Geography is Destiny: China, The Global South, & Energy

Geography is Destiny: China, The Global South, & Energy

From The Jacob Shapiro Podcast by Jacob Shapiro

July 21, 2026 · 1h 2m · Season 1 · Episode 350

About this episode

Eric Olander joins Jacob Shapiro to discuss the Global South's perspective on China and the US-Iran war, along with the implications of tariffs and energy shocks in Vietnam.

Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of the China Global South Project, joins the pod to discuss the developments on the other side of the globe. From Ho Chi Minh City, Eric explains how the Global South actually sees the US-Iran war, why nobody expects China to ride to anyone's rescue, and how Vietnam's tariff and energy shocks became a never-again moment. He and Jacob dig into the myth that tariffs can implode China, America's fading China literacy, and why the next order won't be Chinese-led - but China will be its transformational character. *Note: There are some weird buzzing sounds in the pod, we know! There was some sort of issue uploading the audio, we're on it. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome and Guest Intro (00:46) - World Cup Travel Chaos (02:01) - Soccer Politics and Tensions (03:33) - Meet Eric Olander (05:32) - China’s Transformation Story (07:54) - Global South Views of China (10:26) - China as Daily Operating System (13:12) - Pew Poll Surprises Explained (14:10) - Southeast Asia vs Northeast Asia (17:32) - Why Philippines Aligns With US (20:10) - Japan Taiwan Flashpoint (21:15) - Supply Chains and Sea Lanes (23:36) - Japan Rearms for Post US Era (28:19) - Japan’s…

People in this episode

Host: Jacob Shapiro

Guest: Eric Olander

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: China Global South Project

Places: Vietnam, China, US, Iran, Ho Chi Minh City, South China Sea

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