Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Is America's ability to deter China today affected, even in part, by conversations over whether the U.S. has enough weapons?

That’s the question host Nick Schifrin posed to Randall Schriver, former assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, in this week’s episode of Compass Points.

“I take the Chinese at their word, and I think what they're writing and what they're saying publicly is that the U.S. is in a diminished position because of these ongoing conflicts,” Schriver said.

Compass Points from PBS News analyzes prominent international affairs topics and America’s role in a shifting world, breaking down global conflicts, rising tensions, and their implications for U.S. interests. Visit the PBS News website to watch this week's episode.

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