Chat Lounge

What does it mean to "become Chinese," and why are people saying it online? From TikTok to X, the phrase is going viral. Is it cultural admiration, social commentary, or a search for alternatives? Host Tu Yun is joined by Dr. Qu Qiang, a professor and fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center at Minzu University of China, Dr. Warwick Powell, an adjunct professor of the Queensland University of Technology, Australia, and Harvey Dzodin, a Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization to explore the forces behind this unexpected trend and what it reveals about a changing world.

A fatal shooting in Minnesota has reopened some of America's deepest wounds. Renee Good, a poet, a mother, a guitarist, was killed during a federal immigration operation, just blocks from where George Floyd died. The fallout has sparked nationwide protests, fierce political debate, and new questions about ICE, accountability, and power. What happened and where could this moment take the United States next? Host TU Yun joins Dr. Yan Liang, Professor of Economics, Willamette University, Dr. Edward Lehman, Founder and Managing Director of the China-based law firm Lehman, Lee & Xu, and Dr. Josef Mahoney, Professor of Politics and International Relations, East China Normal University for a chat.

Recently, the term “U.S. death line” has been trending across Chinese social media. Originally a term from the gaming world, it’s now being used to describe the financial fragility haunting everyday Americans. Why are so many people in the U.S. just one crisis away from poverty? What does it tell us about the deep-seated institutional gaps in the country’s social safety net? Host Xu Yawen joins Prof. Li Lun, Assistant Professor of Economics at Peking University, and Prof. Josef Gregory Mahoney, Professor of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University, for a chat.

With rapid advancements in technology, what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for global semiconductor companies operating in China? As China steps up its efforts to boost quality consumption, how are global consumer brands adapting to this shift in demand? In this special edition, host Xu Yawen speaks with Marcus Kneifel, Senior Vice President of Systems Engineering at onsemi, and Willie Tan, CEO of Skechers China, South Korea and Southeast Asia, a global leader in lifestyle footwear and apparel. Together, the two industry leaders explore the strategies their companies are adopting in response to China’s quality consumption upgrades and technological transformation, positioning themselves for a competitive edge in the market.

As China shifts to a greener development mode, how may a multinational company adapt to the ever-changing market? As healthy living rises on China’s agenda, what new business opportunities are taking shape? In this special edition, host TU Yun talk to Frank Hammes, Global CEO of IQAir, the Swiss multinational known for its cutting-edge air purification and monitoring technology, and Roger Chen, the Managing Director-China of CLP Holdings, one of the oldest and largest power companies in the Asia-Pacific region and check out how they align with the country’s greener and healthier future for better business prospects.

Washington has just reversed course again. It is now allowing Nvidia to sell its advanced H200 AI chips to China, with a hefty 25% revenue cut flowing straight to the U.S. government. Is this a strategic concession, a commercial calculation, or the start of a new conditional export model? Will Chinese tech giants rush to buy the H200? Can Washington achieve its intended goals with the policy shift? And will this prompt other governments or companies to reconsider their own restrictions on tech exports to China? Host Tu Yun joins Andy Mok, a professor of Beijing Foreign Studies University and a senior research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, Dr. Zhou Mi, the Deputy Director of the Institute of American and Oceania Study, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Dr. Warwick Powell, an adjunct professor of the Queensland University of Technology for a chat.

China's new rule to seal public-security violation records is being hailed as historic, yet nothing has stirred more controversy than the plan to seal drug-use records. Why this issue? How justified are the public's concerns? And with millions speaking out online, could public pressure reshape how the rule is ultimately implemented? Or, if not, what can be done to reduce potential risks? Host TU Yun joins Mr. Bai Xianyue, Partner of Grandall Law Firm Tianjn Office, Professor Josef Mahoney, Professor of Politics and International Relations, East China Normal University and Professor Qu Qiang, Fellow, Belt and Road Research Center, Minzu University of China for a chat.

India has fully restored global visa services for Chinese travelers. What's behind the policy change? Can they realistically expect a quick rebound in Chinese tourist numbers? What are the biggest factors holding Chinese travelers back? And could this full restoration of visas become a genuine turning point in China–India relations? Host TU Yun joins Professor Zhang Wenjuan of Jindal Global Law School, India, Subramania Bhatt, Founder and CEO, China Trading Desk, and Gao Xirui, a Political Science PhD candidate, Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Hong Kong for a chat.

Tesla is accelerating its shift away from components made in China. It's pushing suppliers to eliminate China-made auto parts for cars built in the United States within the next year or two. Is this strategy due to political pressure from Washington, or is it preparation for a more aggressive trade environment? Is the change even possible? How could this reshape Tesla's business in China, where the company has long enjoyed policy support and unmatched efficiency? And how may this push for de-Sinicization affect U.S. automakers' global edge? Host TU Yun joins Yan Liang, Professor of Economics, Willamette University, Warwick Powell, Adjunct Professor, Queensland University of Technology, and Joseph Siracusa, Professor of Global Futures, Curtin University for a closer look.

Berlin is setting up a committee to re-examine its security-related trade policies towards Beijing. This comes as China just overtook the United States to become Germany's No. 1 trading partner. What's driving this sudden rethink? Is it politics, pressure, or protectionism? How will Germany's biggest companies, from autos to chemicals, react as the rules of engagement shift? And where will a possible new phase of Sino-German relations lead, and what might it mean for Europe and the world? Host TU Yun joins Professor Klaus Larres, the Richard M. Krasno Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Professor Josef Gregory Mahoney, Professor of Politics and International Relations, East China Normal University, and Dr. Zhou Mi, the Deputy Director of the Institute of American and Oceania Study, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation for a close look.