China’s rise is undeniable—but does its dominance make the world safer or more brittle? In this forthright fireside chat, former UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat MP dissects Beijing’s global playbook, from critical-minerals leverage and battery supremacy to the looming question of Taiwan. If you care about supply-chain resilience, tech sovereignty, or the next geopolitical shockwave, these eight minutes are essential viewing.

Key Takeaways:
- Strategic Dependence Risks – Western economies rely on China for 80 % of batteries and most advanced materials, handing Beijing leverage over everything from electric vehicles to energy security.
- China’s Internal Fragility – Behind the super-power façade lie property bubbles, demographic decline and an increasingly personalist regime that could wobble—or implode—without warning.
- Technology & Surveillance Edge – From EVs that double as “mobile intelligence-gathering platforms” to a fast-growing satellite network, China’s tech ambitions extend well beyond copy-and-paste manufacturing.
- Taiwan Flashpoint Scenario – An outright invasion is unlikely; a maritime quarantine that strangles the island’s trade is the more probable—and imminent—threat the world must prepare for.