China In Context

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....

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...

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, C...

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 Lo...

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, includ...

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...

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 th...

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...

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 age...

China often boasts that it is on target to become the world’s biggest economy and that in the process it’s lifting millions of people permanently out of poverty. Yet the government also acknowledges that as the population gets older, caring for the elderly creates a huge responsibility, which could have a profound effect on the economy. In this podcast, George Magnus, Research Associate at the SOA...

Should Communists care about being beautiful? In Maoist China, western ideas of beauty were derided as bourgeois. It was said to be far better to judge a woman’s worth by her intelligence, patriotism, and adherence to socialist values. Yet, as China opened up to the world, femininity flowed back into fashion and now Chinese women spend a fortune on their appearance. In this podcast, Dr Jieyu Liu,...

It is an expensive choice to have children in China, especially in big cities. Most parents struggle to afford child care and only a few employers do much to support the careers of working mothers. A new term has been coined to describe women’s challenges: the “motherhood penalty” (生育惩罚 shēngyùchéngfá). In this podcast, Dr Jieyu Liu, Deputy Director of the SOAS China Institute , explains why a...

Criticism over China’s handling of the outbreak of coronavirus had a negative impact on its international image. Initially, there was also grumbling within China itself, although complaints seem to have died down, perhaps due to censorship. Despite coronavirus, China’s economy is growing rapidly. It’s also giving away Chinese vaccines to other countries. In this podcast, the Director of the SOAS C...

Beijing imposed a wide-ranging national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020. It claims this has quelled unrest, improved stability for business and settled the issue of sovereignty. However, many Hong Kongers feel their basic freedoms have been curtailed and there’s been a backlash against China from democratic countries, including America and the UK. In this podcast, the Director of the SOAS C...

The Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States lasted for nearly four decades, casting a shadow of fear across the world. Nowadays, with China and the US locked in a constant arms race and tussle for influence, many people - including President Xi Jinping - have warned that a new Cold War is upon us. In this podcast, the Director of the SOAS China Institute , Professor Steve Tsang, sp...