ChinaPower

This episode examines the key challenges in, and future direction of, China-Sweden relations. Our guest, The Honorable Carl Bildt, analyzes the role of the Gui Minhai case and other diplomatic rows as catalysts in the deterioration of the bilateral relationship. Mr. Bildt explains the changing views of China from within the Swedish government and other constituencies, as well as the key takeaways...

This episode unpacks China’s push to develop a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Our guest, Dr. Kevin Desouza, explains Beijing's motives and compares China’s plans for creating its own national digital currency with those of other countries that have undertaken similar initiatives. Dr. Desouza explores how a national digital currency can be used to bolster China’s finance and technology secto...

This episode explores China’s efforts to integrate its military and civilian sectors to support its military development and broader national security agenda. Our guest, Mr. Greg Levesque, discusses how Military-Civil Fusion (MCF) fits into China’s grand strategy and evaluates how effectively it has implemented the program to date. Mr. Levesque also weighs the risks and rewards of MCF in Beijing’s...

This episode examines China’s role in the World Health Organization (WHO), and how its relationship with the organization has changed over time. Our guest, Dr. Jeremy Youde, discusses how China has influenced how the WHO responds to global health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Youde also explores the challenges WHO leadership faces when balancing public health concerns with sensitive ge...

This episode explores the potential for China to join a strategic nuclear dialogue with the United States and Russia. Our guest, Dr. David Santoro, details China’s perspective on arms control issues, and underscores the difficulties in forging a trilateral nuclear agreement in today’s strategic environment. Dr. Santoro also discusses how the US can engage China bilaterally to enhance the prospects...

This episode explores China’s efforts to establish itself as a major player in the Arctic region. Our guest, Dr. Anne-Marie Brady, details China’s key interests in the region as they relate to its broader strategic, economic, and political objectives. Dr. Brady also discusses how China has engaged with Arctic countries and Arctic governance, and offers several important insights into how the inter...

This episode explores the evolution of the e-commerce market in China, the challenges it presents, and its impact on the Chinese economy. Our guest, Mr. Jacob Cooke, examines fundamental differences between the e-commerce markets in China and the United States, and discusses the shifting consumer landscape toward digital trends. He also analyzes the outlook for e-commerce in China, including the p...

This episode explores China’s key interests and investments in Africa, as well as how China-Africa relations are likely to evolve in the future. Our guest, Dr. Joshua Eisenman, breaks down the political and economic toolkit China is using to achieve its core interests in Africa. Dr. Eisenman offers his insights on the impact of U.S. engagement on China-Africa ties, as well as analyzes the feasibil...

This episode explores the major challenges that threaten China’s water resources, from scarcity and mismanagement, to pollution and climate change. Our guest, Dr. Scott Moore, describes China’s sweeping attempts to mitigate the negative impacts that growing water challenges pose at home. Dr. Moore also discusses how China’s efforts to secure its water resources have created security challenges wit...

This episode explores how China has responded to the deadly outbreak of a new coronavirus originating in the central city of Wuhan. Our guest, Dr. Yanzhong Huang, compares Beijing’s response to its handling of the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic, analyzing what key lessons the government appears to have learned and where it has fallen short. Dr. Huang also describes the varying local and global reactions...

This episode explores the evolution of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the developments that have occurred since it was first introduced in 2013 as One Belt One Road. Our guest, Dr. Wang Huiyao, discusses China’s efforts to generate greater buy-in from the international community and to transform the project into a shared objective for sustainable development. He also addresses the conc...

This episode explores the key challenges and opportunities in the China-Czech bilateral relationship. Our guest, Dr. Richard Turcsányi, describes the impact of the recent cancellation of the sister city agreement between Prague and Beijing as well as divergent views on China within the Czech government. He also addresses the economic and cultural factors that impact public opinion on China in the...

This episode explores China's retaliatory actions against the NBA after a recent incident, as well as the larger questions surrounding the Chinese government’s treatment of foreign private companies. Our guest, Dr. Victor Cha, discusses how both US and Chinese audiences have reacted to the NBA controversy and weighs in on whether Chinese public opinion might sway Beijing’s handling of the incident...

This episode explores Europe’s evolving approach toward including Chinese telecommunications companies in its 5G infrastructure. Our guest, Dr. Janka Oertel, explains the security risks behind allowing Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE to supply 5G technology to Europe, as well as the potential economic and political risks of shutting them out. Dr. Oertel also describes how Europe’s attitude t...

This episode of the ChinaPower Podcast is a crossover episode with “Hong Kong on the Brink,” hosted by Jude Blanchette. Mr. Blanchette interviews Bonnie Glaser about the protests in Hong Kong and their impact on Taiwan’s own relations with mainland China. Ms. Glaser explains how the continued unrest might affect Taiwan’s upcoming January 2020 presidential election. She also expands on how views in...

This episode explores the current dynamics between China and India in light of Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi’s second informal summit in October 2019. Our guest, Dr. Tanvi Madan, analyzes the outcomes of this meeting and the key issues impacting the bilateral relationship. Dr. Madan explains India’s views on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and use of detention facilities in Xinjiang, as well as ho...

This episode explores the landscape of China’s civilian and commercial space efforts in recent years. Our guest, Dr. Alanna Krolikowski, analyzes China’s recent achievements in space, including the landing of a rover on the far side of the moon and the first successful launch of a satellite by a private Chinese company. She also examines the relationship between the government, state-owned enterpr...

This episode explores China’s military developments in space over the last two decades. Our guests, Todd Harrison and Kaitlyn Johnson, discuss some of the findings of their report, “Space Threat Assessment 2019,” and analyze how China has developed and used their growing military space capabilities. They also explain the Wolf Amendment, which forbids any bilateral cooperation between NASA and the...

This episode explores the security dynamics of China’s increasing involvement in the Pacific Islands. Our guest, Dr. Anna Powles, analyzes perceptions of China’s presence in the region and emphasizes the agency that Pacific islands have in navigating geopolitical competition. Dr. Powles also explains China’s investments and interests in the region’s natural resources, concerns over Chinese pressur...

This episode explores the factors that led to China’s dominance in rare earth production. Our guest, Dr. Julie Klinger, analyzes past incidents and WTO decisions that have sustained supply chains of rare earth production in China, and their impact on global production and China’s relations with other countries. Dr. Klinger also describes China’s investments into the development of technologies to...

This episode examines China’s increasing engagement with countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Our guest, Dr. Jon Alterman, evaluates the main drivers of China’s growing involvement in the region, including its crude oil imports and investment in ports and infrastructure. Dr. Alterman also explains China’s non-interference policy in the region’s disputes, and why China’s relationsh...

This episode examines the behavior of China and other claimants in the South China Sea, including recent incidents between China and the Philippines and between China and Vietnam. Our guest, Mr. Greg Poling, analyzes the reactions of the Chinese, Philippines, and Vietnamese governments in light of recent conflicts. He also explains the purpose behind the presence of China’s maritime militia in the...

This episode examines China’s role in the World Trade Organization (WTO), including the economic and political effects of membership since its accession process. Our guest, Dr. Tu Xinquan, discusses the ways in which Beijing has utilized the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and assesses how well it has complied with WTO rulings. He also explains China’s proposed WTO reforms and the overall influen...

This episode delves into China’s evolving nuclear capabilities and policies. Our guest, Dr. Hans Kristensen, breaks down Beijing’s approach to nuclear weapons and explains the drivers behind China’s nuclear doctrine. Dr. Kristensen also compares China’s nuclear inventory with other major powers like the U.S. and Russia, and China’s stance on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and i...

This episode discusses China’s role and actions as a United Nations Security Council permanent member. Our guest, Dr. Courtney Fung, analyzes China’s “status dilemma” and the evolution of its behavior in the UN since being admitted in 1971. She also explains the motivations behind China’s leading role in UN Peacekeeping Operations, as well as how its position in the UN could factor in to China’s p...