As Hong Kong is engulfed by the biggest pro-democracy protests in its modern history, hopes rise that people power will win the day and safeguard the city’s unique way of life. But Beijing has other plans.Get 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/silenced |Read more from Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sk-so/sophia-yan/ |Read more from Nicola Smith: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/n/nf-nj/nicola-smith/ |Read more of The Telegraph's coverage of Hong Kong: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/hong-kong/ |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protests have broken out in China over the zero-Covid policy, over lockdowns, and even over the rule of newly appointed third-term leader Xi Jinping. The government has begun a crackdown, there have been arrests, there have been intimidating interrogations, there have been street closures, and there has been a lot of internet content removed. To go over it all and see what we can make of it, Lawfare editor-in-chief Benjamin Wittes sat down with Sophia Yan, who just left China where she has been The Telegraph’s correspondent for a number of years. They talked about whether these protests might have legs, about what capacity the government has to shut them down, and about whether this could be the beginning of something.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Experts discuss China's hacking campaign, Baltic states' defense measures against Russia, and tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Topics cover Chinese cyber tactics, Baltic defense preparedness, sentiments along Russia's border, and challenges in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

Kremlin critic Boris Nadezhdin faces challenges in his presidential bid, and Latvian Foreign Minister discusses boosting defense against Russian aggression with Sophia Yan. Zelensky considers a "reset" to replace senior officials, and recent gains and incidents on the front line are discussed. Political and diplomatic developments, warning about frozen Russian assets, and preparations for potential Russian aggression are also covered.

Sophia Yan, pianist for the Lawfare Podcast and Rational Security, is also The Telegraph’s Beijing correspondent—or at least, she was until the other day. She’s produced a new podcast entitled, “How to become a dictator,” about the rise and rule of Xi Jinping and her own struggles as a reporter in Xi’s China. Now Sophia’s in Taiwan after a hasty exit from the country, and she joined Lawfare’s editor-in-chief Benjamin Wittes to discuss the new podcast and her departure from China. Who is Xi Jinping really? How is Xi different from other recent Chinese leaders? Why did Sophia leave China? And did she take her piano with her?Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophia Yan, a senior correspondent for The Telegraph, shares insights on Israel's military strategies in Syria and their implications for regional stability. H.J. Meyer discusses Asheville's remarkable recovery from Hurricane Helene, highlighting community resilience amidst challenges. Zoe Grunewald and Alex Szerbiak dive into current global events, including the impact of Poland's elections and humanitarian initiatives. Lastly, Chiara Rimella introduces Monocle's Greece handbook, celebrating its launch and the cultural connections between Greece and its diaspora.

Sophia Yan, a senior foreign correspondent based in Istanbul, discusses Russia's increasing military footprint in Libya, leveraging satellite imagery to showcase their strategic maneuvers. James Rothwell highlights the alarming rise of gang violence in Sweden, particularly focusing on the disturbing trend of child soldiers being recruited for criminal activities. Both guests explore how global dynamics intertwine with local conflicts, revealing the complexities of geopolitical power plays and societal issues.

Hear Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan discuss the Israeli forensics teams searching through ash for teeth to identify Hamas victims. Sophia Yan investigates Hamas assets in Turkey, and Nataliya Vasilyeva talks about her reporting on the experiences of the Israeli Bedouin. Get an overview of the history of the region from Assistant Comment Editor Francis Dearnley.

This past weekend, the Chinese Communist Party held its 20th National Congress, an event held every five years at which it appoints its senior leadership who in turn holds the reins of China's government. This year, the event focused on one man, Xi Jinping, the current president of China, who secured an unprecedented, third consecutive five-year term as the party’s senior-most official and was able to staff the party apparatus with hand-chosen loyalists, even at the expense of his predecessors and other factions in the party.To discuss these events, Lawfare senior editor Scott R. Anderson sat down with Sophia Yan, China correspondent for The Telegraph, and Julian Ku, Professor of Law at Hofstra University. They discussed what went down at the National Congress, where it says China is headed in the next five years, and what it might mean for its relationship with the United States.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nancy Pelosi made a visit to Taiwan this week. It wasn't exactly a surprise—we all knew it was happening—but it wasn't announced, and it wasn't quite official either. Beijing has gone a little bit crazy. There are military exercises taking place off the coast of Taiwan in response. There are threats of war. There was even talk of shooting down Pelosi's plane. To talk it all through, Benjamin Wittes sat down with Sophia Yan, Beijing correspondent for the Telegraph; Julian Ku, professor of law at Hofstra University; and Zack Cooper of the Alliance for Protecting Democracy at the German Marshall Fund. They talked about why Pelosi went, about how Beijing reacted, and whether it's all bluster or whether this is the real deal. They also talked about what we can expect to happen over the next few months and how we can deescalate the situation over the next few days. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.