Excellent interview, with insights into China that I haven't heard from other China watchers. Louis Gave made some similar points in a recent interview also involving Brent Johnson. What doesn't get discussed is how the divorce (Brent Johnson's term) between the US and China actually deprives us in North America from innovative, affordable tech that could really benefits the lives of ordinary people. We DON'T have access to the amazing, cheap EV cars China is producing because of tariffs snd protection of N. American car manufacturers. Even great ICE vehicles that are available in Asia and parts of European are not offered here. Like it or not, however, small, affordable, short-range EV cars (glorified golf carts, really) are coming our way because they are too much of a good idea to be held back. Long-range vehicles are still a different story, until upgradable, interchangeable batteries and charging infrastructure roll out everywhere.
On another point, where English-speaking Western countries have been going badly wrong is in the "everything bubble" approach, inflating non-productive assets (like housing) and non-productive consumption based on debt to the point that we are not competitive globally . Canada is particularly blame-worthy in this regard -- the government has not encouraged private-sector businesses to innovate and create wealth but has instead fuelled a massive, unsustainable housing bubble and is taxing us to death to pay for its ballooning, unproductive programs. It has the death-spiral effect of driving out entrepreneurs and people who can help grown our ecocnomy sustainable. The sooner we get off this self-destructive approach (by voting out the current government), the better.
