How to Fight Back Against China's Economic Coercion | Ep. 26

Dr. Ellen Kim discusses her new coauthored book, “China's Weaponization of Trade: Resistance Through Collective Resilience,” which tracks hundreds of cases where China has used its economic power to punish or pressure other countries and companies. Ellen Kim is the Director of Academic Affairs at KEI. Previously, she was deputy director and senior fellow with the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Ellen reveals a surprising finding: the United States and its allies have more leverage over China than most people realize—especially when it comes to critical minerals like nickel that China desperately needs. The book explains how China's approach to economic pressure is fundamentally different from tools the United States often uses, like sanctions, and puts forth a strategy called "collective resilience,” drawing from NATO's "attack on one is an attack on all" principle, but applied to trade and economics. Ellen also discusses "predatory liberalism," a phenomenon where countries using trade as a weapon encourages others to do the same, while smaller nations stay quiet to avoid becoming targets. The conversation tackles critical questions for the United States, but also for South Korea, Australia, and other middle powers. Specifically, how does a mid-sized economy protect itself when caught between the United States and China? Ellen explores the Lee Jae Myung administration's efforts to reduce Korea's economic vulnerabilities and the unique challenges Korea faces as competition between Washington and Beijing intensifies. About the Book: China's Weaponization of Trade provides the most detailed analysis yet of how China uses economic coercion, identifies where targeted countries actually have bargaining power, and offers practical strategies for how democracies can defend themselves in an era where trade has become a weapon. You can order a copy from Columbia University Press here: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/chinas-weaponization-of-trade/9780231564205/

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