China Threat: A Real Threat or an Imagined Fear?

As China’s economy and military power are growing fast and the Chinese government takes a more assertive approach to both domestic and international affairs, China is increasingly perceived as a threat to America’s national interests and security. Is China by nature an aggressive and expansionist country? Or China has no intention to dominate the world, America’s mounting fear of China is derived from some misunderstanding of China’s intention and situation? This talk will explore these questions from China’s internal perspective, that is, from how Chinese people perceive U.S-China relations and China’s future status in the world.

Gengsong Gao is an assistant professor of Chinese studies at the University of Richmond. His research fields are contemporary Chinese thought, literature and pop culture.