China In Context

China’s international image took a blow in the early days of the Covid-19 outbreak, due to allegations of an official cover-up of the disease in Wuhan. Soon afterwards, the Chinese government sought to restore its reputation by encouraging companies to send masks and personal protective equipment to many other nations. This was followed by a wave of vaccine diplomacy. Millions of people in China and other nations have received Chinese jabs. Yet regulators in the US, Britain and the EU have turned down the Chinese vaccines, dismissing them as ineffective or even potentially dangerous. Stephen Chan, Professor of World Politics at SOAS, talks about China’s healthcare policy in this episode of the China In Context podcast, hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine. China In Context: Episode 16 Broadcast date: May 25th, 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

South Korea and China have a complex relationship. For many decades, South Korea was much more economically advanced than China and it is regarded by the United States as a key ally in Asia, helping to maintain the balance of power as a counterweight to Communism. Yet since China has become increasingly powerful in economic terms, it has found ways to pressure South Korea into meeting its demands. China also retains friendly relations with North Korea - a country with an army which stands prepared to wage war on the South at a moment’s notice. In this episode of China In Context, Rory Green, an economist covering China and South Korea at TS Lombard, talks through the geopolitics of North Asia with Duncan Bartlett.    China In Context: Episode 15 Broadcast date: May 18th, 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

The concept of ‘The People’ is a highly charged term in China and one that constantly appears in the rhetoric of the Communist Party. The official name of the country is the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the central bank is the People’s Bank of China and the leading newspaper is The People’s Daily. So how do China’s leaders define ‘The People’ that they claim to represent? And is there a role in society for people who have a different political ideas to the CCP? Distinguished China expert Clyde Prestowitz explores some of the meanings and resonances of the word ‘people’ in a conversation with Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.   China in Context: Episode 14 Broadcast Date: May 11th, 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

Many sociologists have noticed parallels between Chinese Communism and religion. Both offer sacred texts, prophets and moral guidance. Furthermore, many aspects of China’s ideology seem to be drawn from old myths, ancient seers and even superstition. Clyde Prestowitz has been exploring the intriguing connections between politics and religion in his new book The World Turned Upside Down: America, China and the Struggle for Global Leadership (Yale, 2021). In this podcast, he discusses his ideas with the Editor of Asian Affairs, Duncan Bartlett. China In Context: Episode 13 Broadcast date: May 4th, 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

China displays an intense form of nationalism. People are expected to regard their nation as strong and united and to view outside criticism as a threat to progress. The Chinese Communist Party insists on loyalty from its members and encourages people who work or study abroad to remain patriotic. In this podcast, Professor Christopher Hughes from the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics looks at the domestic and international implications of China’s stringent nationalism. Hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.  China In Context: Episode 12 Broadcast Date:  April 27th, 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

Taiwan’s status as a self-governing island, with its own government and diplomacy, is facing unprecedented challenges. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China often presents Taiwan as a secessionist province, which has no legitimacy as a country. Yet Taiwan is rich and successful. It is home to a huge semiconductor manufacturing industry, producing chips which are used all over the world, including China. In this podcast, Professor Christopher Hughes from the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics appraises the risks of conflict between the neighbours. Hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.  China In Context: Episode 11 Broadcast date: April 20th, 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

China has a growing number of people who live alone. As a result, many people’s way of life has become more personalized, geared towards their own careers and individual interests. There’s also a booming industry in online dating services, as well as events like “Singles Day” an online retail extravaganza in which people are urged to splurge on a present for themselves. Jieyu Liu, Deputy Director of the SOAS China Institute, University of London, discusses the changing social attitudes towards dating, marriage and living alone in China with Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.  China In Context: Episode 10 First broadcast 13th April, 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

Because of the one child policy which ran from 1979 to 2016, millions of people in China have grown up without brothers or sisters, especially in urban settings. The media sometimes describes them as “little emperors” or “little empresses” and this suggests they may be spoiled or indulged by their parents. But they also face unique pressures and responsibilities as Jieyu Liu, Deputy Director of the SOAS China Institute, University of London explains to Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.   China In Context: Episode 9  First broadcast 6th April, 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 has increased enormously since it started opening up to the world in the early 1980s. On occasions, General Secretary Xi Jinping has suggested that his country’s system is “superior” to that of other nations. China is also proud of its dominant position in sectors such as manufacturing. So how does China plan to use its power and influence? Is it trying to change the world in its own image? George Magnus, Research Associate at the SOAS China Institute, discusses China’s aims with Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.  China In Context: Episode 8 First broadcast March 30th, 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

The Chinese state places great importance on national security. It believes its duty is to protect the people from foreign attack and invasion and as China’s economy has grown, so has spending on the military. George Magnus, Research Associate at the SOAS China Institute, believes that as well as protecting itself from outside threats, the Chinese Communist Party also uses a national security agenda to safeguard its own power. He discusses his ideas with Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine. China In Context: Episode 7 First broadcast 23rd March, 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