China In Context

A formidable iron curtain separates China and its neighbour, North Korea. Even before Covid-19, North Korea had a reputation as the most isolated society on Earth. Since the start of the pandemic, North Korea seems to have become even more isolated and its link to China is almost closed. Dr Edward Howell, Lecturer in Politics at New College, University of Oxford gives his appraisal of the complex relationship between China and North Korea in this discussion with podcast host Duncan Bartlett, Research Associate at the SOAS China Institute.   China In Context: Episode 26 Broadcast date: 3rd August, 2021 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk________________________________________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 BlogSCI on XSCI on LinkedInSCI on FacebookSCI on Instagram________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

Xi Jinping has invested heavily in China’s armed forces, determined to create a world-class military with sophisticated, modern weapons. China’s People’s Liberation Army has more than a million men and women under arms. But questions remain about this unusual army. Is it actually the People’s army - or the Party’s army? How loyal are the troops to Xi Jinping? And what would provoke them into a battle? Gordon Arthur is the Asia Pacific editor for Shephard Media and knows China well, having lived in Hong Kong for 20 years. In this podcast, he considers the strength and sophistication of the PLA and assesses the risk of war. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett from Asian Affairs magazine. China In Context: Episode 25  Broadcast date: July 27, 2021For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk________________________________________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 BlogSCI on XSCI on LinkedInSCI on FacebookSCI on Instagram________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

The seas around China are patrolled by the navy of the People’s Liberation Army, which is on constant standby for conflict. The primary threat, as far as China is concerned, is the United States of America. But there is another challenge to China’s growing dominance in the Indo-Pacific. In recent years, America, Australia, India and Japan have been conducting joint military exercises near China under the auspices of the Quad – a coalition focussed on defence and security. Gordon Arthur, Asia Pacific Editor for Shephard Media, gives his view on defence and security issues in the region. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs.  China In Context: Episode 24 Broadcast date: July 20, 2021For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk________________________________________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 BlogSCI on XSCI on LinkedInSCI on FacebookSCI on Instagram________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases yet its government insists it is following a path towards a green transformation. So where does the rhetoric end and the action begin? And how much cooperation can we realistically expect between China and other countries which say they want to reach an international consensus on tackling climate change? Isabel Hilton, the founder of China Dialogue, a website that analyses environmental issues, discusses climate diplomacy with Duncan Bartlett, the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.  China In Context: Episode 23 Broadcast date: July 13, 2021For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk________________________________________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 BlogSCI on XSCI on LinkedInSCI on FacebookSCI on Instagram________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

Chinese people enjoy a close relationship to nature and inhabit one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world. However, rapid industrialisation and pollution have had a terrible impact on the environment and caused some species to become critically endangered, or even extinct. There is particular concern about the damage caused by coal mining, one of the key sources of energy to fuel the Chinese economy. In this podcast, a renowned expert on China’s environment, Isabel Hilton, gives her view on what the authorities should do to promote biodiversity.  China In Context: Episode 22  Broadcast date: July 06, 2021For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk________________________________________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 BlogSCI on XSCI on LinkedInSCI on FacebookSCI on Instagram________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

Alibaba is the world’s biggest e-commerce company and touches the lives of nearly everyone in China. Its founder is a flamboyant and outspoken billionaire, Jack Ma. However, Mr Ma’s been keeping a low profile since a clash with the Chinese government in 2020, when a plan to float Alibaba’s fintech operations on the stock exchange was suddenly halted by the authorities. Then, in the spring of 2021, regulators slapped Alibaba with a $2.8bn fine, saying it had abused its market position for years. Fraser Howie, a prolific author on the Chinese financial system, explains the significance of Alibaba to Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.  China In Context: Episode 21  Broadcast date: June 29, 2021For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk________________________________________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 BlogSCI on XSCI on LinkedInSCI on FacebookSCI on Instagram________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

China was the first country to experience a Covid-19 epidemic, responding with lockdowns and travel bans, long before anywhere else. Yet within a few months, life in China seemed to have returned more or less to normal and in the spring of 2021, China announced it had achieved its fastest annual economic growth on record. Despite these impressive achievements, experts warn that economic stresses remain. Tommy Wu, lead economist for the Asia-Pacific region at Oxford Economics, gives his analysis of the situation in China in a conversation with podcast host, Duncan Bartlett.  China In Context: Episode 20  Broadcast date: June 22, 2021For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk________________________________________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 BlogSCI on XSCI on LinkedInSCI on FacebookSCI on Instagram________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

Throughout the European Union, a fierce political debate is raging about how to approach the relationship with China. Should China be prevented from investing in important industries, like nuclear power and 5G communication? Or would it be better to take a more pragmatic approach, recognising the potential that China has to stimulate economic growth and employment in Europe, as the region struggles to recover from the pandemic? Professor Hanns Maull, a Senior Associate Fellow at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics) in Berlin. explains through how the debates about politics and economics affect the thinking about China within the EU. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.   China In Context: Episode 19 Broadcast date: June 15, 2021For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk________________________________________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 BlogSCI on XSCI on LinkedInSCI on FacebookSCI on Instagram________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

Since the early 1980s, Germany and China have been in a fruitful symbiotic relationship, which has fuelled the growth of both their economies. Many Chinese factory workers use German machines to make goods which they export back to Europe and the rest of the world. However, since the start of 2021, the mood between China and Germany has soured considerably, after China imposed sanctions on Germans who had criticised its policies in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. The situation is growing more tense ahead of the election which is due in Germany in the autumn of 2021. Professor Hanns Maull, a Senior Associate Fellow at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics) in Berlin, outlines the various strands of thinking about China within Germany in this podcast hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.  China In Context: Episode 18  Broadcast date: June 8th, 2021For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk________________________________________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 BlogSCI on XSCI on LinkedInSCI on FacebookSCI on Instagram________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0

China’s global influence and its economic growth have been significantly enhanced by its relationship with developing countries. They are critical in supplying natural resources, especially the fuel and raw materials for China’s thousands of factories. Developing countries are also growing in importance as promising markets for goods exported from China. Furthermore, many developing countries have welcomed the investment that comes with belonging to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – creating a sense of competition in some regions between China, the United States and its allies. Duncan Bartlett discusses these topics with Stephen Chan, Professor of World Politics at SOAS.   China In Context: Episode 17  Broadcast date: June 1st, 2021 For information about the SOAS China Institute Corporate Membership scheme, please contact SCI director Steve Tsang: steve.tsang@soas.ac.uk________________________________________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 BlogSCI on XSCI on LinkedInSCI on FacebookSCI on Instagram________________________________________Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0