China In Context

The battle for supremacy in Asia has a new flashpoint in the South China Sea. It is known as the Sabina Shoal and it lies near the Philippines, a nation which is locked in a maritime dispute with China. This has led to collisions between boats, the use of water cannons and threats of a serious escalation. Other nations are watching warily. In this podcast, the Daily Telegraph's Asia Correspondent Nicola Smith offers a compelling account of her experiences in the region to presenter Duncan Bartlett.________________________________________The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.________________________________________SOAS China Institute (SCI) SCI Blog SCI on X SCI on LinkedIn SCI on Facebook SCI on Instagram ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

There is a rising mood of bipartisan hostility towards China in Washington ahead of the 2024 election. If Donald Trump returns to the White House, he intends to impose steep tariffs on Chinese exports. His Democratic party opponent, Kamala Harris has said that "America, not China" will win the competition for the 21st century. In this podcast, James McGregor, Director of APCO Worldwide, uses his extensive knowledge of China-US relations to analyse the positions of the presidential candidates. The host is regular presenter, Duncan Bartlett.________________________________________The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.________________________________________SOAS China Institute (SCI) SCI Blog SCI on X SCI on LinkedIn SCI on Facebook SCI on Instagram ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

Two pandas which have been on an extended diplomatic mission to Australia are soon to be recalled to China. Fu Ni 福妮 and Wang Wang 网网) (PRON: "wong wong") have been living happily together at Adelaide Zoo since 2009. However, China wants them back by the end of 2024. They’ll be replaced by a younger pair of animals. Australia’s government seems pleased with the panda deal. But what about its relationship with China in other areas? In this podcast, regular host Duncan Bartlett speaks with Professor James Laurenceson, Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology in Sydney.________________________________________The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.________________________________________SOAS China Institute (SCI) SCI Blog SCI on X SCI on LinkedIn SCI on Facebook SCI on Instagram ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

Taiwan and China are practicing for war. China's People's Liberation Army has increased the number of ships and warplanes conducting drills around the island. The Taiwanese air force has responded with live-fire exercises. In this podcast, Bill Emmott, chair of the IISS think tank, discusses what might deter China from using force against Taiwan. The host is regular presenter, Duncan Bartlett.________________________________________The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.________________________________________SOAS China Institute (SCI) SCI Blog SCI on X SCI on LinkedIn SCI on Facebook SCI on Instagram ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

The world's biggest technology company Apple has close ties to China. Although it is based in California, where it designs famous products, a huge proportion of its gear is assembled in China. Furthermore, Chinese consumers continue to crave Apple iPhones. But critics allege that in order to gain the approval of the Communist Party, Apple assists with censorship and the suppression of political dissent. In this podcast, Benjamin Ismail from the Apple Censorship Project shares his views with regular host, Duncan Bartlett.________________________________________The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.________________________________________SOAS China Institute (SCI) SCI Blog SCI on X SCI on LinkedIn SCI on Facebook SCI on Instagram ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

NATO's Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg has warned that China is conducting a huge military build-up. He says China is investing heavily in modern missiles, including an arsenal of nuclear weapons. NATO has ordered its forces to be prepared to counter China's assertive behaviour in the South China Sea and threats to Taiwan. However, China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi insists that it is NATO which presents the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. In his view, NATO intervention in the region is bound to "trigger confrontation and escalate tensions." In this podcast, Dr Mercy Kuo from Pamir Consulting analyses the rhetoric from both sides. The presenter is regular host, Duncan Bartlett.________________________________________The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.________________________________________SOAS China Institute (SCI) SCI Blog SCI on X SCI on LinkedIn SCI on Facebook SCI on Instagram ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

A bi-partisan group of politicians in Washington has called for sanctions to be imposed on officials in Hong Kong. They claim the officials - acting on instructions from Beijing - use tough laws to try to silence political opposition and intimidate those who advocate for democratic principles. In this podcast, veteran journalist Stephen Vines explains the impact of legislation in Hong Kong on the media and wider society. The presenter is regular host, Duncan Bartlett.________________________________________The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.________________________________________SOAS China Institute (SCI) SCI Blog SCI on X SCI on LinkedIn SCI on Facebook SCI on Instagram ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

The war in Ukraine has made the Russian leader Vladimir Putin something of a pariah in the West but he still meets regularly with Xi Jinping. In theory, Russia and China enjoy a no-limits partnership. But are there constraints on their relationship? Abigaël Vasselier is a former diplomat and is currently Director for Policy and European Affairs and heads the Foreign Relations team at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), a think tank based in Berlin. She is also a SOAS alumna. On this podcast Abigaël discusses Russia and China with regular host, Duncan Bartlett.________________________________________The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.________________________________________SOAS China Institute (SCI) SCI Blog SCI on X SCI on LinkedIn SCI on Facebook SCI on Instagram ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

Manufacturers of Chinese electric vehicles intend to build their companies into powerhouses to rival Volkswagen and Renault. The Chinese government backs their expansion into new markets, including Europe. This has caused political tension and as a result, a trade war is looming between China and Europe. On this podcast, Duncan Wrigley, Chief China Plus Economist for Pantheon Macroeconomics, discusses the situation with Zeyu Xu of Xinhua News in Beijing.________________________________________The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.________________________________________SOAS China Institute (SCI) SCI Blog SCI on X SCI on LinkedIn SCI on Facebook SCI on Instagram ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

The best-selling book Wild Swans by Jung Chang contains harrowing accounts of life in China during the 20th Century. It covers the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, the civil war, the establishment of the CCP and the Cultural Revolution. In this podcast, Dr Chang gives a riveting account of how these momentous events impacted her mother and grandmother. She also shares her perspective on the lives of women in today’s Chinese society. The presenter is regular host, Duncan Bartlett.________________________________________The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.________________________________________SOAS China Institute (SCI) SCI Blog SCI on X SCI on LinkedIn SCI on Facebook SCI on Instagram ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0