Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin
Michael Sobolik appears on The Michele Tafoya Podcast to discuss the ideological, economic, and military rivalry between the United States and China. He warns that China’s Belt and Road Initiative is evolving into a global tool for influence and militarization, while the Chinese Communist Party leverages platforms like TikTok to export censorship and control narratives. Sobolik argues the US needs to go on offense by targeting China’s ideological vulnerabilities and defending democracies like Taiwan.
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A Chinese national flag is seen in the foreground with container ships, cranes, and stacked shipping containers at the Yantian International Container Terminal under cloudy skies in Shenzhen, China. (Cheng Xin viaGetty Images)
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Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a flag-raising ceremony for the latest Project 955A (Borey-A) strategic nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Pozharsky in Severodvinsk on July 24, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov via Getty Images)
Commentary
Daniel Kochis
Daniel Kochis
Senior Fellow, Center on Europe and Eurasia
3 Min Read
stay informed putin
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