4 days ago
Joe Rogan Says China 'On Verge of Passing' US in 'Many Areas'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Podcaster Joe Rogan has said China is "on the verge of passing" the United States in "many areas" such as drones and electric cars.
Why It Matters
Rogan, one of the world's most-listened-to podcasters, was discussing global affairs with comedian Jimmy Carr in a Joe Rogan Experience episode uploaded on May 23.
His comments reflect a broader debate over the shifting global balance of power, as the U.S. and its allies navigate a world increasingly defined by competition with China.
On top of this, global dynamics are shifting under Donald Trump's presidency, with concerns about opportunities for Beijing to woo U.S. allies in the face of Trump's tariffs and rhetoric about places like Greenland and the Panama Canal.
Joe Rogan is seen during a weigh-in before UFC 211 on May 12, 2017, in Dallas.
Joe Rogan is seen during a weigh-in before UFC 211 on May 12, 2017, in Dallas.
AP
What To Know
Carr was talking about the American constitution, how it gives people agency and "the flourishing that's come out of it."
"Look at what it's achieved," he said. "Imagine if something like that happens in China—imagine—in our lifetime that they go with a different system."
He went on to compare China to a "covers band" saying it "has its own version of Facebook and its own version of Google."
"What is it about America that allows this entrepreneurial spirit, that allows Silicon Valley to happen?" Carr asked.
Rogan said: "Well they've got a very interesting approach because they still have a very entrepreneurial spirit as well. They've got a weird sort of merging of communism and capitalism. Like it's state-run capitalism."
"But they still have insane innovation," he continued. "Like China's technological innovation is probably greater than ours—in a lot of areas. In the areas of electrical vehicles for sure. In the areas of drones for sure."
Rogan went on to discuss China's "spectacular drone capabilities" and electric cars "you'd have no idea you don't follow these obscure car review people online that review Chinese electric cars."
"Insane technology inside the vehicles, like spectacular-looking cars," Rogan said. "They're on the verge of passing us in many areas because there's a lot of regulation in regards to drone technology in particular in this country."
What People Are Saying
Donald Trump made similar comments about China and electric vehicles before the 2024 election: "China's eating our lunch right now," Trump said while criticizing what he considered a lack of tariffs imposed on China by former President Joe Biden.
"We're losing," he said later talking about electric vehicles. "They're all gonna be made in China," he added.
Robert D. Atkinson, founder of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a public policy think tank, wrote last September: "There may be no more important question for the West's competitive position in advanced industries than whether China is becoming a rival innovator. While the evidence suggests it hasn't yet taken the overall lead, it has pulled ahead in certain areas, and in many others Chinese firms will likely equal or surpass Western firms within a decade or so."
What Happens Next
The growing rivalry between the U.S. and China is likely to remain a central issue in global affairs, with potential flashpoints in trade, technology and geopolitics.
It remains to be seen how Trump's tariff war and his changes to regulations in the United States will play into this.
