Chinese Whispers

The EU and US are turning up the pressure on Chinese made electric cars, as I discussed with my guest Finbarr Bermingham on the last episode. On this episode, I want to take a closer look at how China has come to dominate the global electric car market. Chinese EVs make up 60 per cent of worldwide sales, and a third of global exports. Its leading brand, BYD, now regularly gives Tesla a run for its money in terms of number of cars sold. How much of a role do subsidies play, versus other factors like its control of rare earths or lower labour costs? Is there really an overcapacity issue that suggests a flooding of Chinese cars globally?On this episode, I'm joined by Zeyi Yang, China tech reporter at MIT Technology Review, who is an expert on the genealogy of China’s EV industry.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

The podcast discusses the EU imposing tariffs on Chinese electric cars, sparking retaliatory investigations from China. Chinese EVs are rapidly gaining competitiveness in the EU market. The episode explores the impacts of tariffs, the EU's anti-subsidy investigation, China's retaliatory measures, and the broader implications on EU-China relations.

Exploring UK-China relations under potential new leadership, discussing Labour's proactive strategies, secureonomics, and the need for better strategic capability. Analyzing contrasts in foreign policy priorities and the influence of key party figures on UK-China relations.

Explore the personal stories of four millennial women in China's evolving landscape. Learn how economic growth impacts individuals and families. Discover the challenges of social mobility and education for Chinese women. Uncover the complexities of the Hukou system and its effects on urban and rural citizens. Reflect on generational trauma and shifting priorities in a changing China.

The podcast discusses the 1999 NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, highlighting the significance of Chinese nationalism and the lasting impact on China-Serbia relations. It explores China's response to the bombing, the government's use of nationalism for control, and the challenges in understanding China-West perspectives. Xi Jinping's recent visit to Serbia and the anniversary silence surrounding the bombing are also analyzed, raising questions about censorship and differing historical perspectives.

Exploring China's shift towards cutting out American tech quietly, contrary to recent US actions against TikTok. Insights from journalist Liza Lin reveal China's strategic move towards domestic tech in state-owned enterprises, hardware sectors, and self-sufficiency. Challenges in high-end chip production, national security implications, and debates on creating a 'Splinter Net' for security are discussed.

Historian Jeremiah Jenne discusses Marco Polo's portrayal of China, focusing on the presence of sex in his accounts. They explore how Europeans viewed China, the reliability of outsider perspectives, and the lasting impact of Polo's narrative on western perceptions of the country.

The podcast delves into recent cyber attacks linked to China on voter data and UK critics' emails, discussing China's cyber capabilities and goals. It examines the differences between Chinese cyber warfare capabilities and the West, and explores strategies for dealing with cybersecurity threats from Chinese hackers.

In the last episode, I discussed Chinese rural lives with Professor Scott Rozelle. One point he made which particularly stuck with me was the dying out of farming as an occuption – he'd said that most rural people under the age of 35 have never farmed a day in their lives.So that got me thinking, what do they do instead? In this episode I’ll be looking at one, very high profile, alternative – vlogging. I’ve noticed through my hours of scrolling through Chinese social media that there is a huge genre of rural, pastoral content. This is an interesting phenomenon both for what it says about the rural population today, as well as what it reveals about the – often – urban viewers on the other end. So today I’m joined by Yi-Ling Liu, a writer on Chinese society who has had bylines in the New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine and WIRED. She’s looked in detail at the phenomenon of the rural influencer.On the episode, we talk about a few of our favourite rural influencers. You can watch Li Ziqi's videos on YouTube here and 王大姐来了 (the middle aged rappers I mention) here.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Exploring the disparities between rural and urban populations in China, despite efforts to eliminate extreme poverty. Professor Scott Rozelle discusses the challenges faced by rural residents, including education, health, and living standards. The conversation delves into policies addressing rural poverty, the shift towards county hukous, and strategies for economic growth through education and employment opportunities.