The Avoidable War: The Dangers of a Catastrophic Conflict Between the US and Xi Jinping’s China

Rudd, the former prime minister of Australia, debuts with an incisive analysis of the rising tensions between the U.S. and China. Surveying the cultural, historical, and ideological roots of the conflict, Rudd makes a convincing case that the two sides now regard “some form of armed conflict or confrontation” as inevitable. He contends that recent acts of gamesmanship, including China’s cyberattacks against the U.S. government and construction of naval bases in the Indian Ocean, as well as America’s trade war against China and increased arms sales to Taiwan, will evolve into “sort of Cold War 2.0,” unless a new set of strategic imperatives and norms develop between the superpowers. Though China was “more than happy” to occupy the “political, diplomatic, and financial vacuum” created by Donald Trump’s defunding of the UN and other international institutions, recent diplomatic overtures to the Biden administration signal that Beijing is uncomfortable with the “adversarial strategic environment in which it finds itself,” according to Rudd, and wants “to return to its principle focus on the long-term transformation of its economic model.” Ultimately, Rudd calls for the two countries to become engaged in “managed strategic competition” between their economic development policies and political systems. Shot through with reasoned analysis and evenhanded appraisals of both countries’ strengths and weaknesses, this is a valuable guide to de-escalating a global flashpoint. (Apr.)