The battle to bring evidence-based policymaking into diplomacy

How the NSTC could change our shape the future

What happened when Mao and Stalin died? What does that tell us about the post-Xi era?

Recorded July 2021. Abe Shinzo is second only to Xi as the most consequential East Asian politician of the 21st century

This was a really good episode.

<p>In 1991, a young Chinese academic published <em>America against America</em>, a look at the contradictions and paradoxes he observed while traveling there. His book was largely forgotten until last year when it went viral for its observations on US cultural decline, becoming a hot topic on Chinese-language forums.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It was no less fascinating for who its author was. Wang Huning is today one of the top leaders in the CCP and a member of the Politburo Standing Committee. Freelance journalist Chang Che (<a href="https://twitter.com/Changxche" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@Changxche</a>) sat down to talk with me about the book and what it tells us about Chinese interpretations of US - and Western - culture.</p><br><p>We also discuss</p><p><br></p><ul><li>The Shanghai lockdown</li><li>Why the teaching of Western classical civilization took off in China...</li><li>...But also makes very little mention of religion</li><li>The CCP take on the US culture wars and rewriting curriculums</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>CHECK OUT THE CHINATALK SUBSTACK! </strong><a href="https://chinatalk.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://chinatalk.substack.com</strong></a></p><p>Support us on Patreon! <a href="https://www.patreon.com/ChinaTalk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/ChinaTalk</a></p><br><p>Chang’s Wang Huning Article: <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/books/second-read/how-a-book-about-americas-history-foretold-chinas-future" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.newyorker.com/books/second-read/how-a-book-about-americas-history-foretold-chinas-future</a></p><p>Chang’s western classics education article: <a href="https://supchina.com/2022/01/13/china-looks-to-the-western-classics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://supchina.com/2022/01/13/china-looks-to-the-western-classics/</a></p><br><p>Outro Music: 锦上添花 FREESTYLE by 盛宇 Damnshine <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRaoDr1Cbbg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRaoDr1Cbbg</a></p><p><br></p> <a target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href="https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1959352">Get bonus content on Patreon</a><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p>Is a nuclear arms race inevitable? China has been building up its nuclear arsenal over the past few years. While it remains significantly smaller than the US and Russia’s, what does this mean for geopolitics against the backdrop of US-China tensions and the Russian invasion of Ukraine?</p><br><p>Tong Zhao (<a href="https://twitter.com/zhaot2005?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@zhaot2005</a>) is a fellow at the Carnegie Center in Beijing who focuses on China’s nuclear program. Co-hosting is Schwarzmann Scholar <a href="https://www.schwarzmanscholars.org/scholars/#raven-witherspoon" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Raven Witherspoon</a>.</p><br><p>We also discuss</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Why China sees NATO as the aggressor and Russia as the victim</li><li>Why policy experts’ lack of technical literacy is a big problem</li><li>How China understands nuclear deterrence</li><li>China’s argument for Putin being a rational actor</li><li>Whether there is any hope</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Outro music: 七里香 Remix (original version by Jay Chou) by MACOVASEAS <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVvpgNG0giM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVvpgNG0giM</a></p><br><p>ChinaTalk is on Substack! See, share, subscribe: <a href="https://chinatalk.substack.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://chinatalk.substack.com</a></p><br><p>Also now on Youtube! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXOtILmQEo3pL_1bJfUOFWw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXOtILmQEo3pL_1bJfUOFWw</a></p><br><p>And please consider supporting ChinaTalk on Patreon so we can eat more Haidilao before the world ends: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/ChinaTalk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/ChinaTalk</a></p> <a target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href="https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1959352">Get bonus content on Patreon</a><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p>CSIS' Bonny Lin joins to discuss how Beijing is responding to the war in Ukraine, potential future paths for Chinese policy, whether the IC could pull the same intelligence coups in Beijing as they did in Moscow, how the PLA may adapt to lessons from in theater, and what Biden should do if Putin drops a tactical nuclear weapon.</p><br><p>This show was recorded on March 31st.</p><br><p>Bonny's testimony on Beijing and the war in Ukraine <a href="https://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA05/20220330/114573/HHRG-117-FA05-Wstate-LinB-20220330.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA05/20220330/114573/HHRG-117-FA05-Wstate-LinB-20220330.pdf</a></p><p>Check out Bonny's piece on military blunders https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR768.html</p><br><p>Subscribe to the ChinaTalk feed! https://chinatalk.substack.com/</p><br><p>And consider supporting the show at https://patreon.com/chinatalk</p> <a target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href="https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1959352">Get bonus content on Patreon</a><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p>Taipei-based DJ and <a href="https://newbloommag.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Bloom</a> editor Brian Hioe (<a href="https://twitter.com/brianhioe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@brianhioe</a>) takes us on a tour of the local indie music scene and explains what some of last year’s top tunes can tell us about Taiwanese politics and culture, from the influence of indigenous communities to attitudes towards China.</p><br><p>We also discuss</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Earning a living making music in Taiwan v China</li><li>Brian’s twitter fights with tankie rappers</li><li>Taiwan’s indie music dating app</li><li>How Wang Leehom’s divorce drama overshadowed a national referendum</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Song links"</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzedDxXnPCs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">拍謝少年 Sorry Youth - 歹勢中年 Sorry No Youth</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTe65iEt1Pc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TALACOWA - Collage</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoTYV4-qftw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ABAO阿爆（阿仍仍)【tjakudain 無奈】 feat. 李英宏 aka Dj Didilong</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5S0Jwen_tg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sonia Calico - Mukbang Roller</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcdkZ0XnFgg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">無妄合作社 No-nonsense Collective - 平靜的告別 Quiet Farewell</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEBoxrDqhZE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">鍾翔宇 Xiangyu - 流言蜚語 Rumors and Slanders</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mnhZOah0jw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rainbow Chan - Stanley</a></p><br><p>Outro Music: The Moon Represents My Heart by Teresa Teng <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk3VQoAKMUI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk3VQoAKMUI</a></p><br><p>CHECK OUT THE CHINATALK SUBSTACK! <a href="https://chinatalk.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://chinatalk.substack.com</a></p><p>Support us on Patreon! <a href="https://www.patreon.com/ChinaTalk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/ChinaTalk</a></p> <a target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href="https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1959352">Get bonus content on Patreon</a><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>