
China Insider
202 episodes — Page 3 of 5
Ep 100NY Political Advisor Indicted as Chinese Agent, Chinese Veteran Mistreatment, and Lai Turns Annexation Tables
Linda Sun, a New York public official and senior advisor for New York governors Cuomo and Hochol, has been charged with being a Chinese agent while in office. Miles Yu addresses what she is accused of, and takes a wider look at the history of Chinese espionage. Next, we analyze why a seemingly local fender-bender turned into a microcosm demonstrating the Chinese Communist Party's mistreatment of its veterans. And finally, Taiwanese President Lai Ching Te used a recent interview to turn the tables on Chinese land annexation policies by citing Chinese claims over Russian land. The double standard has led to suspicious silence from the CCP.
Ep 99IBM Exits China, CCP Launches Housing Pension System, and Chines Coast Guard Rams Philippine Ship
IBM announced they'll be ending their research and development operations in China, impacting over 1,000 jobs. But they're not cutting these jobs, just relocating them outside of China. Miles explains why. Next, Miles details the CCP's new "housing pension system" and closes with the latest collision in the South China Sea when a Chinese Coast Guard ship rammed a Philippine counterpart.
Ep 98Hudson Fellows Urge International Recognition of Taiwan, Economic Nationalism Strikes Again, and 120 Years of Deng Xiaoping's Legacy
Senior Fellow, Miles Yu, reacts to our very own Hudson colleague, Nikki Haley, who delivered a speech in Taiwan last week urging the US to do more to elevate Taiwan on the international stage. But how? Next he details the dangerous trend of economic nationalism under the Chines Communist Party in light of an Olympic medalist buying an iPhone instead of a Chinese-made phone. Lastly, he addresses the 120th birthday of Deng Deng Xiaoping, and what his legacy means for Xi Jinping's leadership today.
Ep 97Millionaires Flee China, CCP Money Floods US Universities, and Doping Overshadows Chinese Olympians
Miles Yu examines the large exodus of wealthy Chinese who are working to get their money out of China, revealing why this is happening, where the money is going, and how they are pulling it off. Next, he focuses on the Chinese Communist Party’s flood of money into American colleges and why US universities are still so attractive to Chinese academics. Finally, he closes by explaining how the shadow of past and current doping scandals looms over the Olympic medals earned by China in Paris.
Ep 95Insider Interview: Confronting the CCP by Learning from past Mistakes (feat. James Fennell & Bradley Thayer)
How much engagement is too much engagement with the Chinese Communist Party? How do we hold the CCP accountable? What kind of policy has ever worked to change CCP behavior? Authors of the new book Embracing Communist China: America's Greatest Strategic Failure James Fennell and Bradley Thayer join host Miles Yu to answer these questions by looking back at the history of failed American policy toward China to ensure we learn lessons for effective engagement with China in the future.
Ep 96The CCP Attacks Online Freedom, Tim Walz and the History of US China Hands, and BRI Protests?
The Chinese Communist Party is looking at a new big-brother-esque tech policy that would assign Chinese citizens a cyber-ID for their online activity. Miles Yu details why this is another totalitarian move meant to monitor speech, control dissidents, and limit online freedom. Second, amidst Kamala Harris’s selection of Tim Walz as her running mate, Miles talks about the Minnesota governor’s past ties to China. Finally, there’s unrest in China’s Belt and Road Initiative with mass protests occurring in countries like Bangladesh and Venezuela. Miles gives his thoughts on whether it’s a coincidence or not.
Ep 94The CCP Plays Politics with Paris Olympics, Attempts Peace in the Middle East, and Raises Retirement Ages
With the Paris Olympics in full swing, Miles Yu analyzes how the Chinese Communist Party approaches international sports and plays politics with one of the greatest venues for displaying soft power. Miles then talks about China hosting Palestinian leaders in Beijing in a failed attempt to form a Palestinian unity government. He ends by explaining the CCP’s controversial plan to raise the retirement age in China.
Ep 93Japan and Europe Coordinate Air Forces, China Explores the Arctic, and Xi's Online Authoritarianism
Miles analyzes another round of joint exercises involving Japan, but this time with Germany, France and Spain to conduct air drills with its Air Self Defense Force. Miles details why Japan has become such a coveted global partner, and why European countries are taking increased notice of the China threat. Next we explore China’s activity in the arctic and what they’re interests in the polar frontier could be, as well as what the global Crowdstrike outage tells us about China’s online authoritarianism.
Ep 92Japan and Taiwan Joint Maritime Exercise, Vietnam Party Leader Passes, and Robotaxi's Cause Viral Frustration
Last week Japan and Taiwan coordinated coast guards in a joint maritime exercise, the first of it's kind in over 50 years. Expert Miles Yu explains what the Chinese Communist Party's reaction was and what it could mean for regional alliances. Next, Miles details the unique regional importance of Vietnam in light of the death of Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. And finally, Miles reveals what's behind the viral and failing robotaxis popping up around Chinese cities.
Ep 91Insider Interview | Deterring China with Red Lines Backed by Capability and Resolve (feat. John Lee)
Deterring the aggressive ambitions of Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party will require more than just setting red lines. Hudson Senior Fellow, John Lee, joins host Miles Yu to explain why it will require an international coalition with both the capability and resolve to effectively counter the CCP with strategies that both deny and impose cost. Read John Lee's new report titled, "Deterring China: Imposing Nonmilitary Costs to Preserve Peace in the Taiwan Strait."
Ep 90Rising Xenophobia in China, The Third Plenum, and Toxic Contamination of Cooking Oils
After yet another stabbing attack hit headlines, which saw a Chinese man attack a Japanese woman and her son, Miles Yu explains why the Chinese Communist Party and its state-fueled propaganda machine are at fault for rising xenophobia in China. The episode goes on to explain what to expect from the CCP's Third Plenum, and finishes covering an investigative story that exposed wide spread toxic contamination of cooking oils in China.
Ep 89A NATO for the Indo-Pacific, Chinese Maritime Aggression, and Miles in Taipei
With the NATO Summit happening in Washington D.C. this week, Miles details why multilateral engagement in Asia through NATO expansion, or the establishment of a NATO-like alliance, would be such an effective bulwark against the Chinese Communist Party. Secondly, we cover some of China's latest acts of maritime aggression against Taiwan and the Philippines, and Miles hosts the second installment of Hudson's conference on the 2005 Anti-cessation law.
Ep 88More Military Purges, Xi’ Plan for “Peaceful Coexistence,” and China’s Repression of Religious Freedom
Miles Yu reacts to Xi Jinping's latest purging of a plethora of military leaders including China's defense minister, and Xi's speech commemorating 70 years of the Chinese Communist Party's “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.” Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State released its annual report on International Religious Freedom and detailed the CCP's repressive practices against religious minorities in China.
Ep 87Insider Interview: China Is a Dangerous Outlier in Global Energy Arena (feat. Tom Duesterberg)
China is a destructive outlier in the global energy arena. Fifty-five percent of its power still comes from coal, and 17% comes from hydroelectric dams that generate as much geostrategic conflict as they do power. On the other hand, they are attempting to lead the world in electric vehicles and nuclear power. So how does the Chinese Communist Party plan to keep this strategy moving forward as the countries demands skyrocket?For the inaugural episode of our new "Insider Interviews," host Miles Yu is joined by Hudson Senior Fellow Thomas Duesterberg to provide answers from his report on China's historical water struggles and solutions. Read Tom's report titled The Global Impact of China’s Water and Related Environmental Problems.
Ep 86CCP Lawfare Against Taiwan, Xi Demands Military Loyalty, and the Pyongyang Summit
The Chinese Communist Party publicly threatened to use the death penalty against separatists who support and advocate for an independent Taiwan, Xi Jinping emphasized loyalty at a People's Liberation Army meeting to ensure that "the party controls the gun," and Vladimir Putin and Kim Jun Un signed a defense pact in Pyonyang to keep Xi on his toes in his own backyard.
Ep 85Americans Attacked in China, India’s Regional Importance, and European Tariffs on Chinese EVs
Miles Yu assesses the state of US-Chinese relations after a group of American travelers to China were targeted in a stabbing attack during their visit. He then highlights India's increased importance as a geo-strategic counter to Xi Jinping's regional bullying in the the Indo-Pacific, as well as Europe's attempt at curbing Chinese EV market manipulation with a new set of tariffs.
Ep 84The Gaokao Phenomenon, and the CCP's Domestic and Global Market Manipulation
Miles Yu explains the devious cultural significance of the Gaokao, which is China’s two-day college entrance exam. He then explores why everyday homeowners in China are getting crushed by 20–50 percent increases on their utilities. Lastly, he peels back the curtain on how the Chinese Communist Party uses aggressive subsidies to infiltrate and undermine global markets.
Ep 83The Legacy of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, Taiwanese Sovereignty, and the Shangri-La Dialogues
Miles Yu and the team commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre of 1989 by recapping what led to that fateful day, the fallout that ensued in China and around the globe for communist movements, and why its legacy still matters today. They then covered how the U.S. righted the diplomatic wrong surrounding U.N. Resolution 2758, which China used to exclude Taiwan from international participation, and assessed the outcome of last week's Shangri-La Dialogues in Singapore.
Ep 82Taiwanese President Lai Ching Te's Inauguration
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss his recent trip to Taiwan, the historic inauguration of Lai Ching Te of Taiwan, the People's Republic of China's subsequent military exercises, and recent protests over parliamentary reforms.
Ep 81The Putin-Xi Summit and Its Implications for the Region
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the recent summit between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in China. They analyze the two nations’ joint statement, the implications of their developing relationship, and the significance of Putin’s choice to visit the northeastern city of Harbin. Finally, they briefly preview the Presidential inauguration in Taiwan.
Ep 80Xi’s Plan to Divide the EU, and the CCP’s International E-commerce Scam
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss Xi Jinping’s recent trip to France, Serbia, and Hungary, what the People’s Republic of China hoped to gain by engaging these specific countries, and how successful their European Union diplomacy has been. They then discuss a massive e-commerce scam network operating in China, which was recently uncovered in a report by the Guardian, Dei Zeit, and Le Monde.
Ep 79Student Protests and the CCP, The Trump China Policy, and Apple Caves
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss comparisons drawn on Chinese social media between protesters on American campuses and the Red Guard of the Cultural Revolution. They then discuss recent concerns over how US-China relations might change if Donald Trump is elected for a second term, before turning to Apple's recent decision to remove certain apps from its devices in China.
Ep 78Recapping Blinken Visit, The Russia-China Axis, and Controversial EVs
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to China, and the differences between the way in which China and the United States approach diplomacy. They then turn to the influence of Russia and the Soviet Union on Chinese politics, and how their histories shape Russia-China relations today. Finally, they discuss global electric vehicle competition, noting the new Xiaomi SU7, which appears to be a near replica of the Porsche Taycan.
Ep 77CCP's "Buy New Products" Campaign, Sports Cheating, and Credit Rating Drops
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the Chines Communist Party's "Buy New Products" campaign, an attempt to subsidize consumer spending in the face of a sluggish economy. They then turn to controversy surrounding the Beijing half marathon, in which African competitors allowed Chinese national record holder He Jei to prevail in the last moments, and its implications for the broader trend of fraud in Chinese society. Finally, they discuss credit rating company Fitch's decision to downgrade China's credit from stable to negative, and its economic implications.
Ep 7645年后重评台湾关系法以及决定中共攻台四大因素
中国中心主任余茂春分析为什么"台湾关系法"远比被中共曲解的"三个公报"重要, 以及台湾关系法45周年之际的重新评估与展望, 决定中共武力攻台的四大因素和美台军事合作的必要和需改进之处.[English]Title: Reassessing the Taiwan Relations Act 45 years later and the 4 factors impacting China's decision to invade TaiwanDescription: In this episode for Chinese-speaking listeners, China Center's director Miles Yu explains why the Taiwan Relations Act is far more important than the Three Communiques that are often misinterpreted by the CCP. He also offers a new assessment of the Taiwan Relations Act 45 years later. Moreover, Miles analyzes the 4 factors impacting the CCP's decision to invade Taiwan and why it's imperative to improve and enhance U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation.
Ep 75Taiwan Relations Act, Us-Japan Cooperation, and US Strategy Toward China
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the forthy-fifth anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. They then turn to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s state visit to Washington, and the resulting developments in the relationships among the United States, Japan, and the Philippines. Finally, they discuss why the Biden administration’s attempts at reconciliation and cooperation with China have failed, and where US strategy vis-à-vis China is heading.
BONUS Episode: The Taiwan Relations Act at 45
bonusThe landmark Taiwan Relations Act, signed into law 45 year ago today, has become the most pivotal guideline for the complex U.S.-Taiwan and U.S.-China relations. It's a cornerstone and foundational document that demonstrates America's institutional resilience and balanced approach to diplomacy. In this in-depth conversation with Shane Leary, Dr. Miles Yu, director of China Center at Hudson Institute, shares his critical analysis of the Act's legal and military protections of Taiwan, its historical context, far-reaching impact, salient limitations, and the need to revise or even redraft a new legislative act to reflect new geopolitical reality. in this in-depth conversation.
Ep 74Taiwan Earthquake and Japan-Philippines Security Pact
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the recent earthquake in Taiwan of 7.4 magnitude, the largest quake the Island nation has suffered since 1999. They then discuss security developments in the South China Sea, most notably that Japan is in talks to sign a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with the Philippines in an effort to deter Chinese aggression in the region.
Ep 73XI Meets with Western Business Leaders, Boao Forum, and CCP Hacking
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss Xi Jinping's recent meeting with western business leaders and academics, the first high-profile meeting of this nature since his meeting with American executives in San Francisco in November of 2023. They then discuss the decreasing relevance of the annual Boao forum, and China's recent cyber espionage and hacking attempts on Western nations.
Ep 72Article 23 Cracks Down in Hong Kong, Foreign Investment Drops, "The Three Body Problem" Controversy
Phil Hegseth steps in to join Miles Yu to discuss Article 23's passing in Hong Kong and its implications for human rights and freedoms in the city, the continued decline of foreign direct investment in China despite charm efforts from the Chinese Communist Party, and the rise and controversy of Netflix's adaptation of "Three Body Problem."
Ep 71US TikTok Battle, India Border Tension, Russia Commemorates Battle with China
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the pending legislation to ban TikTok, and the broader picture of Chinese Communist Party influence on American domestic politics. They then turn to a recent flare-up in tensions between India and China, caused by Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, and discuss the root cause of China’s antagonism toward its neighbors. Finally, they discuss a curious development in Russia-China relations, in which Russia nationally commemorated the Damansky Island conflict, a military confrontation with China that occurred fifty-five years ago.
Ep 70CCP Foreign Minister's Failed Challenges to the US, Ukraine Mediation, New Laws of Repression
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss Wang Yi’s “Four Challenges” to the United States during a recent press conference, China’s attempted role as mediator in the ongoing Ukraine war, and the wave of national security laws in China that emerged out of the annual Two Sessions.
Ep 69Chinese Crossings at US Border Spike, Two Sessions, and Electric Vehicle Probes
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the surge in Chinese nationals entering the United States illegally, what's driving this phenomenon, and how policymakers ought to respond. They then turn to the upcoming "two sessions" in which the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National People’s Congress will convene, and what makes this year's rubber stamping sessions so peculiar. Finally, they discuss the U.S. Department of Commerce's recent probe into the importation of Chinese electric vehicles, and its national security implications.
Ep 68Private Hacking Exposed, Quemoy Islands Drowning, G20 Fallout
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss a massive document leak from Chinese cybersecurity firm I-Soon, which sheds light on the CCP's global surveillance and hacking regime and destroys the illusion of safety around Chinese private sector companies. They then turn to a little-covered spat between the Taiwan Coast Guard and a Chinese fishing vessel which resulted in the drowning of the two Chinese nationals near the island of Quemoy. Finally, they discuss Wang Yi's absence at the G20 Ministerial meeting, and its implications for broader trends in the PRC's foreign policy.
Ep 66基辛格的一生,台湾大选,一个中国原则与一个中国政策之不同
在最新一期的中文"月底回顾及听众信箱"播客中,哈德逊研究所中国中心主任余茂春分析基辛格博士的童年生活,成就和影响,以及2024年历史性的台湾选举,中国的一个中国原则和美国的一个中国政策之间的根本区别。 [English]Title: The life of Dr. Henry Kissinger; Taiwan's historic elections; and One-China Principle vs. One-China PolicyDescription: In the latest Chinese language review episode of the key issues discussed in Hudson Institute's weekly China Insider podcast, Miles Yu analyzes the childhood, accomplishments, legacy of Dr. Henry Kissinger, and the historic 2024 Taiwan elections, the fundamental differences between China's One-China Principle and America's One-China Policy.
Ep 67Wang Yi in Munich, Democracy Index Rankings, and Forced Labor Backlash
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's statements during the 2024 Munich Security Conference, and the broader landscape of European Union–China relations. They then turn to the 2023 Democracy Index, which ranks China #148 globally and Taiwan #1 in Asia. Lastly, they discuss the thousands of German automobiles impounded by United States Customs and Border Protection under the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, after their electrical components were found to be sourced from western China.
Ep 65Messi's Controversial Visit in Hong Kong, Ukraine Update, and Russia-China Relations
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the controversy that erupted in Hong Kong and Mainland China when Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi missed a game due to injury, and the claims of CIA coordination from CCP officials that followed. They then discuss waning support for Ukraine, and how this fits into the broader adversarial relationship between the US and China. Finally, they discuss a recent phone call between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, and the state of Russia-China relations today.
Ep 64Miles in Taiwan, Religious Persecution in Xinjiang and Beyond, and the Chinese Stock Market Crash
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu, who recently visited Taiwan with a delegation from Hudson Institute, to discuss the trip. They then cover recent laws that violate the religious freedom of people in Xinjiang, and how this fits into the broader picture of persecution in China. Finally, they turn to the recent stock market crash in China, which was the greatest weekly economic downturn in the country since 2018.
Ep 63New COVID-19 Lab Leak Findings, Sullivan-Yi Meeting, and Apple vs Huawei
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss a newly discovered DARPA grant proposal that sheds light on the origins of COVID-19 and strengthens the lab-leak hypothesis. They then discuss the meeting in Bangkok between Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Finally, they turn to the ongoing battle in the Chinese market between Apple and Huawei.
Ep 62The World Reacts to William Lai, Li Qiang at Davos, and Imprisoned Journalists
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the overwhelming international diplomatic response to the 2024 Taiwanese election, and what this means for Taiwan's place on the global stage. They then turn to Chinese Premier Li Qiang's visit to Davos, where he attempted to woo elites with questionable economic figures. Finally, they cover a new study from the Committee to Protect Journalists, which ranks China as the worst country in the world because Beijing jails both citizen and professional journalists.
Ep 61Taiwan Election Results, Liu Jianchao in Washington, and Corruption in the PLA
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) victory in the Taiwanese presidential election, and what this means for Taiwan going forward. They then discuss PRC Minister of the International Liaison Department of the CCP Central Committee, Liu Jianchao's visit with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and the state of US-China relations today. Finally, they turn to corruption in the People's Liberation Army, and what this portends for China's military capability.
Ep 60Taiwan Elections, Zhongzhi Bankruptcy, and Predictions for 2024
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the upcoming presidential election in Taiwan. They then turn to China's latest economic woes, reflecting on the recent bankruptcy filing of China's largest "shadow bank," Zhongzhi, and what this reveals about corruption in the PRC's economy. Finally, Miles offers some broader observations and predictions on China for 2024.
Ep 59CCP Commemorates Mao, China’s Role in Ukraine and Gaza in 2024, and More PLA Shakeups
This week’s China Insider discusses the reasons and calculations behind Xi Jinping’s lavish celebration of the 130th birthday of Mao Zedong, the former Chinese Communist Party dictator, on December 26. The episode further analyzes China’s increasingly significant role in buttressing Russia’s war in Ukraine and Hamas’s war in the Middle East, and why this support is strategically important for the CCP. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the CCP’s latest purge and shakeup of the senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) leaders as related to China’s military ambitions and capabilities.
Ep 58Xi in Vietnam, the CCP's Economic Planning, and Tension in the South China Sea
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss Xi Jinping’s state visit to Vietnam and the pivotal role Vietnam plays in the United States–China rivalry. They then discuss a recent meeting of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo addressing the People’s Republic of China’s economic crisis, before turning to recent spats between the China Coast Guard and Philippine sailors.
Ep 57Human Rights, Credit Downgrading, and Hong Kong Elections
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reflect on the legacy of human rights abuses in the People’s Republic of China. They then discuss Moody’s downgrading of China’s sovereign credit rating from stable to negative, and what this portends for the Chinese economy. Finally, they discuss the recent district council elections in Hong Kong and the political apathy of voters in the region.
Ep 56Kissinger's Legacy, Discourse Dominance, and the Taiwan Election
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the legacy of Henry Kissinger, China's attempts to dominate narratives through "discourse dominance," and the upcoming 2024 presidential election in Taiwan.
Ep 55A New Respiratory Outbreak, Indo-Pacific Tensions, and the White Paper Movement
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the mysterious outbreak of a new respiratory virus in China, escalating tensions between the People’s Republic of China and the Philippine government over the Second Thomas Shoal, and the one-year anniversary of the White Paper Movement, which brought an end to zero-COVID restrictions.
Ep 54Biden-Xi Takeaways, Decoupling, and Elite Misconceptions
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the major takeaways from Biden’s meeting with Xi Jinping on the sidelines of APEC. They then turn to Xi’s efforts to curry favor with US-business executives, and whether this could stem the tide of decoupling. Finally, they discuss the curious republishing of a 1972 Foreign Affairs article by Barbara Tuchman entitled, “If Mao Had Come to Washington,” and what this reveals about enduring misconceptions of China among the US foreign policy elite.
Ep 53Biden-Xi Meeting, Military Crisis Hotline, and Economic Decoupling
Shane Leary joins Miles Yu to discuss the long-awaited meeting between President Biden and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco, the importance and challenge of establishing a military-to-military communications hotline with China, and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent statements regarding de-coupling.Follow the China Center's work at https://www.hudson.org/china-center
Ep 52卡尔马克思的反犹太主义及其亚细亚生产方式在中国的应用。
在这期节目里,哈德逊研究所中国中心主任余茂春分析目前中国甚嚣尘上的反犹太主义的马克思主义根源,以及中国古代史学专家魏特夫对马克思的亚细亚生产方式理论的分析及其在当代中国的应用。[English]Title: Karl Marx's Anti-Semitism and the Asiatic Mode of Production, as Applied to China.Description: In this episode, Miles Yu, director of Hudson Institute's China Center, analyzes the Marxist source of today's state-sponsored anti-Semitism in China, and Marx's theory of the Asiatic Mode of Production through the lens of historian Karl Wittfogel, as applied to contemporary China.