AEI's Michael Beckley joins the show to discuss China's peaking power, and why that actually makes them more dangerous.SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonJustAskingQuestions/featuredApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-asking-questions/id1719355507Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5SpySKAH3LuVyxXk0MF7tlText and links to sources available here: https://reason.com/podcast/2025/04/17/michael-beckley-china-is-dangerously-weakWhat if the new Cold War with China turns hot? Just asking questions.China's rise, decline, or potential for conflict is often clouded by propaganda and oversimplification. This episode of Just Asking Questions examines China's real economic, military, and geopolitical trajectory—focusing on Taiwan tensions, trade wars, and demographic challenges.Joining us is Michael Beckley, a Tufts University political science professor and co-author of Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China. His research argues that China's peaking power makes it a unique threat, blending insights on its economy, military, and ambitions.Chapters00:00 Coming up: China's economic challenges and rising aggression01:13 What if China invaded Taiwan tomorrow?05:17 Military capabilities and invasion scenarios for Taiwan10:28 America's interests and the strategic importance of Taiwan15:13 The Trump administration's trade war with China20:47 Economic rivalry and the new Cold War26:03 China's military modernization and hypersonic threats31:10 Assessing China's actual military strength36:14 Lessons from Hong Kong and implications for Taiwan41:23 Demographic decline and economic stagnation46:30 One-child policy and irreversible population trends51:39 Xi Jinping's vision and the roots of Chinese authoritarianism57:05 The nature of China's political and economic system01:02:15 Rising assertiveness and wolf warrior diplomacy01:07:28 Avoiding war and imagining a path to peace01:13:09 Strategic missteps and the importance of deterrence01:16:18 Appreciating global order and what's at stake