ChinaPower

This episode explores the rapid modernization of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and its growing naval capacity. Our guest, Dr. Andrew Erickson, explains the motivations behind this effort as well as the most recent capabilities of the PLAN’s expanding naval fleet. He also discusses the synergies between commercial and military shipbuilding in China and revisits the current state of China’s aircraft carrier program, which he discussed with ChinaPower several years ago. Dr. Andrew Erickson is a Professor of Strategy in the U.S. Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute. He is the author of a study published in 2017 titled Chinese Naval Shipbuilding: An Ambitious and Uncertain Course. Since 2008, Dr. Erickson has been an Associate in Research at Harvard University’s John King Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies. He is also a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

This episode explores the current state of cross-Strait relations between Taiwan and mainland China, as well as the Trump administration’s approach to this complex relationship. Our guest, Dr. Richard Bush, explains how and why the relationship has deteriorated since President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016, as well as how her approach to relations with Beijing differs from that of former President Ma Ying-jeou. Dr. Bush also examines the unique role that the US plays in the present-day relationship, in light of its ongoing trade war with Beijing yet lack of official diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Dr. Richard Bush is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and holds The Michael H. Armacost Chair and Chen-Fu and Cecilia Yen Koo Chair in Taiwan Studies in the Center for East Asia Policy Studies (CEAP). He also holds a joint appointment as a senior fellow in the Brookings John L. Thornton China Center. Dr. Bush is the author of a number of books and articles on China’s relations with its neighbors, particularly Taiwan.

This episode explores China’s approach to the Central and Eastern Europe region through its 16+1 mechanism, which brings together eleven EU member states, five Balkan countries, and China. Our guest, Justyna Szczudlik, explains China’s political and economic goals in the region and describes the major outcomes of the recent 16+1 Summit in Bulgaria. She also examines the appeal of the Belt and Road Initiative to different European countries and analyzes the potential effects of China’s “one size fits all” approach to the various 16+1 participants. Justyna Szczudlik is Head of the Asia-Pacific Programme and a China analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM). She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Warsaw, MA in Chinese Studies from the University of Warsaw, and MA in Political Science from the University of Wroclaw. Dr. Szczudlik’s research focuses on China’s foreign policy, especially China-Central and Eastern Europe relations including China-Poland relations.

This episode explores the latest developments in China’s relationship with India, especially how the relationship has evolved since the Doklam border standoff in 2017. Our guest, Dr. Jagannath Panda, explains the lessons each side learned from the Doklam incident and evaluates Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s China policy. He also analyzes how India has attempted to avoid conflict with China, even as contentious issues persist such as border disputes, the Dalai Lama, and China’s expanding presence in the Indian Ocean. Dr. Jagannath Panda is a Research Fellow and Coordinator of the East Asia Centre at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, India. He has written extensively on East and South Asia as well as India-China relations. Dr. Panda has held fellowships at the Ministry of Unification (Republic of Korea), the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the Shanghai Institute of International Studies.

This episode explores the evolving relationship between China and Africa, especially the 53 African states that participate in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Our guest, Professor Chris Alden, joins us to discuss the outcomes of the most recent FOCAC Summit, as well as China’s role as an infrastructure financier on the continent. He also examines the growing importance of security issues in Sino-African relations and envisions how the China-Africa relationship may develop in the future. Professor Chris Alden is a Professor in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and is a Senior Research Fellow with the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). He has written numerous books and articles in internationally recognized journals, and most recently co-edited China and Africa – Building Peace and Security Cooperation on the Continent. Prof. Alden has held fellowships at institutions including Cambridge University, the Institute of Social Science, and the University of Tokyo.

This episode explores the relationship between China and the European Union’s 28 member states, as well as the impact of the US on China-EU ties. Our guest, Ms. Theresa Fallon, analyzes China’s increased interest in the region amid tension with the US and assesses the efficacy of initiatives such as the 16+1 Summit and Belt and Road Initiative in strengthening China-EU ties. She also predicts where the relationship is headed and how the US should view a closer China-EU relationship. Ms. Theresa Fallon is the founder and director of the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies (CREAS) in Brussels. She is concurrently a member of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and a Nonresident Senior Fellow of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Ms. Fallon’s current research is focused on EU-Asia relations, Sino-Russian relations, maritime security, global governance, and China’s Belt and Road Initiative. She has testified numerous times to the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs and Subcommittee on Security and Defense, and has been featured in international media including the BBC, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.

This episode explores China’s standing in BRICS, a group of five countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) with fast-developing economies and growing regional influence. Our guest, Duncan Innes-Ker, explains the major outcomes of the 10 BRICS summit, describes the group’s increasing economic engagement with Africa, and analyzes China’s position as the largest economy in BRICS. He also considers how the BRICS countries may develop over time, both individually and as a group. Duncan Innes-Ker heads a team of analysts covering Asia in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Country Analysis division in Hong Kong. He has helped produce customized research and analysis on many topics, and has shared his perspectives on Asia with senior corporate executives, academics, and diplomatic officials. Duncan is also a frequent commentator for news services such as the BBC, CNN, and CNBC.

This episode explores the ins and outs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) nearly two decades after its founding, as well as China’s evolving role within the organization. Our guest, Dr. Alexander Cooley, uncovers the current challenges and opportunities for the organization as the SCO’s membership and China’s foreign policy aspirations expand. Dr. Cooley analyzes potential future areas of contention and cooperation between China and other SCO member states. Dr. Alexander Cooley is Director of the Harriman Institute at Columbia University and a professor of political science at Barnard College. He has written extensively on Eurasian and Central Asian politics, including opinion pieces for The New York Times and Foreign Affairs. Additionally, Dr. Cooley serves on multiple international advisory boards and policy committees.

This episode explores the latest public diplomacy efforts that Beijing has carried out in the East Asia and Pacific region to boost favorable views toward China. Through the lens of AidData’s ground-breaking report, Ties That Bind: Quantifying China’s public diplomacy and its “good neighbor” effect, our guest Samantha Custer analyzes the methods, objectives, and successes of China’s regional public diplomacy and political influence activities. Custer also delves into the implications of China’s state-sponsored strategies for the greater region and the field of public diplomacy. Samantha Custer is the Director of Policy Analysis at AidData, a research lab at the College of William and Mary that produced the Ties That Bind report, in partnership with the CSIS China Power Project and Asia Society Policy Institute. She previously co-authored World Bank papers on open data and citizen feedback with the Open Development Technology Alliance and assisted former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright teach a foreign policy course. Additionally, Ms. Custer has advised multilingual education policy with SIL International and coordinated the advocacy efforts of the Asia Multilingual Education Working Group for UNESCO.

This episode explores China’s intensified activities and interests in the South China Sea in recent years. Our guest, Bill Hayton, unpacks the history of the various parties’ sovereignty claims, and discusses how China’s actions in the South China Sea have led to greater regional tensions and increased international criticism, including from the United States. He explains China’s militarization and coercive tactics in the South China Sea, assesses the legitimacy of China’s claims, and discusses the current as well as future role of China in the region. Bill Hayton is an associate fellow with the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, and has written extensively on Southeast Asian issues and the South China Sea. He has also worked for BBC News for 20 years and is currently a reporter and producer with BBC World News TV in London.

This episode of the ChinaPower Podcast is brought to you in conjunction with SupChina’s Sinica Podcast, hosted by Kaiser Kuo. He interviews Bonnie Glaser about China’s security environment, including the significance of the Trump-Kim summit for China, tense US-China trade relations, China’s regional economic and security influence, and the effects of Beijing’s militarization in the South China Sea. Ms. Glaser also expands on the relationship between the US and Taiwan under Tsai Ing-wen and the potential implications for cross-Strait relations. Kaiser Kuo is the host and co-founder of the Sinica Podcast, a weekly series that unpacks current events in China, and the Editor-at-Large for SupChina.com. Previously, Mr. Kuo worked as the Director of International Communications for Baidu.

This episode discusses recent tensions in the U.S.-China trade relationship, including the demands from each side as well as the implications of a U.S.-China trade war. Our guest, Dan Rosen, joins us to discuss the Trump administration’s approach to trade relations with China, the significance of the widening bilateral trade deficit, and the ideal outcomes for both countries. He also expands upon the growing intersections between U.S. economic and security policy in regards to China. Dan Rosen is a founding partner of Rhodium Group with extensive experience analyzing China’s economy and U.S.-China economic relations. He is also an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University and is affiliated with a number of economics-focused U.S. think tanks. Dan was previously Senior Advisor for International Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council and National Security Council.

This episode discusses the impact of China’s authoritarian system on its emergence as a great power. Our guest, Carl Minzner, joins us to discuss his book, End of an Era: How China’s Authoritarian Revival is Undermining Its Rise, where he argues that China’s stagnant government system is slowly erasing the positive changes of the reform era. Carl Minzner is a professor at the Fordham University School of Law, where he specializes in Chinese law and governance. He previously served as Senior Counsel for the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. Additionally, he was an International Affairs Fellow for the Council on Foreign Relations and a Yale-China Legal Education Fellow at the Xibei Institute of Politics.

This episode dissects current dynamics between the US and China, addressing the reasons for increased friction and competition in the bilateral relationship. Our guest, Professor Da Wei, joins us to discuss how both countries view the relationship today and how these perspectives have changed as the US-China power gap has narrowed. He also analyzes the nuances in terminology used to describe China and its relationship with the US, and forecasts the likely future direction of US-China relations. Dr. Da Wei is Assistant President as well as a professor at the University of International Relations in Beijing. He also serves as the director of the University’s Center for International Strategy and Security Studies. Previously, Da Wei was director of the Institute of American Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR). His research fields include US-China relations, American and Chinese foreign policy, and security policies.

This episode focuses on the recent restructuring of China’s government, which was announced on March 20, 2018 during the 13 National People’s Congress. Our guest, Yanmei Xie, joins us to discuss the various aspects of this reorganization. She also analyzes the implications of these changes for Chinese foreign policy. Yanmei Xie is a senior China policy analyst at Gavekal, a global investment research firm, where she writes about China’s politics and their impact on the Chinese and global economy. She previously worked at the International Crisis Group as a senior analyst focusing on the Asia Pacific and China’s influence in Africa.

This episode focuses on the proposed changes to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States’ (CFIUS) review process and what that might mean for Chinese investment in the United States. Our guest, Mario Mancuso, joins us to discuss how CFIUS generally evaluates the national security risk profile of an investment. He also analyzes how Chinese transactions may be perceived against the backdrop of intensifying strategic competition between the two countries. , which aims to help buyers, sellers, and other interested parties think through the CFIUS review process.of A Dealmaker’s Guide to CFIUSMr. Mario Mancuso is a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP where he leads the firm’s International Trade and National Security practice. Mr. Mancuso has formerly served as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security and is the author

This episode focuses on China’s growing trade, investment, and diplomatic activities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our guest, Dr. Evan Ellis, joins us to discuss China’s interests and influence in the region and the ways in which Beijing interacts with Latin American and Caribbean nations. Dr. Ellis also examines the perceptions of China’s activities in the region, and how the United States is responding China’s increasing involvement in its traditional sphere of influence. Dr. Evan Ellis is a research professor of Latin American Studies at the US Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. His research focuses on Latin America’s relationships with China and other non-Western Hemisphere actors.

This episode focuses on China’s increasing diplomatic and scientific activity in the Arctic, and comes as China has released its first Arctic policy White Paper, which outline an ambitious “Polar Silk Road” plan and defines China as a near-Arctic state. Our guest, Marc Lanteigne, joins us to discuss the history of Chinese involvement in the Arctic and in which areas China is ramping up its activities in the region, particularly in the shaping of norms and economic development. Dr. Lanteigne explains how each of the Arctic Council members views China’s approach and how the United States and others should prepare to manage relations as the Chinese regional presence continues to grow. Dr. Marc Lanteigne is a Senior Lecturer in Security Studies in the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University in New Zealand. His research focuses on the foreign and domestic politics of China as well as the international relations and non-traditional security of Northeast Asia, Oceania and the polar regions.

In this episode, we discuss China’s growing influence and involvement in Central Asia as it seeks to implement its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. Professor Theresa Sabonis-Helf joins us to speak about the various development projects currently taking place in the region and how Chinese involvement in the region has affected Chinese-Russian relations, the role of the United States, and the priorities and points of contention for each of these larger powers in the region. Dr. Theresa Sabonis-Helf is a professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College and an Adjunct Associate Professor for the Science, Technology and International Affairs Program of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Dr. Sabonis-Helf advises governments on climate change policies, post-Soviet energy and environmental issues, regional energy trade, and the politics of electricity. The views expressed here are those of Dr. Sabonis-Helf alone. They in no way represent the policies or positions of the U.S. National Defense University, the Department of Defense, or any other organization of the U.S. government.

This episode examines the development of two competing conceptions of Asia - an “Economic Asia,” characterized by trade integration and a rising tide of interconnected growth, and a “Security Asia” beset by powerful nationalisms and clashing security concepts. After reviewing the predictions he made in a co-authored 2012 essay about Asia’s trajectory, our guest, Evan Feigenbaum, discusses how China and the United States exert influence and the evolving roles of each in the region. He examines current trends to explore whether the model of two colliding “Asias” remains valid and where he believes the region is headed in the future. Dr. Evan Feigenbaum is Vice Chairman of the Paulson Institute at The University of Chicago and the Co-Founder of its new digital venture, MacroPolo. In October 2012, Dr. Feigenbaum’s essay, co-authored with Robert Manning in Foreign Policy and titled, “A Tale of Two Asias,” attacked the idea of a supposed “Asian Century." Dr. Feigenbaum leads the Paulson Institute’s political economy and investment-related programs, including the Institute’s think tank. He was twice a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the George W. Bush Administration.

Proposition: Xi Jinping will make economic liberalization a higher priority during his second term FOR: Damien Ma Fellow and Associate Director, Think Tank, Paulson Institute Adjunct Lecturer of Global Initiatives in Management, Northwestern University AGAINST: Anne Stevenson-Yang Co-Founder, Research Director, J Capital Research Co. Ltd. Tuesday, November 14, 2017 The challenges and opportunities presented by China’s rise are hotly contested. ChinaPower's 2017 conference featured leading experts from both China and the U.S. to debate core issues underpinning the nature of Chinese power. Watch the videos and find out the poll results of the debates here.

Proposition: Beijing will effectively utilize the uncertainty of the Trump presidency to firmly establish China as the leader of Asia FOR: Chen Dingding Professor of International Relations, Jinan University Founding Director, Intellisia Institute AGAINST: Evan Feigenbaum Vice Chairman, Paulson Institute Tuesday, November 14, 2017 The challenges and opportunities presented by China’s rise are hotly contested. ChinaPower's 2017 conference featured leading experts from both China and the U.S. to debate core issues underpinning the nature of Chinese power. Watch the videos and find out the poll results of the debates here.

Proposition: There is a growing risk of war between the U.S. and China FOR: Graham Allison Douglas Dillon Professor of Government, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University AGAINST: Evan Medeiros Managing Director for Asia, Eurasia Group Tuesday, November 14, 2017 The challenges and opportunities presented by China’s rise are hotly contested. ChinaPower's 2017 conference featured leading experts from both China and the U.S. to debate core issues underpinning the nature of Chinese power. Watch the videos and find out the poll results of the debates here.

Proposition: The Belt and Road Initiative will achieve China's desired strategic and economic gains FOR: Zhou Fangyin Senior Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies Researcher, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences AGAINST: Joshua Eisenman Assistant Professor of Public Affairs, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin Tuesday, November 14, 2017 The challenges and opportunities presented by China’s rise are hotly contested. ChinaPower's 2017 conference featured leading experts from both China and the U.S. to debate core issues underpinning the nature of Chinese power. Watch the videos and find out the poll results of the debates here.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Downs and Dr. Jeffrey Becker join us to discuss the recent opening of a Chinese military facility in Djibouti, China’s first overseas naval base. Our conversation examines China’s strategic objectives in establishing the base and the missions that it will serve. The conversation then looks more broadly at what this base means for Chinese military strategy, how the base could strengthen China’s economic outreach, and what China’s expanded naval presence means for the United States. Dr. Erica Downs and Dr. Jeffrey Becker are senior analysts at the Center for Naval Analyses’ China Studies Division. Dr. Downs and Becker are the authors of a report titled “China’s Military Support Facility in Djibouti: The Economic and Security Dimensions of China’s First Overseas Base” (2017).

This episode discusses China’s development policies and engagement with the developing world, particularly examining President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. Our guest, Dr. Joshua Eisenman, joins us to explain why China uses these particular policies and approaches with the developing world, how it differs from the policies of the United States, and how these policies can help further China’s interests. Joshua Eisenman is an Assistant Professor of Public Affairs at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin and a senior fellow for China studies at the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) in Washington, DC. He is the co-editor of the upcoming book entitled China Steps Out: Beijing’s Major Power Engagement with the Developing World (Routledge, 2018), which analyses China’s strategies in various regions of the developing world and evaluates their effectiveness.

This episode focuses on China’s political influence activities beyond its borders, as it seeks to shape both public opinion and domestic policy of countries around the world. Our guest, Anne-Marie Brady, discusses her new report from the Woodrow Wilson Center, titled “Magic weapons: China’s Political influence activities under Xi Jinping,” and how China has sought to influence both New Zealand’s domestic politics and its public perception of China. Professor Brady explores the history of the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Department, and the various methods it uses to influence policy in various countries. She also discusses how politicians should strive to guard against this type of meddling in the internal politics of their countries. Dr. Anne-Marie Brady is a professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and a global fellow with the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States’ Polar Initiative at the Wilson Center. Dr. Brady is the Executive Editor of The Polar Journal. Her research focuses on Chinese domestic and foreign politics as well as polar politics.

In this episode, we examine what transpired at the Chinese Communist Party’s 19 Party Congress. We discuss the significance of the Party Congress’ outcomes and its implications for Chinese President Xi's authority. What will Xi do with his growing power? Peter Mattis is a Fellow in the China Program at The Jamestown Foundation, where he served as editor of the foundation’s China Brief, a biweekly electronic journal on greater China, from 2011 to 2013. He previously worked in the U.S. Government and the National Bureau of Asian Research. He is the author of Analyzing the Chinese Military: A Review Essay and Resource Guide on the People’s Liberation Army (2015).