In a world where power is shifting, alliances are fraying, and global ties are being weaponised, how should governments and businesses prepare for what comes next?
Amid the push and pull of global power shifts between East and West, James Crabtree brings clarity to the world’s increasingly blurred geopolitical lines. Having spent the past two decades living in Asia, he offers a rare and insightful perspective on the region’s ongoing power struggles.
He discusses how America is attempting to hold its geopolitical holdings in Asia, as China attempts to push them out of the region. In response he asks the age-old question: ‘does America go big, or go home’ to protect the most critical geopolitical fault line there is. Could this lead to a ‘2nd cold war’? Or does it seek to ‘gently retreat and make space for China as a co-equal partner’ in a new world order – a decision America is not ready to make.
He goes on to explore how the interdependencies created by globalisation are now being exploited. Global links, once seen as strengths, are increasingly being weaponised. So how can businesses identify and protect their vulnerabilities before crisis hits? Crabtree urges leaders to confront these questions head-on, warning that resilience must be built before pressure arrives.
Crabtree also unpacks Taiwan’s pivotal role in the tension between Washington and Beijing. While the threat of a Chinese invasion looms large in headlines, he warns that the risks are far more complex – ranging from blockades to cyber disruptions. For any business connected to Asia, understanding Taiwan’s strategic significance is no longer optional, but essential.
Crabtree also sees India as the next major global force. “The future will be more Indian,” he says, offering both opportunity and complexity for the West.
In a fast-changing world, The Perimeter offers a sharp warning: geopolitics is back, and it’s everyone’s business now.
Crabtree is an indispensable voice for any company operating in or expanding into Asia. His insights offer leaders a sharper lens through which to navigate an increasingly uncertain landscape.
Video Timeline
- 00:00 Who are you and what do you do?
- 00:38 Your book, The Perimeter, looks at America’s military role in Asia. What are some key findings?
- 01:57 Trade and supply chains have become core to geopolitical strategies. What are the big risks/opportunities this creates?
- 02:36 How with the relationship between Europe and Asia evolve?
- 03:14 Whats the most underappreciated risk or opportunity for businesse soperating between washintong and beijing?
- 04:01 Technology is reshaping global power. Who’s winning the race – can it even be won?
- 05:10 if you had to bet on one country becoming more influential by 2035, which would it be?
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