Professor Minxin Pei published an article on the significant decisions Chinese President Xi Jinping must make, which will direct China’s trajectory the decade to come. He wrote about Sino-American tensions, rising tariffs on Chinese imports by Trump, the forecasted tightening of U.S. controls on advanced technology, and the state of China’s fragile economy. He argued that Xi must reshape China’s growth model, shifting to a reliance on exports in household consumption.

Professor Minxin Pei published an article on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s move to partner with dictator Bashar al-Assad last year, which soon collapsed. Professor Pei considers the low level of success Xi has met with in aligning China with other autocratic regimes such as Syria, Iran, and Venezuela, which share in opposition to a U.S.-led world order. He wrote that China’s fondness for autocracy blinds it to the “common flaws” of dictatorships, and should avoid “wishful thinking” when choosing its autocratic partners.

Professor Minxin Pei wrote about the corruption that continues to plague the Chinese military, due to a promotion system that prizes loyalty above competence. 

Professor Jack Pitney was quoted in an article noting the crucial role California played in setting the U.S. House of Representative’s political balance. He noted that Democrats need to pay attention to issues around crime and cost of living, even in states where Democrats hold a majority, because where they had hoped their stronghold in California would carry them into a house majority, their gains were evidently not strong enough. 

Professor Minxin Pei wrote an article on the opportunity China must take the place of the United States in the world as a global leader. As President-elect Trump is bound to apply unilateralist policies, weakening global allies, Professor Pei argued that this will leave a vacuum in global leadership. However, like last time, China will fail to present itself as a “reasonable and convincing alternative.” He attributed this to China’s inability and unwillingness to sustain momentum behind multilateral efforts to combat climate change, promote free trade, protect public health, and more.

In this article, Professor Minxin Pei cautioned President-elect Trump and Elon Musk against the consequences of fulfilling the role of a governmental revolutionary, undermining a “deep state” and challenging bureaucratic pillars. To illustrate the potential destruction this could bring, Professor Pei recalled the dictatorship of Mao Zedong, which resulted in 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution.

In the wake of President Biden’s last meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Professor Minxin Pei wrote about the policy the Biden administration put in place to fund infrastructure, semiconductors and clean energy programs, tighten regulation on tech exports via security ties with allied countries, and isolate China. However, in light of the Trump administration’s unilateralism on trade and Ukraine, and corresponding drawback on the policies Biden progressed, Professor Pei asserted that continuing to strengthen ties with U.S.

Professor Jack Pitney joined “Your Morning,” in reaction to President Donald Trump’s presidential election, to discuss Special Council Jack Smith’s move to step down from his position, what we can expect from the GOP House and Senate Elections, Pete Hegseth as a surprising cabinet pick from President-elect Trump for Secretary of Defense, and Trump’s former campaign manager Susie Wiles, tentative position to serve as Trump’s White House Chief of Staff, which would make her the first woman to ever hold that position.

Professor Minxin Pei addressed concerns around a trade war with China. He wrote that President-elect Trump’s bigger issues lie in its alliance with Taiwan, which looks to sign a huge weapons deal with the U.S. Professor Pei warned that this could result in a detrimental crisis with China, and grants Trump good reason to tread carefully.