Ideas of India 2026: Yan Xuetong on China’s Strategy, AI Power and the Future World Order

At the Ideas of India Summit 2026 themed “The New World Order,” global strategy thinker Yan Xuetong, Distinguished Professor and Dean at Tsinghua University, shared a sharp and nuanced perspective on China’s worldview and the evolving balance of power. In conversation with Atideb Sarkar at the ABP Network platform, Yan unpacked how geopolitical competition is shifting beyond traditional military metrics toward technological and cyber capabilities. He emphasized that while China and the United States both possess formidable nuclear deterrence, the real contest is unfolding in domains like artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and economic resilience. According to Yan, the 21st century will be defined less by territorial rivalry and more by innovation ecosystems and governance models that shape global influence. The discussion also explored the dual nature of AI, a transformative force capable of accelerating growth and solving complex challenges, yet one that requires strong international norms to prevent destabilizing consequences. Yan highlighted the importance of strategic restraint and cooperation, noting that technological competition must coexist with mechanisms to avoid escalation. This session offered audiences a rare window into contemporary Chinese strategic thinking, helping decode how Beijing views multipolarity, technological power, and the future architecture of global leadership in an increasingly uncertain world.

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