What Just Happened? China, Taiwan, Western Fragmentation and the Looming ‘Polycrisis’
Podcast
January 29, 2026
In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Sibylline’s Chief Analyst, Sam Olsen, to explore the concept of the ‘polycrisis’ — the convergence of geopolitical, technological, and economic risks threatening global stability in the coming years. Sam Olsen explains China’s growing assertiveness, Taiwan’s strategic vulnerabilities, and the critical importance of semiconductors and AI in shaping future power dynamics. The conversation also addresses the challenges facing NATO and European security, the use of grey-zone operations by Russia and China, the risk of domestic instability in the United States, and the growing need for resilience in an increasingly complex and interconnected threat environment.
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