In 2025 relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China are characterized by a climate of confrontation. Tensions have escalated across a range of military, economic, and technology issues to the point that each side is portraying the other in stark adversarial terms. How did bilateral ties become so fraught and what does the future hold?

About the Speaker

Andrew Scobell is Distinguished Fellow and Principal Asia Analyst at the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) and an adjunct professor of Asian Studies at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. Previous positions include distinguished fellow at the United States Institute of Peace and senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation. His publications include Crossing the Strait: China's Military Prepares for War with Taiwan (2022), China's Grand Strategy (2020), China's Search for Security (2012) and China's Use of Military Force (2003).

The ANU China Seminar Series is supported by the Australian Centre on China in the World at ANU College of Asia and the Pacific.