Welcome to Words Matter with Katie Barlow and Joe Lockhart.

This is the Words Matter Library.

Our guest today is an author, a scholar, and a strategic consultant.

He speaks five languages, is the founder of Atlas Organization, a strategic consultancy,

and holds a PhD from Oxford in China-India relations.

He's the author of the new book, China's Vision of Victory.

Dr. Jonathan Ward, welcome to Words Matter.

Good morning, it's great to be here.

Before we talk about your book, let's start with your background.

So you began your academic career studying Russian language and Russian culture, and

by all indications it seemed like you were on track to become a Russia expert.

And then you changed.

How and why did you switch your focus from Russia to China?

Sure.

So I actually did both languages as an undergrad, but with an undergrad degree in Russian language

and literature, I'd read Russian literature as a high school student thought it was very

interesting.

When I got to college, I realized I could essentially take any language in the world that interested

me.

So as about an 18-year-old, I made this decision that I was going to learn the hardest languages

in the world that would allow me to communicate with as many people as humanly possible.

That was sort of my goal as an 18-year-old.

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