China In Context

It is an expensive choice to have children in China, especially in big cities. Most parents struggle to afford child care and only a few employers do much to support the careers of working mothers. A new term has been coined to describe women’s challenges: the “motherhood penalty” (生育惩罚 shēngyùchéngfá). In this podcast, Dr Jieyu Liu, Deputy Director of the SOAS China Institute, explains why anxiety over the cost of parenting is having a huge impact on the birthrate and on China’s demographics. The host is Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine. China In Context: Episode 4 First broadcast 2nd March, 2021 ________________________________________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

Criticism over China’s handling of the outbreak of coronavirus had a negative impact on its international image. Initially, there was also grumbling within China itself, although complaints seem to have died down, perhaps due to censorship. Despite coronavirus, China’s economy is growing rapidly. It’s also giving away Chinese vaccines to other countries. In this podcast, the Director of the SOAS China Institute, Professor Steve Tsang, discusses how the pandemic has affected the reputation of China and the Communist Party with the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine, Duncan Bartlett. China In Context: Episode 3 First broadcast 23rd February, 2021 ________________________________________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

Beijing imposed a wide-ranging national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020. It claims this has quelled unrest, improved stability for business and settled the issue of sovereignty. However, many Hong Kongers feel their basic freedoms have been curtailed and there’s been a backlash against China from democratic countries, including America and the UK. In this podcast, the Director of the SOAS China Institute, Professor Steve Tsang, discusses how the security law is changing Hong Kong’s society with the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine, Duncan Bartlett.  China In Context: Episode 2 First broadcast 16th February, 2021________________________________________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 Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States lasted for nearly four decades, casting a shadow of fear across the world. Nowadays, with China and the US locked in a constant arms race and tussle for influence, many people - including President Xi Jinping - have warned that a new Cold War is upon us. In this podcast, the Director of the SOAS China Institute, Professor Steve Tsang, spells out the dangers during a conversation with the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine, Duncan Bartlett. China In Context: Episode 1 First broadcast 9th February, 2021________________________________________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