The Fault Lines in China’s Power

June 10, 2026

Whereas Beijing had spent years identifying where it could squeeze Washington hardest and then built the capabilities to do so, the United States was not ready to exploit the anxieties that keep China’s leaders up at night—even though there is no shortage of them.


Foreign Affairs

Dr. Ely Ratner is a principal at The Marathon Initiative and formerly served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.