In this compelling episode of the Silk and Steel Podcast, host Carl Zha sits down with Einar Tangen, an American lawyer, entrepreneur, and media commentator based in Beijing for over 20 years. They dissect the dramatic shift in US-China relations—from the optimistic era of "Chimerica" to today's acrimonious trade wars and strategic competition.
Einar provides a unique, on-the-ground perspective, analyzing the clash of expectations between the two systems, the real impact of globalization on the American middle class, and the internal US political and economic dysfunctions that have fueled China's role as a scapegoat. This is a deep dive into one of the world's most critical relationships, filled with sharp analysis, personal anecdotes, and candid predictions for the future.
Guest: Einar Tangen, Political & Economic Commentator
Find Einar: Asia Narratives on Substack | His commentary across 50+ global TV networks
CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction: Who is Einar Tangen?
02:40 - The Core Question: What Happened to US-China Relations?
03:30 - The "Marriage" Analogy: Unmet Expectations & Differing Systems
06:00 - Life in China: Safety, Society, and Governance
09:10 - The American "Unmet Expectation": Why China Was Supposed to Change
12:20 - The Irony: Profitable US Companies vs. Acrimonious Politics
13:40 - The Root Cause: America's Shrinking Middle Class & Rising Desperation
19:00 - Financialization, Debt, and the Looming US Economic Crisis
28:00 - The "Three Economies": Necessity, Infrastructure, and Choice
31:50 - Why Re-Industrialization is a Fantasy: The Kunshan Example
34:40 - The Dangers of Financialization and "Stable Coins"
40:00 - Is There Hope? The Need for a US Reckoning and Attitude Change
45:00 - The Rare Earth Reality Check & The "G2" Trap
50:00 - China's Focus: Multipolarity (BRICS, RCEP, SCO) Not Bipolarity
52:00 - A Radical Solution: Global South "Commodity Cartels" (e.g., Coffee)
57:00 - US Political Dysfunction: Litmus Tests, Ego, and No Empathy
01:04:00 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Einar's Work
