In lectures, television appearances, and books like The Great Convergence, Kishore Mahbubani has attempted to explain the rise of Asia, and the new challenges and opportunities it affords. He has also described what he views as the decline of America, a country that has lost its way and cast off many of its own ideals. He is both a scholar and practitioner of world affairs. Beginning in the 1970s, he served in Singapore’s foreign ministry and then as the nation’s representative to the United Nations. He was also, between 2004 and 2017, the dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. And this month, he has a new book out called, Has China Won? What follows is a lightly edited interview. Kishore MahbubaniIllustration by Lauren Crow Q: Let’s start with why you decided to write this book. What prompted you to write Has China Won? A: I consider myself a friend of America and a friend of China. And I see these two countries rushing