Sinopinion

In February 2026, the AI Impact Summit, held in New Delhi, India, took place in a country of the Global South for the first time. Faced with technological monopolies and the digital divide, how do countries of the Global South perceive artificial intelligence technology? How can the pursuit of sovereignty AI avoid slipping into technological protectionism? And what role has China played in global cooperation on AI governance? In this episode, Xiao Qian, Deputy Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), and Vice Dean of the Institute for AI International Governance (I-AIIG), Tsinghua University, hosts a conversation with Jiang Tianjiao, Associate professor at Jiang Tianjiao, Associate Professor at the Fudan Development Institute and Research Fellow at the Fudan University Center for Global AI Innovation Governance. Dr. Jiang provides an in-depth analysis of the AI Impact Summit in India and the new landscape of global AI cooperation and governance it has introduced.

Recently, the major military strike launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, along with its ensuing repercussions, has sent shockwaves around the world. In this episode of the Sinopinion podcast, our host Prof. Da Wei, director of CISS and co-host Prof. Shao Yuqun, director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Studies at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, sit down with two distinguished guests, Prof. Wu Bingbing, director of Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Peking University, and Prof. Zhang Chuchu, deputy director at Fudan University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies, for an in-depth conversation. The four scholars delve into and exchange views on critical issues, including the strategic objectives of the U.S. military action, the reconstruction of the regional order in the Middle East, China's position and role, and the potential shifts in U.S.-China relations.

Over the past decade, Confucius Institutes have consistently remained a focal point in international discussions concerning China’s global influence. While these institutes are dedicated to promoting Chinese language teaching and enhancing China's soft power, they have also been perceived by many Western countries as instruments for exporting the "China Model," finding themselves in a challenging environment. In this episode, Prof. Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, sits down with Prof. Michael Jinghan Zeng from the Department of Public and International Affairs at City University of Hong Kong, who is also the former director of the Confucius Institute at Lancaster University, to discuss his new book, Memoirs of a Confucius Institute Director, Volume 1: Challenges, Controversies, and Realities. Professor Zeng shares his firsthand experiences and observations of Confucius Institutes, offering an in-depth discussion on their operational mechanisms, internal and external pressures, requirements for localization, and pathways for survival and development.

Against a backdrop of mounting uncertainty in global politics and economics, the World Economic Forum in Davos once again provided a revealing lens into an international order in flux. This episode of Sinopinion is co-hosted by Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University, and Shao Yuqun, Director of the Institute of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. They are joined by Zhao Hai, Director of the Department of International Political Studies at the National Institute for Global Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Drawing on first-hand observations from Davos, the three scholars explore whether the world has already entered a new international order, or whether it remains in a transitional phase, and what these evolving dynamics mean from China’s perspective.

One year into Donald Trump’s return to the White House, U.S. policy has taken a dramatic(?) turn. From abrupt moves in Venezuela and strains with traditional allies to an unexpected steadiness in U.S.-China relations, the Trump administration’s approach continues to reshape global dynamics. How do Chinese experts assess this eventful year? What opportunities and challenges does America’s shifting posture create for China and the world at large? In this episode of Sinopinion produced by CISS, Tsinghua University, our host Prof. Da Wei, Director of CISS and co-host Prof. Shao Yuqun, director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Studies at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, sit down with Senior Colonel (Ret.) Zhou Bo, and offer a multi-dimensional Chinese perspective on Trump’s foreign policy. Together, they explore topics such as whether the U.S. is truly in retrenchment, how China is navigating a more polarized world, and what the coming year may hold for great-power relations.

In recent years, China has become increasingly prominent in global affairs, yet its narratives and perspectives remains somewhat peripheral in international discourse. In this episode, the China Forum of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) Tsinghua University invites Mr. Wang Zichen, Director of International Communications at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and editor of the widely-read newsletter “Pekingnology,” to share his on-the-ground experience and insights on cross-cultural communication. He will explore: Why does China’s narrative remain marginalized abroad? How has his storytelling evolved from his time in official media to his current role in think tanks? How can China’s voice not only be heard but also substantially debated in a Western-led discursive environment? And what guidance does he offer the younger generation navigating today’s complex global discourse?

From November 16 to 19, 2025, the US-China People-to-People Dialogue, co-organized by the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University and the National Committee on US-China Relations, was successfully held in Los Angeles. During the event, Prof.DA Wei, Director of CISS, interviewed four distinguished guests: Steve Orlins, President of the National Committee on US-China Relations; TIAN Wei, host at CGTN; Robert Daly, former Director of the Kissinger Institute at the Wilson Center; and YANG Bin, Vice Chancellor of the Tsinghua University Council. The guests shared their insights and experiences in education, media, cultural exchange, and bilateral cooperation, providing in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities in US-China people-to-people exchanges, and offering fresh ideas to strengthen collaboration and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical complexities, global attention turns to the Asia-Pacific as leaders gather for the APEC summit. In today’s episode, we are glad to have with us Dr. SHAO Yuqun, director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Studies and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for America Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, and Dr. ZHAO Hai, director of International Political Studies at the National Institute for Global Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. They will join Prof. DA Wei, director of CISS, for a dialogue delving into the potential for leader-level summits, analyzing South Korea's role as the host nation, and assessing APEC's relevance in today's international landscape.

During China's National Day Golden Week, Professor Susan Shirk traveled to Guangxi with her family at the invitation of Professor Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), Tsinghua University. During the trip, she engaged in conversations with local residents and grassroots officials.As a long-time scholar of China, Professor Shirk gained fresh insights and reflections on China's economic development, poverty alleviation policies, urban–rural disparities, and broader social transformation.In this episode, she joins Professor Da Wei for an in-depth conversation on the significance of field research, the evolution of research methods, and the real-world challenges facing China–U.S. academic exchange.

Amid the complexities of China-U.S. relations, youth exchanges remain an indispensable bridge. In this episode, Professor Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, moderates a conversation with Ying Huang, PhD candidate in International Relations at Tsinghua University and former Secretary-General of CISS Youth, and Blake Kravitz, a Yenching Scholar at Peking University and the sixth-cohort member of CISS Youth. Drawing on their personal experiences, the two guests reflect on their participation in China-U.S. youth dialogue, share insights on overcoming misunderstandings and building trust in cross-cultural communication, and explore the unique role young people can play in shaping the future of the bilateral relations.