Taiwan, China and the Limits of Alarmism: A Conversation With Randy Schriver
In this episode of DC Insiders, host Wenchi Yu sits down with Randy Schriver, vice chair of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission and former senior Pentagon official, for a wide-ranging conversation on American leadership, Donald Trump’s foreign policy instincts and the future of security in the Indo-Pacific. Schriver reflects on his experience in the first Trump administration, including negotiations with Afghanistan, and explains why he sees Trump as driven less by ideology than by a desire to end wars while still using force when he believes it is necessary. They also discuss rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan’s democracy and resilience, and how “whole of society” defense can strengthen deterrence without over-militarizing everyday life. This episode was recorded in December 2025.
