Chat Lounge

Chinese President Xi Jinping has had a state visit to Russia. The visit coincides with Russia's Victory Day celebrations on May 9, marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, which brought an end to the Second World War in Europe. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, signifying the comple...

A mischievous little monster packed in mystery boxes is setting off a global craze from Asia to North America. Labubu, the fluffy, toothy toy from China, is sending fans camping out overnight and driving resale prices sky-high. How did a China-made plush punch through the thick wall of tariffs and land in America's hottest new stores, opening one after another across the country? What's behind the...

From eggs to Hollywood and global trust to monetary stability, America's tariff war against the rest of the world is dearly backfiring on its own people and economy. What are Americans losing due to the U.S. tariff war? US officials have indicated tariffs on China could drop substantially. But how reliable is such a statement, and can it reverse the damage already done? Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Yan L...

Three countries, one tour, and a clear message from Beijing- President Xi Jinping touched down in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia this week, marking one of his most strategic Southeast Asian tours in years. What's behind the charm offensive? While the U.S. is fueling global confusion and frustration with its tariff war, China and its Southeast Asian partners are trying to inject cooperation and st...

History doesn't just echo, it warns. As Washington ramps up tariffs and the world braces for economic whiplash, are we watching a 21st-century rerun of Hoover's Great Depression playbook? From China's counterstrikes to cracks in America's economy, we unpack whether this trade war is strategy or self-sabotage and how it may accelerate the formation of a "post-American" global trade order. Host Tu Y...

Shanghai has become a pioneering city in China to introduce standards regulating smoking in outdoor public spaces. Could this be the start of a nationwide shift? China aims to cut adult smoking from 24% to 20% by 2030, but with cigarette sales still climbing, how challenging is that goal? Can this policy truly make an impact, or will deep-rooted smoking culture stand in the way? Host Tu Yun joins...

The U.S. is attempting to revive its shipyards—not with innovation, but with tariffs. A hefty 1.5-million-US-dollar fee on China-made bulk ships could shake global shipping. Will it backfire on the U.S.? Can America rebuild its industry? Will business pressure sink the plan before it sets sail? Host Tu Yun joins Dr Jane Haider, a Reader in Transport, Logistics and Operations Management at Cardiff...

China's economic growth is outperforming expectations. But questions remain: when will the property slump end? Can consumer confidence keep rising? And how much will US tariffs bite? Host Tu Yun joins William Lee, the Chief Economist with the U.S.-based Milken Institute, Dr Li Wei, a Senior Lecturer at the Business School of University of Sydney, and Dr. Li Lun, an Assistant Professor of Economics...

Once upon a time, fat people were believed to be more blessed. Now, they are urged to watch their weight. On this week's Chat Lounge, host Tu Yun joins Dr. Lauren Johnston, an associate professor of the China Studies Centre, University of Sydney, Australia, Dr. Julie Ju Shi, an associate professor of health economics at the School of Economics and the School of Global Health Development, Peking Un...

Private firms drive China's economy. They represent 90% of all enterprises, 60% of GDP, and over 80% of urban jobs. But with global supply chains in turmoil, how can they keep growing and thriving? Host Tu Yun and co-host Professor Qu Qiang from Minzu University of China join Michael Woo Kim-kong, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, an...

China's Two Sessions, the country's major political event, is underway in Beijing and drawing global attention. During the meetings, Chinese lawmakers set economic, trade, and diplomatic policies and goals for key strategic areas in the year ahead. What key economic goals are highlighted in this year's Government Work Report? How can China achieve its growth targets of "around 5%" amid external ch...

Gold prices are soaring, hitting new highs more than 10 times this year! How unusual is this? What's driving the surge in addition to US President Donald Trump's tariff plan? How long might this trend last? What ripple effects will it have on the global economy and on our daily lives? Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Hans-peter Burghof, a professor and Chair of the Banking and Finance Department, University...

China has conducted another major asset reshuffle to overhaul its financial sector. The Ministry of Finance has transferred all of its controlling stakes in a group of financial companies to Central Huijin Investment, a sovereign fund under the State Council. What prompted the reshuffle? Is it just an asset transfer between different pockets of the central government? To what extent will it help t...

Chinese equities are hot right now. Global hedge funds have been snapping up Chinese stocks this year, fueled by the emergence of artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek. What are the implications of the buying spree for the country's equity market and the whole economy? How long will the momentum continue? How may the world's investment landscape change as a result? And as global institutional i...

Some say it’s the art of the deal. Others argue it’s merely extortion and blackmail. As US President Donald Trump wields his tariff stick around the world, how big will it impact the U.S. domestic market and the global economy? What can the rest of the world do in response? How far will the U.S. tariffs go? And what’s the outlook for Trump achieving the vision of revitalizing manufacturing? Host T...

Wall Street has been stunned. A Chinese quantitative hedge fund fueled a massive selloff of tech stocks, not with quant trading, but with the release of its large-language model, DeepSeek R1. How could a Chinese hedge fund trigger such a shockwave in the AI sector? How may it reshape AI-related industries? Does it signal an acceleration of China catching up or surpassing the U.S. in AI? And is it...

The fate of TikTok hangs in the balance once again. The popular video-sharing app, used by 170 million Americans, went dark last Saturday just before a federal law was set to take effect. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, just hours after his swearing-in, allowing TikTok to continue operating for 75 days. Trump’s proposed joint venture model, which would require U.S....

The United States is gearing up to regain its dominance in advanced chipmaking. Washington wants to control where the chips are going by introducing new restrictions that'll affect over 100 countries. Why did the U.S. government do so despite opposition from leading industry players like Nvidia? How may the European Union and China, the two major markets for advanced chips, react? And can the U.S....

Japan's largest steelmaker has brought the U.S. government to court as the latter has blocked the steelmaker's acquisition of an American firm. Why is Nippon Steel so obsessed with a loss-making company? Why would Washington say the deal threatens national security? What implications does a failed acquisition have for those hoping to invest in the U.S.? Host Tu Yun joins William Lee, the Chief Eco...

Time for a year-end review. Check out the key dynamics shaping the global landscape in the past year that may continue to shape the trajectory of international events and trends in the future. Also, where's the world heading in 2025, both economically and politically? Will the world become more deglobalized? To find out, host Tu Yun joins Harvey Dzodin, Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Gl...

China's embattled housing market has shown signs of positive momentum as a growing number of major cities reported increases in home prices and transaction volumes, some for the first time in more than 18 months. Does this mean the Chinese property sector has begun to bottom out and reverse its slumping trend? What internal and external risks are ahead? How may the authorities deal with the situat...

Chinese business confidence in the European Union has declined for a fifth year to a new low. What have the companies gone through in the once highly regarded fair and open market? An EU business leader in China has warned that a China-Europe trade war is unavoidable based on current trends. How likely is that to happen? If quitting each other's market is the least desirable option, what's the way...

China's decision to expand access to foreign investors in hospitals has become a hot topic for global healthcare providers. While welcoming the increased openness, they also have concerns. What contributes to a wait-and-see attitude among investors before they commit their resources to the Chinese market? Among the cities eligible for investment in wholly foreign-owned hospitals, which one may be...

The shaky world economy is set to face another wave of turbulence. American President-elect Donald Trump has pledged new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, the top three U.S. trade partners. Are Trump's tariff threats bargaining chips to push for favorable deals? Does the world have to go through what happened during Trump's first term all over again? Who could be the next target of Trump's tar...

Leaders of the G20 gathered in Rio de Janeiro this week to address global challenges and promote inclusive growth. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the meeting, called for building a just world of common development, and outlined China’s actions in this area. What outcomes did the leaders accomplish? How can the G20 help developing nations eradicate poverty and foster common prosperity? What...