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Is the United States still a worthy opponent for China? In this episode, Ross Douthat talks to Dan Wang, the author of “Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future,” about the alarming speed at which China is able to build and could blow America out of the water.
01:08 - “A life full of ease and beauty”
05:16 - Rule by engineers
10:34 - China’s Technological Mastery
15:36 - Is autocracy driving innovation?
24:44 - What are the real stakes of the competition?
35:14 - How could China fail?
51:29 - Advice for America
Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com.
Read the full transcript here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/opinion/china-global-superpower-dan-wang.htmlUnlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.