China In Context

Xi Jinping receives more media attention than almost anyone else in the world, although he’s never done a sit-down interview, or taken questions at a regular press conference. The media were able to take a close look at him and other Chinese leaders during the recent Congress meeting of the Communist Party, held in Beijing. Howard Zhang, Editor of the BBC’s Chinese service, analyses how the press covered the event. The host is Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.________________________________________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 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

There was a dramatic moment at the 20th Party Congress when former leader Hu Jintao was unexpectedly escorted off stage, after what appears to have been a power struggle with his successor, Xi Jinping. In this podcast, Professor Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute explains why Hu Jintao’s departure could mark a decisive break with a collective approach to leadership, as Xi Jinping tightens his grip on power. The podcast host is Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.________________________________________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 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

When US presidents deliver a State of the Union address, it’s generally big news for a few days, before their words are largely forgotten. However, when a Chinese leader speaks to the Party Congress, his words are remembered for years. Long speeches delivered in the Great Hall of the People are diligently studied by those looking for political information. Dr Holly Snape from the University of Glasgow explains how to interpret the key ideas. The podcast host is Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.________________________________________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 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

China’s leaders have a vision, guided by Karl Marx. They believe they have a duty to create a just, equitable, socialist society, with the eventual goal of a communist system. Until then, China must go through a process of change, a period known as “Socialism with Chinese characteristics''. Frank Tsai from China Crossroads in Shanghai discusses how views about revolution are evolving. The podcast host is Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs.________________________________________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 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

The island of Taiwan bristles with high tech weapons, many of which are supplied by the United States. It’s part of a strategy to deter an invasion by the People’s Republic of China - a threat which has loomed over Taiwan for more than 70 years but which is now regarded as a more intense and immediate risk than ever. Jacob Stokes from the Center for New American Security in Washington explains the implications for regional security. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.________________________________________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 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

The former foreign minister of Australia, Alexander Downer, says the relationship with China has “fundamentally changed” in the past few decades. “I think it’s become a great deal more dangerous,” he told Sky News. As a result, Australia has beefed up its military deterrence against China and has moved closer into defence pacts with the United States and the United Kingdom. In this podcast, analysis of the security situation is provided by Dr Charles Edel, Australia Chair and Senior Advisor at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.________________________________________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 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

The political systems of China and the United States are based on very different models. This ideological gap affects the way they behave towards each other and also impacts their relations with the rest of the world. As a result, many countries feel that they are being pressed to pick sides between America and China and this can be an uncomfortable dilemma. In this podcast, host Duncan Bartlett discusses the changing global order with John Andrews, author of the book The World in Conflict.________________________________________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 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

China and Germany found many reasons to be friendly in the aftermath of the Cold War. China cited the economic advantages to both countries as a win-win situation. Three decades later, relations between the two states have become increasingly tense. Chancellor Olaf Scholz takes a much more hawkish line on China than his predecessor Angela Merkel and Germany has even sent a warship to Asia, to patrol near Taiwan. In this podcast, Yanmei Xie, a geopolitical analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, offers her analysis of the changing relationship and its implications for business. The podcast host is Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs.________________________________________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 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

For decades, South Korea has sought to maintain harmonious relations with both the US and China. But as the competition between the great powers intensifies, the balancing act has become more tricky. In this podcast, Dr Edward Howell, a lecturer in politics at New College, University of Oxford, explains how China-South Korea relations have developed since Yoon Suk-yeol became South Korea’s president in the spring of 2022. The podcast host is Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs.________________________________________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 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

China is a proud nation which plays a key role in many international institutions, including the United Nations. It enjoys diplomatic relations with liberal democracies and when Xi Jinping speaks to Joe Biden, he places himself on a par with the American president as a world leader. Yet when the People’s Republic was initially forged through revolution, the outside world was aghast and it took many years before China’s Communist government was accepted. What has led to this profound change in attitudes towards China? And how does the Communist Party seek to present itself as the legitimate leader of the nation? Dr Mark Clifford, an author and former editor of the South China Morning Post considers the basis of Communist Party leadership. The podcast host is 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 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk ________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0