Wendy Sherman
Appearances
3 Takeaways
Top Takeaways of 2024 (#232)
Well, I think we all have to be careful about not overselling this. Some people call it the axis of chaos. Some people call it an alliance of adversaries. I'm not sure how deep it really goes, how intertwined it is. China probably is pretty irritated.
3 Takeaways
Top Takeaways of 2024 (#232)
with North Korea's relationship with Russia and may create a place for disruption of that relationship and perhaps a way for the United States to talk with China about deterring North Korea from taking adverse actions. So this is a little bit more complicated. Each of these countries has its own interests.
3 Takeaways
Top Takeaways of 2024 (#232)
Where those interests align, they will undoubtedly already are working together, but their interests don't always align. And so we have to be careful about over expecting that all four of these countries will work in harmony with each other. So we need to take it case by case, understand each instance, look for where these countries have powerful stakes in other parts of the world.
3 Takeaways
Top Takeaways of 2024 (#232)
and make sure that we're doing really tough analysis before we come to too many conclusions.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
One of the things I'm really proud of having been part of is working with Secretary Blinken to create a new Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy and an Office for Emerging Technologies at the Department of State. And what I said to diplomats is how we do diplomacy, how the world's going to operate is going to change dramatically. And it's not going to be a 40-year industrial revolution.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
It's here now. And it's only going to grow in its power. And so we have to understand it, know how to use it, be ready for it. And again, those investments that President Biden, Vice President Harris, along with the bipartisan Congress have made are critical to our future in AI. This is going to be very challenging. We have to compete against China, which is the other looming AI power.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
for having the technologies and the capacity. We have the most advanced technology companies in the world. China has some as well. We have to keep going. We have to make sure that the incentives are there, but the protections as well. And the United States has had a very hard time coming up with norms, let alone regulations or laws that help us manage artificial intelligence.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
And then as quantum comes along and biotech, those arenas as well. So I think this is an area where I hope
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
All administrations will focus a lot of attention and not let technology companies just do whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it, because that tends to be rather free form without any concerns for privacy or any concerns for managing those technologies and the use of those technologies.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
I think space is a domain of extraordinary importance. All of our communications capabilities reside in space. What we're discussing now on this internet, on this Zoom, is possible because of satellites in low space. We have to be very careful because the use of weapons in space is going to become more and more likely.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
We saw earlier in the public press a discussion about the Russians perhaps creating a nuclear capable weapon in space. That, of course, would be of enormous concern. We have to make sure that our satellite system, which manages our communications, can't be disabled because that would be obviously catastrophic. for the United States, and for the world and its ability to communicate.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
So these are very serious issues about which both our intelligence communities, our defense community, and our diplomatic community are very, very engaged.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
Individuals often when they think about these things, really don't think about them. They're complicated and difficult. And we have an information space that is very individualistic now. People don't watch the same evening news. They don't listen to the same podcasts. For the most part, people don't read newspapers, even digitally. How people get information is very individualized.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
And as a result, we don't share facts. We don't share information. We believe what we read and what we read is often quite different. How we bridge this different information space so that we can come to a common understanding is really crucial for the future and for democracy. If we don't share facts, then we cannot go forward. So I think it's really important as we educate our children to
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
that we help them understand how to read and absorb information, how to discern facts, how to make sure what we know, what is authentic from what is inauthentic, and how to engage in civic space, how to be a really good citizen and what that requires of each of us. And that I think is as critical for the future as almost anything else.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
I think the first is that every individual has a responsibility to really learn how to absorb and assess information, to know what facts are, and to be a good citizen. The second takeaway would be that we often think that we are finished with an issue. When World War I happened, people thought it was the war to end all wars.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
And yet 20 years later, which is just a blip in history, we had World War II. World affairs and the issues in front of us require persistence. It's very easy to get depressed. and to think there's nothing you can do, or that something you thought was resolved has raised its ugly head again. But that means we must persist. Which leads me to the third takeaway.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
Democracy, as I wrote in my own book, is not for the faint of heart. One has to work at it. One has to persist. One has to educate oneself. We have enormous challenges as we've been discussing on this podcast, but we can go forward. We can ensure our democracy, but it takes all of us to do it.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
And so I'm very grateful for podcasts like yours, Lynn, where we can have a conversation and people can begin to understand what's required of each of us.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
Well, China, as the administration has said, is really the pacing challenge for all of us. It is the only country with the wherewithal to compete effectively with the United States. It is building its military, including its nuclear arsenal. Xi Jinping has been very clear about what he wants to achieve, which is to create a new world order in the mold of China. And so this is quite critical.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
It is the economy changing. that really can begin to match ours. That said, we need to build a floor under our relationship with China and the Biden-Harris administration has been able to do that in spite of some really tough challenges. Can you elaborate on that floor? I would say the floor is plywood. It's not mahogany or oak yet.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
We were about to head off to China, actually, Secretary Blinken, and although it was unusual, I was going to go with him, on a visit to the PRC when this mysterious balloon crossed the United States. And that spy balloon created a situation where, in fact, the secretary had to postpone his visit. Ultimately, that visit happened. Various other cabinet secretaries also went.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
We reestablished a military-to-military dialogue, which is absolutely critical to make sure that we have a channel so that there won't be mistakes or miscalculations, that we're able to talk with each other about military issues. We've worked hard together on fentanyl, because most of the precursor chemicals come from China, are assembled in Mexico, and come across the United States.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
We've seen a decline in the number of fentanyl deaths here in the United States, which is partly because of that work. And we've continued to have a diplomatic channel, which is absolutely critical as we try to make sure that our great power and this developing power don't come to blows. How do you see Russia? Oh, goodness. Putin is quite a leader.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
He is without a doubt a very serious authoritarian leader. He has control of all of the media in his country. His citizens have come on board with his belief that Ukraine should be part of the Russian Federation. He sees this in deep historical terms. And clearly, he is willing to lose many, many lives of Russian citizens.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
And only recently, because of Ukraine's ability to hid inside Russia, are the Russian people themselves coming to understand what's really going on, as opposed to the propaganda. Putin has allowed his economy to suffer as a result of the sanctions, but nonetheless, He is committed to what I believe in his own mind is an ideological and historical battle.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
His new relationship with North Korea, as well as a deepening relationship with Iran, is cause for great concern, of course, because North Korea has sent troops. We've now seen it appears that Yemeni or Houthi soldiers have come as well. So we have quite a battle going on. How do you see Iran? Iran is a very complicated country.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
We tend to think of Iran as completely one because it has a supreme leader, but it too has politics. The new Iranian president had hoped to create a better relationship with the West, get rid of some of the sanctions. help improve the economy because the vast majority of Iranians are under the age of 35 and need to have a future that they can look forward to.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
But the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Quds Force, which through the budget finance Hezbollah, Hamas, help the Houthis create the drones that Russia has used in Ukraine, don't want that kind of reconciliation because they own A lot of the black market parts of the economy, they would lose that advantage. They would lose their power within Iran. Fight hard against that era for reform.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
We just saw today when we are taping this that Larajani, who is a counselor to the Supreme Leader, has called for recreating a negotiation with the West and with the United States.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
And indeed, at the end of November, the E3, Great Britain, France and Germany are going to be meeting with the deputy foreign minister, Mati Takravanchi, who is one of my counterparts in the Iran negotiation, to talk about a way forward.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
North Korea in many ways is the most difficult player here in that Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, has built an enormous nuclear arsenal and clearly has growing missile capability to project those missiles all the way to the United States. It seems it's difficult to deter him from whatever he plans to do in the future. He has sent
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
North Korean soldiers to Russia to help in the war in Ukraine. And some people expect that he'll send as many as 100,000 North Koreans. In return, I'm sure he's getting some hard, cold cash that he needs, as well as assistance with missile and nuclear technology. So this is very concerning. It's meant that South Korea, which has ammunition the Ukrainians need,
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
is indeed getting more engaged in the conflict. And South Korea and Japan have reconciled to a large degree, understanding that together they have to confront a growing China and Kim Jong-un, who has literally broken down any relationship between North and South Korea.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
Well, I think we all have to be careful about not overselling this. Some people call it the axis of chaos. Some people call it an alliance of adversaries. I'm not sure how deep it really goes, how intertwined it is. China probably is pretty irritated
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
with North Korea's relationship with Russia and may create a place for disruption of that relationship and perhaps a way for the United States to talk with China about deterring North Korea from taking adverse actions. So this is a little bit more complicated. Each of these countries has its own interests.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
Where those interests align, they will undoubtedly already are working together, but their interests don't always align. And so we have to be careful about over expecting that all four of these countries will work in harmony with each other. So we need to take it case by case.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
understand each instance, look for where these countries have powerful stakes in other parts of the world, and make sure that we're doing really tough analysis before we come to too many conclusions.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
Well, first of all, I think we need to do what President Biden has been doing, which is invest in our own country, make sure that we have the economic strength that we've always had. And indeed, we are now the world's strongest economy as of this date. Our GDP, our growth has really snapped back.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
And even though individual Americans don't yet feel all of it in their pocketbooks, in their lived lives day by day, as we've just seen in our last election, nonetheless, we have the world's strongest economy right now. We also are planning for the future.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
We know the future is going to be one of artificial intelligence, quantum biotech, and the investments that President Biden, along with bipartisan work by the Congress, which surprises people, have made investments that are going to be critical to our future. We need to continue to make such investments.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
We have to invest in our military, in our recruitment, in the weapons of the future, which will be very different from the conventional weapons of the past. We have to reform how we fight wars because it's going to be quite different. We've already seen the impact of drones in Russia's illegal and horrifying invasion of a sovereign country. We need to invest in our alliances and partnerships.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
I know that the president-elect has said that he's going to challenge NATO and has even said he might leave NATO. He can't do that without an act of Congress because of legislation that's been passed. My guess is he will challenge European countries to spend more on their own defense. It's important. They've already done so.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
NATO, in my view, remains a critical security alliance for Europe and for everyone's future. But Europeans are looking at what they themselves need to do to strengthen their own capacity, which will then strengthen the relationship with the United States. We have to look to alliances and relationships in the rest of the world. I think it's very important that President Biden held an African summit.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
a Pacific Islands summit, an ASEAN summit that he has strengthened what's called the Asian Quad, which is India, Japan, the United States and Australia. Worked with the UK on AUKUS, a new security relationship with Australia to help them build nuclear powered submarines to increase deterrence in the Pacific. So I think there are a lot of things that we've done.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
And I certainly hope the president-elect understands how important they are to the security of the United States.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
I think China will do what it perceives is in its interest. What the United States needs to do is make sure that we have dialogue with China, that we compete and insist on a level playing field, that we see where we can cooperate and that we ensure that we don't fall into conflict and hope China keeps those channels open so they don't as well.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
We haven't talked yet about Xi Jinping's declaration that he will unify Taiwan with mainland China. He has said he wants to do that peacefully, but if not, he'll do whatever it takes to make that happen. That, of course, is extraordinarily of great concern to us. because we believe that Taiwan has a right to its current trajectory while maintaining a strong relationship with the mainland.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
We have a one-China policy, as you know. And I think everyone now knows that some of the most sophisticated chips in the world are produced in Taiwan. And so we all need to make sure that those chips are are available to all countries, not just to mainland China.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
The Taiwan Relations Act, which was passed in bipartisan fashion by Congress, requires us to support Taiwan in ways that it's able to defend itself. So Taiwan has purchased sophisticated technology. They're trying to build their own reserve force, their own civil defense, their own asymmetric capabilities with our support and help. And I think it's critical that we continue to do just that.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
I think this is obviously of enormous concern. And I think Taiwan is trying to make plans to be able to survive that. But I think that a lot of people believe that that may be a likely trajectory by China and one that we all have to be mindful of.
3 Takeaways
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (#227)
Well, it's sort of hard for me to question in any way what Eric Schmidt says, since he understands AI better than I ever will. But I have no doubt that artificial intelligence is going to be critical.