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Interview

US is a mess but China isn't the solution: Niall Ferguson

Coronavirus exposes failure of superpowers, success of small 'paranoid' states

A supporter of President Donald Trump holds a U.S. flag during a protest against coronavirus restrictions outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on May 15.   © Reuters

NEW YORK -- Despite growing speculation that China will emerge as the leading superpower in the post-pandemic world, both Beijing and Washington made big mistakes in their coronavirus response and are unlikely to trade places on the global stage, renowned historian Niall Ferguson tells Nikkei.

Ferguson said in a recent interview that smaller nations like South Korea and Israel were much more effective in containing the virus, and that the world's superpowers will need to do some serious soul-searching. But he also showed optimism over the U.S. ability to learn from its failures and prevent another crisis like this one.

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