In this expert geopolitical analysis, Wang Dan, China Director at Eurasia Group, examines the single most important variable shaping China’s outlook: the China–US relationship.

As global dynamics shift, she explains why 2026 may be defined less by escalation and more by managed competition between Beijing and Washington.

Key insights from this discussion:

• Why China–US relations remain the most important “accidental variable”
• How both sides are managing vulnerability instead of escalating conflict
• US strategic contraction from the eastern hemisphere and its global impact
• China’s expanding influence across APAC and the Global South
• Deepening supply chain integration between China and ASEAN
• Why Southeast Asia is becoming more central to industrial allocation

Wang highlights how integration between China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is reshaping Asia’s supply chains, strengthening regional economic ties, and creating new strategic space for Beijing.

He also offers a critical perspective on information overload in the AI era. In a world dominated by short-form news and algorithmic summaries, Wang argues that understanding long-term geopolitical and technological trends requires deeper reading and strategic thinking — especially during major transitions like artificial intelligence.

Who should watch this?

• Investors tracking geopolitical risk
• Business leaders navigating US–China competition
• Policy professionals focused on APAC strategy
• Supply chain and manufacturing decision-makers
• Anyone seeking clarity on long-term global order shifts

Learn more about CEIBS, a global business school cofounded by the European Union and the Chinese government, here.