The World Reacts to William Lai, Li Qiang at Davos, and Imprisoned Journalists

#1 | Protests in China, Xi Goes to Saudi Arabia, and More…: Miles and Wilson discuss one of the most consequential periods of General Secretary Xi Jinping's tenure as the head of the Chinese Communist Party. From the 20th Party Congress, to popular protests over repression and Zero-Covid, to Xi's reentry into global forums like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, there's a lot going on in China. In the first episode of China Insider, Miles explains the history behind the headlines, and what to make of the last few weeks in China. Read Miles’ recent article for The New York Post titled "Chinese Protests Aren't About COVID - They're About Dictatorship" -- https://www.hudson.org/democracy/chinese-protests-arent-about-covid-theyre-about-dictatorship Follow the China Center's work at https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

21 min listen

#20 | Is Ukraine a Distraction from Taiwan? Plus, South Korea's Position on Taiwan and CCP Overseas Police Stations: Hosts Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss the tradeoffs in the United States’ support for Ukraine given the urgency of deterring war in the Indo-Pacific, recent statements from South Korea’s president about the global importance of defending Taiwan, and two recent arrests related to the Chinese Communist Party’s once-secret overseas police stations in New York. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

21 min listen

#4 | China-Russia Relations, the PRC's COVID-19 Surge, and 2023 Predictions: Miles and Wilson discuss new developments in the relationship between China and Russia, the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases throughout China and what they mean for the rest of the world, and what to expect in 2023. They also cover a strange Christmas present to Miles from the Chinese Communist Party. Follow the China Center's work at https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

23 min listen

#7 | COVID-19's Toll in China, Beijing's Charm Offensive at Davos, and the Real Power Behind Chinese Tech Companies: The chief epidemiologist of the PRC's Center for Disease Control and Prevention claims that 80% of China's population has been infected with COVID-19. Miles and Wilson discuss what that means for the toll the pandemic continues to take throughout the country. Then, they cover Beijing's charm offensive at Davos and at other international forums, before finishing up with a discussion of who really controls China's top technology and social media companies, and what that means for Americans' security. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

24 min listen

Welcome to the China Insider: China Insider is a weekly podcast project from the Hudson Institute's China Center, hosted by Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley who provide weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future. by China Insider

2 min listen

#19 | China's Economic Outlook, Blinken in Vietnam, and the PRC's Defense Posture: Hosts Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss China's economic outlook in light of new Q1 data, Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent visit to Vietnam and that country's role in countering China's ambitions, and what to make of recent developments in the PRC's defense posture and partnerships. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

25 min listen

#15 | Xi and Putin Meet in Moscow, the Party Reform Plan, and COVID-19 Raccoon Dogs?: Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss Xi Jinping’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the plan on reforming the Chinese Communist Party and state institutions that came out last Thursday, and the latest from the World Health Organization and a group of Chinese researchers on the origins of COVID-19. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

21 min listen

#5 | The PRC's Pandemic Chaos, The Reopening, and What To Expect from the 118th Congress: The big story out of China this week is that COVID-19 is ripping through the country and that Beijing’s lack of transparency has the World Health Organization urging the People’s Republic of China to change course. Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss the state of the pandemic and the Chinese Communist Party playing politics with vaccines, China reopening its borders to the world, and what the United States’ policy toward China looks like now that the 118th Congress has been sworn in and is getting to work. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

22 min listen

#9 | The Balloon Seen ’Round the World and the Boy Whose Disappearance Jolted China: The Chinese Communist Party’s spy balloon may be a Sputnik moment for the United States, as millions of Americans saw pictures of a surveillance device sent by the United States’ top geopolitical rival flying freely over the heartland. Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss the history of Chinese spy operations and what the downed balloon means for US-China relations, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s postponed trip to Beijing. Then they return to a story that’s gone largely unreported in the US press but that continues to go viral in China—a missing boy whose body was found recently. The incident raises questions about human trafficking, organ harvesting, and how trustworthy the Chinese people think their government really is. by China Insider

21 min listen

#2 | Apple in China, the Future of Zero-Covid, and the Politics of Death in the PRC: Miles and Wilson discuss the Chinese Communist Party's use of high-tech surveillance technologies to repress the Chinese people and the pro-freedom demonstrations at Apple's facilities in China and California. They also evaluate General Secretary Xi Jinping's plans as he charts the way forward in a possible post-Zero-COVID world. Finally, they analyze China's nationwide state funeral for former General Secretary Jiang Zemin, and the politics of death in communist regimes, going back to Lenin and Mao. Follow the China Center's work at https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

20 min listen

#34 | PLA Purges, the 2023 World University Games, and China’s International Reputation: China Center Program Manager Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the new PLA purges, rumored for the past few weeks but confirmed on the eve of PLA day, a national holiday in China celebrating the militaries founding. They turn to the 2023 World University Games held in China, and how Xi Jinping used this opportunity for political messaging. Finally, they discuss a new survey from the Pew Research Center, which reveals that China’s international reputation has reached a historic low. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

25 min listen

#24 | G7 Summit, China-Central Asia Meeting, and Taiwan's Presidential Election: Last week was a tale of two summits, with the G7 leaders and their international partners gathering in Hiroshima, Japan, while China played host to the leaders from five Central Asian nations in Xian. Hosts Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss what to make of these two gatherings, and close with a preview of the 2024 Taiwanese presidential election now that the major parties have their candidates. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

20 min listen

#6 | China’s Economic and Demographic Headwinds, Kishida’s G7 Tour, and Beijing’s Overseas Police Stations: China's latest economic and demographic numbers show that the country is facing significant headwinds. But are they still too good to be true? Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss what to make of the latest statistics before diving into Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's leadership and G7 world tour and finishing with a conversation on the recent revelations about China's more than 100 overseas police stations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and elsewhere. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

20 min listen

#3 | Pushback to the PRC from Japan, India, and Iran: December has been a bad month for the People’s Republic’s global ambitions. Miles and Wilson discuss Japan’s historic defense buildup and what it means for the global balance of power, China’s clashes with India along the Line of Actual Control, and how Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia undermined his long-term strategy with Iran. by China Insider

24 min listen

#21 | China’s Anti-Espionage Law, Chinese Migrants at US Southern Border, and President Yoon in Washington: Hosts Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss what an update to China's anti-espionage law means for foreign businesses operating in the People's Republic of China, what a wave of Chinese migrants at America's southern border says about the state of the Chinese economy, and how President Yoon Suk-yeol's blockbuster visit to Washington led to a transformative week in US-South Korea relations. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

27 min listen

#16 | The TikTok Hearing, China and Russia, and the CCP’s Campaign to Isolate Taiwan: Wilson Shirley and Miles Yu discuss what last week’s congressional hearing means for the future of TikTok and other Chinese technology companies in the United States, what Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin want after their summit in Moscow, and what to make of China’s move to isolate Taiwan by courting Honduras. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

27 min listen

#14 | Iran-Saudi Deal Brokered by China, Americans’ Opinions of the CCP, and COVID-19 Origin Investigations: Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss the China-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran and what it means for the future of great-power competition in the Middle East and elsewhere. They continue with the latest on two ongoing stories, first about China's declining popularity in much of the world, and second about how Congress and the World Health Organization are advancing their investigations into the origins of COVID-19. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

26 min listen

#10 | Wuhan Protests, the Chinese Healthcare System, and the “Hong Kong 47”: Protests broke out last week in the city of Wuhan over drastic cuts to healthcare subsidies. An unusual protest, driven mostly by retirees against the Municipal government in Wuhan, resulted in nearly ten thousand Chinese citizens sieging the city government, vowing to return in 10 days with much larger numbers and eventually receiving capitulation from local officials. In light of this, Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley reflect on the glaring issues within the PRCs healthcare system writ large, and in particular, how decades of the One Child Policy and the bleak outlook for today’s Chinese youth places enormous stress on the system’s capacity to care for the elderly. They discuss how the Wuhan government's decision to cut costs points to larger economic issues for the PRC, as local governments who were previously bearing the brunt of Zero-covid costs are now running troubling deficits, and it is unclear whether t by China Insider

26 min listen

#17 | Hudson Honors President Tsai; China's Influence in Latin America; and the EU-China Strategic Rivalry: In this episode, Senior Fellow Miles Yu and Media Fellow Wilson Shirley discuss how Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited New York and accepted Hudson Institute’s Global Leadership Award. They also cover the People’s Republic of China’s growing assertiveness in Latin America and the European Union’s approach to the strategic rivalry with Beijing. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

26 min listen

#12 | The Lab Leak Theory Reemerges, and China's Ukraine Strategy: The US Department of Energy has assessed that COVID-19 mostly likely originated in a lab leak in Wuhan, and last week the Chinese Communist Party released its twelve-point "peace plan" for Ukraine. Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss what the DOE's assessment means and the history of the lab-leak investigations, going back to early 2020. They then dive into China's long and complicated history with Ukraine in light of Beijing's peace plan, tracing from the fall of the Soviet Union to the current no-limits partnership between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Read Miles's WSJ op-ed on the lab leak here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-reckless-labs-put-the-world-at-risk-11614102828 Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

24 min listen

#11 | Retiree Protests Spread, China's Top Tech Investor Disappears, and Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference: The Chinese retiree protests that began in Wuhan have spread to other cities as local governments cut back on health-care subsidies. Miles and Wilson discuss where these protests are headed, and how Xi Jinping's policies have undermined government budgets throughout China. They follow up with a conversation about the disappearance of Bao Fan, one of China's top technology investors, before finishing with key takeaways from the Munich Security Conference, Wang Yi's meeting with Antony Blinken, and the future of China-Russia relations. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

25 min listen

#8 | Mike Pompeo Never Gives an Inch, Nationalist Rhetoric from Beijing, and the Case of a Missing Boy in China: The definitive memoir of foreign policy in the Trump administration is out: former Director of the CIA and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's Never Give an Inch. Miles and Wilson discuss the China-related highlights from the book, before delving into two big stories from inside China this week. The first is the increasingly nationalist rhetoric out of Beijing around the Lunar New Year, and the second is the terrible case of a 15-year-old Chinese boy who went missing for three months, and what it tells us about human trafficking in the People's Republic of China. by China Insider

25 min listen

#29 | Four Implications of the Wagner Revolt for China, PRC Constitution Designates Xi a Dictator, and the Threat of Chinese E-commerce: China Center Program Manager Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the Wagner revolt against Vladimir Putin’s regime and its implications for the People’s Republic of China. They then talk about how Joe Biden called Xi Jinping a “dictator” before turning to a discussion on Chinese e-commerce and how companies like Shien and Temu subvert American tariffs and undermine the free market. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

25 min listen

#13 | The Two Sessions, and the House Select Committee on China’s First Hearing: Two events last week made the priorities and positions of Beijing and Washington clearer. First, thousands of delegates came together for the opening of the annual Two Sessions, which includes China’s National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Second, the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party held a hearing titled “The Chinese Communist Party’s Threat to America.” Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss what to make of these meetings (including what they say about Xi Jinping’s policies going forward), how the US Congress is building on the bipartisan consensus about the China challenge, and how America can respond to the most serious threat it has faced in decades. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

24 min listen

#31 | Yellen Visits Beijing, New CCP Department of Social Work, and Indo-Pacific Security at NATO Summit '23: China Center Program Manager Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss US Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen’s visit to Beijing and its implications for economic relations between the US and China. They then discuss the significance of the CCP’s new Department of Social Work and how it further centralizes Xi Jinping’s power. They end with a conversation about the 2023 NATO Summit, and how Indo-pacific security fits into NATO’s priorities. by China Insider

21 min listen

#28 | Reflecting on Blinken in Beijing, a PRC-ROK Diplomatic Spat, and China’s Low Marriage Rates: This week, Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to reflect on the outcome of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's long-awaited visit to Beijing. They then discuss the recent diplomatic spat between China and South Korea, as well as its broader implications for the PRC's diplomatic approach and international reputation. Finally, they conclude with a conversation regarding China's historically low marriage rates, the underlying malaise Chinese youth are experiencing, and what this means for the country as it attempts to overcome its demographic challenges. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

24 min listen

BRI, “Confucius Meets Marx,” and Banned Books: Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to reflect on the third Belt and Road Initiative Summit, and the state of the BRI today. They then discuss a new propaganda television show on Hunan TV, Confucius Meets Marx, and the degree to which these systems are fundamentally incompatible. Finally, they discuss the latest banned book in China, which commentators argue draws parallels between the fall of the Ming Dynasty and the trajectory of the People's Republic of China today under Xi Jinping. by China Insider

26 min listen

#18 | The CCP Sanctions Hudson, Macron in China, and the PRC's Local Banking Crisis: Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss what to make of the People’s Republic of China’s reaction to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the United States, the folly of French President Emmanuel Macron’s “strategic autonomy,” and what an ongoing banking crisis in rural China says about the health of the country’s financial sector. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

24 min listen

#25 | Henry Kissinger's China Legacy, Taiwan's Defense, and the Past, Present, and Future of Chinese Freedom: For host Wilson Shirley's final episode, he talks with Miles Yu about former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger turning 100 years old and evaluates Kissinger's legacy on US-China relations, from 1972 until the present. They then discuss Taiwan's growing importance to the free world, describing how the defense of the island democracy is now a global endeavor. Finally, they conclude with a conversation on the historic and enduring pro-freedom movements in China, from the May Fourth Movement in 1919, to Tiananmen Square, Hong Kong, and the White Paper Protests. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

37 min listen

#23 | The PRC’s New Man in Europe, Sino-Nordic Relations, and Accusations of Genetic Warfare: Hosts Miles Yu and Wilson Shirley discuss the appointment of Li Hui as the People's Republic of China's new special representative for Eurasian affairs and his European tour this week, Sino-Nordic relations, and the PRC’s recent accusation that the US is manufacturing genetically engineered weapons. Follow the China Center's work at: https://www.hudson.org/china-center by China Insider

23 min listen

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The World Reacts to William Lai, Li Qiang at Davos, and Imprisoned Journalists

The World Reacts to William Lai, Li Qiang at Davos, and Imprisoned Journalists

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