The world in 2025 is vastly different from that in 1995. As China's comprehensive national strength has steadily increased since the 21st century, skepticism has shifted from the previous "China collapse theory" to the rising "China threat theory." The rise of China compels us to address a century-old question: What does China's growing global role specifically mean for countries and peoples around the world?

Meanwhile, U.S.-China relations are at the core of international politics, and many are concerned that the competition between the two countries may gradually escalate into conflict. Is a win-win world achievable? And how can it be realized?

Invited by the London School of Economics (LSE), Dr. Tian Shichen, founder and president of the Global Governance Institution, will discuss these issues with Zhou Bo, a researcher at Tsinghua University's Center for Security and Strategic Studies, and leading policy researchers from the UK.

Should the World Fear China?

Speaker

Zhou Bo

Visiting Expert and Senior Researcher, Tsinghua University Center for Security and Strategic Studies. Formerly with the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China, where he was responsible for China's foreign military relations, he is recognized as one of the leading experts on global security issues in China by international media.

Tian Shichen

Founder and President of the Global Governance Institution, PhD in International Public Law from Wuhan University, Chevening Scholar, and Master’s in International Public Law from the University of Nottingham. His research focuses on maritime security and law, geopolitics and international law, the law of armed conflict, and international human rights law. Before retirement, he served as Director of the Emergency Affairs and Media Office of the Ministry of Defense and held various positions in intelligence, law, and policy in the Army, Navy, and Headquarters.

Nigel Inkster

Senior Advisor, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), former Director of the IISS Transnational Threats and Political Risk Department, and Director of the Cyber Security and Future Conflict Department. While in the latter role, he participated in quasi-diplomatic dialogues on cybersecurity and military cyber stability between China and Russia. Inkster worked for 31 years in the UK Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).

Moderator

Alexander Evans

Professor of Practice in Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Deputy Dean of the School of Public Policy. He has served as an advisor in the UK Prime Minister’s Office and Director of Cyber Affairs at the Foreign Office, where he was the lead negotiator for the UK's international cyber policy. During the first Obama administration, he was a senior advisor at the U.S. State Department, leading the UN Security Council expert group on ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban.

Lecture Time

A UK Time: March 24, 2025, 18:30-20:00

China Time: March 25, 2025, 2:30-4:00

Event Format & Registration

Offline Lecture (Online Live Stream)

Venue: London School of Economics, Cheng Kin Ku Building, Wolfson Theatre

Advance online registration is required for both in-person attendance and live-streaming.

In-person registration link

Online live stream registration link:

Lecture Language

English (No Chinese translation provided)