Asia Global Institute

US-China 'contest of the century' is on technology, says academic

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

US-China 'contest of the century' is on technology, says academic

In a recent CNBC interview, AGI Distinguished Fellow, Andrew Sheng, discussed the US-China relationship, framing it as a "contest of the century" primarily focused on technology – a competition between "financial engineers versus applied engineers."

Sheng emphasized that while complete decoupling is unrealistic due to deeply interconnected supply chains, focusing on confrontation overshadows the critical need for cooperation to address shared existential threats like climate change and the risk of nuclear conflict. He suggested finding areas for truce on disputes and actively pursuing collaboration where possible. Watch the full interview below: 

Author

Andrew Sheng

Distinguished Fellow, Asia Global Institute

Andrew Sheng

ASIA GLOBAL INSTITUTE

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