Sinica Podcast
A weekly discussion of current affairs in China with journalists, writers, academics, policymakers, business people and anyone with something compelling to say about the country that's reshaping the world. Hosted by Kaiser Kuo.
Politics
Business
News
The View from China: Leading IR scholar Da Wei of Tsinghua's CISS
This week on Sinica, I'm delighted to welcome Dá Wēi...
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Apr 18 2024 1h 25m
Chapter 1 2 mins
American attitudes toward the U.S.-China relationshipChapter 2 5 mins
The focus of academic think tanks and strategic communities in the U.S. versus ChinaChapter 3 3 mins
The Chinese strategic community’s understanding of American domestic politics with respect to the upcoming U.S. presidential electionChapter 4 8 mins
The Chinese strategic community’s understanding of why and how the current state of relations developed, and why China changed its trajectoryChapter 5 3 mins
The Chinese strategic community’s perspectives on American policy: Do they see a difference between the parties?Chapter 6 6 mins
Da Wei’s concept of “Sullivanism”Chapter 7 4 mins
The question of mutual misunderstandingChapter 8 4 mins
The role and influence of China’s think tanks in the policymaking processChapter 9 9 mins
The idea of cognitive empathy aka strageic empathy, or intellectual empathy and how it could aid mutual understanding and the policymaking processChapter 10 5 mins
The Chinese perspective on Russia and the war in UkraineChapter 11 6 mins
The Chinese perspective on China’s other international relations and the global context of the U.S.-China relationshipChapter 12 9 mins
The issue of Taiwan and the question of the “status quo”Chapter 13 2 mins
The importance of building people-to-people tiesChapter 14 8 mins
Da Wei's personal anecdote about an experience that influenced his understanding the U.S.-China relationship
Did Netflix's Adaptation Ruin The Three-Body Problem?
This week on Sinica, a discussion of Netflix's adapt...
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Apr 11 2024 1h 9m
Chapter 1 7 mins
3 Body Problem as Chinese IP and audience receptionChapter 2 5 mins
The pros and cons of a more faithful adaptation, comparisons with Tencent’s adaptation, [and the Netflix production (process) (? Or keep it separateChapter 3 3 mins
The pros and cons of a more faithful adaptation, comparisons with Tencent’s adaptation, [and the Netflix production (process) (? Or keep it separateChapter 4 14 mins
How the show portrays its Chinese characters and China and audience responsesChapter 5 9 mins
Allegorical interpretations and real-world (political?) connectionsChapter 6 3 mins
What to look forward to in (possible?) future seasonsChapter 7 5 mins
Chenchen Zhang’s humanity/autocracy binary and the gōngyè dǎngChapter 8 12 mins
A win for Chinese soft power?
Live from AAS in Seattle: What has become clear to you recently?
This week on Sinica: I wandered the halls at the Ass...
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Apr 3 2024 49m
Chapter 1 1 min
Michael Davidson from UC San Diego on working towards climate change goalsChapter 2 2 mins
Timothy Cheek from University of British Columbia on the importance of continuing to study China despite political tensionsChapter 3 4 mins
Chen Zifeng from LSE on Chinese propaganda that surrounds everyday lifeChapter 4 5 mins
Clyde Yicheng Wang (Wang Yicheng) from Washington and Lee University on Chinese propaganda and its spread into social mediaChapter 5 1 min
Jeff Wasserstrom from UC Irvine on connections between events in China and the worldChapter 6 2 mins
Ian Johnson from CFR on researching China from afar and the importance of online databasesChapter 7 3 mins
Daniel Leese from the University of Freiburg on the work of digitizing Chinese sourcesChapter 8 1 min
Tyler Harlan from Loyola Marymount University on opportunities for cooperation in the environmental fieldChapter 9 2 mins
Abby Newman from the University of Chicago Center for East Asian Studies on the importance of spaces for conversation within the fieldChapter 10 5 mins
Sophie Loy-Wilson from the University of Sydney on studying violence and war in Asia with more sympathyChapter 11 3 mins
Joe Dennis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on the changes he has witnessed in Chinese studies at the university levelChapter 12 2 mins
Ed Pulford from the University of Manchester on China’s differing perspective on Russia’s invasion of UkraineChapter 13 2 mins
Emily Matson from Georgetown University on the importance of Marxist and Mao thought in analyzing modern Chinese history and World War IIChapter 14 7 mins
Jan Berris from the National Committee on United States-China Relations on redirecting the U.S. government’s focus
Back to the Future: David M. Lampton and Thomas Fingar on What Went Wrong and How to Fix It
This week on Sinica, I speak with veteran China anal...
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Mar 27 2024 1h 24m
Chapter 1 4 mins
The problem with the use of the term "autocracy" to describe China's systemChapter 2 1 min
Analysis of the motivation behind China's actions, questioning the assumption that all decisions are solely for perpetuating the Communist Party's powerChapter 3 5 mins
Rethinking Xi Jinping's personal influence over China's policy decisions: the checks on his power within the Chinese political systemChapter 4 3 mins
Critique of deterministic theories in political science regarding state behavior, particularly concerning China's foreign policy and domestic policy actionsChapter 5 4 mins
The importance of avoiding oversimplified and deterministic explanations for Chinese behavior on the global stageChapter 6 57 sec
Discussion on the perception of China as an unstoppable juggernaut and the consequences of such a view for international relations and domestic policies in the U.SChapter 7 3 mins
Analysis of the notion that China seeks to recreate an imperial tribute system in its foreign relations and regional strategyChapter 8 5 mins
Introduction of the concept of two strategic constellations that have historically guided China's policy focus: national/regime security and economic/social developmentChapter 9 4 mins
Exploration of factors leading to China's shift from prioritizing economic and social development to focusing more on national and regime securityChapter 10 11 mins
Examination of the internal and external dynamics contributing to China's policy shifts and the impact of globalization on societal and political tensionsChapter 11 4 mins
Reflection on the post-9/11 period as a time of relatively smooth U.S.-China relations and speculation on the role of international crises in shaping bilateral dynamicsChapter 12 31 mins
Discussion on the challenges and opportunities for the U.S. and China to adjust their policies and rhetoric to manage tensions and avoid further exacerbating the bilateral relationship
Kerry Brown: on What does the West Wants from China, and the Exercise of Chinese Power
This week on the Sinica Podcast, a show taped in Sal...
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Mar 21 2024 1h 30m
Chapter 1 2 mins
Chinese worldview and historical perceptionsChapter 2 2 mins
The unease with China's riseChapter 3 6 mins
Chinese exceptionalism vs. Western universalismChapter 4 4 mins
Parallels between American domestic unease and perceptions of ChinaChapter 5 11 mins
Discussion on China's competing belief systemChapter 6 6 mins
China's raw form of capitalismChapter 7 5 mins
What the West wants from ChinaChapter 8 5 mins
The internet as a reflection of Chinese power and limitationsChapter 9 3 mins
China's syncretism and its impact todayChapter 10 10 mins
The narrative of Chinese success and its PR challengesChapter 11 25 mins
Revising Western narratives on China's development
Historian Rana Mitter on ideology in China's "New Era" — live from Salzburg, Austria
Historian Rana Mitter joins Sinica this week in a sh...
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Mar 14 2024 1h 7m
Chapter 1 47 sec
Is China a revisionist power?Chapter 2 7 mins
Right-sizing China's global ambitionsChapter 3 1 min
How China utilizes historical narratives to support political endsChapter 4 6 mins
Marxism and China's Historical UnderstandingChapter 5 11 mins
China's "New Era" and Party historyChapter 6 28 mins
The Confucian-Marxist SynthesisChapter 7 5 mins
China's ability to reinvent itselfChapter 8 5 mins
What’s the next big question?
Schwarzman Scholars Capstone Showcase: The 2023 Winners
This week on Sinica, the winners of the 2023 Schwarz...
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Mar 7 2024 1h 24m
Chapter 1 2 mins
Introducing the Schwarzman Capstone Showcase: topics, judges, and processChapter 2 10 mins
Self-introductions from Shawn Haq, Corbin Duncan, Kelly Wu, and Manthan ShahChapter 3 14 mins
Shawn Haq: U.S.-China Expert Perspectives on Cross-Straits RelationsChapter 4 19 mins
Corbin Duncan: Only Children and Contemporary ChinaChapter 5 35 mins
Kelly Wu and Manthan Shah: Decarbonization of Shandong Province’s Materials Sector
The Ukrainian Factor in China's Strategy: a roundtable
This week on Sinica, a special taping of an online e...
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Feb 29 2024 1h 27m
Chapter 1 3 mins
Introducing the guestsChapter 2 5 mins
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba’s meeting with top Chinese diplomat Wang YiChapter 3 4 mins
What do Ukraine and its allies want from China?Chapter 4 4 mins
What inducements might Ukraine’s Western allies offer China?Chapter 5 8 mins
How has China’s position changed over the course of the last two years?Chapter 6 2 mins
The space for expression of pro-Ukraine voices in ChinaChapter 7 4 mins
Ukrainian and Chinese popular opinionChapter 8 11 mins
Does the diplomacy of sanctimony work on a realist power?Chapter 9 3 mins
China’s 12-Point PositionChapter 10 2 mins
Does Russian economic dependency on China translate into leverage?Chapter 11 3 mins
The overlap between China’s 12 points and Zelenskyy’s 10 pointsChapter 12 11 mins
How reliable is America as a partner in this election year?Chapter 13 12 mins
How will this war end? What compromises are the sides willing to make?Chapter 14 5 mins
Lü Xiaoyu’s trip to Ukraine and his meeting with President Zelenskyy
Peter Hessler, live at Duke University's Nasher Museum
This week on Sinica I'm delighted to bring you a liv...
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Feb 22 2024 1h 19m
Chapter 1 3 mins
What Peter’s China experience brought to his writing on China and vice-versaChapter 2 8 mins
Contrasting the Chinese and Egyptian revolutionsChapter 3 17 mins
Revolution in thinking in Egypt and ChinaChapter 4 15 mins
Peter on his approach to the craft of reporting and writingChapter 5 6 mins
Peter’s work in China as a longitudinal cohort study and what it reveals so farChapter 6 21 mins
A preview of Peter’s forthcoming book, Other Rivers
This Week in China's History: The Qing Abdication — February 12, 1912
Sinica is proud to present historian James Carter's ...
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Feb 16 2024 12m
Chapter 1 10 mins
The Qing AbdicationChapter 2 2 mins
The Edict's Role in China's Transition
Sinica comes roaring back in the Year of the Dragon: A chat with Jeremy Goldkorn
In this first post-TCP episode, Kaiser and Jeremy re...
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Feb 15 2024 1h 26m
Live from New York: China and the Global South, with Maria Repnikova and Eric Olander
This week on Sinica, a live recording from New York ...
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Nov 9 2023 1h 2m
Chapter 1 7 mins
China's Role in the Global SouthChapter 2 10 mins
China's Impact on Global RelationsChapter 3 6 mins
Belt and Road Success, Chinese Anti-SemitismChapter 4 7 mins
Shifts and Challenges in the BRIChapter 5 3 mins
BRICS Expansion and Significance of InclusionChapter 6 8 mins
China's Global Soft PowerChapter 7 9 mins
China's Narrative and Media StrategiesChapter 8 7 mins
Recommendations for Books, Podcasts, and DocumentariesChapter 9 44 sec
Upcoming Free Event in New York
In Memoriam: Jeffrey A. Bader, from February 2022
This week on Sinica, we're running an interview with...
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Oct 26 2023 1h 28m
Chapter 1 5 mins
How viewing China over 40 years of rapid development has shaped the way Jeff thinks about ChinaChapter 2 10 mins
Jeff Bader’s critique of the Biden administration’s China policyChapter 3 5 mins
Is it important to have a China strategy?Chapter 4 6 mins
Right-sizing China’s ambitions: Is Rush Doshi right?Chapter 5 7 mins
Defining China’s legitimate interestsChapter 6 4 mins
Has China already concluded that the U.S., irrespective of who is in power, seeks to thwart China’s rise?Chapter 7 4 mins
How can China participate in the rules-based international order?Chapter 8 5 mins
Is it still possible for Biden to change his tune on China?Chapter 9 6 mins
How much room does Biden have politically? Can he exploit to electorate’s partisan divide on China?Chapter 10 12 mins
What is the “low-hanging fruit” that Biden could pluck to signal a lowering of temperature?Chapter 11 16 mins
Jeff Bader’s precepts for better understanding of and better policy toward China
Live from Chicago: Decoding China — China’s economic miracle interrupted?
This week on Sinica, a live recording from October 1...
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Oct 19 2023 55m
Chapter 1 4 mins
What is the current state of the Chinese economy?Chapter 2 3 mins
The origins of China’s crisis in comparison to crises from 1990 in Japan and 2008 in the U.SChapter 3 8 mins
Real estate sector’s role in the crisis and possible solutionsChapter 4 6 mins
The significance of able management during times of crisis. Is this a crisis of confidence or expectations?Chapter 5 13 mins
The question of the general direction of the Chinese economyChapter 6 4 mins
What does an actual debt crisis look like in China?Chapter 7 7 mins
The right U.S. policy towards China in light of current affairs
Robert Daly of the Kissinger Institute on the morality of U.S. China policy
This week on the Sinica Podcast: a lecture by Robert...
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Oct 12 2023 2h 9m
Chapter 1 42 mins
A talk by Robert Daly from June 24th, 2022, given at Faith & Law’s Friday ForumChapter 2 3 mins
What is lacking in the mainstream dialogue about American policies on China-related issues?Chapter 3 11 mins
Over-willingness to turn towards a military approach in the U.S.-China relationship in recent yearsChapter 4 4 mins
The missionary aspect of the American approach in dealing with ChinaChapter 5 12 mins
The differences and commonalities between Chinese and American exceptionalismChapter 6 6 mins
Are we in a state of Cold War with China?Chapter 7 3 mins
The question of moral standing in light of whataboutismChapter 8 17 mins
Comparing American intentions with Chinese realities and the issue of moral absolutismChapter 9 6 mins
What a “Just Cold War” would involve?Chapter 10 17 mins
Can the U.S. imagine a world in which it is not a hegemonic power?
China Tobacco: How China's tobacco monopoly also has ensured that China keeps smoking
This week on Sinica, Kaiser is joined by Jason McLur...
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Oct 5 2023 1h 15m
Chapter 1 2 mins
The origins and mission of The ExaminationChapter 2 2 mins
An overview of the tobacco industry in ChinaChapter 3 2 mins
What is the true power China Tobacco holds in the Chinese tobacco industry?Chapter 4 5 mins
The history and inner workings of China TobaccoChapter 5 8 mins
China Tobacco a manufacturer or a regulator?Chapter 6 3 mins
The current situation of anti-smoking advocacy in ChinaChapter 7 7 mins
The role of smoking in the Chinese culture and the gender discrepancy within the custom of smokingChapter 8 8 mins
How does China Tobacco manage to prevent the implementation of smoking bans in Chinese cities?Chapter 9 7 mins
What was the reason behind the faltering of promising initiatives regarding smoking control?Chapter 10 20 mins
The approach of Chinese youth towards the unequal fight with China Tobacco?
The Philadelphia Orchestra commemorates the 50th anniversary of its groundbreaking China tour
This week on Sinica, on the occasion of the 50th ann...
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Sep 28 2023 54m
Chapter 1 4 mins
The China connection in the overall identity of the Philadelphia OrchestraChapter 2 2 mins
[yuánfèn] and the serendipity of the commemorative concert in Chapel HillChapter 3 5 mins
What can we learn from the original Philadelphia Orchestra members?Chapter 4 5 mins
Has the interest in the China-U.S. culture exchange started to fall off in recent years?Chapter 5 2 mins
Music as the common ground in the light of worsening relations with ChinaChapter 6 3 mins
“What’s the orchestra of today?” as the leading theme for the commemorative concertChapter 7 2 mins
The significance of Beethoven’s Symphony No.6 to the orchestra’s history in ChinaChapter 8 20 mins
The inspiration for Hello Gold Mountain and its connection to the Jewish history in China
Ian Johnson on "Sparks," his new book on China's underground historians
This week on Sinica, Pulitzer Prize-winning veteran ...
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Sep 21 2023 1h 7m
Chapter 1 3 mins
Is the obsessive control of historical narratives a particularly Chinese phenomenon?Chapter 2 14 mins
The life of Ai Xiaoming and the creation of a collective memory as one of the main themes in the bookChapter 3 3 mins
The story of Jiang Xue, citizen journalistChapter 4 3 mins
Journalistic stubbornness of Tan HechengChapter 5 1 min
Cheng Hongguo and the Zhiwuzhi salonChapter 6 6 mins
Common traits shared by many Chinese regime criticsChapter 7 2 mins
Is there a link between dissent in China and Christianity?Chapter 8 7 mins
Historical nihilism and sensitive topics for the Chinese Communist PartyChapter 9 10 mins
Are counter-historians especially noteworthy because they’re exceptional, or representative?Chapter 10 9 mins
The most important insight the book adds to our understanding of regime critics in China
U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA) on his new U.S.-China policy white paper
This week on Sinica, Kaiser speaks with Representati...
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Sep 14 2023 45m
Chapter 1 2 mins
The origins of the U.S.-China Working GroupChapter 2 2 mins
Updated version of the white paper: new priorities and recommendations in response to the new realityChapter 3 3 mins
What is the danger of bifurcating the world into blocs in Biden's administration?Chapter 4 4 mins
Four guiding principles behind a four-point strategyChapter 5 2 mins
Five issue areas mainly affected by the four-point strategy: national security, development, diplomacy, technology, and educationChapter 6 11 mins
What should be the approach we take toward China’s Belt & Road Initiative?Chapter 7 4 mins
The ideas for changes in education investment in the U.S. and the role of ChinaChapter 8 3 mins
The response to the paper from the members of Congress as well as the general publicChapter 9 7 mins
Is there a bigger change happening regarding the relations with China?
The case for the U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement
This week on Sinica, Kaiser is joined by Karen Hao, ...
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Sep 7 2023 1h 7m
Chapter 1 3 mins
The origins of the STA and the reasons for establishing itChapter 2 10 mins
Criticisms against the agreement the question of IP theft and PLA’s engagementChapter 3 4 mins
What is the real reason behind such a strong opposition towards the agreement?Chapter 4 8 mins
How have the dynamics between China and the U.S. contribution to the STA changed over the years?Chapter 5 4 mins
The consequences of ending the scientific relationship with China on the example of the terminated space exploration cooperationChapter 6 5 mins
Which specific projects would be put on hold in case of lack of renewal of scientific cooperation with China?Chapter 7 8 mins
Other scenarios for cooperation in the area of AI in the possible absence of the STAChapter 8 3 mins
Are there parts of the agreement that should be enhanced or improved?Chapter 9 13 mins
What’s the chance for a renewal of the agreement after the six-month extension?
The Rise and Fall of the EAST: MIT's Yasheng Huang on his new book
This week on Sinica, MIT professor Yasheng Huang joi...
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Aug 31 2023 2h 7m
Chapter 1 14 mins
China's Impact on Global PowerChapter 2 8 mins
U-Form vs M-Form Economies ComparisonChapter 3 18 mins
China's Historical Examination SystemChapter 4 15 mins
Autocracy, GDP, and Chinese LeadershipChapter 5 4 mins
Economics and Wealth in Historical ContextChapter 6 7 mins
Chinese Kuju System and Western BureaucracyChapter 7 17 mins
Impacts of Literacy and Political StructureChapter 8 19 mins
Autocracy and the Needham QuestionChapter 9 10 mins
China's Technological Progress and Scope ConditionsChapter 10 12 mins
Xi Jinping's Anti-Corruption Campaign and Alternatives
China Stories summer special: The best of This Week in China's HIstory
Something different this week on Sinica: A selection...
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Aug 24 2023 1h 7m
Chapter 1 15 mins
Dragons in Imperial China's HistoryChapter 2 7 mins
Empress of China and US-China TradeChapter 3 17 mins
Power Struggles in China's HistoryChapter 4 14 mins
Lost StoriesChapter 5 9 mins
Propaganda War and Battle of Red CliffsChapter 6 3 mins
Red Cliffs Battle
Wargaming a Taiwan invasion scenario: Lyle Goldstein on the CSIS wargame “The First Battle of the Next War"
This week on Sinica, Kaiser welcomes back Lyle Golds...
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Aug 17 2023 1h 7m
Chapter 1 3 mins
The First Battle of the Next War: Wargaming a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan the first large-scale publicly available wargame conducted by CSISChapter 2 5 mins
The history of wargaming and its significanceChapter 3 4 mins
What is the value of wargaming?Chapter 4 4 mins
The physical setup of the wargames and the role of dice and technology in contingencyChapter 5 4 mins
The assumptions that go into the gameChapter 6 2 mins
How much agency do the players have?Chapter 7 1 min
How are the decisions of other countries factored in the wargame?Chapter 8 5 mins
Pros and cons of the CSIS wargameChapter 9 6 mins
Thoughts on the possibility of nuclear escalationChapter 10 8 mins
A take on the report’s assumptions and conclusionsChapter 11 20 mins
Will we get a warning?
The state of play of generative AI in China, with Paul Triolo
This week on Sinica, Paul Triolo returns to the show...
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Aug 10 2023 1h 5m
Chapter 1 4 mins
The Chinese AI community’s reaction to the unveiling of ChatGPT by OpenAIChapter 2 6 mins
What drives China’s National AI Development strategy?Chapter 3 6 mins
Chinese AI researchers and their perspectives on regulationChapter 4 2 mins
Is there a lot of investor money going into Generative AI startups?Chapter 5 11 mins
U.S. policy on China’s AI developmentChapter 6 8 mins
What will China’s Generative AI look like?Chapter 7 7 mins
Companies involved in Chinese AIChapter 8 3 mins
The changing availability of innovative AI scientists in ChinaChapter 9 10 mins
How will decoupling effect AI competition?
Is the Biden administration resetting U.S.-China relations?
This week on Sinica, with Kaiser on holiday we're ru...
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Aug 3 2023 1h 23m
Chapter 1 7 mins
China Student Ambassador Program and Experts ChatChapter 2 14 mins
Xi Jinping's Leadership Under ScrutinyChapter 3 13 mins
Resetting US-China RelationshipChapter 4 6 mins
Stabilizing US-China RelationshipChapter 5 13 mins
Political Perspectives on US-China RelationshipChapter 6 7 mins
US-China Military Relations and ExchangesChapter 7 10 mins
Reviving Academic Exchanges and People-to-People RelationsChapter 8 10 mins
China-Us Relationship Reset and Qinggang Affair