Inside the US–China decoupling: What’s really at stake (AI, rare earths, Taiwan, trade)

In this episode, I speak with Jordan Schneider, creator of Chinatalk, to explore the new phase of US–China competition. Both countries are using trade policy, export controls and industrial strategy to shift the balance of global power. Yet, their economies remain tightly bound.
We cover:
(01:34) The US and China’s decoupling
(07:28) Why attempts to control China backfired
(08:51) Understanding the Oct. 9th rare Earth rules
(11:27) The modern iteration of Chinese communism
(14:23) Is decoupling a strategy to avoid weaponization?
(16:12) US leadership might be shooting from the hip
(19:22) Are system changes inherently messy?
(21:27) “Vibe-based” sovereignty
(26:03) AI incumbents aren’t entrenched—yet
(29:07) Why China remains focused on AI deployment
(32:45) The different versions of tech-accelerationism
(33:37) How will societies withstand rapid change?
(36:54) What the West can learn from China
(40:10) Where China is most misunderstood
(43:14) Imagining an improved US-China relationship
Where to find Jordan:
Substack: https://substack.com/@chinatalk
YouTube: @ChinaTalkMedia‬
Linkedin: / jorschneider
X: https://x.com/jordanschnyc
Where to find me:
Substack: https://www.exponentialview.co/
Website: https://www.azeemazhar.com/
LinkedIn:/ azhar
X: https://x.com/azeem
Produced by EPIIPLUS1 Ltd and supermix.io
Production and research: Chantal Smith, Hannah Petrovic and Marija Gavrilov.
About Exponential View:
Welcome to Exponential View, where Azeem Azhar examines how exponential technologies such as AI are reshaping the future. Each week, Azeem shares his analysis or speaks with an expert guest to shed light on frontier shifts across technology, business and society.
To keep up with the Exponential transition, subscribe to this channel or the newsletter: https://www.exponentialview.co/
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Where to find me:
Exponential View newsletter: https://www.exponentialview.co/
Website: https://www.azeemazhar.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azeem/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/azeem
Production by EPIIPLUS1.
Production and research: Baba Films, Marija Gavrilov.
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