Jonathan Freedland explores what history can tell us about how today's tensions with China today might play out.

Jonathan looks for historical precursors to the rise of China. He examines the rise of the Macedonian Empire in the 4th century BC, the Anglo-Dutch Wars in the 17th century and the rise of the United States in the second half of the 19th century.

What can history tell us about how conflict might be avoided when a new power threatens an existing one?

Producer: Laurence Grissell