From Open Source to Deterrence: Rethinking China’s Threat Profile
In this episode of DC Insiders, Peter Mattis from the Jamestown Foundation sits down with host Wenchi Yu to explore how Washington assesses Beijing’s intentions toward Taiwan, and what the so-called “Davidson window” signifies. Mattis explains that US warnings were never a prediction of war, but an assessment of capability. He traces those assessments to guidance issued around 2021, when China’s leadership began measuring the PLA’s readiness against concrete benchmarks in training, logistics, joint operations and national defense mobilization. Mattis also advocates for open-source research to accurately assess sources and quality of information for better-informed policy. This episode was recorded in December, 2025.
