China In Context – Details, episodes & analysis

There is a rising mood of bipartisan hostility towards China in Washington ahead of the 2024 election. If Donald Trump returns to the White House, he intends to impose steep tariffs on Chinese exports. His Democratic party opponent, Kamala Harris has said that "America, not China" will win the competition for the 21st century. In this podcast, James McGregor, Director of APCO Worldwide, uses his extensive knowledge of China-US relations to analyse the positions of the presidential candidates. The host is regular presenter, Duncan Bartlett.

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The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.
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SOAS China Institute (SCI)

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For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk

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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

Two pandas which have been on an extended diplomatic mission to Australia are soon to be recalled to China. Fu Ni 福妮 and Wang Wang 网网) (PRON: "wong wong") have been living happily together at Adelaide Zoo since 2009. However, China wants them back by the end of 2024. They’ll be replaced by a younger pair of animals. Australia’s government seems pleased with the panda deal. But what about its relationship with China in other areas? In this podcast, regular host Duncan Bartlett speaks with Professor James Laurenceson, Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology in Sydney.

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The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.
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SOAS China Institute (SCI)

• SCI Blog
• SCI on X
• SCI on LinkedIn
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For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk

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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

China has a strategy to forge partnerships with countries in the so-called Global South. This pits it against other influential nations which also claim to be international leaders. Furthermore, many people in developing countries resent being pressed to pick sides. The podcast includes a discussion on Chinese foreign policy between Professor Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute and regular host, Duncan Bartlett.

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The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.
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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

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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

For many decades, people in Hong Kong enjoyed a level of freedom which was in marked contrast to life in other parts of China. Following the end of the British colonial era in 1997, the Communist Party promised that Hong Kong would remain highly autonomous for fifty years under the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle. Yet when mass street demonstrations erupted in 2019-2020, China responded with sweeping national security legislation, leading to many arrests and the dismantlement of civil society. Mark Clifford, author of Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow The World, shares his reflections with Duncan Bartlett, the Editor of Asian Affairs.

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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

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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

One of the loudest messages from the Chinese Communist Party is that it has delivered wealth to citizens by creating an environment in which the economy grows and thrives. However, as a result of the zero-Covid policy and other factors, the economy has hit the buffers. Gross domestic product rose just 0.4% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2022 missing expectations and suggesting a recession could be on the way in parts of China such as Hong Kong and Shanghai. In this podcast, Paul Hodges from New Normal Consulting considers China’s economic outlook with host, Duncan Bartlett.

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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

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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

The Chinese Communist Party routinely encourages people to be patriotic and to love their country. Textbooks which are studied in all of China’s schools highlight achievements of which they should be proud - including, of course, the success of the Communist Party. The rise in nationalism is not exclusive to China. Yet contemporary Chinese nationalism cultivated by the CCP alarms its neighbours and other outsiders, partly because it often appears to demean foreigners. In this podcast, Professor John Fitzgerald from Melbourne discusses the complex nature of nationalism and patriotism in China with host, Duncan Bartlett.

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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

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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

China is a land of contradictions. This shows up in a stark gap between rich and poor, which is evident through the contrast between conspicuous consumption in the big cities and the much more basic way of life in the countryside. In fact, even though it may not feel like it, the wealth gap is gradually narrowing. But is this down to government policy? And does the resentment caused by inequality present a potential threat to political stability? Professor Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute, offers his analysis of the situation, in conversation with podcast host, Duncan Bartlett.

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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

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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

Much of the hard work in running China falls to about 40 million party and government officials, known as cadres. These include powerful figures, such as provincial governors, bosses of state-owned enterprises and chief prosecutors. Originally, cadres were defined as professional revolutionaries, dedicated to the goals of the Communist Party. They still need to be loyal Communists but most of them spend more time on paperwork than insurrection. In this podcast, Professor John Fitzgerald, author of Cadre Country (2022), reveals the sophisticated political processes employed by the Chinese Communist Party. The presenter is Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs.

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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

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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

The international media uses strong words to describe China’s system of governance. American newspapers often inform their readers that China’s regime is “authoritarian” or “totalitarian”, or both. Yet supporters of the Communist Party say that China has developed a political system which perfectly suits its culture and that "socialism with Chinese characteristics” is a form of democracy, superior to that of the 'decadent west'. So what is the best terminology to properly describe the politics of contemporary China? Frank Tsai from China Crossroads in Shanghai discusses this issue with podcast host Duncan Bartlett.

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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

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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

The danger of war in the Taiwan Strait is growing. This island’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which favours Taiwan’s de jure independence, is becoming increasingly friendly with the United States. President Biden has said America will fight to defend Taiwan if it is attacked. The threat from China is clear whenever its aircraft fly into Taiwanese airspace. Professor Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute offers his analysis of the situation, in conversation with podcast host, Duncan Bartlett.

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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

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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0