Tensions between the United States and China are intensifying, with a trade war being the latest sign of friction following President Trump’s imposition of tariffs, which were themselves followed by Chinese retaliatory levies and export restrictions. But Trump’s tariffs have hit America’s partners as well as its adversaries, and they come alongside an historic retreat from global leadership, as the new administration withdraws from treaties, distances itself from alliances, and backs away from longtime commitments to leadership in development and humanitarian assistance.

In this episode of Talking Policy, host Lindsay Shingler is joined by Rachel Hulvey, a postdoctoral fellow at the Columbia-Harvard China and the World Program and the Harvard Belfer International Security Program, who studies China's rise and influence on the international order. Together, they discuss how China is taking advantage of the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the global stage to position itself as a responsible global leader.

This interview was conducted on April 16, 2025 and has been edited for length and clarity.