Cindy Yu, assistant editor at the Spectator Magazine, and host of the 'Chinese Whispers' podcast talks about China's potential invasion of Taiwan, adopting a Cold War-like mentality towards China, Chinese espionage in the West, immigration from Hong Kong into the UK, China's declining birthrate, the century of humiliation, the legacy of Xi Jinping, and the democracy movement in China.
Chinese diplomats prioritize serving China's goals and maintaining message discipline over making friends and building bridges.
The influx of skilled immigrants from Hong Kong to the UK could potentially have significant impacts on the country's political landscape and future elections.
The future prospects for democracy in China remain uncertain due to the Chinese Communist Party's strength and the potential risks and instability during a transition to democracy.
Deep dives
Chinese diplomats operate differently
Chinese diplomats are more like a moat, trying to keep foreigners away from the central leadership. They are not focused on building bridges or making friends, but rather on serving China's goals and maintaining message discipline.
Wave of immigrants from Hong Kong to the UK
About 150,000 people from Hong Kong have applied for residency in the UK due to the political situation and China's national security law. This influx of highly skilled immigrants could have significant impacts on the UK, potentially leading to a Hong Kong-born cabinet minister or prime minister and potentially swinging the next election depending on the regions they settle in.
Prospects for democracy in China
The prospects for democracy in China are uncertain. While many believe in the importance of democratic liberal principles, the Chinese Communist Party's strength and the potential risks and instability during a transition to democracy make the future outcome unclear. However, it is important to continue advocating for democracy and supporting those who fight for it.
Concerns about Chinese espionage
Chinese espionage in the West is a real concern. While there is not necessarily a moral panic about it, experts agree that there are numerous Chinese spies operating across various countries. Chinese diplomats are seen as serving China's interests and keeping foreigners away from the central leadership, which is different from the typical role of diplomats in the West.
China's declining birth rate
China's declining birth rate is a significant issue. Several factors contribute to this decline, including the legacy of the one-child policy, the cost of living, and changing attitudes towards family and career. The aging population resulting from the declining birth rate will have societal and economic consequences, and addressing these issues will be important for China's future.
My guest today is Cindy Yu. Cindy Yu is an assistant editor at the Spectator Magazine, and she's the host of the "Chinese Whispers" podcast, which is actually one of my favorite podcasts.
We talk about whether China will invade Taiwan. We talk about whether the West should adopt a Cold War-like mentality towards China. We discuss the phenomenon of Chinese espionage in the West. We talk about the wave of immigration from Hong Kong into the UK. We discuss the nosedive in China's birthrate over the past 10 years. We talk about the so-called century of humiliation. We talk about the legacy of Xi Jinping. We also talk about the apparent futility of the democracy movement in China and much more.
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