obtained a certain amount of prosperity. What many people failed to understand was the ideology that drove the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and how it could employ capitalism to a communism end. Without a true understanding of what communists believe, it can be easy to fall prey to what they preach, which is very different from what they practice. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss the core beliefs of Xi Jinping and the Communist Party, the connection between progressivism and communism, and how the US can help Chinese people topple the Chinese Communist Party. Joining us in this episode is Brad Thayer, director of China policy at the Center for Security Policy and co-author of “Understanding the China Threat”.

China's economy is headed toward an economic black hole, and there's nothing the Chinese Communist Party can do to make it a soft landing. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss the comatose state of China's real estate market, whether China's green tech revolution can sustain itself, and how China could hack into your car. Joining us in this episode is Christopher Balding, a Senior Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society and founder of New Kite Data Labs.

China knows the geopolitical significance of the Solomon Islands and the rest of the Pacific islands if it were to go to war with the US and its allies. And it's been slowly tightening the noose around the country's democracy by bribing its officials, training Solomon Island police, and sending Chinese nationals to infiltrate its society. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss how soon before China has complete control of the Solomon Islands, what the US and Australia could do to stop Chinese corruption there, and what Chinese corruption in the Solomon Islands looks like. Joining us in this episode is Colonel Grant Newsham, a former Marine intelligence officer and author of the book When China Attacks: A Warning to America.

Many people think that because China's Navy is relatively untested that it's nothing to worry about. However, that's not necessarily the case. China's weapons have been getting better, it's experience on the sea is growing each day, and it's training is getting more sophisticated. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss China's maritime buildup, it's conflict with the Philippines over a rusty old ship moored on a shoal, and why China might want to go to war sooner rather than later. Joining us in this episode is Captain Jim Fanell, the former director of intelligence and information operations for the U.S. Pacific Fleet and senior intelligence officer for China at the Office of Naval Intelligence.

China's economy is imploding, and the foreign investment that has been propping it up for so many years is starting to decline. In this just us episode of China Unscripted, we discuss China's real estate crisis, BlackRock's outlook on a US-China-Taiwan conflict, and why CCP officials need to start wearing black sharpie goatees.