China's tech giant Huawei emerges from the shadows of U.S. suppression only to face a new challenge. A bunch of former employees of Huawei’s chip arm are causing ripples in the tech world. Arrests have been made, with charges of key chip tech theft from Huawei. How significant is this blow? Could it be a major setback that can hinder Huawei’s comeback? To find out more about the latest twist in the tech saga, host Tu Yun is joined by Andy Mok, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China...

Time for a year-end review. Check out the most critical events from 2023 that could reshape the future of China and the rest of the world. Also, how has China’s role changed on the global stage? Is it one step closer or further away from reaching the goal of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in face of reinforced Western containment? To find out, host Tu Yun joins Harvey Dzodin, Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, Dr. Qu Qiang, Research Fellow of Beijing Foreign...

“New productive forces,” “far, far ahead,” “Special Forces style tourism"... As the end of the year draws near, several media outlets unveil compilations of China's top "buzzwords" for the year 2023. Throughout this year, a myriad of Chinese buzzwords have surged through diverse facets of society, leaving an indelible mark on trends and behavior and reflecting the dynamic cultural shifts in modern China. How can these buzzwords serve as a distinct lens into the evolving Chinese zeitgeist? How...

Almost 200 countries have adopted the first ever UN climate deal that calls for the world to transition away from fossil fuels. The deal comes after two weeks of hard-fought negotiations at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. What implications does this hold for the future of humanity, and how can the international community ensure that commitments translate into tangible, real-world actions? Host Zhao Ying is joined by Wu Changhua, Acting Chair of the Governing Council of Asia Pacific Water...

France hosted the South Pacific Defense Ministers Meeting this week. As the SPDMM marks its tenth anniversary this year, its main functions have evolved from a military dialogue to include more communications in emergency response, combating climate change, etc. What has also evolved is the presence of global powers in the South Pacific. Western powers like the United States, France, New Zealand and Australia have all been upping their games in the region. China increased its interactions...

Starting Friday, citizens of Malaysia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain will no longer need visas to enter China for visits of no more than 15 days. Why didn’t Beijing introduce the policy sooner? What benefits can it generate apart from attracting more tourists? And what’s the other side of the coin? To find out, host Tu Yun joins Dr. Lee Pei May, Assistant Professor of Political Science from the International Islamic University Malaysia, Dr. Qu Qiang of Beijing Foreign...

A pizzeria in a small village in rural China? Yep and it serves pizza with stinky mandarin fish, something even some Chinese can’t take. Why would its American owner, Adrien Brill, launch the business in a village? How has it become a must-go restaurant, attracting many food lovers flying thousands of miles just for a bite? And after being appointed as a rural ambassador, what’s his plan for promoting local development? Check out Adrien’s unique experience of integrating his personal...

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC meetings took place in San Francisco this week. Leaders from the 21-member economies, including major players such as China, the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada, gathered to discuss ways to enhance trade and economic growth across the Pacific region. APEC was established in 1989 with an initial focus on trade and the economy. Official data shows that APEC’s member economies account for approximately 40% of the world’s population and...

China has delivered its first homegrown large cruise ship. This makes China the only country in the world to have mastered the building of aircraft carriers, large liquefied natural gas tankers and large cruise ships, known as the three “crown jewels” of the shipbuilding industry. What’s the significance of this capability? The cruise ship Adora Magic City has attracted not only ardent tourists, but also Western skeptics. The latter are touting the idea that the cruise ship poses an...

In this episode of our special series My Expat Life in Rural China, Dutch tulip grower Nicolaas Kaaijk shares his story of participating in the country’s rural ecological revitalization by helping to transform a small village in the eastern coastal province of Jiangsu into the country’s first “sea of tulips" over the past decade. Kaaijk also explains why he believes China will become a leader in developing green economy.

For his climate-centered one week trip in China, Californian Governor Gavin Newsom tested out a new electric vehicle by Chinese automaker BYD in Shenzhen, participated in climate talks near the Great Wall in Beijing, met with Chinese officials, and more. The trip has been watched closely in America and China. Why is making this trip important for Gavin Newsom? How are California and China working with each other on climate? What's the significance of sub-national exchanges between the U.S....

From being questioned, slandered to being imitated, the Belt and Road Initiative has fared through a spectacular journey since its birth a decade ago. Host Tu Yun joins Makhdoom Babar, President and Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Daily Mail, Professor Dai Yonghong, Dean of College of International Studies and Institute of Area and International Communication, Shenzhen University, and Thomas Pauken II, Beijing-based geopolitical consultant and media commentator on Asia-Pacific issues for a...

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, which has fast become the most important global development project in the world today. Over the past decade, more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations have joined the initiative, spanning over three-quarters of the world’s nations. This collaboration has led to the development of over 3,000 projects and the creation of 420,000 job opportunities worldwide. In this program, we will delve into the BRI’s...

The IMF has lowered its forecasts for China’s economic growth this year and next. It comes amid Western media reports that the country’s Golden Week consumption disappointed Beijing. Has China’s economy lost its growth momentum? What can the Chinese government do in the remaining months to keep its growth target within reach and lay the groundwork for the coming year? Host Tu Yun joins John Ross, Senior Fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, Dr....

In the past few weeks, Chinese authorities have rolled out a series of policy adjustments for the property market, including easing restrictions on the classification of first-home buyers, lowering existing first-home loan rates and down payment requirements, and more. The measures came after a high-level meeting in July among China's top leadership concluded that major changes have taken place in the relationship between supply and demand in China's real estate market and called for timely...

A report by the German Marshall Fund, a think tank in Washington, finds that people across the Atlantic have complex views on China, with a considerable number showing a desire to enhance cooperation with China on trade, new technologies, and crisis management. The report "Transatlantic Trends 2023" surveyed public opinion in 14 countries on both sides of the Atlantic. It found that most respondents expected the relationship between the U.S. and Europe to remain the same in the years ahead,...

Washington is attempting to intensify its sphere of influence within the United Nations. It intends to increase the number of Security Council permanent members to dilute the influence of China and Russia. How realistic is it? Germany, Japan, and India have been wanting a permanent membership of the Council for decades. Why haven’t they succeeded? Host Tu Yun joins John Ross, Senior Fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, Victor Gao, Chair...

In this episode of our special series My Expat Life in Rural China, Tu Yun and her special co-host Zenele Pearl Buthelezi join Stephen and Ruth Green from South Africa for a chat about their teaching experiences in a forgotten county in China. They talk about how they have adapted to China’s new education policy as well as the impact the community has had on them and vice versa.

Two important gatherings of world leaders took place in Asia this week - the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta and the G20 Summit in New Delhi. We look into issues that young people pay attention to, ranging from tourism and the digital economy to green development. Host Xu Yawen joins Indonesian journalist Desca Lidya Natalia, Scottish university student Angelica Moore, and Chinese Journalist Li Zhao.

China and ASEAN are set to upgrade their economic and trade relations amid global uncertainties. What are the key sectors where they can further unleash the potential for cooperation? How can they withstand external noise or interference? Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Digby James Wren, Senior Special Advisor and Director of the Mekong Research Center at the International Relations Institute Royal Academy of Cambodia, Professor Dai Yonghong, Dean of College of International Studies and Institute of...

Japan is making the ocean a dumping place for its contaminated radioactive water. What ripple effects are awaiting us in the years or decades to come? The move goes against a bunch of international conventions. How come Japan can proceed without any opposition from Western governments that seem to have been so concerned about the environment? Host Tu Yun joins Michael Woo, Life Honorary President, Hong Kong Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce, Mario Cavolo, CEO of M Communications Group, and Senior...

The Chinese economy has encountered some setbacks, with the recovery of some key sectors falling short of market expectations. And as the property market is experiencing a prolonged depression, some people are looking to a swan song for the world’s second largest economy. Is the Chinese economy really crashing? And what needs to be done to solidify the country’s growth? Host Tu Yun joins John Ross, Senior Fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, Harvey...

More than 40 heads of state and government are attending the BRICS Summit underway in South Africa, making it one of the largest gatherings of leaders from developing countries in recent times. Why are countries lining up to join the bloc? What opportunities will the BRICS offer to Africa as well as the Global South? In this special episode of Chat Lounge, Host Xu Yawen is joined by South African journalist Pearl Buthelezi, Russian journalist Konstantin Shepin, and Chinese journalist Huang...

In this episode of our special series My Expat Life in Rural China, host Tu Yun sits down with Morgan Jones and Daniel Willers from the United States for a chat about the challenges and opportunities they’ve met while pursuing development of organic agriculture in the country’s plateau area. They believe “if you can do it here, then you can do it anywhere.”

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, a chip manufacturer headquartered in Hsinchu in northern Taiwan, dominates the semiconductor industry. Statistics show that TSMC accounts for more than half of the total foundry revenue globally. The firm has been in the spotlight recently as it is increasingly part of the tech competition between the U.S. and China. Responding to a request of the American government, TSMC has been seeking to set up factories in the U.S. state of...