At some point in the next decade, a historian is going to look at the first quarter of the 21st century from the perspective of the national security establishment and the blessings it had as it rose to global power status, and will publish the foundational reference book for those trying to understand that moment in time.Its primary rivals distracted and drained themselves in unnecessary quixotic quasi-imperial police actions, one in Central and Southwest Asia (U.S.A.), the other bled itself white attempting to reconstruct at least part of its predecessor’s empire (Russia). All the while, its economy grew, its diplomatic influence expanded, and its military became an impressive, if untested, colossus.
Yes, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) had its problems and setbacks: demographic collapse, massive debt, economic fragility, and poor messaging—but so did its greatest competitors.
In 2026, while most have been focused on the Iranian-Israeli-American conflict and the Russo-Ukrainian War rooted in unsolved issues from the end of the 20th century, the PRC continues its march forward into the future.Returning to the Midrats Podcast to discuss will be Dean Cheng.
Dean is a Non-resident Senior Fellow, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and Non-resident Fellow, George Washington University Space Policy Institute.He recently retired after 14 years with the Heritage Foundation, where he was a senior research fellow on Chinese political and security affairs, and wrote on various aspects of Chinese foreign and defense policy.
Prior to joining the Heritage Foundation, he was a senior analyst with the China Studies Division (previously, Project Asia) at CNA from 2001-2009. Before joining CNA, he was a senior analyst with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) from 1996-2001. From 1993-1995, he was an analyst with the US Congress’ Office of Technology Assessment in the International Security and Space Division, where he studied the Chinese defense industrial complex.He is the author of the book Cyber Dragon: Inside China’s Information Warfare and Cyber Operations (NY: Praeger Publishing, 2016), as well as a number of papers and book chapters examining various aspects of Chinese security affairs.
Summary
In this episode, Mark, Sal, and Dean Cheng discusses China’s strategic challenges, space ambitions, AI development, and regional influence, providing insights into China’s long-term plans and global impact.
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Chapters
00:00: Introduction and overview of China’s global strategy
02:38: Dean Cheng’s background and China’s long-term planning
04:46: China’s strategic challenges beyond the US
06:04: North Korea’s shifting alliances and regional dynamics
08:06: Russia, China, and North Korea cooperation
10:27: Chinese perceptions of US and regional threats
12:25: Japan, Korea, and China’s regional ambitions
14:29: China’s post-COVID strategic posture and influence
16:03: China’s national messaging and global image
17:28: Xi Jinping’s strategic vision and military buildup
19:57: China’s influence in the Pacific and Arctic regions
22:42: Canada, Greenland, and China’s northern ambitions
31:00: China’s space program and lunar exploration
49:58: The race to the moon and space dominance
54:46: Future of space exploration and international standards
55:33: Long-term US space strategy and Chinese competition
59:36: US and Chinese space efforts and collaboration
01:00:26: Conclusion
