"Pillsbury is a knowledgeable hawk with an interest in Chinese history and culture. Unlike ignorant China hawks in the US, Pillsbury has a passion for understanding China" said Lu Xiang, a senior fellow Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
In September 2015, China expert Michael Pillsbury published The Hundred-Year Marathon: China’s Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower, in which he expressed regret over the US’ weak China policy. This might have contributed to US President Donald Trump’s win in 2016.