Xi Jinping claims that China has achieved a tremendous feat by raising the standard of living of its citizens. "No other country can lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in such a short time," he said in 2021, describing the achievement as "a human miracle that will go down in history." However, another huge challenge awaits; keeping China out of the so-called “middle-income trap” - a stage of economic development at which wage levels stagnate. If that happens, it would prevent China from joining the ranks of rich nations, even if its economy is the largest in the world,  overtaking America in its total size. In this podcast, Scott Rozelle from Stanford University discusses China's trajectory of development with host, Duncan Bartlett.   China In Context: Episode 52 Broadcast date: 15 February, 2022________________________________________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

In January 2022 China's ambassador to the US, Qin Gang, warned Mr Biden: "If the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence, it most likely will involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in a military conflict." He continued: "Let me emphasise this, the Taiwan issue is the biggest tinderbox between China and the United States."  In this episode, podcast host Duncan Bartlett discusses how to reduce the risk of conflict over Taiwan with  Michael Swaine, Director, East Asia Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in Washington DC.   China In Context: Episode 51 Broadcast date: 8th February, 2022________________________________________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

China is one of the most hotly debated topics in American politics and the cause of much division. In both the Senate and Congress, representatives tussle over whether China should be regarded as a strategic competitor, a threat, or a malign influence. Think tanks in Washington offer their interpretations, too.  The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft stands out as being one of the few groups in favour of more cooperation between the US and China. It also challenges a lot of the popular rhetoric on China. In this podcast, Michael Swaine, Director, East Asia Program at the  Quincy Institute speaks to Duncan Bartlett, the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.   China In Context: Episode 50 Broadcast date: 1st February, 2022________________________________________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

As China strives to become more self-reliant, the Chinese Communist Party is keenly promoting a strategy it calls "dual circulation". This pushes for more goods and services to be developed in China, serving domestic consumers, while at the same time China keeps up enthusiastic trade with the rest of the world. The Party takes the view that the state must play a central role in business activity. But can state-run entities thrive in a competitive environment? Dr Eunsuk Hong, who lectures on China's economy and management at SOAS, discusses these questions with the Editor of Asian Affairs, Duncan Bartlett.   China In Context: Episode 49 Broadcast date: 25 January, 2022________________________________________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

China’s increasing influence has profoundly changed the power dynamic in Asia. For decades, its economic growth has outstripped that of Japan and under Xi Jinping, there's also clear ambition to build the People's Liberation Army into a world class military. That army, through its coastguard division, constantly irks Japan by sailing vessels into the waters near the Senkaku, or Diaoyu islands, which Japan insists are its sovereign territory. Thus Japan has grown increasingly wary of China both as an economic rival and as a threat to its national security. Bill Emmott, chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies - a think tank based in London which provides insight into matters relating to security and political risk, discusses the situation with Duncan Bartlett, Research Associate at the SOAS China Institute.   China In Context: Episode 48 Broadcast date: 18 January, 2022________________________________________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

Chinese athletes brought glory to their country at the Tokyo Olympics through shooting, diving, weight lifting and table tennis. China hopes the Winter Olympics in Beijing will further boost the nation's international reputation by creating a harmonious atmosphere among skiers and snowboarders. However, the delegations of many countries face a dilemma. Are they obliged to take a stance on China's human rights record? Or should they endeavour to separate politics from sport? In this podcast, renowned author Bill Emmott, chair of the Japan Society of the UK, discusses the response of the Japanese delegation with podcast host, Duncan Bartlett, the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.   China In Context: Episode 47 Broadcast date: 11 January, 2022________________________________________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

Ministerial contact between China and Australia was severed in 2021 as a result of a bitter trade dispute, which has impacted exports of Australian wine, barley, lobster, beef and coal to China. On the security front, Australia has signed up to AUKUS, a nuclear-powered submarine agreement with the United Kingdom and the United States, in a move widely seen as an attempt to counter China's influence. In this podcast  Dr Bates Gill, Chair, China Policy Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney takes stock of the situation as Australia prepares to hold a federal election. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.   China In Context: Episode 46 Broadcast date: 4th January, 2022________________________________________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

Europe is shifting its thinking on China in profound ways. The European Union, once criticized as “soft on China'', has now become outspoken on human rights issues and even sent an official parliamentary delegation to Taiwan. Deep business ties remain but within the EU, public opinion is becoming more sceptical towards China in many European countries, including some which were previously regarded as pro-Beijing. In this podcast, Professor Hanns W. Maull from the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics) in Berlin discusses EU-China relations with Duncan Bartlett, the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.  China In Context: Episode 45 Broadcast date: 14 December, 2021________________________________________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

Big changes are taking place in China's relationship with Germany. Foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, from the Green party, has signalled a more assertive stance, especially on human rights issues, after the commerce-driven pragmatism of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s 16 years in power. Ms Baerbock is a key figure in the new cabinet led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, Germany's new Chancellor. In this podcast Hanns Maull, Senior Associate Fellow at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics) in Berlin analyses the political situation in both Germany and China. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine. China In Context: Episode 44  Broadcast date: 7th December, 2021________________________________________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 highest grossing films at the Chinese box office are war movies. Wolf Warrior 1 and 2, and The Battle at Lake Changjin, portray heroic Chinese soldiers battling against foreign enemies, including the Americans. These big budget productions are overseen by an arm of the state known as the China Film Administration. Are they therefore a form or propaganda, or can they be defined as art? Dr Xiaoning Lu, a lecturer in Chinese culture and cinema at SOAS, shares her views on the political messages of the films, in conversation with Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine. China In Context: Episode 43  Broadcast date: 30 November, 2021________________________________________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