On the historic campus of Tsinghua University in Beijing, Professor Da Wei, a distinguished scholar of international relations, explores the current state of global affairs, the evolution of U.S.-China relations and the role of education in shaping future leaders with China-US Focus host James Chau. Professor Da recounts his experiences growing up in an “urban island” within rural China during the country’s reform era and discusses his current role of helping to educate the next generation of global thinkers. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity

The China-U.S. relationship is undergoing a “thaw,” to use U.S. President Joe Biden’s term. The consecutive visits of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to China over the last few months are clear indicators.

Biden’s presidency is nearly half-way over, and the first National Security Strategy by his administration was finally published. In this belated report, the Biden administration answered such key questions as how the US should view the current international landscapes, how to deal with severe challenges, and how to advance its foreign strategy and safeguard its own interests. To a certain extent, this report marks the finalized design with a focus on “great power competition” in the US national security strategy. However, it also shows that the US failed to think outside the box in response to the new international landscapes and challenges, revealing three unresolved contradictions the Biden administration made when planning its national security and foreign strategies.

The concept of “security demands” or a “security concern” may sound as if it is somehow related to spheres of influence, but security concerns are not exclusive---their most fundamental difference from spheres of influence.

A new round of turbulence has emerged in the South China Sea since the second half of 2019. And against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, some claimants and countries outside the region have become more and more anxious, with increased military, diplomatic and economic moves, leading to greater tension. Major media are even talking about an upcoming war in the South China Sea between China and the United States. What are the factors influencing the situation in the South China Sea? What are the most likely future developments? A sober assessment is needed.