Podcasts about Chengdu

This week on the Sinica Podcast, I chat with Yawei Liu, Senior Advisor for China at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and Yukon Huang, former China country head of the World Bank and now Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The show was taped live at the 2025 Columbia China Summit at Columbia University, put on by the Columbia University Greater China Society, on April 13,. Special thanks to them for inviting us to attend!3:53 – Columbia University's history with China 7:52 – How Beijing views the current trade war 11:32 – Yawei's idea of “the clash of misperceptions”18:18 – The actual origins of America's trade deficits and China's trade surpluses 23:14 – How the inevitable talk between Trump and Xi Jinping may play out32:04 – Sinophobia versus changing attitudes toward China 35:43 – How the current trade war is related to innovation in China 45:31 – How we can wage peace Paying It Forward: Nicholas Zeller and his Substack newsletter, The U.S.-China Perception MonitorRecommendations:Yawei: Americans in China: Encounters with the People's Republic ed. by Terry Lautz, and Chinese Encounters with America: Journeys That Shaped the Future of China ed. by Terry Lautz and Deborah DavisYukon: David Brooks' April 2022 article, “The End of Globalization: The Dominance of Global Cultural Wars” Kaiser: The Weimar Years: Rise and Fall 1918-1933 by Frank McDonough See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Sinica, I chat with Hazza Harding, a young Australian who began learning Chinese and made his way to China where he became a pop singer with hits on Chinese pop charts and a state media newscaster — and also lost his husband tragically, suffered through the COVID lockdowns while grieving for his loss. Yet he remains committed to furthering understanding and engagement, and has shown admirable resilience. Read his remarkable essay on his experiences here.6:51 – How Hazza started in China, and how his career changed throughout his time there 19:27 – Hazza's experiences feeling alienated in China 27:00 – Hazza's experience working in Chinese state media 34:04 – How China shaped Hazza and Wayne's love story, and how grief has shaped Hazza's perspective on life56:08 – The loveliness of everyday interactions 58:43 – Hazza's advice on giving oneself time and leniency 1:02:38 – How Hazza may find his way back to China in the future Paying It Forward: James Laurenceson at UTS Sydney Recommendations:Hazza: China Blonde: How a newsreader's search for adventure led to friendship, acceptance… and peroxide pandemonium in China by Nicole Webb Kaiser: The TV series Xi Bei Sui Yue (Into the Great Northwest) (2024 - )See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

主播：Flora (中国) + 梅莉 (法国) 片头音乐：阳光彩虹小白马 片尾音乐：Kung Fu FightingNowadays, internet celebrities (网红) are very common. 但是今天介绍给大家的是最近火到出圈的——IShowSpeed！也就是网友口中的“甲亢哥”！01. Who is “甲亢哥” ? 他是谁？Speed (“甲亢哥”网名) is a 20-year-old YouTuber from the U.S., who went absolutely viral (走红) during his recent trip to China. His videos from this trip got millions of views (浏览量)—and not just on YouTube, but also reposted (转发) across Chinese social platforms like Bilibili, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin! One of his livestreams (直播) from China hit three million views, 有一场直播甚至长达6个小时！People call him “甲亢哥” because he is extremely energetic (活力满满) in front of the camera, always jumping around and shouting. Netizens gave him this nickname as a playful joke (玩笑话) , but it also carries a sense of affection (喜爱). The literal meaning of “甲亢哥” is hyperthyroidism.Basically, hyper energy + chaotic charm =甲亢哥hyperthyroidism 甲状腺功能亢进症02. Speed's China Tour “甲亢哥”的中国行Speed has been traveling for a while—Japan, Korea, Portugal (葡萄牙)—but his China trip hits different (有所不同). He wore a big floral padded jacket (东北大花袄), tried stinky tofu (臭豆腐), danced in public squares (跳广场舞) with kids, walked the streets of Chengdu, got mobbed (围住) by fans...He wasn't just a tourist snapping pics (打卡拍照的游客). 他真的不是“走马观花”的那种游客，而是深入体验了中国文化。当尝试臭豆腐时，他说“This smells horrible... but tastes amazing (闻起来臭，吃起来香) !”。Even though he's an international star, in China, he was completely natural—zero “celebrity distance.” (完全没有名人的那种“距离感”) 比如他会在街头吃路边摊、跟路人跳广场舞，还会用超搞笑的方式学中文。People find him really down to earth and relatable (接地气又让人有共鸣).Netizens say he's “crazy but real (疯得很真实)”. You feel like he's that hilarious (搞笑的) friend everyone has.And the way he genuinely explored China made a lot of people think: “Maybe we should be more open to other cultures, too.”03. Iconic Moments from the Comment Section 评论区名场面他的评论区有很多人留言。There is a funny comment from his kung fu video, “2% kung fu, 95% bald, 3% screaming”. 意思是他的主要“成分”是秃头和吼叫，还有一点点功夫（视频里他戴了一个光头套——bald cap）。And here's another really sweet comment from YouTube:“China stream has been by far the best stream ever for IShowSpeed. The people. The authenticity (真实). The vibe (氛围). It was all right. Never judge a book by its cover (封面). He went up against a lot of pressure not to go to China, but he did—and it turned out amazing.”“Organic interactions will always trump forced ones （自然的互动总是胜过被迫的）.”He's sincere—you can feel his genuine curiosity and reactions (真正的好奇心和互动). 04. Embassy Notices Speed's Viral Fame! “甲亢哥”火爆出圈，惊动大使馆！The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. posted about IShowSpeed's trip on X (原推特). IShowSpeed's China trip really showed people a different side of China—warm, real, full of life (温暖、真实、充满活力).IShowSpeed, an American YouTuber, has garnered (获得) immense (巨大的) attention for his travel experiences in China. He not only visited multiple cities but also immersed himself in the local culture (沉浸式体验当地文化).欢迎在评论区告诉我们： Have you watched Speed's China streams? What was your favorite part? 你有没有看过Speed的中国直播，最喜欢哪一段呢？

This week on Sinica, I chat with Jeffrey Ding, author of Technology and the Rise of Great Powers, a book that argues that a nation's ability to invent foundational technologies matters ultimately less in its overall national power than its ability to diffuse those "general purpose technologies," like electricity, digital technology, the internet, and — in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution — Artificial Intelligence. I ask Jeff whether he thinks that China, with its powerful tech companies and its new enthusiasm for open source, may at last be closing what his book identifies as a diffusion deficit.2:19 – Jeff's argument for the power of diffusion in technological leadership6:07 – China's diffusion deficit 12:09 – Institutional factors that affect technology diffusion, and how culture can also play a role 19:49 – China's successes in (non-GPT) diffusion 24:29 – China's open source push 29:55 – Discussing He Pengyu's piece on semiconductors 32:19 – How Jeff might tweak his chapter on China in a second edition of Technology and the Rise of Great Powers Paying It Forward: Matt Sheehan of the Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceRecommendations:Jeff: The TV series The Pitt (2025 - ); and James Islington's The Will of the Many Kaiser: The album Perpetual Change by Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks; and Steven Wilson's new album, The OverviewSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the Sinica Podcast, I chat with Jeremy Garlick, Director of the Jan Masaryk Centre for International Studies, Prague University, and a scholar of China's international relations. Jeremy is the author of the book Advantage China: Agent of Change in an Era of Global Disruption, but the book we're talking about this week is his new Cambridge Element titled Evolution in International Relations. It's a fascinating attempt to apply ideas from evolutionary biology, evolutionary psychology, and archaeogenetics to further our understanding of how nations interact.6:13 – Why Jeremy decided to apply an evolutionary framework to IR 15:34 – Why evolutionary science hasn't really been integrated into IR19:32 – How Jeremy views his project as refining the IR field 22:43 – The risk of the misappropriation of Jeremy's work, and the evolutionary elements of cooperation and intergroup competition 28:54 – How to avoid the trap of viewing evolution as teleological 34:07 – The idea of self-domestication 39:55 – Morality and human rights 45:17 – How emotions affect decision-making and diplomacy 50:32 – Hierarchy and status-seeking in IR 56:56 – Applying an evolutionary framework to the IR phenomena of alliances, nuclear deterrence, and strategic balancing 1:01:31 – Altruism toward out-groups 1:05:57 – The inevitability of competition with China 1:08:19 – The intellectual challenges Jeremy faced while working on this project, and what he would develop further in the future1:12:51 – Jeremy's thoughts on what IR as a discipline should address, integrating evolutionary science Paying It Forward: Richard TurcsányiRecommendations:Jeremy: The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous by Joseph Henrich; and The Expanse novels by James S. A. CoreyKaiser: Playground by Richard Powers See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leichtathletik: Nach der Hallen-EM in Apeldoorn steht das nächste Highlight vor der Tür. Es geht zur WM nach China! Die Hallensaison geht dort zu Ende. Acht DLV-Athletinnen und -Athleten sind ins chinesische Nanjing gereist. Der Dreispringer Max Heß reiste mit jeder Menge Selbstvertrauen nach Nanjing, denn er ist frischgebackener Hallen-Vize-Europameister. Der Chemnitzer sinnt auf Revanche gegen den Hallen-Europameister Andy Díaz Hernández aus Italien, der ihn in Apeldoorn die Goldmedaille noch aus den Händen riss. Zwsichen Holland und China: wie schön, dass sich Deutschlands bester Dreispringer noch Zeit für ein exklusives Interview mit der „Sportstunde“ genommen hat! Rudern: Die Ruderer lassen aktuell noch ein bisschen auf sich warten. Aber auch da geht es bald wieder los. Wie ist für 2025, dem nacholympischen Jahr, die Erwartungshaltung? Im Deutschen Ruderverband gibt es einen neuen Mann, der die sportliche Verantwortung trägt: Markus Schwarzrock ist neuer Cheftrainer des DRV. Seit dem 01. März im Amt ist es für ihn eine Rückkehr. Die Position des DRV-Cheftrainers bekleidete er bereits fünf Jahre lang von 2012 bis 2017. Die ersten Tage hat er hinter sich. Was Markus Schwarzrock in Zukunft in dieser Funktion vorhat, verrät er in der „Sportstunde“. Flossenschwimmen: Die World Games 2025 im chinesischen Chengdu stehen dieses Jahr an, also sozusagen die olympischen Spiele der nichtolympischen Sportarten. Und im Flossenschwimmen holte 2022 in Alabama Johanna Schikora die Goldmedaille in dieser Sportart. Obwohl sie eher kuriose Erinnerungen daran hat, welche sie uns in der "Sportstunde" erzählt. Zudem macht sie auf eine Crowd Funding-Kampagne aufmerksam, damit sie und das gesamte deutsche Team inklusive Trainer gut vorbereitet nach China zu den World Games reisen kann (www.toyota-crowd.de/worldgames2025). (www.sport-magazin.de) Hier gibt es die Interviews in voller Länge: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/sportstunde-interviews-in-voller-l%C3%A4nge/id1705390264?uo=4 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00va1TW4YzTYDCGMpkNMOU Website. https://sportstunde-podcast.de/

Mit der Flosse an den Füßen möchte die "Formel 1 des Wassers" olympisch werden! Im August 2025 finden im chinesischen Chengdu die World Games statt. Das sind quasi die olympischen Spiele der nichtolympischen Sportarten. Eine dieser Sportarten ist Flossenschwimmen bzw. Finswimming. Flossenschwimmen ist die schnellste Möglichkeit, sich aus eigener Kraft im Wasser fortzubewegen. Dabei werden so genannte Monoflossen zur Fortbewegung verwendet. Finswimming wurde durch das IOC als olympische Disziplin anerkannt, erschien aber bisher noch nicht im olympischen Programm. Finswimming ist weniger mit der Meerjungfrau verwandt als viel mehr mit den faszinierenden Delphinen. In der Spezialausgabe der "Sportstunde" stellen die "Flossis" Volko Kucher (Cheftrainer TC fez Berlin und Landestrainer am Stützpunkt Berlin), Maxi Teichler (Vorsitzende TC fez Berlin), Johanna Schikora (Gold bei den World Games 2022 und mehrfache Welmeisterin), Lara Gawenda (mehrmalige Deutsche Meisterin) und Rémy Lebeau (französischer Meister) diese aussergewöhnliche Sportart vor, wie sie auf unterschiedlichste Art und Weise zu diesem Sport gekommen sind und welche Skills man als Athlet benötigt, um Flossenschwimmen erfolgreich ausüben zu können. Aber natürlich haben diese Randsportarten vor allem mit der Finanzierung zu kämpfen, denn vor so einem großen Ereignis wie die World Games müssen Trainingslager, Equipment und Reisen finanziert werden, um dann auch bei diesen Weltspielen konkurrenzfähig zu sein. Zu diesem Zweck startete der TC fez Berlin eine Crowd Funding-Kampagne (www.toyota-crowd.de/worldgames2025). Ein wenig Geld fehlt noch, damit die Schwimmerinnen und Schwimmer optimale Bedingungen auf dem Weg zu den World Games haben können. Zudem sind nicht nur in Berlin, sondern in ganz Deutschland, auch sportlich Interessierte, ob jung oder alt, und mögliche Trainer herzlichst in diesem Sport willkommen. Diese Spezial-Folge zum "Flossenschwimmen" wirft einen Rundum-Blick auf die faszinierende Sportart, beschreibt aber auch die Probleme, die solche Randsportarten in Deutschland haben. (www.sport-magazin.de) Hier gibt es die Interviews in voller Länge: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/sportstunde-interviews-in-voller-l%C3%A4nge/id1705390264?uo=4 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00va1TW4YzTYDCGMpkNMOU Website. https://sportstunde-podcast.de/

This week, a special episode taped live at the University of California, Berkeley — my alma mater — on March 6 and featuring Jessica Chen Weiss of Johns Hopkins SAIS and Ryan Hass of the Brookings Institution, both well-known to people who follow U.S.-China relations. This episode was made possible by the Center for Chinese Studies at UC Berkeley's Institute for Asian Studies, and will be available on video as well — I'll update with the link.5:32 – Looking back on the Biden administration's approach to China12:28 – Attempting to outline the new Trump administration's approach to China20:34 – The view from Beijing of Trump 2.026:54 – The Kindleberger Trap (and other "traps")29:35 – China, the U.S., and the Russo-Ukrainian war, and the idea of a “reverse Kissinger” 34:23 – The problem with framing objectionable Trump policy moves as ceding victories to China 36:51 – How countries in the Western Pacific region are responding to the new administration 38:48 – Taiwan's concerns for Trump's shift on Ukraine41:45 – Predictions for how the Trump administration will handle technology competition with China, and the apparent abandonment of industrial policy 48:14 – What the affirmative vision for U.S.-China policy should look like Paying It Forward:Ryan: Patricia Kim and Jon Czin at BrookingsJessica: Jeffrey Ding at George Washington University and Jonas Nahm at Johns Hopkins SAIS Recommendations:Jessica: The movie Conclave (2024)Ryan: Derek Thompson's piece in The Atlantic, “The Anti-Social Century,” and Robert Cooper's The Ambassadors: Thinking about Diplomacy from Machiavelli to Modern Times Kaiser: The Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From lotus root dishes to fiery hotpot, the animated blockbusterNe Zha 2 has ignited nationwide culinary trends, turning meals inspired by the film into social media sensations.从藕菜到火辣辣的火锅，动画大片《哪吒2》点燃了全国范围内的烹饪潮流，以电影为灵感的美食也成为了社交媒体上的热点。The feature has surpassed Avengers: Infinity War to become the sixth highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide, according to the Lighthouse Professional Edition, a box office data provider owned by Alibaba.根据阿里巴巴旗下票房数据提供商灯塔专业版(Lighthouse Professional Edition)的数据，这部动画电影已经超过《复仇者联盟3:无限战争》，成为全球有史以来票房第六高的电影。In the movie, the body of Ne Zha, a mythical demon child, is reborn from lotus root starch. Off-screen, sales of lotus root starch, lotus root soup and other dishes featuring the plant have surged, with restaurants embracing the ingredient in new and inventive ways.在这部电影中，神话中的魔童哪吒的身体是用莲藕重生的。银幕外，藕粉、藕汤和其他以这种植物为特色的菜肴的销量激增，餐馆以新的、创造性的方式接纳了这种食材。Meanwhile, a scene featuring the Octopus General — who speaks in a Tianjin dialect — being roasted in the furnace has turned the local specialty of stir-fried squid tentacles into a viral hit.与此同时，一个讲天津方言的章鱼将军在炉子里被烤的场景，使当地的特色菜炒鱿鱼足火了。Across the country, restaurants are rolling out Ne Zha-themed drinks, dishes and set meals, blending cinematic fantasy with real-world flavors.全国各地的餐馆都在推出哪吒主题的饮料、菜肴和套餐，将电影中的幻想与现实世界的味道融合在一起。One of the most memorable aspects ofNe Zha 2 is Taiyi Zhenren's distinctive Sichuan-accented Mandarin. This linguistic touch has unexpectedly turned hotpot — a Sichuan province culinary staple — into a marketing success, with restaurants seizing the opportunity to attract customers.《哪吒2》最令人难忘的一点是太乙真人的四川口音。这种语言的接触出人意料地使火锅——四川的一种美食——成为一种营销上的成功，餐馆抓住机会吸引顾客。In Sichuan's Yibin, Zha Hotpot eatery — already designed with Ne Zha-themed decor — has become a hot spot for fans eager to snap photos with installations inspired by the character's iconic huntianling (red armillary sash) and fenghuolun (wind-fire wheels).在四川宜宾，一家以哪吒主题为装饰的哪吒火锅店，已经成为粉丝们争相拍照的热点，店内的装置灵感来自哪吒标志性的“混天绫”和“风火轮”。The restaurant has also introduced a Ne Zha-inspired menu featuring meatballs, lotus root starch and seafood, all of which have quickly become favorites.这家餐厅还推出了受哪吒启发的菜单，包括肉丸、藕粉和海鲜，所有这些都迅速成为人们的最爱。In Sichuan's Chengdu, Feng Xiao Zhang Hotpot launched a promotional campaign where diners who posted a video wishing the restaurant success on social media could win aNe Zha 2 movie ticket if their post received over 30 likes.在四川成都，冯校长火锅推出了一项促销活动，食客只要在社交媒体上发布祝福该餐厅成功的视频，并获得30个点赞，就能赢得一张《哪吒闹海2》的电影票。"I love a good hotpot, but when it's both delicious and fun, that's even better," said Zhang Xuan, a tourist from Xi'an, Shaanxi province.“我喜欢好吃的火锅，但如果火锅既美味又有趣，那就更好了，”来自陕西西安的游客张轩说。Meanwhile, the hotpot chain Banu markedNe Zha 2 surpassing 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion) at the box office by introducing the Honghu lotus root dish across its locations nationwide.与此同时，火锅连锁店巴努在全国各地推出了洪湖莲藕，来纪念《哪吒2》的票房突破了100亿元人民币(13.8亿美元)。The dish was an instant success, with strong sales from the moment it launched, according to staff.据工作人员介绍，这道菜一经推出就大获成功，销量强劲。In Sanya, Hainan province, Cinker Pictures Mega has taken the trend a step further by offering a hotpot-and-movie experience, allowing guests to enjoy a meal while watchingNe Zha 2 in a special screening room.在海南三亚，Cinker Pictures Mega将这一趋势更进一步，提供火锅和电影的体验，让客人在特殊的放映室里一边吃饭一边看《哪吒2》。"The hotpot wasn't particularly outstanding, but the ingredients were fresh," wrote a Dianping user, Yuxiaoman. "I cried just as much during my second watch — such a great film! Finally got to experience eating hotpot while watching a movie — absolutely amazing!"“火锅味道不出彩，但食材很新鲜，”大众点评网用户于晓曼写道。“我第二次看的时候还是哭了——这么棒的一部电影!终于可以一边看电影一边吃火锅了，太棒了!”Coffee shops and dessert cafes are also embracing the Ne Zha phenomenon. In Dalian, Liaoning province, JY & Sweetime has launched Ne Zha-themed cakes and coffee, featuring an illustration of the character and the motto, "My fate is determined by me, not by the heavens."咖啡店和甜品店也在追捧哪吒现象。在辽宁省大连市，JY & Sweetime推出了哪吒主题的蛋糕和咖啡，上面印有哪吒的形象和座右铭:“我命由我不由天"The Oreo cream filling was decent, but the design was incredible — super fitting for the theme!" wrote a Dianping user named "Woconglaimeiheguoshui".一位名叫“我从来没喝过水”的大众点评用户写道：“奥利奥奶油馅还可以，但设计太不可思议了--超级符合主题！”。Meanwhile, Cotti Coffee has announced an official collaboration withNe Zha 2, rolling out a new product series on March 17, complete with themed packaging and limited-edition merchandise.”与此同时，库迪咖啡宣布与《哪吒2》正式合作，于3月17日推出新系列产品，包括主题包装和限量版商品。Pop culture boost流行文化助推AsNe Zha 2 continues to attract large audiences, its impact on the food and beverage industry highlights how pop culture is reshaping consumer trends — one meal at a time.随着《哪吒2》继续吸引大批观众，它对餐饮行业的影响凸显了流行文化如何重塑消费趋势——一餐一景。"The film has not only gone viral but has also driven the growth of the entire lotus root supply chain," said Zhao Jinqiao, a 42-year-old restaurant industry researcher.42岁的餐饮业研究员赵金桥表示:“这部电影不仅火了，还推动了整个藕供应链的增长。”Zhao said it is not the first time film and television have driven food trends. In recent years, popular productions have frequently sparked demand for regional delicacies.赵说，这不是电影和电视第一次推动饮食潮流。近年来，受欢迎的影视作品经常引发对地方美食的需求。The 2019 TV dramaThe Longest Day in Chang'an boosted interest in fire crystal persimmons and water basin lamb from China's northwest. In 2022, the hit seriesA Dream of Splendor brought Song Dynasty (960-1279) tea culture into the spotlight, leading tea brands to introduce themed drinks that became consumer favorites. Similarly, animated films and TV shows have increasingly collaborated with tea and coffee brands to launch limited-edition beverages.2019年，电视剧《长安十二时辰》提高了人们对中国西北地区火晶柿子和水盆羊肉的兴趣。2022年，热播剧《梦华录》将宋代（960-1279年）茶文化推向聚光灯下，促使茶叶品牌推出主题饮品，成为消费者的最爱。同样，动画电影和电视节目也越来越多地与茶叶和咖啡品牌合作，推出限量版饮品。Behind this phenomenon, Zhao sees two key forces at play.在这一现象背后，赵看到了两股关键力量在起作用。First, restaurants are becoming more adept at leveraging pop culture to attract consumers and convert online buzz into sales. "With fierce competition in the industry, businesses are focusing on product innovation rather than price wars. They are enhancing their offerings with cultural, experiential, and emotional value," Zhao said.首先，餐厅越来越善于利用流行文化来吸引消费者，并将网上的热词转化为销售额。“随着行业竞争的激烈，企业正专注于产品创新，而不是价格战。他们正在用文化、体验和情感价值来提升他们的产品，”赵说。"Over the past few years, restaurant operators have learned how to integrate entertainment and youth culture into their strategies to draw traffic," he added.他补充说:“在过去的几年里，餐馆经营者已经学会了如何将娱乐和青年文化融入到他们的策略中来吸引客流量。”Second, consumer expectations for dining experiences have evolved. "People no longer just eat to satisfy hunger or pursue healthy choices. They now seek emotional connections through their dining experiences," Zhao said.其次，消费者对就餐体验的期望也在发生变化。“人们不再只是为了充饥或追求健康的选择而吃饭。他们现在通过就餐体验寻找情感联系。”赵说。WhileNe Zha2 has sparked a wave of themed offerings, Zhao believes the trend is also rooted in the character's deep cultural significance.虽然《哪吒2》引发了一波主题产品的热潮，但赵认为，这一趋势也植根于该角色深厚的文化意义。However, he cautioned businesses to be mindful of intellectual property concerns when using Ne Zha's image for promotions, warning of potential legal risks. He also noted that Ne Zha, as a traditional Chinese figure, has multiple representations beyond the one depicted inNe Zha 2.然而，他提醒企业在使用哪吒的形象进行宣传时要注意知识产权问题，并警告潜在的法律风险。他还指出，哪吒作为中国传统人物，除了《哪吒2》中所描绘的形象外，还有多种表现形式。For restaurant owners looking to capitalize on the trend, Zhao stressed the importance of both speed and long-term vision. "To seizeNe Zha 2's momentum, businesses must react quickly.对于希望利用这一趋势的餐馆老板来说，赵强调了速度和长远眼光的重要性。“为了抓住《哪吒2》的势头，企业必须迅速做出反应。But beyond short-term gains, they should also consider how to retain customers. The goal is not just to draw diners in with a trendy product, but to build lasting consumer habits," he said.但除了短期收益，他们还应该考虑如何留住客户。我们的目标不仅仅是用时髦的产品吸引食客，而是要养成持久的消费习惯。”Root cause of frenzy热潮的根本原因Lotus root has emerged as one of the biggest winners in the food industry boom sparked byNe Zha 2.在《哪吒2》引发的食品行业热潮中，藕已经成为最大的赢家之一。The humble ingredient, central to the film's storyline, has seen a surge in demand, driving remarkable growth across the food and e-commerce sectors.作为电影故事情节的核心，这种不起眼的食材需求激增，推动了食品和电商行业的显著增长。According to data from the short video-sharing platform Douyin, searches for "lotus root starch" have surged by over 200 percent year-on-year since the film's release on Jan 29, with interest continuing to climb.根据短视频分享平台抖音的数据，自1月29日该片上映以来，“藕粉”的搜索量同比飙升了200%以上，而且兴趣还在继续攀升。Online delivery platform Eleme has reported a 330 percent spike in related searches.在线外卖平台“饿了么”的相关搜索量飙升了330%。China Post's Hubei branch reported that between Jan 29 and Feb 11, approximately 170,000 packages of lotus root starch and lotus root stems were shipped from the province — 1.7 fold more than the same period last year.据中国邮政湖北分公司报道，在1月29日至2月11日期间，约有17万包藕淀粉和藕茎从该省运出，是去年同期的1.7倍。The impact is even more pronounced in Honghu, a major lotus root production hub in Hubei province.在湖北主要的莲藕生产中心洪湖，这种影响更为明显。Zhang Xianzhong, head of the Honghu Lotus Root Industry Development Center, said from Jan 29 to Feb 23, the industry's total sales revenue surpassed 582 million yuan, marking a 51 percent year-on-year increase.洪湖藕产业发展中心主任张献忠表示，从1月29日到2月23日，藕产业总销售收入超过5.82亿元，同比增长51%。Fresh lotus root sales alone reached 18,700 metric tons, while processed products like lotus root starch, lotus root stems, and lotus root soup also saw significant gains.仅新鲜藕的销量就达到1.87万吨，而藕淀粉、藕茎和藕汤等加工产品也取得了显著增长。"Fresh lotus root is selling out daily, over 200 tons of lotus root starch have already been snapped up, and e-commerce orders have risen 1.5 fold compared with last year," Zhang said.“新鲜莲藕每天都销售一空，200多吨莲藕淀粉已被抢购一空，电商订单比去年增加了1.5倍。At the Orsun century city mall branch in Wuhan, Hubei, of Laoxiangji fast food chain, takeout orders have surged during dinner hours with staff packing container after container of lotus root chicken soup.在湖北武汉的老乡鸡快餐连锁店奥森世纪城分店，晚餐时段的外卖订单激增，店员们将一箱又一箱的莲藕鸡汤打包。"Since the Spring Festival, sales of our lotus root chicken soup have risen about 30 percent compared with pre-holiday levels," said store manager Yuan Fangfang.店长袁芳芳说：“春节以来，我们莲藕鸡汤的销量比节前增长了约30%。”Laoxiangji's signature old hen soup, made with mineral water and stewed chicken, has long been a customer favorite.老乡鸡的招牌老母鸡汤，用矿泉水和焖鸡熬制而成，一直深受顾客的喜爱。But in Hubei, where lotus root is a staple, diners have frequently asked if the restaurant offers a lotus root version. In response to the demand, Laoxiangji introduced lotus root chicken soup in its Hubei outlets in September 2024.但在以莲藕为主食的湖北，经常有食客询问餐厅是否提供莲藕版本。为满足这一需求，老乡记于2024年9月在湖北分店推出了莲藕鸡汤。"The response has been overwhelming — nearly half of our soup orders are now for the lotus root version," Yuan said.袁说：“反响非常热烈--现在我们近一半的汤订单都是莲藕版的。”She noted that September and October, when lotus roots are at their softest and most flavorful, is the peak season for the dish. "For us in Hubei, drinking lotus root soup is a tradition. Growing up, the aroma of lotus root soup filled the alleys during autumn and winter. A bowl of it carries a sense of home," Yuan said.她指出，9月和10月是莲藕最柔软、味道最鲜美的时候，也是这道菜的旺季。“对于我们湖北人来说，喝莲藕汤是一种传统。在我们的成长过程中，每到秋冬季节，小巷里就弥漫着莲藕汤的香气。一碗藕汤承载着家的味道。This year, Laoxiangji remained open throughout the Spring Festival holiday period. "I never expected lotus root soup to become such a hit during Spring Festival," Yuan said.今年，老乡记在整个春节假期期间一直营业。“没想到春节期间莲藕汤会这么火。”Taking advantage of a rare break, she went to seeNe Zha 2 with her 15-year-old daughter, a high school student and fan of the film. After the holiday rush, the two returned for a second viewing.趁着难得的休息时间，她和15岁的女儿一起去看《哪吒2》，女儿是一名高中生，也是《哪吒2》的影迷。假期结束后，两人又去看了第二场。Located inside a shopping mall, Yuan's restaurant often welcomes moviegoers looking for a meal after screenings. "Maybe some of them, after watching Ne Zha 2, find themselves craving a bowl of lotus root soup," she said.袁的餐厅位于一家购物中心内，经常有观众在电影放映后前来就餐。“她说："也许有些人看完《哪吒2》后，会想喝一碗莲藕汤。Lotus' elan莲花的魅力Riding the success ofNe Zha 2, lotus root has emerged as a culinary sensation beyond its home in Hubei.借助《哪吒2》的成功，莲藕在湖北以外的地方引起了美食界的轰动。On the third day of the Chinese New Year, as the film's box office takings soared, Qingshuiting Hubei cuisine outlets in Beijing introduced a Ne Zha-themed meal set. The two-person set, featuring pork rib lotus root soup, fried stuffed lotus root, and lotus root starch, quickly attracted food lovers. Diners who presented aNe Zha 2 ticket stub could also enjoy a 12 percent discount on lotus root soup.大年初三，随着票房的飙升，北京的清水亭湖北菜门店推出了哪吒主题套餐。排骨藕汤、炸藕酿、藕粉等二人套餐迅速吸引了美食爱好者。凭《哪吒2》门票票根就餐的食客还可享受藕汤12% 折的优惠。Li Simei, co-founder of Qingshuiting, anticipated lotus root's surge in popularity, given its deep connection to the investiture of the gods scene in the movie, where Ne Zha's body is reborn from lotus root. Since the ingredient has always been a staple at her restaurant, she had planned to introduce themed dishes based on the audience response.清水亭的创始人之一李思梅预料到莲藕会大受欢迎，因为莲藕与电影中哪吒投胎的场景有很深的联系。由于莲藕一直是她餐厅的主打食材，她计划根据观众的反应推出主题菜肴。The restaurant's signature lotus root soup is made from Honghu's renowned starchy lotus roots. "October to March is when lotus root reaches peak flavor," Li explained.餐厅的招牌藕汤是用洪湖著名的淀粉质莲藕制作的。“十月到三月是莲藕味道最鲜美的时候，"李解释道。"During this period, it stores starch in the mud, creating a rich, glutinous texture."“在此期间，它将淀粉储存在泥中，形成丰富的糯米质地"。To appeal to younger diners, Qingshuiting has also re-imagined traditional lotus root starch desserts, offering flavors like green tea and orange, paired with lotus slices and lotus balls. The modern twist transforms the classic street treat into a trendy, Instagram-worthy dessert.为了吸引更多年轻食客，清水亭还对传统的藕粉甜点进行了重新设计，推出了绿茶和橙子等口味，并搭配了藕片和藕球。这种现代的变化将经典的街头小吃转变成了一种时尚的、值得在Instagram上分享的甜点。"Our restaurant aims to showcase high-quality Hubei ingredients, including Honghu lotus root, and bring delicious Hubei cuisine to diners in Beijing," Li said.“我们的餐厅旨在展示包括洪湖莲藕在内的优质湖北食材，为北京的食客带来美味的湖北菜。”李说The growing demand for Hubei's lotus root was also evident at a Feb 21 agricultural showcase hosted by the Hubei Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Hubei Government's Beijing Office.在2月21日由湖北省农业农村厅和湖北省政府驻北京办事处主办的农业展示会上，湖北莲藕日益增长的需求也显而易见。The event brought Beijing restaurateurs face-to-face with Hubei suppliers, with Honghu lotus root emerging as a star ingredient. Li noted that many Beijing restaurants are now incorporating Honghu lotus root into their menus and hopes that more establishments will follow suit in show-casing the region's high-quality produce.此次活动让北京的餐馆老板与湖北的供应商面对面，洪湖莲藕成为其中的明星食材。李指出，许多北京餐馆正在将洪湖莲藕纳入他们的菜单，并希望更多餐馆效仿，展示该地区的优质产品。Demonn.魔鬼；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念Tentaclesn. 触手( tentacle的名词复数)；触角；触须；触毛Frenzyn.狂乱，狂暴；极度的激动；狂怒Signaturen.签名；鲜明特色

This week, I'm proud to announce a new collaboration with Trivium, a China-focused strategic advisory firm you've probably heard of. They've got offices in DC, London, Shanghai, and Beijing, and they focus on analyzing and forecasting Chinese policy developments for multinational companies and institutional investors across a range of verticals -- including macroeconomics, technology, automotive, resources, renewable energy, critical minerals, and green technology. They put out a terrific podcast each week, and you'll be able to listen to it here or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for the Trivium China Podcast.On today's show, you'll hear a half-hour chat between me and the two co-founders, Andrew Polk and Trey McArver, which we taped ahead of the Two Meetings — the NPC and the CPPCC. Then you'll hear a conversation between Andrew and his colleague Dinny McMahon, who you've heard on the show before in an episode we did on the digital yuan, talking about what came out of the Two Meetings.You'll be hearing from lots of the great folks at Trivium in coming episodes, so be sure to tune in.Beginning next week, or possibly sooner, we'll also be running a regular economy-focused roundup put together by Andrew and the team at Trivium. That will come out on Fridays.A warm welcome to Trey, Andrew, and all the excellent people at Trivium!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes all of the training and preparation in the world doesn't get you to the Paralympic podium. Boccia player Alison Levine experienced that firsthand during the Paris 2024 Paralympics, when tournament bracket design forced her to face the other top player early on in the elimination rounds. Play didn't go her way, and she didn't get the results she wanted. It didn't get better in the mixed doubles tournament, when she and teammate Iulian Ciobanu lost to Thailand in the bronze medal match. Even with the disappointment, Alison's Paris experience was, on the whole, a good one. Along with talking about the tournament and how she regrouped after the Paralympics, Alison tells us about life in the Athletes' Village, how accessible design made life a lot easier for a couple of weeks, and the infamous Paris 2024 chocolate muffin. Learn more about Alison at her website, and follow her on Insta and X. This week, we're also celebrating one year to go until the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympics! Tickets for the Paralympics go on sale March 6. We also have another installment of our Milan-Cortina 2026 slidingnovela--this time, with good news!  Plus, news from the International Olympic Committee, the World Games (with a Games-first event for Chengdu 2025), and an update from Team Keep the Flame Alive. And finally, this month, we'll have a special feature on our Patreon for all members, free and paying. Check it out and join us there! For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.   Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!   *** Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.   Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348      

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Rekindling Bonds: A Brotherly Reunion in Chengdu's Lantern Glow Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-02-28-23-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在成都的一家温馨茶馆里，空气中弥漫着茉莉花茶的香气。En: In a cozy tea house in Chengdu, the air is filled with the fragrance of jasmine tea.Zh: 即便是冬季，茶馆内依旧温暖如春，窗外的五彩灯笼随着风轻轻晃动，为夜晚的城市增添了一抹浪漫的色彩。En: Even in winter, the tea house remains warm like spring, while the colorful lanterns outside the window gently sway in the breeze, adding a touch of romance to the night cityscape.Zh: 这个晚上，对明来说尤为重要，因为他邀请了长久未见的弟弟梁。En: This evening is particularly significant for Ming because he has invited his long-unseen younger brother, Liang.Zh: 在外多年，一直让兄弟俩之间有些生疏。En: Having been away for many years has created a bit of estrangement between the brothers.Zh: 灯节将至，成都的街头夜空中挂满了耀眼的灯笼。En: With the Lantern Festival approaching, the streets of Chengdu are filled with dazzling lanterns.Zh: 正是这样充满童年记忆的时节，明觉得这是和梁再次连结的好机会。En: During this season, rich in childhood memories, Ming feels this is a good opportunity to reconnect with Liang.Zh: 他希望在这如诗如画的氛围中，能够打破那些年积累的隔阂。En: He hopes that in this picturesque atmosphere, they can break through the barriers that have accumulated over the years.Zh: 梁推开茶馆的木门，看到兄长已经坐在角落的位置，手边一杯热腾的茉莉花茶。En: Liang pushed open the wooden door of the tea house and saw his elder brother already seated in a corner spot, with a steaming cup of jasmine tea beside him.Zh: 面带微笑的明站起身，招呼梁坐下。En: With a smile on his face, Ming stood up and invited Liang to sit down.Zh: 虽然心里有些紧张，但梁感受到了一丝家的温暖，他点了点头，缓慢坐下。En: Although a bit nervous inside, Liang felt a hint of warmth and nodded, slowly taking a seat.Zh: “好久不见，你变化不小啊。”明微笑着，用温和的语气开口。En: "Long time no see, you've changed quite a bit," Ming said with a smile, using a gentle tone.Zh: 梁点头，却一时不知道该如何回应。En: Liang nodded but for a moment wasn't sure how to respond.Zh: 沉默片刻，明指了指身后的墙壁，上面挂着一幅画。En: After a brief silence, Ming pointed to the wall behind them, where a painting was hung.Zh: 那是一幅他们小时候常去的老房子的画。En: It was a painting of the old house they used to visit as children.Zh: 画中的老式庭院，以及庭院里那棵大枣树，勾起了两兄弟的共同回忆。En: The old-style courtyard in the painting, along with the large jujube tree in it, evoked shared memories for the brothers.Zh: “还记得那棵树吗？我们总是在树下玩。”明轻声说道。En: "Remember that tree? We always played under it," Ming said softly.Zh: 这一刻，梁的思绪回到了小时候的无忧无虑，过往的负担似乎轻了一些。En: In this moment, Liang's thoughts drifted back to the carefree days of childhood, and the burdens of the past seemed to lighten.Zh: “记得，那是我们最爱的地方。”梁终于放松下来，语气中透着怀念。En: "I remember, it was our favorite place," Liang finally relaxed, nostalgia in his voice.Zh: 慢慢地，他开始述说在国外的生活和经历。En: Slowly, he began to speak about his life and experiences abroad.Zh: 他的歉意逐渐化解成对兄长的感谢。En: His initial apology gradually turned into gratitude for his elder brother.Zh: 灯火通明的小路上，两兄弟漫步而行。En: On a brightly lit path, the two brothers strolled.Zh: 说着，笑着，兄弟俩之间的陌生感逐渐消融。En: Talking, laughing, the unfamiliarity between them gradually faded.Zh: 梁感谢明的包容和理解，而明则已经尝试接纳弟弟不同的经历。En: Liang thanked Ming for his understanding and acceptance, while Ming was trying to embrace his brother's different experiences.Zh: 回到老屋门前，他们相视一笑。En: Back at the door of the old house, they exchanged smiles.Zh: 明与梁都知道，尽管无法改变过去，但他们可以共同迎接新的开始。En: Ming and Liang both knew that, although they couldn't change the past, they could welcome a new beginning together.Zh: 灯笼的光芒照亮了他们的回家之路，也照亮了他们重新建立起来的纽带。En: The glow of the lanterns lit their way home and also illuminated the bond they were rebuilding.Zh: 故事在他们的笑声中结束，象征着新年的新开始，也代表着兄弟情谊的再次连接。En: The story ends with the sound of their laughter, symbolizing a new beginning of the new year and representing the reconnection of their brotherly bond. Vocabulary Words:cozy: 温馨fragrance: 香气estrangement: 生疏picturesque: 如诗如画breeze: 风reconnect: 连结barriers: 隔阂courtyard: 庭院jujube tree: 大枣树carefree: 无忧无虑burdens: 负担nostalgia: 怀念strolled: 漫步unfamiliarity: 陌生感acceptance: 包容embrace: 接纳rebuilding: 重新建立illuminated: 照亮glow: 光芒bond: 纽带drifted: 思绪飘回steam: 腾significant: 尤为重要gently: 轻轻dazzling: 耀眼lantern festival: 灯节signifying: 象征relaxed: 放松apology: 歉意gradually: 逐渐

This week: Part 2 in a series of podcasts in conjunction with the China Research Center at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). The series, titled "Studying China in the Absence of Access: Rediscovering a Lost Art," ran from September to November 2021, and featured four eminent "Pekingologists," or specialists in Chinese elite politics: Joseph Fewsmith, Thomas Fingar, Alice Miller, and Fred Teiwes. The talks were later published in a volume you can download here. The series is introduced by Andrew Mertha, George and Sadie Hyman, Professor of China Studies and director of the SAIS China Research Center, and each lecture includes a moderated discussion with Andy. After this series, I'll also be sharing with you a second series of lectures titled "Studying China from Elsewhere," which will include talks by Maria Repnikova, Mike Lampton, William Hurst, and Maggie Lewis — many of whom Sinica listeners will know from the show.Alice Lyman Miller is a leading scholar of Chinese politics and foreign policy. A research fellow at the Hoover Institution and lecturer in East Asian Studies at Stanford University, she previously served as an analyst at the CIA and editor of China Leadership Monitor. Miller's work has been instrumental in decoding the opaque world of Chinese elite politics, with a particular focus on political discourse and leadership transitions. Her major publications include Becoming Asia: Change and Continuity in Asian International Relations Since World War II (2011).Joseph Fewsmith is one of the foremost experts on contemporary Chinese politics, known for his in-depth analysis of political reform, elite competition, and policy shifts under the Chinese Communist Party. A professor of international relations and political science at Boston University, Fewsmith has authored seminal books such as China Since Tiananmen: The Politics of Transition (2001) and Rethinking Chinese Politics (2021), which challenge conventional wisdom on China's political system. His work blends rigorous historical analysis with close readings of official discourse. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

China's foreign minister has met with his New Zealand counterpart, calling on the two sides to keep their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the right path (01:08). Ukraine's parliament has approved an agreement with the United States regarding minerals that are critical for technology (10:08). Chengdu's low-altitude economy is improving rural medical care and boosting tourism (21:12).

This week on Sinica: February 24 marks the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and as I've done for the last two years, I moderated a panel organized by Vita Golod, a Ukrainian China scholar who happens to be here in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at UNC as a visiting scholar. She's worked tirelessly to promote awareness of the war, and I'm honored again to have been asked to moderate this panel.The guests you'll hear from are:Dr. Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova, Director of the China Studies Centre at Riga Stradins University in Latvia. Fluent in Chinese, Russian, and English, she has collaborated with scholars like Kerry Brown of King's College London and has done extensive work on China's role in Europe and beyond.Dr. Dmytro Yefremov, Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations at the National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" in Ukraine. A board member of the Ukrainian Association of Sinologists, he specializes in China's foreign relations and has traveled extensively to China, providing firsthand insight into Ukraine's perspective on China's role in the war and beyond.Dr. Qiang Liu, Director of the Energy Economics Division at the Institute of Quantitative & Technical Economics within the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). He also serves as the Co-chair and Secretary-General of the Global Forum on Energy Security. His research focuses on energy security, energy economics, and policy, with a particular emphasis on China's Belt and Road Initiative and its global energy partnerships.Dr. Klaus Larres, Richard M. Krasno Distinguished Professor of History and International Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. An expert on transatlantic relations, U.S., German, and EU foreign policy, and China's role in the post-Cold War order, he has a profound interest in the history of the Cold War and the politics of Winston Churchill.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Move over, Jedi! China's moviegoers have spoken! Nezha 2 has dethroned Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the highest-grossing film in a single market. However, beyond the impressive numbers, there's another surprise—this record-breaking hit was produced entirely in the Chinese city of Chengdu.What is driving this city's emergence as a new force in animation and beyond? On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

This week on Sinica, I chat with David Zweig, a veteran China scholar who is Professor Emeritus from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. We discuss Davis'd latest book, The War for Chinese Talent in America, which looks at Chinese efforts to harness the intellectual firepower of Chinese scientists and engineers who studied abroad, especially in the United States, and bring them — or at least their knowledge —back to China. David's book takes a balanced look at both the very real problems generated by Chinese policies as well as the overreaction by the U.S. Department of Justice in the form of the infamous China Initiative. 3:40 – Why got David interested on this particular topic 7:07 – The diaspora option12:09 – The Thousand Talents Program/Plan18:28 – How the talent programs operate23:48 – Motivations for Chinese to participate in the talent programs, how geopolitics now impacts these decisions, and what the effect of the China Initiative has been on collaboration 36:29 – The China Initiative's climate of fear and the concern for racial profiling 49:40 – The extent of the validity of U.S. security concerns57:24 – David's suggestions for balancing national security interests and open scientific exchange Paying It Forward: Dan Lynch and his book, China's Futures: PRC Elites Debate Economics, Politics, and Foreign PolicyRecommendations:David: It's a Wonderful World — The Louis Armstrong Musical in New YorkKaiser: The Invention of Yesterday: A 50,000-Year History of Human Culture, Conflict, and Connection by Tamim Ansary, especially the audiobook read by the authorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

China's top prosecutors have ramped up efforts to combat corruption at the grassroots level, particularly in healthcare, education and employment, as these areas directly impact people's daily lives, officials from the Supreme People's Procuratorate said.中国最高人民检察院官员表示，中国最高检察机关已加大打击基层腐败的力度，特别是在医疗、教育和就业领域，因为这些领域直接关系到人民群众的日常生活。More than 3,000 people were prosecuted in 2024 for dereliction of duty in these sectors, a 1.6-fold increase from the previous year, according to statistics released on Tuesday by the Supreme People's Procuratorate.2月18日，最高人民检察院发布的统计数据显示，2024年全国检察机关起诉医疗、教育、就业等领域职务犯罪3000余人，同比上升1.6倍。Procuratorial authorities have focused on tackling corruption linked to people's livelihoods and rural revitalization, said Zhang Xiaojin, head of the procuratorate's division on duty-related crimes.中国最高人民检察院职务犯罪检察厅厅长张晓津表示，检察机关集中整治民生领域和乡村振兴领域的腐败问题。To address public concerns over corruption in the healthcare sector, which has made medical treatment more difficult and expensive, prosecutors have targeted offenses such as taking kickbacks and embezzling health insurance funds. As a result, more than 1,800 individuals in the healthcare industry were prosecuted for duty-related crimes, Zhang said.张晓津表示，针对公众对医疗领域腐败问题的关切，特别是医疗腐败导致看病难、看病贵的问题，检察机关重点打击“靠医吃医”、套取医保资金等腐败犯罪，起诉医疗领域职务犯罪1800余人。In March 2024, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Public Security issued a guideline on handling health insurance fraud cases to step up enforcement against such offenses, which have been on the rise.2024年3月，最高人民检察院、最高人民法院、公安部联合发布《关于办理医保骗保刑事案件若干问题的指导意见》（以下简称“《指导意见》”），以加大对日益猖獗的医保骗保犯罪的打击力度。The guideline states that conspirators involved in fraud schemes carried out by medical institutions, such as fabricating medical services and falsifying medical bills, will be prosecuted.《指导意见》规定，定点医药机构虚构医药服务项目、虚开医疗服务费用的，对组织、策划、实施人员提起公诉。Individuals who illegally receive health insurance refunds through fraudulent means, including by using others' medical insurance certificates, will also face punishment.行为人使用他人医疗保障凭证等欺诈手段非法获取医保退款的，依法处罚。Meanwhile, more than 1,200 people from township and village organizations were prosecuted for duty-related crimes last year, marking a 48.5 percent year-on-year increase.2024年，起诉乡镇、村组织人员职务犯罪1200余人，同比上升48.5%。"Punishing corruption crimes that affect the public is also a way of protecting people's livelihoods," Zhang said.张晓津表示：“惩治影响群众利益的腐败犯罪也是保护民生。”To further safeguard public interests, procuratorial authorities nationwide handled more than 92,000 public interest litigation cases from January to November last year in areas such as food and drug safety, the rights of vulnerable groups, and the security of citizens' personal information, according to Xu Xiangchun, director of the Supreme People's Procuratorate's Public Interest Litigation Procuratorate Office.最高人民检察院公益诉讼检察厅厅长徐向春介绍，为进一步保障公共利益，2024年1月至11月，全国检察机关共立案办理食品药品安全、特定群体权益保障、公民个人信息安全等民生领域公益诉讼案件9.2万余件。"Public interest is the interest of the people. The procuratorial public interest litigation system is closely tied to daily life," Xu said in an interview on Wednesday.2月19日，徐向春在采访中表示：“公共利益就是人民的利益，检察公益诉讼制度与人民群众日常生活密切相关。”"In 2024, prosecutors focused on public concerns, actively responded to livelihood issues, and handled cases in a precise and law-abiding manner."“2024年，检察机关紧盯民群众的操心事、烦心事、揪心事，积极回应民生关切，依法精准规范开展办案工作。”In one case, the Qinghai Provincial People's Procuratorate filed administrative public interest litigation against more than 60 express delivery companies for failing to legally contribute to work injury insurance for couriers, strengthening labor protections.在一个案例中，青海省人民检察院针对全省60余家快递企业存在未依法为快递员缴纳工伤保险的情况办理行政公益诉讼案件，加强对劳动者权益的法治保障。In another case, the procuratorial office in Tianfu New Area in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, urged administrative bodies to revise village autonomy regulations in eight villages that violated women's rights.在另一个案例中，四川省省会成都市的天府新区人民检察院督促行政机关推动8个行政村修订村民自治章程侵害妇女权益的内容。kickbackn.（不合法的）回扣，酬金embezzlen.贪污；挪用（钱款）couriern.信使，递送员

This episode we kick off a series of episodes following the famous monk Xuanzang, aka the Tripitaka Master of the Law, Sanzang Fashi.  Known in Japanese as Genjo, and founder of the Faxiang school of Yogacara Buddhism, also known as the Hosso school, it was brought back to the archipelago by students who studied with the master at his temple north of the Tang capital of Chang'an.  He was particularly famous for his travels across the Silk Road to India and back--a trip that would last 16 years and result in him bringing back numerous copies of sutras from the land of the Buddha, kicking off a massive translation work.  It also would see his recollections recorded as the Record of the Western Regions, which, along with his biography based on the stories he told those working with him, give us some of the best contemporary information of the various places along the Silk Road in the 7th century. Part 1 focuses on Xuanzang's journey out of the Tang empire, braving the desert, and somehow, against the odds, making it to the country of Gaochang. For more, check out the blogpost page:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-120 Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua, and this is Episode 120:  Journey to the West, Part 1 The monks from far off Yamato were enthralled.  They had journeyed across the waves on a foreign vessel, traversed a greater distance than they probably thought possible growing up in the archipelago, and had finally arrived at the capital of the Great Tang Empire, Chang'an.  They had then been sent north, to a temple where they met others from Yamato. They had come to study the Law, the Dharma, with some of the most famous teachers of the Tang dynasty, and there were few more famous than the Tripitaka Master Genjou himself.   Everyone in the monastery knew his story—he had traveled all the way to India, the birthplace of the Buddha, and returned with copies of the sutras in Sanskrit, which he and the other monks were translating. In between sessions of meditation, sutra readings, and various lectures, the students would gather round the feet of the master as he recounted his journeys.  The stories themselves were fantastic stories, telling of far off cities and people.  There were stories of bandits, and meetings with kings.  The students must have thought about how it mirrored what they, themselves, had gone through—their own Journey to the West. Last episode we talked about Tukara and what that mysterious placename might mean—and where it could be referring to.  For that we traveled all the way to the end of the Silk Road.  In this episode and continuing into the next, we are going to travel that same road with a different perspective, as we take a look at one of the most famous travelers of the Silk Road:  the monk Xuanzang, or Genjou in Japanese.  And as I hinted at in the introduction, if you're at all familiar with the famous Journey to the West, well, this and the following episodes will explore the actual history behind that story, and how intertwined it is with the history of the archipelago. For those who don't know, Xuanzang was a monk, born Chen Hui near present-day Luoyang in Henan.  He is known by many names, but one of his most famous comes from the title “Sanzang Fashi”, aka “Tripitaka Master of the Law”, from which we get the simplified name in some English sources of just “Tripitaka”.  Sanzang, or “Tripitaka”, literally translates to “Three baskets” or “Three storehouses”, referring to the Buddhist canon.  It is quite fitting, given Xuanzang's incredibly famous Journey to the Western Regions and, eventually, to India, where he journeyed to obtain the most accurate version of the Buddhist scriptures to ensure that they had the most accurate versions.  On his journey, Xuanzang apparently took detailed records of the trip, and his   “Records of the Western Regions”  provides a lot of what we know of the towns and cultures that existed there back in the 7th century – even if not all of it was experienced firsthand and  may have come through translators and second or third-hand sources. In addition, Xuanzang's biography and travelogue add a lot more information to his journey, even if they weren't necessarily written by him, but instead by his fellow monks based on his recitations to them  combined with various records that they had access to at the time.  As such, it isn't always the most reliable, but it is still highly detailed and informative.  Xuanzang would return to China and teach for many years, translating the works that he had brought back, and founding a new school of Yogachara Buddhism, known as Faxiang in Chinese, but “Hossou” in Japan.  The Hossou school was particularly popular in the 8th and 9th centuries, having been transmitted by Yamato students who had actually studied at the feet of the venerable teacher.  These included the monk Doushou, who travelled over to the continent in 653.  In 658, there are two others who came over, named Chitatsu and Chiitsu. They had travelled to the Tang court in the 7th month of that year, where they are said to have received instruction from none other than Xuanzang himself.  If this indeed was in 658, it would have been only 6 years before Xuanzang's death. Their journey had almost not happened.  The year previous, in 657, envoys were sent to Silla to ask that state to escort Chitatsu to the Tang court, along with Hashibito no Muraji no Mimumaya and Yozami no Muraji no Wakugo, but Silla refused.  They must have relented, however, as they apparently were escorting at least the monks a year or so later. Chitatsu and Chiitsu would eventually return to Yamato, as would Doushou.  Doushou is also said to have been introduced to a student of the second patriarch of the Chan, or Zen school as well.  He would return to teach at Gango-ji, the later incarnation of Asukadera, spreading the Hossou teachings from master Xuanzang. In fact, Xuanzang's impact would be felt across Asia, and much of the Buddhist world.  He would continue to be known in Japan and in the area of China, Korea, and beyond.  Japanese translations of his journeys were made between the 8th and 10th centuries from texts that had come from Xuanzang's own monastery. Nine centuries after his death, during the Ming Dynasty, Xuanzang would be further immortalized in a wildly popular novel:  Journey to the West.  The “Journey to the West” is an incredibly fantastical retelling of Xuanzang's story.  In it, Xuanzang is sent on his task by none other than the Buddha himself, who also provides three flawed traveling companions.  There is  Zhu Bajie, aka “Piggy”—a half human half pig who is known for his gluttony and lust.  Then there is Sha Wujing, aka “Sandy”—a man with a red beard and blue skin who lived in a river of quicksand.  Despite a rather frightful backstory, he was often the straight man in the story.  And then there is the famous Sun Wukong, aka “Monkey”, the most famous of the three and often more famous than Xuanzang himself.  In fact, one of the most famous English versions of the story is just called “Monkey”, an abridged telling of the story in English by Arthur Waley in 1942. “Journey to the West” is perhaps the most popular novel in all of Asia.  It has spawned countless retellings, including numerous movies and tv series.  The character of “Monkey” has further spun off into all sorts of media.  Of course, his addition was all part of the novel, but nonetheless, that novel had an historical basis, which is where we really want to explore.  Because for all of the magic and fantasy of the Ming novel, the real story is almost as fascinating without it. We are told that Xuanzang was born as Chen Hui—or possibly Chen Yi—on the 6th of April in 602 CE in Chenliu, near present-day Luoyang.  Growing up, he was fascinated by religious books.  He joined the Jingtu monastery and at the age of thirteen he was ordained as a novice monk.  However, he lived in rather “interesting times”, and as the Sui dynasty fell, he fled the chaos to Chengdu, in Sichuan, where he was fully ordained by the age of 20. Xuanzang was inspired reading about the 4th century monk Faxian, whom we mentioned back in Episode 84.  Faxian had visited India and brought back many of the earliest scriptures to be widely translated into Chinese.    However, Xuanzang was concerned, as Faxian had been, that the knowledge of the Chinese Buddhist establishment was still incomplete.  There were still works that they knew about but didn't have, and there were competing Buddhist theories in different translations of the texts.  He thought that if he could go find untranslated versions of the texts then he could resolve some of the issues and further build out the corpus of Buddhist knowledge. Around the age 25 or 27, he began his journey.  The exact date is either 627 or 629, based on the version that one reads.  That has some importance for the events that his story tells, as some of the individuals whom he is said to have met are said to have died by 627 CE, meaning that either the dates of the journey are wrong or the dates we have in other sources are wrong.  As you can imagine, that's rather important for an accurate history, but not so much for our purposes, as I think that we can still trust the broad brush strokes which paint an image of what the Silk Road was like at the time. For context, back in Yamato, this was around the time that Kashikiya Hime—aka Suiko Tenno—passed away, and Prince Tamura was placed on the throne, passing over Prince Yamashiro no Oe, the son of the late Crown Prince, Umayado, aka Shotoku Taishi.  Whoever was on the throne, Soga no Emishi was actually running things, and the Soga family were heavily involved in the establishment of Buddhism in the archipelago.  This is relatively around the time of Episode 103. When Xuanzang took off to the West, his intentions may have been pure, but truth be told, he was breaking the law.  Tang Taizong had come to power in 626, and the routes along the Tarim Basin were under the control of the Gokturks, whom the Tang were fighting with.  As such, travel to the Western Regions was strictly controlled.  Xuanzang and several companions had all petitioned Emperor Taizong for permission to leave, but the Emperor never replied. So Xuanzang did not have permission to leave—but he decided to head out, anyway.  His companions, however, lost their nerve, and so he set out alone. Of course, he didn't simply set off for the West.  At first he went city to city, staying at local Buddhist monasteries and sharing his teachings.  To all intents and purposes, this probably seemed like normal behavior for a monk, traveling from monastery to monastery, but it was actually taking him towards the western border. And it was going well until he reached Liangzhou—known today as Wuwei.  Li Daliang, governor of Liangzhou, enforced the prohibition that "common" people were not permitted to go to the regions of the western tribes.  Word had spread about Xuanzang, and when the governor caught wind of what was going on, he called Xuanzang into an audience to find out what he was planning to do.  Xuanzang was honest and told him he was going to the West to search for the Dharma, but the governor ordered him to return to Chang'an instead. Fortunately, there was a Buddhist teacher, Huiwei, who heard about all of this this and decided to help Xuanzang.  He had two of his own disciples escort Xuanzang to the west.  Since the governor had told him not to go, this was illegal, and so they traveled by night and hid during the day until they reached Guazhou. In Guazhou, the governor, Dugu Da, was quite pleased to meet with Xuanzang, and either hadn't heard about the order for him to return to Chang'an or didn't care.  From there, Xuanzang's path was largely obstructed by the deep and fast-flowing Hulu river.  They would have to travel to its upper reaches, where they could go through Yumenguan--Yumen Pass--which was the only safe way to cross, making it a key to the Western regions. Beyond Yumenguan there were five watchtowers, roughly 30 miles apart.  These watchtowers likely had means to signal back and forth, thus keeping an eye on the people coming and going from Yumen Pass.  Beyond that was the desert of Yiwu, also known as Hami. Xuanzang was not only worried about what this meant, his horse died, leaving him on foot.  He contemplated this in silence for a month.  Before he continued, though, a warrant arrived for his arrest.  They inquired with a local prefect, who happened to be a pious Buddhist.  He showed it to Xuanzang, and then ended up tearing up the document, and urged Xuanzang to leave as quickly as possible. Yumenguan lies roughly 80-90 kilometers—roughly 50 miles or so—from the town of Dunhuang, the last major outpost before leaving for the Western Regions.  Dunhuang had a thriving Buddhist community, and the paintings in the Mogao caves are absolutely stunning, even today—one of the most well-preserved of such collections, spanning the 4th to the 14th century.  However, at this point, Xuanzang was a wanted man, and stopping in at Dunhuang might very well have curtailed his journey before it had even begun.  Instead, he would likely need to find a way to sneak across the border without alerting anyone and then, somehow, sneak past five watchtowers, each 30 miles or so apart, with no water except what he could carry or steal at each point. At this point, one of Xuanzang's escorts had traveled on to Dunhuang, and only one remained, but Xuanzang wasn't sure his remaining companion was up to the strain of the journey, and he dismissed him, deciding to travel on alone.  He bought a horse, and he fortunately found a guide--a "Hu" person named "Shi Pantuo".  "Hu" is a generic term often translated simply as "foreigner" or "barbarian" from the western lands, and the name "Shi" referred to Sogdians from Tashkent.  The Sogdians were a people of Persian descent living in central Eurasia, between the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers.  That latter was also known as the Oxus river, hence another name for the region: Transoxiana.  Sogdiana appears as early as the 6th century BCE as a member of the Achaemenid Empire, and the region was annexed by Alexander the Great in 328 BCE.  It continued to change hands under a succession of empires. The Sogdian city-states themselves were centered around the city of Samarkand, and while they did not build an empire themselves, the Sogdians nonetheless had a huge impact on cultures in both the east and the west.  Sogdians became famous as traders along the silk roads, and they built tight knit communities in multiple cities along the route.  Families kept in touch over long distances, setting up vast trading networks.  In fact, there were even Sogdian communities living in Chang'an and elsewhere in the Tang Empire.  The Sogdian An Lushan would eventually rise through the ranks of the Tang dynasty court—but that was almost a century after Xuanzang's travels. There are many material items that the Sogdians helped move across the silk road, but perhaps one of the most striking things were a style of patterned textiles.  Sassanid Persia was known for its silk textiles, often woven in images surrounded by a border of pearl-shapes:  Small circles in a circular pattern around a central figure, often duplicated due to the way the fabrics were woven.  This pearl-roundel pattern was especially taken up by the Sogdians, and their fashion sense made it popular across Eurasia.  Large pearl roundel designs were used on caftans, popular throughout the Gokturk qaghanate, and the Tang court would eventually pick up the fashion of these foreigners—generally classified as “hu” by those in Chang'an.  With a round neck, closing at the side, this western-style caftan-like garment eventually found its way into Japan as the people of the Japanese archipelago adopted Tang dynasty clothing and fashion.  In fact, Japan boasts one of the most impressive collections of silk road artifacts at the Shosoin repository of Todaiji temple in Nara, and it includes clothing and fabric that show the influence of Sogdian and Turkic merchants.  The Shosoin collection contains multiple examples of those pearl roundel patterns, for example, and you can even buy reproductions of the design today in Nara and elsewhere.  The garments themselves would continue to influence the fashion of the court, indeed giving rise to some of the most popular court garments of the Nara period, and the design continued to evolve through the Heian period until it was almost unrecognizable from its origins. Sogdians were so influential that their language—an Eastern Iranian language known simply as “Sogdian”—was the lingua franca, or the common tongue, through most of the Silk Road.  If you knew Sogdian, you could probably find a way to communicate with most of the people along way.  Today, Sogdian is extinct, with the possible exception of a single language that evolved from a Sogdian dialect. Sogdians are often known in Sinitic sources by their names—by the time of the Tang dynasty, it was common practice to give foreigners, whose names didn't always translate well into Chinese dialects, a family name based on their origin.  For the Sogdians, who were quite well known and numerous, they weren't just classified with a single name, but rather they were divided up by seven names based on where they were from.  So the name “Shi”, for instance, indicated that someone was from the area of Tashkent, while the name “An” referred to a Sogdian who was descended from people from the Bukhara, and so on.  This was a practice that went at least as far back as the Han dynasty. So, returning to the story, Xuanzang's new Sogdian guide's name is given as “Shi Pantuo”.  The name "Pantuo", which would have likely been pronounced more like "b'uan d'a" at the time, is likely a version of the name "Vandak", which was indeed a very common Sogdian name meaning something like “servant” and was often used to indicate things like religious devotion, which could be related to his status as a devout Buddhist, though it also might just be coincidental.  Xuanzang was so happy with his guide's offer to help, that he bought him clothes and a horse for his troubles. And so they headed out towards Yumenguan, the Jade Pass or Jade Gate, so called because of the caravans of jade that would head out from the Middle Country ever since the Han dynasty.  In fact, the Jade Gate was originally established as part of the western end of the Han dynasty “Great Wall”.  This was not necessarily the famous Ming Dynasty wall that most people are familiar with, but the Han Dynasty wall would have been impressively high enough, with regular patrols and beacon towers.  So if you tried going over the wall, someone was likely to see you and give chase.  There is also the issue that if you had any amount of supplies you have to bring those as well—this isn't just hopping a fence.  The wall was augmented by natural features—mountains and deep and fast-flowing rivers, for example, which made walls unnecessary.  And then there was also the fact that in many places, it was just open wilderness, which was its own kind of barrier.  Trying to go off the beaten path meant wandering through uncharted territory, which someone like Xuanzang was probably not prepared to do.  It isn't like he had GPS and Google Maps to help him find his way, and if you got lost in the desert, then who knows what might happen to you. By the way, this was true even in relatively settled places, like the Japanese archipelago, up until modern times.  While there were some areas where it was relatively flat, and you could navigate by certain landmarks, if you left the roads and trails you might easily find yourself lost without access to food or shelter.  Maps were not exactly accurate.  The safest way to travel was to stick to the more well-traveled routes. Unfortunately, that meant going through the Yumen Gate itself.  There was a garrison where the road left the territory of the Tang Empire , and that garrison would be responsible for checking the papers of anyone coming into or leaving the empire.  Xuanzang, of course, didn't have the proper papers, since he didn't have permission to be there.  Fortunately, he had a guide, who seemed to know the area, and that would allow him to bypass the official checkpoint, which Xuanzang recalls seeing off in the distance.  Together, Xuanzang and Vandak snuck past the Yumen gate, and traveled several miles up the river.  There, they found a spot where the river was only about 10 feet across, near a grove of trees, and so they chopped down a few of them and made an impromptu bridge for them and their horses to cross. From that point on, until they reached Yiwu, they would have to get past the watchtowers.  Not only were these watchtowers garrisoned with men of the Tang army, but they were also the only place to get fresh water.  The travelers would need to sneak in at night to steal water from the watchtowers without getting caught. The farther they traveled, the more Vandak seemed to be getting cold feet.  Normally, this wouldn't have been an issue had they been normal travelers, but in trying to avoid the watchtowers they were making themselves into fugitives.  If they were caught they could both be killed.  He protested several times that they should just go back, and at one point Xuanzang seemed worried that Vandak was contemplating how much easier this would be for him if he just killed the old monk.  Finally, Xuanzang told Vandak that he should leave, and solemnly swore that if he was caught he wouldn't rat out Vandak for his help.  Vandak, who had been worried about just such a scenario, nonetheless took Xuanzang's word and the two parted ways. From that point on, Xuanzang recounted that the trail through the desert was marked by nothing but skeletons and horse droppings.  He thought at one point he saw an army in the desert, but it turned out to be a mirage.  Finally, he saw one of the watchtowers he had been warned about.  Not wanting to get caught, he lay down in a ditch and hid there until the sun went down. Under cover of darkness, he approached the tower, where he saw water.  He went to have a drink, and maybe wash his hands, but as he was getting out his water bag to refill it and arrow whizzed through the air and he almost took an arrow to the knee.  Knowing the jig was up, he shouted out: "I'm a monk from the capital!  Don't shoot!" He led his horse to the tower, where they opened the door and saw he really was a monk.  They woke up the captain, who had a lamp lit so he could see whom it was they had apprehended.  Right away it was clear that this traveler wasn't from around those parts—not that anyone really was, it seems. The Captain had heard of Xuanzang, but the report that had been sent said Xuanzang had gone back to Chang'an.  Xuanzang, for his part, showed a copy of the petition he had sent to the Emperor--one that he hadn't actually heard back from.  He then told the captain what he planned to do.  The captain was moved, and decided to look the other way.  He gave him a place to stay for the night and then showed him the way to the fourth watchtower, where the captain's brother was in charge, and would give him shelter. Sure enough, Xuanzang made it to the fourth watchtower, but he wasn't sure if he could entirely trust the captain, so again he tried to just secretly steal the water, but again he was caught.  Fortunately, the captain there was also sympathetic.  He let Xuanzang stay and then actually told him how to get around the fifth watchtower, since the captain there might not be as lenient.  He also told Xuanzang about an inconspicuous oasis where he could get water for himself and his horse. Reinvigorated, Xuanzang had another challenge to face.  Beyond the watchtowers was a long stretch of desert.  It was a journey of several hundred miles, and it started poorly.  First off, he missed the oasis that the captain of the fourth watchtower had indicated he could use without anyone firing arrows at him.  Then, he dropped his water bag, such that he was left with nothing.  He thought of turning back, but he continued, chanting mantras to himself.   He was dehydrated and exhausted, but he continued onward.  Some days into his journey, his horse suddenly changed course of its own accord.  Despite his efforts, it kept going, eventually coming to a pasture of grass around a pond of clean, sweet water.  That ended up saving him, and he rested there for a day, before traveling on.  Two days later, he arrived at Yiwu, aka Hami.  He had made it.  He was free. Or at least, he was until he returned to the Tang empire.  After all, Xuanzang did plan to come back, and when he did, he would have to face the music.  That was a problem for future Xuanzang.  Of course, he was also a lone traveler.  He might be free, but he was far from safe.  He was now entering the Western regions, and he would need to be on the lookout. The people of Hami, also known as Yiwu, were known to the Han dynasty as members of the Xiao Yuezhi—the kingdom or coalition that once controlled much of the northern edge of the Tarim basin.  They had been displaced by the Xiongnu, and the area would go back and forth between different hegemons, so that by the time of the Sui and early Tang dynasties they were under the sway of the Gokturks.  Still, as close as it was to the Tang borders, they no doubt had contact, and indeed, Xuanzang was given lodging at a monastery with three other monks who were “Chinese”, for whatever that meant at the time. If you've heard of Hami today you may know it for something that it was famous for even back in the 7th century:  their famous melons.  You can sometimes find Hami melons in stores to this day. Regarding the melons and other such fruits and vegetables—the area of Hami is a fairly arid land.  Hami does get some water from the Tianshan mountains, but in order to have enough for agriculture they instituted a system that is still found today in Hami, Turpan, and other parts of the world, including arid parts of northwest India and Pakistan through the middle east to north Africa.  It is called a Karez, or in Persian it is called a Qanat, and it is thought to have originated in ancient Persia around the first millennium BCE and spread out through the various trade routes. The idea is to basically create underground aqueducts to take water from one place to another.  This would keep them out of the heat and dry air above ground to allow them to continue to flow without losing too much to evaporation.  To do that, however, required manually digging tunnels for the water.  This would be done by sinking wells at regular intervals and connecting the wells to each other with tunnels.  But it wasn't enough for the tunnels to be connected, they had to also slope slightly downwards, but not too much.  You want enough flow to keep the water clear, but if it flows too quickly or creates waves, the water might erode the underground channels in ways that could cause problems, such as a collapse.  All in all, they are pretty amazing feats of engineering and they can carry water a great distance.  Many are under 5 km, but some are around 70 km long. These karez would have been the lifelines of many towns, creating a reliable oasis in the desert.  Rivers were great, but the flow could vary from floods to a mere trickle, and the karez system provided relatively constant flow.  This allowed for agriculture even in the dry areas of the Western Regions, which helped facilitate the various kingdoms that grew up in this otherwise inhospitable region. While eating his melons in Hami and chatting it up with his fellow eastern priests, Yiwu was visited by an envoy from the neighboring kingdom of Gaochang.  Now Hami, or Yiwu, sits at the eastern edge of the Turpan-Hami basin, aka the Turfan depression, a large desert, much of which is actually so low that it is below sea level.  In fact, the basin includes the lowest exposed point in the area of modern China at Ayding Lake, which is 158 meters below sea level.  From Yiwu to Gaochang, you would follow the edge of the mountains west, to an area near a small break in the mountain range.  Follow that break northwest, and you would find yourself at the city of Urumqi, the current capital of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in modern China. Xinjiang covers much of the area known in ancient times as the “Western Regions” that remains within the modern political boundaries of the PRC. The envoy from Gaochang heard about Xuanzang, and reported back to his lord, King Qu Wentai, who immediately sent a retinue out to escort the Buddhist monk across the desert to his city.  They included multiple horses for Xuanzang, so he could change at regular intervals.  His own horse was left behind, to be brought along later.   After six days on the road, they came to the city of Paili, and since the sun had already set, Xuanzang asked to stop for the night, but the escorts urged him on to the Royal City, which was not much farther on. And so he arrived around midnight, which means he likely couldn't immediately take in the size of the city.  Gaochang was an immense walled city, and even today, ruined as it is, the site of it is quite formidable, and it is so well preserved it is considered a UNESCO world heritage site.  Perhaps since wood was relatively scarce, this is why so much of the construction was made of brick and earthworks.  Fortunately, this means that many of the walls remain, even today—eroded and crumbling, but still towering over those who come to see them.  In places they have also been rebuilt or reinforced.  And in a few, very rare instances, you can still see some of the traces of paint that would have once been so prevalent throughout a city like this.  At this time in history, Gaochang, also known as Karakhoja, was under the command of the Qu family.  The population was largely Han Chinese, and it had often been overseen or at least influenced by kingdoms in the Yellow River basin.  But it was also the home of Turks, Sogdian merchants, local Turfanians, and more.  It was even called “Chinatown” by the Sogdians, and yet attempts to further sinicize the region had provoked a coup only a couple of decades earlier.  Even though he showed up in the middle of the night, Xuanzang is said to have been welcomed by the ruler of Gaochang, Qu Wentai, as he entered the city.  Perhaps this is why the escorts had been pushing so hard—the King himself was awake and waiting for Xuanzang to make an appearance.  The King and his attendants came out with candles in their hands, and they were ushered behind curtains in a multi-storey pavilion.  The king apparently grilled him through the night, asking about his journey until it was almost daybreak, at which point Xuanzang requested rest.  He was finally shown to a bedroom that had been prepared for him and allowed to sleep. The next day king assembled the leading monks of his kingdom before his guest.  These included the monks Tuan Fashi and Wang Fashi.  Tuan Fashi had studied in Chang'an for many years, and he knew his Buddhist scholarship. And Wang Fashi was a superintendent, and it was his duty to look after Xuanzang and butter him up with the hope that he might stay and provide the king with the prestige of having such an esteemed monk.  They put him up at a monastery next to the royal palace—the “daochang”, aka “dojo” in Japanese, which would be a whole different diversion. Ding Wang suggested that this might be the same as the Chongfu Monastery mentioned in a colophon on a 7th century copy of the Sutra of Perfection of Wisdom for Benevolent Kings. It was found by a German expedition at a site in the Turfan basin in the early 20th century, and now sits in the possession of Shitenno-ji, in Osaka—rather appropriate given that Shitenno-ji was around at the same time all of this was happening.  The colophon is attributed to a “Xuanjue”, and a “Xuanjue” from Gaochang, in the Turpan basin, was associated with helping Xuanzang in his later years.  Perhaps this Xuanjue first met Xuanzang during this first trip to Gaochang. Qu Wentai tried his best to dissuade Xuanzang from continuing on.  This may be simple platitudes from his biographers, but it also may have been genuine.  Having a learned foreign monk from the Tang dynasty staying at the palace monastery would likely have added to Qu Wentai's prestige by association, and it would have potentially brought more individuals to the city of Gaochang. Speaking of which, all of this first part of the journey—up to Gaochang—comes primarily from Xuanzang's biography by the monk Huili.  Xuanzang's own “Records of the Western Regions” didn't include much on it, probably because by the time that he returned to the Tang empire, Tang Taizong had annexed Yiwu and Gaochang, so all those were now considered part of the empire, rather than foreign regions to the West. After staying a month at Gaochang, Xuanzang decided it was time to continue his journey.  Disappointed though Qu Wentai may have been that his guest would be leaving, he nonetheless outfitted him handsomely.  He provided goods, including coins, as well as 24 letters to the 24 countries that he would pass along the road, adding a roll of silk to each as a sign that they came from the King of Gaochang.  He also gave him food, a small retinue, and horses to help carry everything.  Letters of introduction would have been important across the Silk Road.  There was, after all, no way to contact someone ahead of time, unless you sent runners. Merchant communities, in particular, would often be connected across long distances through regular caravans, which carried letters to their relatives, facilitating communication across vast distances.  Merchants who were bringing in a caravan of goods would know that there was a friendly community waiting to help them when they arrived, and would likely even have an idea of what was happening and what to bring. For someone traveling alone, however, having a letter of introduction would have been important, as they didn't necessarily have access to those communities by themselves.  The letters would provide introduction and let people know who you were and may even ask for assistance on your behalf.  It may seem a small thing, but it was the kind of gesture that was likely a great help to a traveler like Xuanzang.  Remember, he was not on an official mission from the Tang court—almost expressly the opposite, as he had not been given permission to leave.  So he wouldn't have had anything identifying him, and after Gaochang he likely couldn't count on being able to communicate with his native tongue. And so he was sent on his way.  As he left the city of Gaochang, the king and others accompanied Xuanzang about 10 li, or about 3 or 4 miles, outside of the city.  As they watched him head off, who could have known if he would complete his quest?  Or would he just end up another ghost in the desert? Next episode, we'll pick up Xuanzang's story as he strikes out for Agni and beyond.  Until then thank you for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.

I'm delighted to bring you today the first in a series of conversations from a remarkable day-long session put on by the Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs, or ACF, at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). The session was held on Monday, February 3, and was called “Getting China Right.” On today's show, we've got U.S. Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey, one of the best-informed and sensible legislators focused on China today. He'll be in conversation with James Steinberg, dean of SAIS, who also served as Deputy Secretary of State from 2009 to 2011. You'll hear introductory remarks from Jim and from Jessica Chen Weiss, inaugural faculty director ACF and David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies at SAIS, who listeners certainly know from her appearances on Sinica. More to come in this series, so stay tuned! Please enjoy Senator Kim's very thoughtful remarks.Watch the morning sessions on YouTube here.The Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF) of the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) was established in 2024 to add rigor and reason to public and policy discussions on China and the range of domestic and international issues that intersect China's global role, bringing together experts and practitioners to foster informed public dialogue, promote evidence-based research, and support the next generation of scholars and practitioners. ACF was founded with the support of Johns Hopkins University and philanthropic contributions from across the United States.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Sinica, I chat with economic historian Andrew B. Liu of Villanova University about how to understand Trump's thinking on China and tariffs. Andy wrote about this in an excellent piece on N+1 called "Back to the 80s? Trump, Xi Jinping, and Tariffs." Check it out and then listen to the show!3:59 – How the U.S.'s current trade anxieties echo those of the ‘80s9:34 – How Cold War geopolitics shaped U.S.-Japan trade relations18:23 – The lessons China learned from Japan's experience and how it has shaped its recent economic strategy 21:03 – What Xi Jinping's vision for the Chinese economy actually looks like 34:26 – Why China is favoring a more Ford-like model of industrial structure41:28 – Michael Pettis's ideas from Trade Wars Are Class Wars and points of critique 52:44 – The Trump administration's use of tariffsPaying It Forward: Viola Zhou's reporting on Rest of World (especially her piece on Foxconn in India) and Dong Yige Recommendations:Andrew: Hetty Lui McKinnon's Substack for vegan modern Cantonese recipes Kaiser: The Substack of the Carter Center's U.S.-China Perception Monitor; and the essay “The new frontline: The US-China battle for control of global networks” on the Transnational Institute websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #17 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish, please visit PrayGiveGo.us! My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains In the Face of Persecution, What Will I Do? The original article was posted on Wang Yi’s personal blog in October of 2018, then shared widely the week after his arrest in December of 2018. Please continue to earnestly pray for Pastor Wang Yi and the other brothers and sisters in Chengdu. Read this podcast on Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/in-the-face-of-persecution-what-will-1d8 Final Petitions of the Prisoner May the Lord bless me with so much reverent fear for him to the point where I am not afraid of any power that does not fear him. May the Lord grant me peaceful resistance, positive perseverance and joyful disobedience in all matters of conscience, faith and the church, and in everything that relates to the flesh, and damage to external rights, may he grant me the power of patience and silence. May the Lord remove the potential in this process to lash out in hate and resentment. May he have mercy on me and support me in my weakness when I am in isolation. May the Lord help me so that from the day of my detention I will pray every day for all those in power related to my case, as well as officials in the police force, national security, the prosecutor’s office, the court and other government agencies. May the Lord choose among them repentant and believing children and have mercy on their lowly souls. May [he] lead at least one of them to faith through this process, and give my heart great joy and comfort. I also ask the Lord Jesus to remove the burden and concerns for my wife, family, the church, and everything else during my detention, so that I will entrust everything to the Lord, be faithful only to the Lord, and focus on practicing these fourteen resolutions as my longings for and service to my family, as shepherding and teaching my congregation, and as fulfilling my responsibility to the kingdom of God. For More Info: Richard Wurmbrand Resources: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/ Who is Pastor Wang Yi? https://chinapartnership.org/who-is-wang-yi/ Faithful Disobedience (Book): https://a.co/d/7oNGPO4 Persecution is a Test (Sermon Clip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKZJBbtckeA

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #17 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish, please visit PrayGiveGo.us! My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains In the Face of Persecution, What Will I Do? The original article was posted on Wang Yi’s personal blog in October of 2018, then shared widely the week after his arrest in December of 2018. Please continue to earnestly pray for Pastor Wang Yi and the other brothers and sisters in Chengdu. Read this podcast on Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/in-the-face-of-persecution-what-will-1d8 Final Petitions of the Prisoner May the Lord bless me with so much reverent fear for him to the point where I am not afraid of any power that does not fear him. May the Lord grant me peaceful resistance, positive perseverance and joyful disobedience in all matters of conscience, faith and the church, and in everything that relates to the flesh, and damage to external rights, may he grant me the power of patience and silence. May the Lord remove the potential in this process to lash out in hate and resentment. May he have mercy on me and support me in my weakness when I am in isolation. May the Lord help me so that from the day of my detention I will pray every day for all those in power related to my case, as well as officials in the police force, national security, the prosecutor’s office, the court and other government agencies. May the Lord choose among them repentant and believing children and have mercy on their lowly souls. May [he] lead at least one of them to faith through this process, and give my heart great joy and comfort. I also ask the Lord Jesus to remove the burden and concerns for my wife, family, the church, and everything else during my detention, so that I will entrust everything to the Lord, be faithful only to the Lord, and focus on practicing these fourteen resolutions as my longings for and service to my family, as shepherding and teaching my congregation, and as fulfilling my responsibility to the kingdom of God. For More Info: Richard Wurmbrand Resources: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/ Who is Pastor Wang Yi? https://chinapartnership.org/who-is-wang-yi/ Faithful Disobedience (Book): https://a.co/d/7oNGPO4 Persecution is a Test (Sermon Clip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKZJBbtckeA

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #16 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish, please visit PrayGiveGo.us! My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains 14 Decisions: In the Face of Persecution, What Will I Do? This article was originally posted on Wang Yi’s personal blog in October 2018 and shared elsewhere online. Please earnestly pray for your brothers and sisters in Chengdu. (December 17, 2018) Read this on Substack here: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/in-the-face-of-persecution-what-will-506 Persist in sharing the gospel Refusal to accept government designated defense lawyer Refusal to appear on TV or contact official media Demand of public trial Here’s the link to the Crosspolitic News article about my friend Dennis Green, who literally got “carried away” at an abortion clinic: https://www.crosspoliticnews.com/news/deported-by-china-prosecuted-by-biden-pardoned-by-trump Who is Wang Yi? Here’s some more info: https://chinapartnership.org/who-is-wang-yi/ https://www.amazon.com/Faithful-Disobedience-Writings-Chinese-Movement/dp/1514004135 Wang Yi Sermon Clip: Persecution is a Test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKZJBbtckeA

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Embracing New Beginnings: A Teahouse Reunion in Chengdu Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-02-06-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 茶馆里，温暖的气息扑面而来，沁人的茶香在空气中飘荡，红灯笼轻轻摇曳。En: In the teahouse, a warm atmosphere greeted him as the enchanting aroma of tea wafted through the air, and the red lanterns swayed gently.Zh: 春节将至，每一处都挂满了喜庆的装饰。En: The Chunjie, the Chinese New Year, was approaching, and every corner was adorned with festive decorations.Zh: 在这样的氛围中，真走进了成都一家老茶馆。En: In such an ambiance, Zhen entered an old teahouse in Chengdu.Zh: 他心中复杂，既有期待，也有些不安。En: His heart was complicated, filled with both anticipation and a bit of unease.Zh: 今天，真要见到两位久别重逢的老朋友。En: Today, Zhen was going to meet two old friends he hadn't seen in a long time.Zh: 一位是莲，她刚从国外留学回来，带来新的视角。En: One was Lian, who had just returned from studying abroad, bringing new perspectives.Zh: 另一位是魏，他在成都找到了稳定的工作。En: The other was Wei, who had found a stable job in Chengdu.Zh: 真希望与他们的对话能够帮助自己摆脱迷茫，重拾对未来的希望。En: Zhen hoped that their conversation could help him overcome his confusion and regain hope for the future.Zh: 当真推开茶馆的木门，莲已经坐在靠窗的桌旁，微笑着冲他挥手。En: When Zhen pushed open the wooden door of the teahouse, he saw Lian already sitting by the window, smiling and waving at him.Zh: 窗口透进几丝温暖的阳光，洒在桌上，给整个房间增添了些许亮色。En: A few strands of warm sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a bright hue over the table and adding a touch of brightness to the room.Zh: 真坐下，与莲攀谈起来。En: Zhen sat down and started chatting with Lian.Zh: 不久，魏也到了，他捧着热腾腾的茶，坐到真身边。En: Not long after, Wei arrived, holding a steaming cup of tea, and sat beside Zhen.Zh: “最近怎么样？”莲关切地问。En: "How have you been lately?" Lian asked with concern.Zh: 真叹了口气，说：“我觉得自己失去方向。En: Zhen sighed and said, "I feel like I've lost direction.Zh: 以前的事业失败，现在不知道该继续什么。”En: My previous career failed, and now I don't know what to pursue."Zh: “别灰心，”魏鼓励道，“我也走过迷惘的路，En: "Don't be discouraged," Wei encouraged him, "I've also walked a path of confusion.Zh: 只是选择一份安稳的工作，En: I simply chose a stable job.Zh: 虽然平淡，但也踏实。”En: Though it's mundane, it's also solid."Zh: “可我想要一些不同的，更能激励我的事业。”真皱着眉头说。En: "But I want something different, a career that can truly inspire me," Zhen said, frowning.Zh: 莲点点头，分享她在国外的经历，谈到旅行中的奇闻和文化的差异，En: Lian nodded and shared her experiences abroad, talking about the extraordinary stories from her travels and the cultural differences she encountered.Zh: 她的话启发了真。En: Her words inspired Zhen.Zh: 她说：“在国外我学到，勇敢尝试新事物很重要，En: She said, "What I learned abroad is that it's important to bravely try new things.Zh: 即使犯错也是成长的一部分。”En: Even making mistakes is part of growth."Zh: 随着时间的推移，三人的谈话越来越深入。En: As time passed, the conversation between the three deepened.Zh: 真感到一种久违的舒畅与释然。En: Zhen felt a long-lost comfort and relief.Zh: 他突然意识到，是自己的恐惧和对过往失败的顾虑一直束缚着自己。En: He suddenly realized that it was his own fears and concerns over past failures that had been holding him back.Zh: 他们喝着浓郁的茶，笑声混合在茶杯清脆的碰撞声中。En: They sipped the rich tea, their laughter intertwined with the crisp clinking of teacups.Zh: 冬天的黄昏，温暖的茶馆外，天色渐暗，而真的心中却越来越明亮。En: In the winter dusk, outside the warm teahouse, the sky gradually darkened, but Zhen's heart grew brighter.Zh: 他终于明白，一个人必须把握当下才能迎接未来的挑战。En: He finally understood that one must seize the present to face future challenges.Zh: 三人告别时，茶馆门口对联上的“岁月静好”在夜色中透出温柔的光。En: As the three bid farewell, the couplet "岁月静好" on the teahouse door revealed a gentle light in the night.Zh: 真满怀信心地走出茶馆，他对两位朋友说：“我会重新开始的，这次一定不会再让恐惧阻碍我的脚步。”En: Zhen, full of confidence, walked out of the teahouse and said to his two friends, "I will start anew, and this time, I won't let fear hinder my steps."Zh: “祝你成功！新年快乐！”莲和魏齐声祝福。En: "Wish you success! Happy New Year!" Lian and Wei wished in unison.Zh: 红灯笼在冬日的风中轻轻摇曳，真实现了一次心灵的重生，En: The red lanterns swayed gently in the winter wind, and Zhen experienced a renewal of the soul.Zh: 他迈步走向新的征程，怀揣着坚定和希望。En: He stepped toward a new journey, carrying determination and hope.Zh: 春节的夜晚温柔地拥抱着他，也许明天会更好。En: The Chunjie night embraced him gently, and perhaps tomorrow would be better. Vocabulary Words:teahouse: 茶馆atmosphere: 气息aroma: 茶香wafted: 飘荡lanterns: 灯笼adorned: 挂满complicated: 复杂anticipation: 期待unease: 不安abroad: 国外overcome: 摆脱confusion: 迷茫perspectives: 视角career: 事业mundane: 平淡extraordinary: 奇闻encountered: 遇到bravely: 勇敢growth: 成长intertwined: 混合clinking: 碰撞dusk: 黄昏darkened: 渐暗seize: 把握gentle: 温柔renewal: 重生determination: 坚定embraced: 拥抱confidence: 信心hinder: 阻碍

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #16 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish, please visit PrayGiveGo.us! My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains 14 Decisions: In the Face of Persecution, What Will I Do? This article was originally posted on Wang Yi’s personal blog in October 2018 and shared elsewhere online. Please earnestly pray for your brothers and sisters in Chengdu. (December 17, 2018) Read this on Substack here: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/in-the-face-of-persecution-what-will-506 Persist in sharing the gospel Refusal to accept government designated defense lawyer Refusal to appear on TV or contact official media Demand of public trial Here’s the link to the Crosspolitic News article about my friend Dennis Green, who literally got “carried away” at an abortion clinic: https://www.crosspoliticnews.com/news/deported-by-china-prosecuted-by-biden-pardoned-by-trump Who is Wang Yi? Here’s some more info: https://chinapartnership.org/who-is-wang-yi/ https://www.amazon.com/Faithful-Disobedience-Writings-Chinese-Movement/dp/1514004135 Wang Yi Sermon Clip: Persecution is a Test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKZJBbtckeA

This week as we enter the Year of the Snake, Sinica co-founder Jeremy Goldkorn makes a re-appearance on the show. It's been a year since his last, and much has changed — and indeed, if Jeremy is right, we may be at an inflection point in American attitudes toward China. With the "TikTok Refugees" on Xiaohongshu or "RedNote" taking in a view of China that contrasts starkly with the image presented by the U.S. Government and by many American media outlets, and with DeepSeek now having upended some ideas about American tech primacy, the "vibes" on China among young people seem to have changed for the better. Will it endure? Jeremy and I plunge into that question on this week's episode of the Sinica Podcast.2:55 – What Jeremy has been up to lately 4:19 – What has been driving the recent narrative/vibe shift in China discourse in the U.S., and why human rights rhetoric around Xinjiang has died down 14:11 – Whether the narrative/vibe shift will be long-lasting and the role of young people in driving it 23:06 – Predictions for future changes within China29:40 – The concern that the narrative/vibe shift could go too far, or that the copium will overwhelm the positive of the shift 33:24 – Previous narrative shifts around freedom of speech, the internet, and China, and technological innovation 43:57 – What recent developments reveal about Chinese soft power, and Jeremy's predictions for how everything will play out 49:34 – Whether the narrative/vibe shift will change how American politicians talk about China, and the Chinese government has reacted to the shift so farPaying It Forward: Savannah Billman's Career China email newsletter Recommendations:Jeremy: Paul Cooper's Fall of Civilizations podcast series; David Kidd's Peking Story: The Last Days of Old China; and The 404's podcast interview with a PornHub exec (which includes discussion of real-name registration requirements) Kaiser: The TV miniseries American Primeval (2025) on Netflix; and Paul Triolo's Substack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy Chinese New Year! This week, while I'm decompressing from 10 days in the Alps, my friends at the Asia Society of Switzerland have graciously offered to let me share a podcast recorded just after the U.S. presidential election in November at their annual State of Asia event. "The State of China" features three terrific guests: Wang Qing (王卿), the host of the popular Chinese podcast "The Weirdo" (不合时宜), Zichen Wang of the Center for China and Globalization, and Adam Tooze, one of the truly great public intellectuals of our time. It's all skillfully moderated by the South China Morning Post's Europe editor, Finbarr Bermingham, and it covers a lot of ground. I'll be back next week in conversation with my dear friend Jeremy Goldkorn, and we'll be asking (and answering) the big question — Are we in the middle of a narrative shift on China?May the Year of the Snake be prosperous and full of happiness and success for all you Sinica listeners!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to this special episode of China Compass, the fifteenth (15!) in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). If you want to see the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish and learn more about our work, you can find links to everything @ PrayGiveGo.us! My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains 14 Decisions: In the Face of Persecution, What Will I Do? This article was originally posted on Wang Yi’s personal blog in October 2018 and shared elsewhere online. Please earnestly pray for your brothers and sisters in Chengdu. (December 17, 2018) Not plead guilty Disobeying ideological reform Refusal to pay penalties or fines Refusal to accept the additional penalty of deprivation of political rights https://chinacall.substack.com/p/in-the-face-of-persecution-what-will-515 More on Wang Yi: https://chinapartnership.org/who-is-wang-yi/ https://www.amazon.com/Faithful-Disobedience-Writings-Chinese-Movement/dp/1514004135 Wang Yi Sermon Clip: Persecution is a Test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKZJBbtckeA

Welcome to this special episode of China Compass, the fifteenth (15!) in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). If you want to see the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish and learn more about our work, you can find links to everything @ PrayGiveGo.us! My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains 14 Decisions: In the Face of Persecution, What Will I Do? This article was originally posted on Wang Yi’s personal blog in October 2018 and shared elsewhere online. Please earnestly pray for your brothers and sisters in Chengdu. (December 17, 2018) Not plead guilty Disobeying ideological reform Refusal to pay penalties or fines Refusal to accept the additional penalty of deprivation of political rights https://chinacall.substack.com/p/in-the-face-of-persecution-what-will-515 More on Wang Yi: https://chinapartnership.org/who-is-wang-yi/ https://www.amazon.com/Faithful-Disobedience-Writings-Chinese-Movement/dp/1514004135 Wang Yi Sermon Clip: Persecution is a Test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKZJBbtckeA

Hans Seesaghur, a Mauritian with deep ties to China, spent nearly 20 years experiencing Chinese New Year traditions across regions like Liaoning, Fujian, and Chengdu. Each celebration revealed unique customs, deepening his love for Chinese culture. Back in Mauritius, where Chinese New Year is a public holiday, the festive spirit extends beyond the Chinese community, uniting people in joy and celebration. For Hans, the festival symbolizes cultural connection and shared prosperity.

This week, I bring you the first in a series of podcasts in conjunction with the China Research Center at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). The series, titled "Studying China in the Absence of Access: Rediscovering a Lost Art," ran from September to November 2021, and featured four eminent "Pekingologists," or specialists in Chinese elite politics: Joseph Fewsmith, Thomas Fingar, Alice Miller, and Fred Teiwes. The talks were later published in a volume you can download here. The series is introduced by Andrew Mertha, George and Sadie Hyman, Professor of China Studies and director of the SAIS China Research Center, and each lecture includes a moderated discussion with Andy. After this series, I'll also be sharing with you a second series of lectures titled "Studying China from Elsewhere," which will include talks by Maria Repnikova, Mike Lampton, William Hurst, and Maggie Lewis — many of whom Sinica listeners will know from the show.This week's talk is from FrederickTeiwes, truly a legend in the field. The American-born Australian sinologist is best known for his analysis of Chinese Communist Party elite politics. He served as a professor emeritus in Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney until his retirement in 2006. Teiwes has frequently collaborated with Warren Sun, producing seminal works such as The Tragedy of Lin Biao (1996) and China's Road to Disaster: Mao, Central Politicians and Provincial Leaders in the Great Leap Forward, 1955-59 (1999). In this talk, he focuses on forthcoming work on the transition following Mao Zedong's death in 1976.Great thanks to Andy and to Hasta Colman, who first suggested this collaboration when we met in Shanghai recently.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I wanted to put this out quickly as it's one of those rare, news-pegged episodes of the show. The full show notes and transcript will be available later this week. I know I'd said last time there would be no show this week, but that was before this fascinating episode involving TikTok users signing up en masse to Xiaohongshu. Hilarity ensued, and my two guests — Ivy Yang, who runs Wavelet Strategy, an expert in cross-cultural communication, and David Fishman, Shanghai-based senior manager at Lantau Group who specializes in the Chinese energy sector and writes wonderfully about his excursions into the Chinese countryside. They've both been following this fascinating episode closely and have really smart things to say, so enjoy!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Sinica, I'm joined by Lizzi Lee, fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute and by my lights one of the most astute, well-informed people writing on China in the English-speaking world today. She has fascinating perspectives on China's preparations for the Trump administration, on China's reluctance to roll out large-scale cash stimulus, and Xi Jinping's challenges. Don't miss this one! (I will update the show notes and publish the transcript early next week — thanks for your patience!)3:39 – Lizzi's argument from her op-ed, “Counting the Hawks in the Trump 2.0 Administration is Pointless”: the importance of which country will be able to get its act together 10:25 – U.S.-China competition as a long game, from China's perspective14:22 – How China views the current state of division in American politics19:00 – The main risks and opportunities for China presented by Trump's return, including opportunities in the geopolitical realm with the Europeans 28:09 – The state of China's domestic economy33:28 – Counterarguments to critiques of China's cautious deployment of stimulus, and where Lizzi stands on the issue 43:46 – Lizzi's thoughts on deflation in the Chinese economy 49:30 – The idea of accepting short-term pain for long-term gain in economic recovery 53:59 – Xi Jinping's vision for China's economy 58:46 – How Xi Jinping's ideological language can be challenging for officials and markets 1:03:57 – How China's political calendar has hindered execution of policy 1:06:42 – What Lizzi thinks the Chinese leadership should prioritize nowPaying it Forward: Lizzi recommends the work of Barclay Bram, especially his series on Chinese youth at the Asia Society here.Recommendations:Lizzi: Grazia Ting Deng's book Chinese Espresso: Contested Race and Convivial Space in Contemporary ItalyKaiser: More historical fiction by Robert Harris, including An Officer and a Spy and Munich.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to this special episode of China Compass, the thirteenth (13!) in a weekly series which I have been calling “The Prison Pulpit”! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). If you want to see the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish and learn more about our work, you can find links to everything @ PrayGiveGo.us! Each week, I mention my little book, Unbeaten, which tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. Also, one of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get my book and the sermon, Remember My Chains, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the sermon text for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains I will be working through Wang Yi’s 14 “resolutions” in 3 or 4 installments both here on the podcast and on the China Call Substack. Please continue to pray for Wang Yi and the other brothers and sisters in Chengdu. In the Face of Persecution, What Will I Do? (Part I) Pastor Wang Yi Shares 14 Resolutions He Made Before His Arrest in December, 2018 Read the source text (without my commentary) of today’s podcast here: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/in-the-face-of-persecution-what-will

Welcome to this special episode of China Compass, the thirteenth (13!) in a weekly series which I have been calling “The Prison Pulpit”! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). If you want to see the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish and learn more about our work, you can find links to everything @ PrayGiveGo.us! Each week, I mention my little book, Unbeaten, which tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. Also, one of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get my book and the sermon, Remember My Chains, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the sermon text for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains I will be working through Wang Yi’s 14 “resolutions” in 3 or 4 installments both here on the podcast and on the China Call Substack. Please continue to pray for Wang Yi and the other brothers and sisters in Chengdu. In the Face of Persecution, What Will I Do? (Part I) Pastor Wang Yi Shares 14 Resolutions He Made Before His Arrest in December, 2018 Read the source text (without my commentary) of today’s podcast here: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/in-the-face-of-persecution-what-will

This week on Sinica, I speak with Nicole Hong and Michael Rothfeld, both investigative reporters at the New York Times, about a series of stories they've done, stretching between August and December 2024, on the Falun Gong-run performance troupe Shen Yun, and the Falun Gong-affiliated newspaper The Epoch Times. Read the latest two articles in that series here and here. There will be links to the other stories on the transcript page.4:33 – Nicole and Michael's collection of pieces on Falun Gong 6:26 – Background on [the?] Falun Gong: Li Hongzhi, the context out of which the movement emerged, its international spread, and the CCP's crackdown in the '90s12:00 – Shen Yun performances, and audience reactions 18:46 – Following the money: Falun Gong's dramatic financial growth, gray areas, and where the money goes 29:03 – Spiritual project or big grift?31:39 – What Nicole and Michael uncovered 36:23 – Memorable individuals: Chang Chun-ko, Kate the performer, and Josh the violinist41:10 – The dynamics within [the?] Falun Gong, and what has been alleged45:34 – The Epoch Times, and their editorial changes 53:02 – The appeal of Falun Gong, and the level of scrutiny it getsPaying It Forward:Nicole: Researchers/freelancers/translators Yi Liu and Peiyue Wu Michael: New York Times colleague Susan Beachy Recommendations:Nicole: Connie: A Memoir by Connie Chung Michael: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel; One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (and the new One Hundred Years of Solitude TV series (2024)); and the TV series Gomorrah (2014-2021)Kaiser: TikTok accounts workplace_doodles (a former Shen Yun performer born into a Falun Gong family) and cocolarkincooks (a fantastic cooking resource)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2019, journalist and writer Peter Hessler traveled with his family to China. He'd gotten a gig as a teacher of writing—nonfiction writing in particular—in what he'd hoped would be a sequel to his 2001 book River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. But plans changed—radically. At the very end of 2019, the COVID-19 virus emerges in Wuhan, leading to chaos as officials frantically try to figure out how to control the new disease. Peter's reporting first wins his criticism from Chinese nationalists angry about his frank discussions of China's mistakes—then criticism from U.S. hawks angry that Hessler gives Beijing credit for what it managed to do right as COVID rapidly spreads around the world. Peter's years in China are covered in his latest book Other Rivers: A Chinese Education (Penguin Press, 2024), published last year. Peter Hessler is a staff writer at the New Yorker, where he served as Beijing correspondent from 2000 to 2007, Cairo correspondent from 2011 to 2016, and Chengdu correspondent from 2019 to 2021. He is the author of The Buried: An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution; River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, which won the Kiriyama Book Prize; Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present, which was a finalist for the National Book Award; Country Driving: A Chinese Road Trip; and Strange Stones: Dispatches from East and West. He won the 2008 National Magazine Award for excellence in reporting, and he was named a MacArthur fellow in 2011. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Other Rivers. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In 2019, journalist and writer Peter Hessler traveled with his family to China. He'd gotten a gig as a teacher of writing—nonfiction writing in particular—in what he'd hoped would be a sequel to his 2001 book River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. But plans changed—radically. At the very end of 2019, the COVID-19 virus emerges in Wuhan, leading to chaos as officials frantically try to figure out how to control the new disease. Peter's reporting first wins his criticism from Chinese nationalists angry about his frank discussions of China's mistakes—then criticism from U.S. hawks angry that Hessler gives Beijing credit for what it managed to do right as COVID rapidly spreads around the world. Peter's years in China are covered in his latest book Other Rivers: A Chinese Education (Penguin Press, 2024), published last year. Peter Hessler is a staff writer at the New Yorker, where he served as Beijing correspondent from 2000 to 2007, Cairo correspondent from 2011 to 2016, and Chengdu correspondent from 2019 to 2021. He is the author of The Buried: An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution; River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, which won the Kiriyama Book Prize; Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present, which was a finalist for the National Book Award; Country Driving: A Chinese Road Trip; and Strange Stones: Dispatches from East and West. He won the 2008 National Magazine Award for excellence in reporting, and he was named a MacArthur fellow in 2011. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Other Rivers. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In 2019, journalist and writer Peter Hessler traveled with his family to China. He'd gotten a gig as a teacher of writing—nonfiction writing in particular—in what he'd hoped would be a sequel to his 2001 book River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. But plans changed—radically. At the very end of 2019, the COVID-19 virus emerges in Wuhan, leading to chaos as officials frantically try to figure out how to control the new disease. Peter's reporting first wins his criticism from Chinese nationalists angry about his frank discussions of China's mistakes—then criticism from U.S. hawks angry that Hessler gives Beijing credit for what it managed to do right as COVID rapidly spreads around the world. Peter's years in China are covered in his latest book Other Rivers: A Chinese Education (Penguin Press, 2024), published last year. Peter Hessler is a staff writer at the New Yorker, where he served as Beijing correspondent from 2000 to 2007, Cairo correspondent from 2011 to 2016, and Chengdu correspondent from 2019 to 2021. He is the author of The Buried: An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution; River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, which won the Kiriyama Book Prize; Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present, which was a finalist for the National Book Award; Country Driving: A Chinese Road Trip; and Strange Stones: Dispatches from East and West. He won the 2008 National Magazine Award for excellence in reporting, and he was named a MacArthur fellow in 2011. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Other Rivers. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

This week on Sinica, I welcome back Michael Cerny — formerly of the Carter Center and now a Ph.D. student at Harvard — and Rory Truex of Princeton University to discuss a new working paper they've co-authored. They undertook a large-scale survey of foreign policy professionals at U.S. think tanks to ascertain whether there is a "consensus" on China policy, as is often claimed, and whether people working in think tanks feel pressure to take on more "hawkish" positions on China policy. We also introduce a new segment called "Paying it Forward."5:04 – What motivated Michael and Rory to write their paper together 7:30 – Groupthink vs. consensus10:08 – The methodology: combining surveys and interviews, and the sampling frame 14:35 – Trying to avoid leading questions 17:58 – Creating the “China Confrontation Index” 20:25 – Different levels of acceptance of the labels “hawk” and “dove” 23:33 – The issue of preference falsification 25:43 – Mechanisms behind disparities in perceived pressure 29:01 – Tying in Rory's previous research on self-censorship 32:42 – How Michael and Rory decided on interviews 34:10 – What Michael believes were the most important and robust findings36:09 – The distinction between the beliefs of think tankers vs. elected officials, and why people tend to believe there is a bipartisan consensus on China 40:34 – Pressure on hawks 42:35 – Specific policy questions44:18 – Feedback on the paper so far, and what Michael and Rory may tweak in a subsequent draft 49:47 – The possible role of personality in hawkishness or dovishness 51:58 – Discussing Mike Mazarr's concerns about the potential parallels between current Chinese discourse and the lead-up to the Iraq War 55:06 – Advice to younger professionals entering the foreign policy/China field New segment: Paying It Forward:Rory: Michael Cerny and Edi Obiakpani-Reid Recommendations:Rory: Edi Obiakpani-Reid's Sinobabble podcast about Chinese historyMichael: Jeffrey Ding's Technology and the Rise of Great Powers: How Diffusion Shapes Economic CompetitionKaiser: Imperium by Robert Harris See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Sinica I'm delighted to be joined by Amy King, Associate Professor in the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre at The Australian National University. She shares her ideas about how perceptions of insecurity can paradoxically motivate closer economic relations between two states, and she looks at not only the examples of China and Japan after the end of World War II, but Australia and China as well. We also discuss Sino-Australian relations over the last 15 years, and much else!2:48 – Key phases of Australia-China relations over the past 15 years and the security and economic nexus 9:05 – Amy's research into the Sino-Japanese relationship and how perceptions of insecurity can motivate closer economic ties, and how Australia is responding to China now 21:22 – How Amy would argue the case for economic engagement with China to folks in Washington 26:31 – Securitization in Australia and the important differences between Australia and the U.S. 30:20 – The shift in the Australia-China relationship under the Albanese government 33:12 – What the U.S. can learn from Australia 35:14 – Why people tend to conflate Australia's experience with America's 39:04 – Amy's essay, “The Collective Logic of Chinese Hegemonic Order,” and how we can understand China's role in the emerging post-unipolar world42:47 – Three mechanisms employed by China to amplify its voice post-war (amplifying, grafting, and resistance by appropriation) and how modern “middle powers” can influence the international order now 52:31 – The state of discourse on China in Australia and what Amy believes China wants 58:54 – Amy's thoughts on pluralism and international order 1:03:22 – What lessons about de-risking and navigating multi-alignment Australia should be learning from other nations in the region Recommendations:Amy: Fintan O'Toole's We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland Kaiser: The Paul Reed Smith (PRS) SE Hollowbody II Piezo electric guitar See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to this bonus episode of China Compass, the 9th in a weekly series called “The Prison Pulpit”. I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I share new Chinese cities to pray for daily. You can learn more about that at PrayforChina.us. You can also check out my Substack (ChinaCall.substack.com) where I write mostly about China and missions. I have already posted the updates that I shared on this podcast, including this one: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/testimonies-from-a-chinese-jail This month is the 6th anniversary of the attack and forcible closure of Early Rain Church in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, and the arrest of Pastor Wang Yi, who is the primary contributor to this podcast series, The Prison Pulpit. (Find all the episodes on PubTV, Spotify, or Podbean) Two weeks ago I read the Wang Yi family newsletter that was published just 12 days before his arrest on Dec 9, 2018. Last week I shared a handful of updates that were put out by unnamed Early Rain Church members in the immediate aftermath of the attack and arrest of the pastor and most of the leadership. As one of last week's updates reminded us, there was no guarantee that the next update would ever come. Arrests were ongoing. So it was an exciting answer to prayer when the following testimonies were released on December 15th, 2018: Early Rain Urgent Prayer Update (12/15/18) According to some testimonies of brothers and sisters that have emerged, they have been sharing the gospel while under guard. They have been using their suffering as a beautiful testimony for the Lord… (listen to the podcast for the full update and my comments) Resource of the Week: The Memoirs of William Milne (PrayGiveGo.us)

Last time we spoke about the Fujian Rebellion of 1933. In the midst of political turmoil, the 19th Route Army, once vital in campaigns for Chiang Kai-shek, found itself at odds with his leadership during Japan's invasion of Shanghai in 1932. Facing internal rebellion and external threats, Chiang Kai-Shek prioritized fighting the Communists over the Japanese. The 19th Route Army, disillusioned, resisted both Japan and the CCP but ultimately faced betrayal when Chiang Kai-Shek forced them into civil conflict in Fujian, deepening divisions within China. In 1933, Chiang Kai-shek faced opposition for his appeasement of Japan, leading the 19th Route Army, frustrated by his inaction, to plot a coup. Under Chen Mingshu's leadership, they sought alliances against Chiang Kai-Shek but struggled amid civil war pressures and Red Army conflicts. On November 20, they declared the People's Revolutionary Government in Fuzhou, aiming to unify against Japanese aggression. However, lack of support led to rapid failure; by January 1934, Chiang's forces crushed the rebellion, and its leaders fled, marking the end of the Fujian Revolution.   #130 The Long March Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. As we saw 2 episodes ago, the CCP had been taken over by the 28 Bolsheviks and Otto Braun who initiated a dramatic offensive strategy for the Red Army. Unfortunately this also came during the 5th encirclement campaign. This resulted in repeated defeats for the Red Army and the gradual shrinking of the Soviet area. In April 1934, the Central Red Army engaged in a decisive battle against the Nationalist Army in Guangchang, Jiangxi Province, suffering severe losses and now faced a critical situation. As the NRA's grip tightened, the Red Army and the Central Committee of the CCP sought new strategies. With offensive tactics no longer feasible, the Red Army considered alternative approaches to navigate its current challenges. One overarching strategy involved co-opting the NRA by harnessing nationalistic sentiment to form a united front against the Japanese. The leadership of the Red Army hoped that by identifying a common enemy, they could temporarily alleviate the conflict with the KMT. In July 1934, they attempted to implement this strategy by deploying the Seventh Red Army Corps to western Fujian to join the 10th Red Army, commanded by Su Yu. This combined force was labeled the Anti-Japanese Vanguard Column to attract Nationalist support; however, the propaganda effort failed. The NRA subsequently obliterated the Red Army Column, resulting in the death or execution of most of its members. Approximately 800 survivors escaped and regrouped as a guerrilla unit under Su Yu, continuing to fight independently until the establishment of the Second United Front in 1937. Another breakout occurred on July 23, 1934, when the 6th Red Army Corps, operating from the Hunan-Guangdong border, traversed Hunan and joined forces with the Third Red Army, forming the Second Front Red Army, led by He Long, on October 22, 1934. It is uncertain whether either operation impacted the KMT. The escalating costs and ongoing casualties placed a heavy burden on the Red Army, complicating its ability to maintain its position. A secure new location was essential for the Red Army to reorganize, resupply, and recruit personnel. In August 1934, Bo Gu and Otto Braun secretly decided to abandon the Jiangxi Soviet. Their initial plan was to head southwest towards Hunan, seeking friendlier territory and aiming to connect with the 2nd Front Red Army. While the precise whereabouts of the 2nd Front Red Army were unclear, the leadership considered Hunan the most probable destination and devised a route to reach it. Meanwhile, the rest of the Red Army intensified its recruitment efforts, raised funds, and gathered supplies. On the night of October 10, 1934, the leadership of the Red Army issued marching orders to the 1st Front Red Army, which advanced southwest in two columns, consisting of the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 9th Red Army Corps. The total strength of this force was about 87,000 soldiers. Many of these soldiers were unaware that it would be their final sight of the Jiangxi Soviet, as most believed they were simply executing another maneuver to outflank the KMT and strike at its rear. A contingent of 16,000 troops, including several wounded soldiers like their leader Chen Yi, remained in Ruijin to defend against and delay the KMT forces, providing the First Front Red Army with the necessary time to depart unnoticed. Thus, began what has famously been called the Long March. The first few days of the Long March were relatively calm. The Red Army steered clear of significant confrontations with the NRA forces and easily maneuvered through a gap in the encirclement. Previously, Zhou Enlai had brokered a truce with the Guangdong and Guangxi warlords involved in the Extermination campaign, allowing the Red Army safe passage through the region. Meanwhile, the Red Army troops remaining in Ruijin fiercely resisted the NRA, effectively masking the fact that the main force had already departed. Until November 8, Nationalist newspapers claimed that the Red Army was nearly annihilated. The 1st Front Red Army traveled at night, using small trails to evade detection and attacks from the air. The troop formation included the 1st and 9th Red Army Corps on the left flank, the 3rd and 8th Red Army Corps on the right, with leadership and logistical units positioned in the center, while the 5th Red Army Corps provided rear guard support. The Red Army employed porters to transport heavy equipment, such as printing presses, X-ray machines, and currency. Additional porters carried litters for the wounded and key leaders. During this period, several Red Army leaders, including Zhou Enlai, were unwell or injured, while others, like Mao Zedong, rested in litters during the day after long nights of planning. By mid-November 1934, the NRA learned that the Red Army had broken free from their encirclement and was heading westward, prompting them to pursue. Observing the Red Army's movements, Chiang Kai-shek and the NRA leadership inferred that southern Hunan was likely their destination, so they deployed troops accordingly. The Red Army advanced rapidly to the west, aiming to cross the Xiang River before the NRA could catch up. On November 27, 1934, the Red Army reached Daoxian and launched an assault on the NRA blockhouses guarding the Xiang River crossings. They quickly overran these defenses and began moving troops across the river. However, the central column of the Red Army, hindered by heavy equipment and injured soldiers, fell behind the main force. On November 28, the NRA struck the rear elements of the Red Army before they could reach the river. For 5 days, the Red Army engaged in a fierce rear guard action, trying to disengage from the NRA and successfully cross the river. By December 2, 1934, all Red Army units had successfully crossed the Xiang River, albeit at a significant cost. The Red Army lost over two divisions from the 3rd and 5th Red Army Corps, leaving just over 30,000 soldiers remaining in their ranks. Furthermore, much of the Army's heavy equipment and supplies were abandoned along the way to lighten their load. After the Red Army crossed the Xiang River, it continued to evade direct confrontations with the NRA. The challenging battle at the Xiang River had a profound impact on the Red Army, leading to a rise in desertions as soldiers recognized that the movement had turned into an exodus from Jiangxi. Many porters responsible for transporting heavy equipment also began to leave during the night, especially while navigating the difficult, muddy trails in the mountains. The Red Army made several attempts to head north to join He Long and the 2nd Front Red Army, but each time, they found their routes blocked by the NRA. As a result, they altered their plans and headed west toward Guizhou, aiming to reach Sichuan and connect with the 4th Front Red Army to establish a new Soviet. Upon arriving in Liping, Guizhou province, the Red Army leadership decided on December 18th to advance north toward Zunyi in pursuit of their goal in Sichuan. Initially, Guiyang, the provincial capital, was the intended destination, but it had been fortified with seven NRA divisions. In contrast, Zunyi appeared to be a more feasible target as the second-largest city in the province, defended only by local Guizhou forces. On January 1st, 1935, the Red Army began its march toward Zunyi, crossing the Wu River under heavy fire from Guizhou provincial troops. Within three days, they successfully crossed the river and continued toward Zunyi. On January 7, the Red Army launched an attack on Zunyi, which fell two days later. Following the capture of the city, the Red Army initiated a recruitment drive, adding 30,000 new recruits to its ranks. To enhance its mobility, they buried or abandoned much of their heavy equipment. The Red Army had originally planned to remain in the area for an extended period to refit, reorganize, and bolster their forces. The staff of the Central Cadre Unit's Red Army Medical School seized the opportunity to conduct a week-long course on basic first aid for soldiers. However, local conditions hindered any long-term presence. The area's primary crop was opium, useful for barter but inadequate for sustaining the Red Army. Additionally, the city's position along a river bend restricted the Red Army's escape routes in the event of an NRA attack. Given these challenges, Communist leadership convened a conference to deliberate on their military strategy. The conference held on January 15th, 1935, marked a pivotal moment in Communist history. In attendance were Politburo members, including Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Chen Yun, Zhou Enlai, Luo Fu, and Bo Gu, along with Liu Bocheng, Liu Shaoqi, Lin Biao, Nie Rongzhen, Peng Dehuai, and Otto Braun. The primary focus of the meeting was the unsuccessful military strategy employed during the 5th Extermination Campaign. Bo Gu and Zhou Enlai opened the discussion, both acknowledging their mistakes and accepting responsibility for the failures. Mao Zedong followed with a sharp critique of the strategy's use of "short, swift thrusts" and the lack of cooperation with the Fujian 19th route NRA Army. The conference continued for three more days, during which much of the Red Army leadership criticized Bo Gu and Otto Braun's approach, aligning themselves with Mao. By the end of the meeting, key leaders of the CCP and Red Army had distanced themselves from the 28 Bolsheviks, effectively making Mao Zedong the de facto leader of the CCP, despite not being formally elected to any new position at Zunyi. A significant change was the disbanding of the triumvirate leadership of Bo Gu, Otto Braun, and Zhou Enlai. Zhu De and Zhou Enlai were assigned to lead the Red Army, which then moved towards Sichuan to connect with the 4th Front Red Army. Departing Zunyi, the Red Army comprised four army corps: the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 9th Red Army Corps, although all were considerably smaller than before. The total strength of the 1st Front Red Army was approximately 35,000 soldiers. The army advanced north through Tongzi, gathering gold and opium to procure food and supplies for the journey. The 1st Army Corps, led by Lin Biao, took the lead in searching for a route to cross the Yangtze River. While attempting to secure a crossing near Chishui, the remainder of the Red Army engaged in a fierce battle with a Sichuan NRA force near Tucheng. The fighting escalated to such a degree that Mao Zedong ordered Lin Biao and his corps to return and assist. Ultimately, on January 29th, 1935, the Red Army lost contact with the enemy and abandoned its plan to cross the Yangtze River, instead retreating west to Zhaxi in Yunnan province to evade NRA forces. However, this provided only a temporary reprieve, as more NRA troops moved west into Sichuan, covering all potential crossing points along the Yangtze. Faced with limited options, Mao proposed an audacious plan on February 7th: the Red Army would split into separate columns and head back east into Guizhou to mislead the NRA, then reunite and proceed southwest into Yunnan to find a safer crossing point over the Yangtze. Executing this plan, the Red Army conducted a series of feints, diversionary attacks, and deception operations to confuse NRA leadership, as well as some of its own ranks. Mao Zedong aimed to create an opening for the Red Army to escape into Yunnan and cross the Yangtze in the Jinsha River area. The Red Army began moving east, achieving victories over the NRA, such as at Loushan Pass, where they captured about a division's worth of personnel and equipment. They continued eastward, seizing the city of Maotai and acquiring additional gold and opium for trade. In March 1935, Mao was appointed as the political commissar of the Red Army, with Zhu De serving as the commander-in-chief. His leadership role was further solidified when he was included in the triumvirate Military Council alongside Zhou Enlai and Wang Jiaxiang. Mao Zedong then initiated a deception operation, sending the 9th Red Army Corps north as a feint toward the Yangtze River, intending to reinforce NRA intelligence assessments. Chiang believed that these erratic movements indicated the Red Army was preparing for a decisive battle. Consequently, he relocated his NRA headquarters to Guiyang and deployed nearly all of Guizhou's NRA forces to the Yangtze area to encircle and eliminate the Red Army. This deployment inadvertently opened a north-south corridor in Guizhou, allowing the Red Army to move south towards Guiyang, which was now vulnerable due to the concentration of NRA forces along the Yangtze. Capitalizing on these fears, Mao sent additional Red Army units toward the provincial capital. In response, Chiang hurriedly redirected NRA forces from Yunnan to bolster defenses in Guiyang, thus creating yet another escape route for the Red Army. The Red Army swiftly exploited this corridor and advanced into Yunnan. They employed a similar feint tactic as used in Guiyang, deploying units from the 1st Red Army Corps to threaten Kunming. With the main Yunnan forces still occupied in Guiyang, the Yunnan government was forced to reallocate its frontier and militia troops to defend the capital, thus opening one final corridor for the Red Army to escape through a crossing at the Jinsha River. By April 1935, the Red Army had executed one of its most daring maneuvers, evading the NRA forces by making a sweeping maneuver into Yunnan. Despite this strategy, the Red Army still needed to cross the Yangtze River. One section of the river, known as the Jinsha River, flows from Tibet through Yunnan to Sichuan and offered excellent crossing points for the Red Army. On April 29th, Mao Zedong identified three crossing locations. The 1st Red Army Corps was assigned to cross in the north at Longjie, while the 3rd Red Army Corps would cross in the center at Hongmen. The Central Cadre Unit was designated to use the southern crossing point at Jiaopingdu. Meanwhile, the Fifth and Ninth Army Corps were tasked with rear guard operations and would cross at the nearest crossing point. Although the 1st and 3rd Red Army Corps struggled to secure their crossing locations, the Central Cadre Unit successfully acquired seven boats, established security on both riverbanks, and commenced a ferrying operation that would last nine days. Consequently, the 1st and 3rd Red Army Corps abandoned their original crossing points and moved to Jiaopingdu. The 3rd Red Army Corps crossed on May 7th, followed by the 1st Red Army Corps the next day. The 5th Red Army Corps maintained its rear guard before quickly crossing at Jiaopingdu on May 9th. Upon reaching Sichuan, the weary Red Army troops began to contemplate their next steps. After nearly nine months of travel, with minimal rest and significant losses, the Red Army's numbers had dwindled to around 25,000 soldiers, with much of their heavy equipment abandoned along their retreat route. They attempted to seize Huili but were met with fierce resistance from the 24th NRA Division. Outside the city, Red Army leaders held a conference on May 12th and resolved to continue north through Sichuan, aiming to cross the Dadu River to join forces with the 4th Front Red Army. As the Red Army advanced through the territory of the Yi minority, they faced hostility from the Yi people, who harbored animosity toward the Han and attacked straggling Red Army soldiers, stealing their weapons and clothing and leaving many to perish. Fortunately, Liu Bocheng and his vanguard unit from the 1st Red Army Corps negotiated a truce with the Yi, securing safe passage in exchange for promises of equal land rights and treatment after the war. On May 23rd, the Red Army reached Anshunchang along the Dadu River. Their initial attempts to cross by ferry were thwarted by strong NRA defenses on the opposite bank, and they only managed to secure three boats, which were insufficient for a crossing. On May 27th, Red Army leaders decided to take a calculated risk and dispatched troops northward to seize Luding Bridge. This iron-chain suspension bridge, located along a challenging trail through the mountain passes, crossed the Dadu River. In a remarkable act of bravery, the 4th Regiment of the 2nd Division, 1st Red Army Corps, led by Yang Chengwu, marched nearly 100 miles in under 3 days to secure the bridge. Despite facing a defending NRA brigade on sheer cliffs, the 4 Regiment acted swiftly and captured the bridge amid constant gunfire, with only 18 of the 22 men who launched the final assault surviving. Their sacrifice allowed the Red Army to evade the main KMT force and successfully cross the Dadu River, ultimately establishing themselves in Hualingping for refitting operations. However, the challenges for the Red Army persisted even after crossing the Dadu. They were still unaware of the 4th Front Red Army's location, with one possible area being directly north behind the Jiajin Mountains. To avoid detection from NRA forces or ambushes by Tibetans, Mao opted for a central walking trail through the Jiajin Mountains rather than the more accessible eastern and western routes. For many survivors of the Long March, the leg through the Jiajin Mountains proved to be the most arduous and challenging segment. The Red Army soldiers faced hunger, cold, thirst, avalanches, and the high altitude as they attempted to traverse the snow-capped peaks with little more than the clothes on their backs. On June 12th, the first units of the Red Army arrived at Danwei, located at the northern foot of the Jiajin Mountains. By June 14th, the remaining soldiers descended from the mountains and linked up with Li Xiannian, a liaison officer from the 4th Front Red Army. Approximately 10,000 soldiers endured the harsh conditions and made it down the mountain. Thankfully, they rejoined their fellow Red Army comrades, allowing them to take a much-needed rest. On June 18, 1935, the 1st and 4th Front Red Armies finally connected at Lianghekou. The Fourth Front Red Army fared significantly better than its counterpart, having originated from the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet before relocating to the Shaanxi-Sichuan border and settling in northwest Sichuan in March 1935. Their forces numbered nearly 80,000, surpassing the 1st Front Red Army. Some soldiers from the 1st Front looked on with admiration and envy at the robust condition of the 4th Front soldiers and their horses. On June 26th, the leadership of both armies convened to discuss their future movements. Mao Zedong proposed advancing north to Gansu, then heading east toward Ningxia, with the ultimate goal of reaching Mongolia to establish communication with the Soviet Union. Conversely, Zhang Guotao suggested moving west to Xinjiang, aiming to connect with the Soviet Union via the Central Asian Republics. Beneath these military discussions lay political maneuvering as both Mao Zedong and Zhang Guotao sought to assert dominance over the Red Army. Ultimately, both sides maintained cordial relations and established a unified strategy and command. The Red Army was set to advance north to southern Gansu to establish a Soviet presence in the border areas. Zhang Guotao was appointed vice-chairman of the Military Council. By June 30, the 1st Front Red Army had moved into the Grasslands, with Zhang Guotao and the 4th Front Red Army following a day later. The meeting at Lianghekou did not resolve the political tensions between the factions led by Zhang Guotao and Mao Zedong, and these conflicts intensified over time. While Zhang Guotao continued to advocate for a westward movement toward Xinjiang, he also sought to recruit key leaders from the 1st Front Red Army to support his cause, but to no avail. Mao Zedong remained steadfast in his commitment to the agreed plan to proceed to Gansu and took measures to prevent any subversion from Zhang Guotao's camp. Tensions escalated during a conference at Maoergai on August 6th. The Red Army had arrived at Maoergai the previous day to rest and reorganize. According to one account, Mao Zedong held the meeting in the neighboring town of Shawo, securing the location ahead of Zhang Guotao arrival. As the sole representative from the 4th Front Red Army on the Politburo and Central Committee, Zhang Guotao intended to introduce additional representatives to enhance his influence, but they were unable to bypass security. This infuriated Zhang Guotao, highlighting the political maneuvering at play. Another account claims the meeting took place at Zhang Guotao's 11th Red Army Division headquarters, with his loyal soldiers ensuring that Mao Zdong could not undermine him. Regardless, no agreements were reached during this meeting. A second meeting was held on August 20th at Maoergai, resulting in a negotiated settlement. The Red Army remained under the command of Zhu De but was divided into two columns. The Right Column included the 1st and 3rd Red Army Corps, led by Lin Biao and Peng Dehuai, respectively, and also incorporated the 13th and 3th Red Armies from the 4th Front. Mao, Zhou Enlai, Bo Gu, and Otto Braun traveled with the Right Column. The Left Column comprised the remainder of the 4th Front Army, along with the 5th and 9th Red Army Corps, and was led by Zhang Guotao and Liu Bocheng, with Zhu De accompanying them. Both columns would advance north while skirting the Grasslands, with the Left Column heading toward Aba and the Right Column toward Baxi. Once the plan was finalized, they began their movement into the Grasslands on August 23rd. In the Grasslands, the Red Army encountered conditions as challenging as those in the mountains. This region was home to a minority population, and the Tibetan locals were just as hostile as the Yi had been, attacking and killing many stragglers. Food sources were scarce, and many Red Army soldiers were unfamiliar with edible plant species. Water supplies were also limited, as most sources were stagnant and contaminated. The soldiers ended up consuming wheat kernels, which severely upset their digestive systems. The trailing units faced even greater difficulties, as the vanguard troops turned the dirt paths into muddy pits, leaving little food for foraging. The Right Column reached Baxi on August 27th, suffering heavy losses during the week-long trek; the 3rd Red Army Corps alone lost 400 soldiers. The Left Column progressed more slowly and arrived in Aba about a week later. Once they exited the Grasslands, the Red Army faced another internal struggle that threatened their retreat. On September 3rd, Zhang Guotao sent a wireless message to Mao Zedong and the Right Column, stating that his forces were stationed at Aba and that the White River, north of Aba, was impassable. Mao Zedong urged Zhang Guotao to adhere to the Maoergai decision and even offered additional troops to assist in crossing the river, which Zhang Guotao politely declined. On September 9th, Mao Zedong learned of a secret message Zhang Guotao had sent to his aide in the Right Column. Zhang Guotao wanted the Right Column to move back south through the Grasslands to reunite the two columns and convene a meeting to discuss a new strategy, indicating an intention to initiate an intraparty power struggle. Fearing that Zhang Guotao would use his superior numbers to impose his strategy on the Red Army, the 1st and 3rd Red Army Corps quietly departed Baxi and continued north to Gansu. This approximately 8,000-strong force arrived at Ejie and held an emergency conference. The Red Army reorganized its forces as the Anti-Japanese Vanguard Force to garner support from the local population. They also issued a “Resolution Concerning the Mistakes of Comrade Zhang Guotao,” reprimanding his actions without expelling him from the Communist Party. On September 14th, the Red Army continued north and captured the Lazikou Pass, defeating two of Zhang Guotao's forces as he and his 4th Front Army moved south toward Chengdu. Zhang Guotao was furious upon discovering that Mao Zdong and his loyal Red Army troops had left without notice, but he chose not to pursue them and instead redirected his troops toward Chengdu. The 4th Front Red Army achieved initial victories in October 1935 against the NRA at Baoxing and Tianquan, coming within sixty miles of the Sichuan provincial capital. In response to this threat, Chiang Kai-shek dispatched over 80 NRA regiments to defend Chengdu. The NRA launched a counteroffensive at Baizhang, inflicting heavy losses on the Fourth Front Red Army, which retreated in disarray back to Ganzi in western Sichuan province, where they would remain until they linked up with the 2nd Front Army in June 1936. As the 4th Front Army moved south toward Sichuan, the Red Army completed the final stage of its arduous journey. On September 21st, 1935, Mao Zedong and the Anti-Japanese Vanguard arrived in Hadapu, a Han city in Gansu province. The soldiers rejoiced at being among their own ethnic group and took a few days to rest. During their stay, Mao Zedong and other leaders of the Red Army learned that a Soviet force, led by Liu Zhidan, a friend of Mao Zedong, was present in northern Shaanxi, supporting the 25th and 26th Red Armies. 10 days later, the Anti-Japanese Vanguard left Hadapu and swiftly moved west to avoid the NRA's Muslim cavalry units, aiming to connect with their allied units in Shaanxi. On October 19, 1935, Mao Zedong joined forces with the 25th and 26th Red Armies and settled near Wuqi. The remnants of the 1st Front Red Army had completed their year-long, 6,000-mile journey with approximately 4,000 soldiers. Once they reached the relative safety of Shaanxi, the Red Army reverted to its traditional strategy of political mobilization to gather resources, recruit new members, and propagate the communist revolution. On February 5th, 1936, the 1st Front Red Army moved east to carry out political mobilization efforts. Over the following two months, the Red Army defeated seven provincial divisions, capturing more than 4,000 soldiers. They also recruited 8,000 new members, raised $300,000 in revenue, and added 20 counties in Shanxi to their new Soviet. In May, the 1st Front Army advanced westward for a two-month operation, acquiring over 2,000 rifles and 400 horses, thereby expanding the Soviet's reach into Gansu and Ningxia. However, these efforts were ultimately thwarted by NRA forces, compelling the Red Army to relocate from Wuqi to Bao'an in June 1936. In October 1936, the 2nd and 4th Front Armies finally reached Bao'an, marking the completion of the Long March for the Red Army. With all three units reunited, the Red Army War College reopened in Dengjiaqiao, with Liu Bocheng eventually returning to lead it. Additionally, the Red Army military school began training in Tai'erwan. From 1934 to 1936, the Red Army evaded annihilation through a combination of courage, determination, and fortunate circumstances. Enduring harsh conditions and traversing some of China's most challenging terrain to escape the NRA and provincial forces, the Red Army demonstrated remarkable resilience. Mao Zedong skillfully navigated the political landscape within the Red Army, emerging as its supreme leader. The Communists also capitalized on the challenges facing the NRA and KMT leadership. The Red Army effectively utilized Chiang Kai-Sheks inability to exert full control over his subordinate warlords and their military units to avoid unnecessary confrontations. Upon reaching Shaanxi in late 1935, the survivors of the Long March were not only battle-hardened by their experiences but also carried valuable lessons learned from previous campaigns. In the relative security of the new Soviet, the Red Army expanded its ranks and resumed training and mobilization efforts. The Red Army had survived its greatest challenge to date and was poised to develop into the professional military force that would ultimately defeat the NRA and overthrow the KMT government. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Thus not only did the Red Army escape death at the hands of the NRA, but the experience of the Long March would actually contribute to the downfall of the NRA. Mao Zedong had emerged a top figure in the CCP and now would oversee it and the Red Army's future development until the ultimate clash with Chiang Kai-Shek for the future of China.

China's rapid surge in electric vehicle manufacturing, adoption, and export has variously encouraged, delighted, impressed, frightened, and even enraged people around the world. What did China get right in facilitating the explosive development in this industry? Was is just subsidies, or were there other important policies that helped jumpstart it? How have other geographies responded? And what can they learn? Ilaria Mazzocco, deputy director and senior fellow with the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) joins me to share her rich insights into the Chinese EV industry.3:49 – How Ilaria became interested in green industrial policy5:59 – The reality of progress in EVs in China 11:21 – The role of state subsidies and other things that tend to get missed in trying to understand EVs in China 16:51 – How other countries are trying to adopt China's approach 19:21 – The differences between the EU and U.S. approaches 24:17 – The outlook for competition in the Chinese market 26:08 – Business models in the Chinese EV sector and the example of BYD30:53 – Chinese firms' push for internationalization and how the rapidity of becoming multinationals [multinational companies?] may pose challenges 35:54 – Alignment between host countries and Chinese companies 39:58 – What the U.S. is doing and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)42:27 – How U.S. protectionist measures may affect third markets, and whether restrictions may backfire 48:57 – The coming shift to next-generation batteries, and the potential for international collaboration in advancing more circular practices 55:43 – How Ilaria's fieldwork shifted her perspective on the EV industry 59:38 – How we can improve industrial policy Recommendations:Ilaria: My Antonia by Willa Cather; the Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel; The Army of Sleepwalkers by Wu Ming (an Italian novelist collective) about the French Revolution Kaiser: The Wolf Hall audiobooks read by Ben Miles; the HBO series Rome (2005-2007) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to this bonus episode of China Compass, the 8th in a weekly series called “The Prison Pulpit”. I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I share new Chinese cities to pray for daily. You can learn more about that at PrayforChina.us. You can also check out my Substack (ChinaCompass.substack.com) where I write mostly about China and missions. I have already posted the updates that I shared on this podcast. As I am recording this podcast, it is the 6th anniversary of the attack and forcible closure of Early Rain Church in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, and the arrest of Pastor Wang Yi, who is the primary contributor to this podcast series, The Prison Pulpit. Last week I read the Wang Yi family newsletter that was published just 12 days before his arrest on Dec 9, 2018. This week I will be sharing a handful of updates that were put out by unnamed Early Rain Church members in the immediate aftermath of the attack and arrest of the pastor and most of the leadership. As the writer mentions in one of the updates, there was no guarantee that the next update would ever come. Arrests were ongoing at the original time of publishing. I tried (unsuccessfully) to just read these powerful proclamations, only pausing to comment when absolutely necessary. Resource of the Day: The Memoirs of William Milne Missionary to Canton and Malacca (PrayGiveGo.us)

This week on Sinica, I chat with Jane Hayward, lecturer at King's College London, about her excellent YouTube channel, Jane Hayward China, and her efforts to bring up-to-date scholarship on modern and contemporary China to audiences through internet video, slaying various bugbears along the way.3:28 Why Jane started her YouTube channel, her intended versus actual audiences, and navigating the current toxic media environment 10:56 The benefits of an area studies approach, and why Jane chose a U.S. PhD program14:46 Defining the complicated public discourse in the West 19:35 Jane's videos: the surprising popularity of “Xi Jinping is NOT like an Emperor;” and more controversial videos26:28 New Qing History and different critiques of it34:50 Jane's series on types of communism, and her video on reporting on China in British media 42:31 What may be coming next on Jane's channel RecommendationsJane: David Priestland's The Red Flag: A History of CommunismKaiser: The YouTube channel Chinese Cooking Demystified, and specifically their video “63 Chinese Cuisines: the Complete Guide” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Sinica, I chat with Michael Swaine, Senior Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute for the last couple of years, prior to which he spent nearly two decades as a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he led extensive work on Chinese defense and foreign policy, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian international relations more broadly. He was also a senior policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, where he developed a reputation for rigorous research on Asian security and crisis management. We focus on his recent report, “Avoiding the Abyss: An Urgent Need for Sino-U.S. Crisis Management,” which offers both a framework for understanding the forces driving U.S.-China crises and a roadmap to prevent or manage these crises effectively. He drew on his many decades of experience working on the security dimension of the bilateral relationship, including his participation in many Track II dialogues and simulations of crisis scenarios over the years.4:51 – Defining "crisis" and "crisis prevention" 10:13 – The possibility of a crisis in the South China Sea12:31 – Lessons from past crises 20:08 – The problematic moralistic stances and tit-for-tat escalation produced by yǒulǐ, yǒulì, yǒu jié 有理, 有利, 有节27:37 – U.S. concern over the credibility of its alliance commitments 34:50 – The problem of perception 38:16 – Examples of how each side is sometimes unable to see how its own actions are perceived by the other 41:20 – The dangers of failing to understand and making assumptions about the China's historical memory 45:42 – Problems of signaling and how best to solve them 51:17 – Mike's suggestions for a crisis toolkit and his proposal of a civilian-led two-tier dialogue structure 58:41 – Track II dialogues 1:02:47 – The importance of educating leaders up and down the system on crisis management 1:06:08 – The structural issues of the decision-making systems in China and the U.S.Recommendations:Michael: Art critic Brian Sewell's The Reviews That Caused the Rumpus; Robert Suettinger's The Conscience of the Party: Hu Yaobang, China's Communist Reformer Kaiser: The Great Transformation: China's Road from Revolution to Reform by Odd Arne Westad and Chen Jian See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to this bonus episode of China Compass, the 5th in a weekly series called “The Prison Pulpit”. I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where (among other things) I share a new prefecture and/or city to pray for daily. Visit PrayforChina.us to learn more. If you want to see the missionary books I’ve published and learn more about our work, you can find links to everything @ PrayGiveGo.us Between now and the end of the year I am working through some of the writings of imprisoned Chinese pastor, Wang Yi, of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China, which were published just before and after his arrest in December of 2018. The idea is to give him a voice, even though he is physically locked away (for now) and remind the church to "remember his chains" and pray for all those who are currently being persecuted in like manner, a la Hebrews 13:3. Besides Wang Yi's own writings (link in the show notes) a book that might be helpful is my little memoir, Unbeaten, which details my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. At the end of the book, I included an appendix entitled Remember My Chains, which is basically the manuscript of a message I have given dozens of times around the country dealing with this very topic: remembering and praying for the persecuted church, especially in China. You can get the book, Unbeaten, including the sermon, Remember My Chains, at Unbeaten.vip Read more about Wang Yi: https://chinapartnership.org/who-is-wang-yi/ https://www.amazon.com/Faithful-Disobedience-Writings-Chinese-Movement/dp/1514004135 Wang Yi, from his Declaration of Faithful Disobedience: (I am filled with anger and disgust at the persecution of the church by this Communist regime, at the wickedness of their depriving people of the freedoms of religion and of conscience.) But changing social and political institutions is not the mission I have been called to, and it is not the goal for which God has given his people the gospel. For all hideous realities, unrighteous politics, and arbitrary laws manifest the cross of Jesus Christ, the only means by which every Chinese person must be saved. They also manifest the fact that true hope and a perfect society will never be found in the transformation of any earthly institution or culture but only in our sins being freely forgiven by Christ and in the hope of eternal life. C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity: “Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither. It seems a strange rule, but something like it can be seen at work in other matters. Health is a great blessing, but the moment you make health one of your main, direct objects you start becoming a crank and imagining there is something wrong with you. You are only likely to get health provided you want other things more—food, games, work, fun, open air. In the same way, we shall never save civilization if civilization is our main object. We must learn to want something else even more.”

Welcome to this special episode of China Compass, the fourth in a weekly series which I am calling “The Prison Pulpit”. I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Between now and the end of the year I am working through some of the writings of imprisoned Chinese pastor, Wang Yi, of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China, which were published just before and after his arrest in December of 2018. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where (among other things) I share a new prefecture and/or city to pray for daily. Visit PrayforChina.us to learn more. If you want to see the missionary books I’ve published and learn more about our work, you can find links to everything @ PrayGiveGo.us! One book that might be helpful is my little memoir, Unbeaten, which details my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. At the end of the book, I included an appendix entitled Remember My Chains, which is basically the manuscript (notes) from a message I have given dozens of times around the country dealing with this very topic: remembering and praying for the persecuted church, especially in China. You can get the book, Unbeaten, including the sermon, Remember My Chains, at Unbeaten.vip Today's excerpt from Pastor Wang Yi... God Raises Up (and Deposes) Kings On the basis of the teachings of the Bible and the mission of the gospel, I respect the authorities God has established in China. For God deposes kings and raises up kings. This is why I submit to the historical and institutional arrangements of God in China. As a pastor of a Christian church, I have my own understanding and views, based on the Bible, about what righteous order and good government is. At the same time, I am filled with anger and disgust at the persecution of the church by this Communist regime, at the wickedness of their depriving people of the freedoms of religion and of conscience. Don't forget to pray for our team (currently on the run) in China!