Trump-Xi: Sensing their 2026 agendas

What they want from each other

Worth getting hawkish on China?

Why Trump's muted on Taiwan

Different than any other US president

How China sees the US now

Will China become world's sole superpower?

Our expert guest explains why he predicts both men will seek good vibes in 2026.

Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times gets its US bureau chief to analyse the hottest political and trending talking points.

In this episode, US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar hosts her special guest - Harvard Professor Graham Allison - who tells her how he manages to read Trump right, by taking him seriously, looking at his patterns amid all his statements, and noticing the trend lines.

Prof Allison is the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at Harvard University where he has taught for five decades. He is a leading analyst of national security with special interests in nuclear weapons, Russia, China, and decision-making.  

He has also written books, including Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap?, published in 2017. He also had another book out earlier in 2013 - Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master’s Insights on China, the United States and the World -  which has been a bestseller in the US and abroad. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:31 How well do Trump & Xi vibe? Getting a sense of their agendas for 2026

7:34 What do Trump and Xi want from each other?

9:31 Will Trump get hawkish on China ahead of 2026 election?

13:52 Why is Trump muted on China-Japan spat over Taiwan?

18:50 Why Trump is different from any other US president

21:48 How today’s China looks at today’s America

24:43 Will China be the world’s sole superpower?

Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo 

Follow Bhagyashree Garekar on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/gD6E 

Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz 

Host: Bhagyashree Garekar (bhagya@sph.com.sg) 

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#STAsianInsider

Our expert guest explains why he predicts both men will seek good vibes in 2026.
Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times gets its US bureau chief to analyse the hottest political and trending talking points.
In this episode, US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar hosts her special guest - Harvard Professor Graham Allison - who tells her how he manages to read Trump right, by taking him seriously, looking at his patterns amid all his statements, and noticing the trend lines.
Prof Allison is the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at Harvard University where he has taught for five decades. He is a leading analyst of national security with special interests in nuclear weapons, Russia, China, and decision-making.&nbsp;&nbsp;
He has also written books, including Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides&rsquo;s Trap?, published in 2017. He also had another book out earlier in 2013 - Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master&rsquo;s Insights on China, the United States and the World -&nbsp; which has been a bestseller in the US and abroad.&nbsp;
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:31 How well do Trump &amp; Xi vibe? Getting a sense of their agendas for 2026
7:34 What do Trump and Xi want from each other?
9:31 Will Trump get hawkish on China ahead of 2026 election?
13:52 Why is Trump muted on China-Japan spat over Taiwan?
18:50 Why Trump is different from any other US president
21:48 How today&rsquo;s China looks at today&rsquo;s America
24:43 Will China be the world&rsquo;s sole superpower?
Read Bhagyashree Garekar&rsquo;s articles:<a href="https://str.sg/whNo"> https://str.sg/whNo</a>&nbsp;
Follow Bhagyashree Garekar on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/gD6E">https://str.sg/gD6E</a>&nbsp;
Sign up for ST&rsquo;s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: <a href="https://str.sg/sfpz">https://str.sg/sfpz</a>&nbsp;
Host: Bhagyashree Garekar (<a href="mailto:bhagya@sph.com.sg">bhagya@sph.com.sg</a>)&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Fa&rsquo;izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/JWa7"> https://str.sg/JWa7</a>&nbsp;
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/JWa8"> https://str.sg/JWa8</a>&nbsp;
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/JWaX"> https://str.sg/JWaX</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#STAsianInsider

Get our uniquely Asian perspective on global issues, with ST’s correspondents from around the world.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.

Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Asian Insider

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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