How the US-China "Marriage" Went Sour | Einar Tangen

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In this compelling episode of the Silk and Steel Podcast, host Carl Zha sits down with Einar Tangen, an American lawyer, entrepreneur, and media commentator based in Beijing for over 20 years. They dissect the dramatic shift in US-China relations—from the optimistic era of "Chimerica" to today's acrimonious trade wars and strategic competition.

Einar provides a unique, on-the-ground perspective, analyzing the clash of expectations between the two systems, the real impact of globalization on the American middle class, and the internal US political and economic dysfunctions that have fueled China's role as a scapegoat. This is a deep dive into one of the world's most critical relationships, filled with sharp analysis, personal anecdotes, and candid predictions for the future.

🎙️ Guest: Einar Tangen, Political & Economic Commentator
✍️ Find Einar: Asia Narratives on Substack | His commentary across 50+ global TV networks

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
The "Failed Marriage": The US engaged with China hoping to change its political system ("marrying for potential"), while China sought to learn and develop. The US's unmet expectation is a primary source of tension.

Scapegoat, Not Cause: China's rise coincided with a period of American economic anxiety, deindustrialization, and political failure, making it a convenient political scapegoat.

Systemic Contrast: Einar contrasts China's long-term planning, safety, and societal results with America's shrinking middle class, political gridlock, and "financialization" where speculation dwarfs the real economy.

The Real Crisis is American: The discussion highlights America's unsustainable debt, the potential instability of "stable coins," the decline of its car industry, and a political system that rewards box-checking over leadership and empathy.

China's Multipolar Path: China is not seeking a US-style global hegemony (a "G2"). Instead, it invests in multilateral frameworks like BRICS, RCEP, and the SCO.

A Provocative Proposal: Einar suggests the Global South could transform its future by forming commodity cartels (like a "Coffee OPEC") to control pricing and fund their own development, breaking centuries of exploitative trade patterns.

No Quick Fix: The path to better US-China relations requires the US to confront its internal crises and abandon its "hypocritical" foreign policy of exceptionalism. Change likely requires "hitting rock bottom."

🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED
Follow Einar Tangen:

Substack: Asia Narratives

His commentary is widely available on YouTube and international news networks.

Organizations Discussed: BRICS, RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), WTO, OPEC.

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION
What's your take on the future of US-China relations? Is a "commodity cartel" by the Global South feasible?

#USChinaRelations #Geopolitics #EinarTangen #SilkAndSteelPodcast #China #USA #GlobalEconomy #BRICS #ForeignPolicy

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⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction: Who is Einar Tangen?

02:40 - The Core Question: What Happened to US-China Relations?

03:30 - The "Marriage" Analogy: Unmet Expectations & Differing Systems

06:00 - Life in China: Safety, Society, and Governance

09:10 - The American "Unmet Expectation": Why China Was Supposed to Change

12:20 - The Irony: Profitable US Companies vs. Acrimonious Politics

13:40 - The Root Cause: America's Shrinking Middle Class & Rising Desperation

19:00 - Financialization, Debt, and the Looming US Economic Crisis

28:00 - The "Three Economies": Necessity, Infrastructure, and Choice

31:50 - Why Re-Industrialization is a Fantasy: The Kunshan Example

34:40 - The Dangers of Financialization and "Stable Coins"

40:00 - Is There Hope? The Need for a US Reckoning and Attitude Change

45:00 - The Rare Earth Reality Check & The "G2" Trap

50:00 - China's Focus: Multipolarity (BRICS, RCEP, SCO) Not Bipolarity

52:00 - A Radical Solution: Global South "Commodity Cartels" (e.g., Coffee)

57:00 - US Political Dysfunction: Litmus Tests, Ego, and No Empathy

01:04:00 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Einar's Work