The Hundred-Year Marathon

352 pages, 2016

Michael Pillsbury

economics & politics

987 books

Takeaways

Description

One of the U. S. government's leading China experts reveals the hidden strategy fueling that country's rise – and how Americans have been seduced into helping China overtake us as the world's leading superpower. For more than forty years, the United States has played an indispensable role in helping the Chinese government build a booming economy, develop its scientific and military capabilities, and take its place on the world stage, in the belief that China's rise will bring us cooperation, diplomacy, and free trade.

But what if the China Dream is to replace us, just as America replaced the British Empire, without firing a shot? Based on interviews with Chinese defectors and newly declassified, previously undisclosed national security documents, The Hundred-Year Marathon reveals China's secret strategy to supplant the United States as the world's dominant power and to do so by 2049, the one-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic.

China's Long-Term Strategy

In The Hundred-Year Marathon, Michael Pillsbury explores China's long-term strategy to surpass the United States as the world's leading power by 2049. This strategy is not a recent development, but a plan that has been in motion for decades.

Misinterpretation of China's Intentions

Pillsbury suggests that the U.S. and other Western nations have often misinterpreted China's intentions, seeing the country as a partner rather than a competitor. This misunderstanding has allowed China to progress its plans largely unchallenged.

China's Use of 'Assassin's Mace'

The book also digs into the concept of 'Assassin's Mace', a set of strategies China uses to exploit the weaknesses of its adversaries. Pillsbury argues that China has been using these tactics to slowly chip away at America's global influence.

The Role of Deception

Pillsbury highlights the role of deception in China's strategy. He suggests that China often presents itself as a developing country in need of assistance, while quietly advancing its own global ambitions.

Need for a New U.S. Strategy

The Hundred-Year Marathon concludes with a call to action. Pillsbury argues that the U.S. needs to develop a new strategy to counter China's rise. This includes understanding China's long-term goals and tactics, and being prepared to defend against them.

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