How did Chinese painting, arguably the elitist of arts, fare during the Cultural Revolution? To discuss ink paintings, socialist realism, oil paintings and the political upheavals that formed their backdrop, I’m joined by artist Arnold Chang and Curator of Chinese Paintings at the MET in NY, Joe Scheier-Dawlberg. We discuss: Whether chaotic periods produce the best art The role of escapism in the creation of Chinese paintings Painting, the CCP and the four olds Why so many Chinese paintings have...
May 01, 2022•1 hr 15 min
Standards. Who has them? From shipping containers to screws to tech gadgets, how is it that something made in China can have certain attributes identical to another product made by another company half a world away? And why does it matter? MIT professor and business history JoAnne Yates and Wellesley professor of political science Craig Murphy are the authors of Engineering Rules: Global Standard Setting since 1880. Together with co-host Jacob Feldgoise, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for In...
Apr 25, 2022•1 hr 9 min
In 1991, a young Chinese academic published America against America, 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. 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 (@Chan...
Apr 15, 2022•1 hr 6 min
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? Tong Zhao (@zhaot2005) is a fellow at the Carnegie Center in Beijing who focuses on China’s nuclear program. Co-hosting is Schwarzmann Scholar Raven Witherspoon. We also discuss Why China sees NATO as the aggresso...
Apr 07, 2022•58 min
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. This show was recorded on March 31st. Bonny's testimony on Beijing and the war in Ukraine https://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA05/20220330/114573/HHRG-117-FA05-Wstate-Lin...
Apr 01, 2022•44 min
Taipei-based DJ and New Bloom editor Brian Hioe (@brianhioe) 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. We also discuss Earning a living making music in Taiwan v China Brian’s twitter fights with tankie rappers Taiwan’s indie music dating app How Wang Leehom’s divorce drama overshadowed a national referendum Song links" ...
Mar 31, 2022•59 min
In the 2010s, US Navy officers took cash, prostitutes and more from a Malaysian defense contractor known as Fat Leonard. To tell a story that bears more than a hint of resemblance to the Jho Low 1MDB scandal, award-winning journalist Tom Wright (@tomwrightasia) joins me to discuss Fat Leonard’s relationship with the military and how it all came crashing down. Tom is the host of the podcast series FAT LEONARD, and previously wrote a New York Times bestseller on Jho Low titled Billion Dollar Whale...
Mar 22, 2022•57 min
Will Germany’s policy changes towards Russia have a knock-on effect on its attitude towards China? To get the view from Germany, I’m joined by Berlin-based Noah Barkin (@noahbarkin), the managing editor of Rhodium Group’s China practice. We discuss Whether Europe is pushing China to exercise its influence over Russia How Ukraine has changed Germany’s attitude towards the military Why the Polish president had to give new Chancellor Olaf Scholz a shake The new “democracies versus authoritarians” p...
Mar 11, 2022•33 min
Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova, Head of Riga Stradins University China Studies Centre, Head of the Asia program at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs, and a member of the European Think tank Network on China, joins to discuss. Outtro music: Stefania (Kalush Orchestra) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nRQWc4YKGU Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 07, 2022•29 min
Matej Šimalčík, Executive Director of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies, joins from Bratislava to discuss: The reception of BRI in Eastern and Central Europe 10 years on How the war will accelerate changes in opinion towards China Jordan and Matej reminiscing about Pohoda, the greatest music festival on the planet (my writeup from 2015 https://medium.com/@jordanschneider/pohoda-the-world-s-greatest-music-festival-675f3da2ae24) This conversation was recorded Feb 27th. Outtro music (...
Mar 07, 2022•40 min
Adam Tooze and Matt Klein return to ChinaTalk to discuss the war in Ukraine. We get into Why Adam is as scared as he's ever been What caused the EU to rally together 'NATO for Trade' for sanctions What this means for Taiwan Recorded on Sunday Feb 27th at 4pm est. Please consider making a donation to https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/ukraine-crisis-relief-fund/faq/#menu Outtro Music: As Chumaks Rode to Crimea for Salt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1j9t7Bd_fg Get bonus content on Patreon Se...
Feb 28, 2022•1 hr 10 min
Ivana Karásková, China Research Fellow and a Project Coordinator at the Association for International Affairs (AMO), shares her view from Central Europe. We discuss Why so many Europeans came out in the streets today The German political about-face in favor of supporting Ukraine What this means for the future of the EU What Xi thinks about all of this My half-baked sleep-deprived Biden hottakes This podcast was recorded midday US time on Sunday the 27th. Please consider making a donation to http...
Feb 27, 2022•31 min
Chris Miller of Tufts joins to discuss Why Putin invaded Why he humiliated his security council If Putin is on drugs US public opinion and the politics of sanctions Sanctions' impact on the Russian economy Russia/China tech trade in the context of global sanctions The far-reaching implications of Ukrainian heroism This show was recorded on Feb 26. Please consider making a donation to https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/ukraine-crisis-relief-fund/faq/#menu Get bonus content on Patreon See acast...
Feb 26, 2022•45 min
Justin Sherman of the Atlantic Council joins to discuss Putin's history of cyber operations How he sees the current state of play What is Putin thinking about as he considers escalating in the cyber domain The tradeoffs of various policy choices facing American and Europeans leaders thinking about more aggressive offensive cyber operations Please consider making a donation at https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/ukraine-crisis-relief-fund/faq/#menu Outtro music: KALUSH - Не маринуй https://www....
Feb 26, 2022•25 min
What’s the point of NASA? Will Starlink end up funding Elon’s Mars dreams? To discuss the US space ecosystem in both the private and public sector, I am joined by Casey Handmer (@CJHandmer), former NASA Jet Propulsion Lab system architect and founder of Terraform Industries. We also talk about The potential for Starlink to improve internet access in developing countries Whether the US immigration system is hurting its ability to attract the best scientists Making electricity from air How much it...
Feb 21, 2022•56 min
Do you know your breaking porcelain from your eating human-blood-soaked steam buns? Slow Chinese author Andrew Methven (@AndrewMethven) joins me to talk about some of the newest and most interesting Chinese internet slang from the previous year and their origin stories. We discuss new words and phrases inspired by Haidilao cockroach scams, misbehaving tech companies and 996 culture, as well as: Which slang phrases have been co-opted into party talk Luckin Coffee founder Charles Lu’s latest ventu...
Feb 13, 2022•40 min
Author of China's Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy Peter Martin (@PeterMartin_PCM) and Schwarzman scholar Jason Zhou return to take us from the young diplomats venturing out of China in the eighties to today’s Wolf Warriors and the adoption of more nationalist rhetoric. We also discuss Chinese diplomats’ and Canadian retirement homes Xi Jinping’s father-in-law and his admiration for Thatcher Tiananmen and rebuilding China back from diplomatic isolation Why Chinese right-winger...
Feb 04, 2022•59 min
Why has China and its foreign ministry struggled to communicate with the world? In his book, China’s Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy, Peter Martin (@PeterMartin_PCM) traces the history of China’s post-1949 diplomatic corps, from the impact of Zhou Enlai’s experiences in Paris to reluctant guerrilla-generals-turned-ambassadors trying to get to grips with manning embassies half a world away from Cultural Revolution China. Along with Schwarzman scholar Jason Zhou, we dissect the...
Jan 26, 2022•54 min
What can US-China relations learn from US-Japan relations in the leadup to WWII? To discuss, I’m joined by Stony Brook University’s Michael Barnhart, author of the 1987 Japan Prepares for Total War: The Search for Economic Security, 1919–1941 and the more recent Can You Beat Churchill?: Teaching History through Simulations (https://www.amazon.com/Can-You-Beat-Churchill-Simulations/dp/1501755641), with Scholar’s Stage essayist Tanner Greer (@Scholars_Stage) cohosting. We discuss What motivated Ja...
Jan 09, 2022•52 min
See here for the Year in Review in text form with lots of links: https://chinatalk.substack.com/p/2021-year-in-review-future-plans Support ChinaTalk on Patreon at https://patreon.com/chinatalk Fill out this form to help my 'market research' on how to construct the CCP course! https://forms.gle/dXKjzfXWyxyi2ixg9 Wanna cohost a ChinaTalk episode? Fill out this form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0DIG0PlM3PxRZVoBs6BZYiTgQr8945Y44llRazzqQVzwwjw/viewform Here's how to record a voice...
Jan 02, 2022•36 min
NYT bestselling YA author Xiran Jay Zhao (@XiranJayZhao) joins me to talk about her new book, Iron Widow, a Pacific Rim meets Handmaiden's tale sci-fi retelling of the story of Wu Zetian. Co-hosting is ChinaTalk's editor Callan Quinn (@quinnishvili). We discuss: Chinese history Easter eggs in Iron Widow Going viral and Youtube China content How censorship is stifling creativity in C-dramas Why Xiran thinks Confucius was an arsehole Link to Iron Widow: https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Widow-Xiran-Jay-...
Dec 23, 2021•31 min
What's it like to live across the US-China scientific divide? Yale Law School postdoc, particle physicist and essayist Yangyang Cheng (@yangyang_cheng) joins me alongside undergrad Alex Liang to talk about understanding the other, how the personal can be lost in the noise of geopolitical tension and science across borders. We also discuss Power hierarchies and identities The “new red scare” and scrutiny on Chinese scientists The Large Hadron Collider as a Language as an instrument of state power...
Dec 13, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Dewey Murdick, director of CSET, discusses how the organization has brought a new level of rigor to hot topics ranging from chips to immigration and AI safety policy. We also discuss: CSET's Map of Science and the fate of Google Scholar Being beholden to the checkbooks of funders Topics that make policymakers' eyes roll - but shouldn't The optimal employment conditions for growing temperate, nice, low-ego, tasty fruit Please consider supporting ChinaTalk at https://www.patreon.com/ChinaTalk for ...
Dec 03, 2021•49 min
Can eating your sons be morally justified? Stratagems of the Warring States is a collection of stories compiled during the Han dynasty about the many states that fought for control of all under heaven in the Warring States Period between the fifth and third centuries BC. Featuring tales of hostages, statecraft, assassinations and throwing shade on princelings, in this special episode of ChinaTalk, voice actors Jacob Guenther and Chara Lin perform excerpts of Jennifer Dodgson's translation into E...
Nov 24, 2021•32 min
What does the 6th Plenum communique tell us about where Xi wants to take China? What can you learn by reading the People’s Daily daily and writing a substack on it? And how would you design a course to learn how to read the CCP? To discuss, Manoj Kewalramani (@theChinaDude) of the https://trackingpeoplesdaily.substack.com/ and https://manojkewalramani.substack.com/ newsletters, joins to discuss. For an ad-free feed, please consider supporting ChinaTalk at https://www.patreon.com/ChinaTalk Outtro...
Nov 16, 2021•52 min
Winner of the inaugural Rhodium and China Talk essay contest, recent college grad Maggie Baughman discusses her essay on how the Chinese government uses Western social media to promote their desired image of China internationally with myself and co-host Jeff Kao, a computational journalist at ProPublica. We discuss: The companies offering Chinese entities access and marketing on western social media How China's approach to western social media differs to that in Russia and Iran Foreign influence...
Nov 07, 2021•34 min
Red Roulette, Desmond Shum’s memoir of a fast life, deep in the bowels of Chinese politics, is the bombshell China book of 2021. It tells the story of his rise from an impoverished childhood in cultural revolution-era Shanghai and Hong Kong to his marriage to his social climbing wife with ties to the premier of China, and ultimate downfall as Xi’s anti-corruption push caught up with him. New York Times reporter Mike Forsythe (@PekingMike) and Lizzi C Lee (@wstv_lizzi), a journalist at the indepe...
Oct 26, 2021•46 min
China's energy problems are back in the news. Joining me to discuss them is Yan Qin, lead analyst at Refinitiv, with my Rhodium colleague Irina Liu as co-host. We discuss Whether China is serious about its climate pledge Why Chinese industry is moving westwards How "carbon neutral" became a hot topic The importance of global cooperation on climate change For an ad-free feed, please consider supporting ChinaTalk on Patreon here https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1959352 check out ...
Oct 17, 2021•41 min
Lisa Porter joins me with Eric Lofgren from AcquisitionTalk as cohost to reflect on how R&D works and doesn't work `in the Pentagon. Lisa served as was deputy director of Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering in the DoD, founding director of IARPA, and executive vice president of In-Q-Tel. We touch on: How the error correction of free markets is absent in DoD A round of overrated/underrated on critical S&T areas How successful government organizations empower their staf...
Oct 12, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Hosts of the Dongfang Hour (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3UXwB0UbUIg4z4vssUHPBw), a podcast focusing on the Chinese aerospace industry, Blain Curcio and Jean Deville join me in another ChinaTalk space episode to talk about launches in China and public enthusiasm for space projects. We discuss The Belt and Road in space The differences between the Starlink and Guowang networks Europe’s dilemma on selling to the US and China China’s ambitious space projects in the 2020s Why the vibe in the Ch...
Oct 03, 2021•46 min
