Sinocism Live

Thanks everyone who tuned into my live video with Drew Thompson. Drew is now based in Singapore as a Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University.From 2011-2018 he was the Director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In 2012 he planned and organized a visit to the US of a delegation led by then-Defense Minister General Liang Guanglie. Zhang Youxia was part of the delegation.We had a great discussion about his personal experience shepherding Zhang Youxia around the US many years ago, his work on US-China military-to-military relations, and the disappearance in 2023 of South China Morning Post reporter Minnie Chan.Drew wrote about his experience with Zhang in the excellent The demise of Zhang Youxia hits different. You can and should subscribe to him @ Drew ThompsonThanks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinocism.com/subscribe

In this engaging discussion, guests Sheena Chestnut Greitens, a scholar on Chinese security, Isaac B. Kardon, a commentator on security diplomacy, and Cameron Waltz, a researcher on police training, dive into China's expanding global police training footprint. They reveal that nearly 900 trainings have occurred across 138 countries since 2000, mostly targeting the Global South. The conversation explores the stark differences between U.S. and Chinese training methods, the motivations behind China's outreach, and whether this initiative signals an export of its governance model.

In this insightful discussion, Ruixue Jia, a political economist at UC San Diego, and Hongbin Li, a labor economist at Stanford, explore their groundbreaking book on China's exam-centric education system. They delve into the Gaokao, revealing its roots in imperial exams and its role in social mobility and stability. The conversation highlights issues of educational inequality, the impact of a tutoring crackdown, and how families invest heavily in education. Additionally, they discuss the challenges of attracting teachers to rural areas and the significance of education in China's global competitiveness.

Rush Doshi, a prominent expert in Asia studies, discusses the recent Trump-Xi meeting and its potential implications for US-China relations. He elaborates on some surprising concessions regarding tariffs and export controls, exploring how China's leverage over rare earths continues to pose challenges. Doshi also highlights shifts in perceptions and the need for the US to focus on domestic renewal alongside foreign policy. Additionally, he reflects on how the summit's outcomes may embolden China's confidence and reshape international alliances.

Chris Johnson, former top China analyst at the CIA and CEO of China Strategies Group, provides deep insights into the recent Fourth Plenum and its implications for US-China relations. He discusses the ongoing purges within the PLA and their impact on military readiness and morale. Chris also examines Xi Jinping's succession planning and the strategic nuances of China's rare-earth export controls. As tensions rise, he analyzes potential outcomes from upcoming leader meetings and the delicate balance both countries seek to maintain.

In this conversation, Michael Froman, former U.S. Trade Representative and president of the Council on Foreign Relations, dives into the complexities of the U.S.-China trade war. He evaluates the current state of relations and prospects for upcoming summits, shedding light on China's rare earths strategy and implications for global coalitions. Froman highlights the risks of economic over-reliance on China, the need for worker retraining amid economic dislocations, and the evolving rules of the international trade system shaped by both superpowers' industrial policies.

This is a recording of my October 14, 2025 conversation with Charles Parton about the recent UK-China spy case and UK-China relations in general. Charles Parton OBE is the Chief Advisor to the China Observatory at the Council on Geostrategy. He spent 22 years of his 37 year diplomatic career working in or on China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In his final posting he was seconded to the EU Delegation in Beijing, where, as First Counsellor until late 2016, he focussed on Chinese politics and internal developments, and advised the EU and Member States on how China’s politics might affect their interests.You can follow Charlie on Substack @ Charles Parton.Thanks to everyone who watched our chat live. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinocism.com/subscribe

Thanks everyone for tuning into my live video with afra Wang and Jasmine Sun. We had a great conversation about their recent trip to China, the differing views of AI in the US and China, and the ongoing narrative/vibe shift about China. I highly recommend their newsletters, and specifically the two essays that prompted this discussion:Afra Wang - Topology of "China AI"Jasmine Sun - America Against China Against America This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinocism.com/subscribe

This is a recording from the September 4th live conversation I had with Professor Joseph Torigian about his excellent book on Xi Jinping’s father - The Party's Interests Come First - The Life of Xi Zhongxun, the importance of history to the Party, and to Xi Jinping, and how we might view the recent commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the “Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War”. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinocism.com/subscribe

On July 22nd I spoke with Finbarr Bermingham, Brussels-based senior correspondent for the South China Morning Post whose beat includes EU-China relations. He has in a roll with scoops about EU-China relations, including China tells EU it does not want to see Russia lose its war in Ukraine earlier this month.He explains what to expect from the EU-China summit that convenes July 24th, and how EU-China relations have deteriorated over the last several months. Apologies, we had some technical difficulties at the start and briefly a few minutes in.He is active on Substack Notes Finbarr Bermingham This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinocism.com/subscribe