Podcast appearances and mentions of richard mcgregor

It's great to see you again and we hope you enjoyed the start of Season 2!   Our second episode features Richard McGregor, Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt University. The episode focuses on his work around material objects in islam.   We explore the significance of objects in Islamic religious practices, including a study of the Mahmal and the role it played for 700 years in the Hajj ritual. Professor McGregor discusses how objects serve as powerful symbols of devotion and community, and how their historical and cultural contexts shape their meanings. The conversation also addresses the evolution of relics, opposition to devotional objects in modern times, and the power of museums in shaping how religious material culture is preserved and experienced.  The episode concludes with a discussion about why broadening our understanding of religion to encompass its material and spiritual dimensions matters.

Australia's defence alliance with the United States seems to be a given. But do we really need the Americans to protect us? The former Prime Minister Paul Keating doesn't think so. He insists we can defend ourselves and he wants us to tear up the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. Paul Keating also dismisses Taiwan as ‘Chinese real estate', a characterisation that veteran US politician, house speaker Nancy Pelosi describes as a ‘stupid statement'. Today, Richard McGregor from the Lowy Institute on what walking away from the US would mean for our security. Featured: Richard McGregor, senior fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute

In the final episode of our series on the South China Sea, host Susannah Patton and Lowy Institute colleague Richard McGregor debate the implications of the recent tensions at Second Thomas Shoal for Beijing's strategy, the credibility of US alliances, and the considerations of other regional countries such as Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's top leaders will gather from July 15th to 18th for a highly anticipated meeting known as the Third Plenum, as this once-in-five-years conclave of top officials usually deals with major economic and political policy changes. Richard McGregor, Senior Fellow at Lowey Institute gives his perspective.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

Since the Albanese government was elected, Australia has focused on stabilising relations with China. But there are limits to Australia's ability to successfully pursue stabilisation if there remains a spectre of confrontation between its largest trading partner and its key security guarantor, the United States.  Do either the US or China genuinely want to stabilise bi-lateral ties? And if they do, what is standing in the way? One reason is Taiwan, and Beijing's campaign of encirclement of the island, a slow-motion strategy which, while it does not attract the same headlines as a possible invasion, can nevertheless achieve the same ends.  Richard McGregor, Senior Fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute, discusses US-China competition, Taiwan, and more with Washington-based China scholars, Jude Blanchette and Dan Blumenthal. Jude Blanchette is the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Dan Blumenthal is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who served as the senior director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia at the Pentagon in the George W. Bush administration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

​The high-profile visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang signals warming relations between Canberra and Beijing, but could it be indicative of deeper economic and political anxieties in China? What is it, really, that China wants from us? Guest: Richard McGregor - former Beijing bureau chief for the Financial Times, author of Xi Jinping: The Backlash and Senior Fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute.Recommendations:Geraldine - reading: We're in 1938 now': Putin's war in Ukraine and lessons from history article by Patrick WintourHamish - reading: The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule, and Fall book by Eliot CohenYou can also listen to Hamish's interview with Eliot Cohen and Fintan O'Toole on the Big Weekend of Books on the ABC Listen App Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Although global attention is focused on the upcoming US presidential election in November 2024, a key regional election looms much sooner — the Taiwanese presidential election on 13 January. The contest to succeed the term-limited President Tsai Ing-Wen has already seen intrigue and drama, with four candidates vying for Taiwan's highest office and, at one stage, two of them mulling a joint bid to unseat the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Frontrunner and current vice president William Lai's views on independence have been the source of much discussion and, with high tensions in the Taiwan Strait and belligerent rhetoric from Beijing, the results of the election will hold significant implications for the entire region.How might the election affect cross-strait relations? What are the possible implications of the election for Australia? How could the election shift Taiwan policies in Washington and other allied capitals?To answer these questions, USSC hosted a panel discussion with Lowy Institute Senior Fellow for East Asia Richard McGregor, USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr Lavina Lee and USSC CEO Dr Michael Green in conversation with USSC Research Director Jared Mondschein, with opening remarks from Taiwanese Representative to Australia Douglas Hsu.Douglas Hsu is Taiwan's Representative to Australia. He was previously Director General of North American Affairs within Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served in the Political and Congressional Liaison divisions of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States.Richard McGregor is a Senior Fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute and a Senior Associate (Non-resident) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in the United States. He is a former Beijing and Washington bureau chief for the Financial Times and the author of numerous books on East Asia.Dr Lavina Lee is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the United States Studies Centre and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Security Studies and Criminology at Macquarie University, Sydney. Prior to joining Macquarie University in 2007, she was a political risk consultant with Control Risks Group.Dr Michael Green is Chief Executive Officer at the United States Studies Centre. Previously Dr Green was Senior Vice President for Asia, Japan Chair, and Henry A. Kissinger Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and served on the staff of the National Security Council from 2001 through 2005.

Australia is about to receive a visit from the most senior Chinese leader we've had on our shores in almost a decade. But this visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang comes at an interesting time for China. President Xi Jingping is contending with economic stumbles and looming sanctions, making his vision for the future more precarious than ever. So what is going on inside Xi's inner circle? And what message will Xi's close political ally bring with him when he lands in Australia? Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Richard McGregor, on the rumours that are swirling about China's leadership and what they reveal about Xi's grip on power. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper and senior fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute, Richard McGregor

President Joe Biden this week said that the White House would push to raise tariffs on Chinese steel to insulate American producers from cheap imports. The announcement came as the US Trade Representative announced a new investigation into unfair trade practices by China in maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors. What does this mean for US-China trade relations? We discuss the dynamics with Richard McGregor of the Lowy Institute.Image Credit: EPA-EFE

China's two main political parties - the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) - have begun their annual meeting. This is the time legislators will approve new laws, political appointments, and government work reports, among others. Richard McGregor, Senior Fellow at The Lowy Institute gives us an idea of what to expect during these sessions.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

China's property crisis and slowing growth rate have raised questions about its future as an economic and military power. Gideon discusses whether it's time to call ‘peak China' with Richard McGregor, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. Clip: BloombergFree links to read more on this topic:China's consumers tighten belts even as prices fallChina's growth enigmaThe looming trade tensions over China's subsidiesWe shouldn't call ‘peak China' just yetSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

洛伊研究所高级研究员马利德（Richard McGregor）说：“这一判决给双边关系蒙上阴影……它有力地提醒人们中国体制的不透明性及其对合理的外国申诉的无动于衷。”

Tensions are rising across the Taiwan Strait. China is enraged that the Taiwanese people have chosen a man Beijing calls a “troublemaker”, William Lai, as their President. Now Xi Jinping has become personally invested in regaining the territory. While a hot military conflict would be disastrous far beyond the region, China has many other options from trade blockades to naval harassment. So how far will Beijing go to achieve what it calls the “historical inevitability” of reunification with Taiwan? Gavin Esler talks to journalist William Yang in Taipei and China expert Richard McGregor of the Lowy Institute in Sydney about a decades-old conflict that is heating up alarmingly. • “China tried to drum up rhetoric that the election was a choice between war and peace… This sabre-rattling only worked among the older generation.” – William Yang • “There's not much the US could do in the short-term if China decided to move.” – Richard McGregor • “Xi has a ton of enemies, from people whose careers he destroyed in his anticorruption campaign to more liberal Chinese… They are waiting for him to stumble.” – Richard McGregor Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon to get early episodes, merchandise and more. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Additional music by Simon Williams. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just completed a 4-day state visit to China, the first Australian leader to visit the Middle Kingdom in seven years, ending a hiatus triggered by several disputes. Bilateral relations between Canberra and Beijing have been tepid in recent years but this visit appears to have warmed ties somewhat. Richard Mcgregor of the Lowy Institute provides us with some analysis on the outcome of this latest development.Image credit: EPA-EFE

Anthony Albanese has now confirmed he'll be heading to China before the end of the year. He is the first Australian prime minister to visit since 2016, and it is the culmination of an improvement in China-Australia relations since the change of government. In this podcast, we're joined by Richard McGregor, an expert on China and senior fellow at the Lowy Institute.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visit to China seeks to mend strained ties with Beijing, with both nations engaged in a tit-for-tat trade war. Is the world big enough for these 2 superpowers? Will they share the spoils, or choose a winner-take-all strategy? We speak to Richard McGregor, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute to find out more on Yellen's visit and will this set up a meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping during the November APEC meeting in San Francisco?Image by: Shutterstock

Some of the world's largest economies are struggling with a response to the rising influence of China and Russia. Specifically, how the ambitions of those two authoritarian nations tend not to conform with Western ideals. And nowhere is this more relevant than in Japan, for whom China, Russia and indeed North Korea are neighbors. Those tense relations and their economic implications are top of mind at this week's Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where we take you for this episode. From a city that suffered the unspeakable destruction of nuclear weapons, Bloomberg's Yoshiaki Nohara explains how the nation is now trying to balance its longtime aversion to war with the growing threats in its backyard. Stephanie then sits down with Richard McGregor, a senior fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, and Rory Medcalf, who leads the National Security College at the Australian National University. They discuss not only Japan's strategic role in the Indo-Pacific region, but also China's significance in the global economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of multiple political crises in the United States, a rich and powerful China increasingly asserts itself. How does Australia navigate this new world order? China will soon overtake the US as the world's largest economy and has swiftly become a strategic powerhouse with relationships across the globe. With America's deep political divisions and diminishing consensus around key democratic norms, it's hard to argue that China's rise won't be accompanied by a greater say in global decisions, impacting countries like Australia. Geremie R. Barmé, Linda Jaivin, and Vicky Xu came together at Antidote 2022 to discuss the threats and opportunities for Australia in the midst of these geopolitical changes. Hosted by Richard McGregor, this talk was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.-Watch talks from Antidote 2022 on Stream, the streaming platform from the Sydney Opera House. Register for free now and start watching at stream.sydneyoperahouse.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the BBC World Service: China's leader Xi Jinping has rebuked the US, blaming it for trying to “contain, “encircle” and “suppress” his country. Richard McGregor, a Senior Fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute in Sydney speaks to us about the latest developments. Plus, France endures its biggest day of strikes over the retirement age. And, we hear about the laws the British government is trying to pass to stem the flow of migrants crossing the English channel.

From the BBC World Service: China's leader Xi Jinping has rebuked the US, blaming it for trying to “contain, “encircle” and “suppress” his country. Richard McGregor, a Senior Fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute in Sydney speaks to us about the latest developments. Plus, France endures its biggest day of strikes over the retirement age. And, we hear about the laws the British government is trying to pass to stem the flow of migrants crossing the English channel.

In late November, nationwide protests broke out across China as unrest over the government's zero-covid policy reached breaking point. President Xi's insistence on maintaining a strict Covid-zero policy resulted in years of intermittent lockdowns and harsh restrictions in China. As the rest of the world gradually opened, China remained firmly shut.In the past month however, as cases spiked and people dreaded further lockdowns, we witnessed the biggest protests in China since Tiananmen Square in the late 1980s. Now, only a matter of weeks later, the government has responded by abandoning most of its strictest policies.Today Darcy and Sascha talk about what's going on in China, and what does reopening mean for the world's second largest economy? Then Darcy is joined by a guest expert Richard McGregor, to talk further about his thoughts on the developments in China. We're asking our UK audience to help share our business news podcast – The Dive – with friends and family. You can join the referral program for free here: https://refer.fm/thedive and get rewarded for your sharing! Tell us what you think of The Dive - email us at thedive@equitymates.com. Follow our Instagram here, or find out more here. Stay engaged with the Equity Mates community by joining our forum. Looking for a gift for a loved one this Christmas? Order ‘Get Started Investing', written by Equity Mates Alec and Bryce. Available on Booktopia and Amazon now! In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of The Dive acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes. Any advice is general advice only, and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances, needs or objectives. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. And if you are unsure, please speak to a financial professional. Equity Mates Media operates under Australian Financial Services Licence 540697. The Dive is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We speak to Richard McGregor, Senior Fellow at the Lowy Institute, as to what the stakes are for this much anticipated meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping who will be having their first face to face meeting since Biden became the President of the US on the sidelines of the Group 20 summit in Bali.Image credit: Shutterstock

Richard McGregor, Senior Fellow at the Lowy Institute, discusses the latest on China's developments/Xi's third term. He spoke with hosts Bryan Curtis and Paul Allen on "Bloomberg Daybreak Asia."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the ongoing Chinese Communist Party congress, where paramount leader Xi Jinping is expected to secure himself a third term in power. We break down what you should know about the congress, why the zero-COVID policy looms so large over it, and what Xi might do in the coming years. Click here or head to s.nikkei.com/3feonH8 to get 3 months of Nikkei Asia coverage for just $9. First, Monica Hunter-Hart and Waj Khan go over the basics of the event (2:35). Then Alice French explains the worsening toll Xi's zero-COVID policy is taking on the Chinese economy and population (9:33). Finally, Monica interviews the Lowy Institute's Richard McGregor about Xi's influence and what he might do next (13:20). Asia Stream is hosted by Wajahat S. Khan, our digital editor and executive producer, and produced by Monica Hunter-Hart, with a regular Tokyo Dispatch segment by Alice French. Related to this episode: Self-isolated: China's lonely zero-COVID battle in spotlight as Xi seeks third term, by Nikkei staff writers Analysis: Xi's coronation ceremony opens on date of China's first atom bomb, by Katsuji Nakazawa Opinion: Xi Jinping is preparing the Communist Party to face new realities, by Yu Jie Transcript: President Xi Jinping's report to China's 2022 party congress

Xi Jinping is one of the world's most powerful leaders and will remain so for many more years if, as expected, he secures a third term as Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at the forthcoming 20th National Congress of the CCP. Despite being in power for close to a decade, he is also a man that remains a mystery to much of the world. Dr Joseph Torigian, one of the premier scholars of the Chinese leader and elite politics, discusses Xi's early years and rise to power and what that reveals about the Chinese leader's worldview and agenda. The event was moderated by Richard McGregor, the Lowy Institute's Senior Fellow for East Asia. Recorded on 26 July 2022

Richard Mcgregor, Senior Fellow at the Lowy Institute, discusses Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit. He spoke with hosts Bryan Curtis and Rishaad Salamat on "Bloomberg Daybreak Asia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A truly engaging and powerful discussion on the war in Ukraine. Hosted by Lowy fellow Richard McGregor, with Bobo Lo and Zoya Sheftalovich. Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine has turned global politics upside down. The US and Europe have co-operated more closely than they have for decades, along with allies like Australia, reinvigorating the West. Germany has committed to a huge boost in defence spending and Finland has dropped 70 years of neutrality. Energy prices have soared. On the other side, China has strongly backed Russia, perhaps with an eye to future conflicts in the Pacific. 

Damien Cave, the New York Times bureau chief here in Australia considers the big fault lines that have led to deep and lasting divisions in US politics and society. Richard McGregor reviews the grand tours by the U.S President and the Chinese Foreign Minister through the Asia Pacific. It's crowded and anytime now a fight could break out but there's no sheriff in sight - which is why outer space is being compared to the wild west.

The May 21 election has been branded by some commentators as a ‘khaki election', one in which national security and foreign policy issues will be pivotal in deciding the result. The Coalition government has questioned the ability of the Labor Party to manage increasingly tense relations with China, and its commitment to higher defence spending. But do national security issues sway votes in Australia, and in what circumstances? And how do voters see the relative strengths of the two parties on national security? Richard McGregor, the Lowy Institute's Senior Fellow for East Asia, will chair a discussion between three experts on the issue. Brian Loughnane, Federal Director of the Liberal Party for 13 years from 2003, is one of Australia's most experienced political campaigners. An adviser to federal and state government ministers, he ran four federal campaigns for the Liberal Party. He is also tied into global networks as Deputy Chairman of the International Democrat Union, an alliance of centre-right political parties. Rebecca Huntley is one of Australia's foremost researchers and authors on social trends. She has led research at Essential Media and Vox Populi and was a director at Ipsos Australia. She now heads her own research and consultancy firm working with climate and environment NGOs, government and business on climate change strategy and communication. Rebecca was a broadcaster with the ABC and is on the Executive Board of the NSW branch of the Australian Labor Party. Tony Mitchelmore, the founder of Visibility, a leading strategic communications firm, is a veteran of 12 state and federal elections. He has also advised state and federal political leaders of both major parties on research, messaging and communications. The event was broadcast on YouTube at 12pm AEST on Thursday 5 May 2022.

In this episode of Conversations, Jennifer Hsu talks with Natasha Kassam and Richard McGregor about the results of the Being Chinese in Australia survey report. The second Lowy Institute's Being Chinese in Australia poll, published in April 2022, finds a diverse range of experiences and perspectives across Chinese-Australian communities on topics such as political participation, security and foreign policy and Australia-China relations. How has the deterioration in bilateral ties affected Chinese-Australians, and is the relationship shaping Australia's federal election campaign narratives? What might Chinese-Australians expect post-election in terms of Australia's China policy?

In this episode of Conversations, Jennifer Hsu talks with Natasha Kassam and Richard McGregor about the results of the Being Chinese in Australia survey report. The second Lowy Institute's Being Chinese in Australia poll, published in April 2022, finds a diverse range of experiences and perspectives across Chinese-Australian communities on topics such as political participation, security and foreign policy and Australia-China relations. How has the deterioration in bilateral ties affected Chinese-Australians, and is the relationship shaping Australia's federal election campaign narratives? What might Chinese-Australians expect post-election in terms of Australia's China policy?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Japan, China is both its largest trading partner and its greatest strategic threat. And while Tokyo has garnered admiration for how it walks the line between its ally Washington and Beijing, it's now set to draw up a new defence strategy with China likely top of mind. So what has the Xi Jinping era meant for bilateral ties? And how much of the shared history between China and Japan remains a factor today? Richard McGregor, veteran journalist on East Asia and Lowy Institute senior fellow, joins presenter Ali Moore to ask what China and Japan really want from one another.An Asia Institute podcast.Produced and edited by Profactual - the Podcasting Specialists.Music by audionautix.com.

This week, we use the anniversary of Richard Nixon's famous 1972 trip to China to launch a discussion of how we got to this current moment in U.S.-China-Russia relations. How did a "honeymoon" period between China and the United States in the 1970s and '80s veer into chilly competition? And as Russia invades Ukraine and China stands by, we examine how the Sino-Soviet rivalry transformed into the current Sino-Russian partnership. The new great-power contest has its roots in the Cold War; is history doomed to repeat itself? In this episode, we speak to Richard McGregor of Australia's Lowy Institute about the history of relations between China, the U.S. and Russia, and about the emerging great-power struggle. Click here for an exclusive offer to save 83% on a Nikkei Asia subscription Asia Stream is hosted by Wajahat S. Khan, our digital editor and executive producer, and produced by Monica Hunter-Hart and Jack Stone Truitt. Related to this episode: Nixon in China, 50 years on, by Richard McGregor INFOGRAPHIC: A handshake that changed the world: 50 years after Nixon's trip to China, by Nikkei staff writers 50 years after Nixon-Mao handshake, Asia preps for new world order, by Nikkei staff writers U.S. engagement with China a 'strategic blunder': Mearsheimer, by Masahiro Okoshi India and China stay on sidelines as Russia invades Ukraine, by Kiran Sharma and Ken Moriyasu

We're joined by the Lowy Institute's Richard McGregor and Melissa Conley Tyler of AP4D, who talk us through what they've been reading, watching and listening to

Stephen Hsu is a Professor of Theoretical Physics and Professor of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. He is also a serial entrepreneur and has published on genomics, in addition to blogging on a wide range of topics from econometrics and geopolitics to mixed martial arts. Hsu joins the Podcast, where he and Richard begin by talking about the Russia-Ukraine crisis and American military power relative to that of China and Russia. What would a Chinese attempt to conquer Taiwan look like, and what would the US be able to do in response? This is followed by a long discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese system and its differences with the democratic capitalist model, including the former's high level of reliance on standardized tests and institutions designed to evaluate and promote government officials. The conversation closes on the topics of genomics and embryo selection, including the state of the technology, its current uses, and cross-national differences in attitudes and regulations. A full transcript of the conversation is available here. Sign up for CSPI's Substack newsletter: https://cspi.substack.com. Follow CSPI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSPICenterOrg. Subscribe to our YouTube for video podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvs4ugq0xSvbvwArpFJG6gA. Learn more about CSPI: https://cspicenter.org. Ezra Voegel, “Japan as Number One.” John Dower, “War Without Mercy." Dan Wang, ”2021 Letter.” Dan Bell, “The China Model.” Richard McGregor, “The Party.” "DNA Dreams" (documentary film). Richard Hanania, “The Inevitable Rise of China.” Richard Hanania, “Fertility as the Final Boss in Chinese Development, and Richard Hanania Prediction Markets.” Steve Hsu, “Sustainability of China Economic Growth.” Steve Hsu, “Les Grandes Ecoles Chinoises.” Francesco C. Billari, Hans-Peter Kohler, Gunnar Andersson and Hans Lundström, “Approaching the Limit: Long-Term Trends in Late and Very Late Fertility.”  p. 163. (On Swedish Fertility, Extreme Births) Steve's Podcast, “Manifold.”

This week, we report on President Xi Jinping and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The last time the Olympics were held there, the Games acted as China's coming-out party on the world stage, but these Games serve a very different purpose for the world's most populous country. What image is Xi trying to project? How do the Games tie into his larger political goals? And is he playing in the spirit of the Olympics, or playing to win? In this episode, we speak to professor Kerry Brown of King's College and our chief Shanghai correspondent CK Tan about Xi, the Olympics, and China's “zero-COVID” strategy. Click here for an exclusive offer to save 83% on a Nikkei Asia subscription Asia Stream is hosted by Wajahat S. Khan, our digital editor and executive producer, and produced by Monica Hunter-Hart and Jack Stone Truitt. Related to this episode: On thin ice: Winter Olympics reveal cracks in China's zero-COVID policy, by Shin Watanabe China warns Olympic athletes to keep quiet on politics, by Shin Watanabe and Shunsuke Tabeta Beijing Winter Olympics reveal a very different China, by Richard McGregor

Where do Xi Jinping and the CCP stand - domestically and abroad - at the end of 2021? This week, Jude Blanchette, the Freeman Chair of China Studies at CSIS, joined Tom Tugendhat for a rapid review of the key political and economic moves in 2021 in China. What did the politics of the Sixth Plenum tell us about Xi's power? Is China's new style of diplomacy here to stay? And what does common prosperity mean for Chinese tech firms - and the Western finance industry? Listen for an expert breakdown of the CCP's 2021, at a time when Jude warns we are in "a moment of acute epistemological crisis" for our understanding of China. A transcript of this episode is available on the China Research Group website. Further reading: After Xi: Future Scenarios for Leadership Succession in Post-Xi Jinping Era by Jude Blanchette and Richard McGregor for CSIS.

On September 15, U.S. President Joe Biden, Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new trilateral security partnership described by PM Morrison as “a next-generation partnership built on a strong foundation of proven trust.” What does the partnership, known as AUKUS, suggest for the three countries involved, for France and the rest of the European Union, and for China and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region?  In an interview conducted on October 12, 2021, Theresa Fallon and Richard McGregor analyze the significance of AUKUS in conversation with Jason Kelly.

Australia's decision to cancel its French submarine contract in favour of partnering with the US and the UK on nuclear-powered boats has provoked local and international controversy. The decision has implications for US, Chinese, European and Southeast Asian diplomacy and defence policies. Richard McGregor, the Lowy Institute's Senior Fellow for East Asia, talks with three experts: Bilahari Kausikan, the former head of the Singapore Foreign Ministry, Yun Sun, of the Stimson Centre in Washington DC, and Nadège Rolland, of the National Bureau of Asia Research in the United States.

In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Senior Fellow Richard McGregor speaks with Desmond Shum, the author of Red Roulette: An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption and Vengeance in Today's China. Shum's book has been acclaimed as a rare and revealing tell-all about how business is done at the top of the ruling communist party. Shum recounts his dealings with his business partner and former wife, Whitney Duan, and Zhang Beili, the wife of Wen Jiabao who was Premier – effectively number two in the party – from 2002 to 2012. Shum and Duan were divorced five years ago, and Whitney all but disappeared in 2017 after being detained in China. She had not been heard of until the book's publication, when she called Shum out of the blue and asked that he withdraw it. The book was published in September. Shum now lives in the UK with his son.

In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Senior Fellow Richard McGregor speaks with Desmond Shum, the author of Red Roulette: An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption and Vengeance in Today's China. Shum's book has been acclaimed as a rare and revealing tell-all about how business is done at the top of the ruling communist party. Shum recounts his dealings with his business partner and former wife, Whitney Duan, and Zhang Beili, the wife of Wen Jiabao who was Premier – effectively number two in the party – from 2002 to 2012. Shum and Duan were divorced five years ago, and Whitney all but disappeared in 2017 after being detained in China. She had not been heard of until the book's publication, when she called Shum out of the blue and asked that he withdraw it. The book was published in September. Shum now lives in the UK with his son.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Featured interview: Key takeaways from the recent US-China military summit and prospects for China's policy on the Afghanistan crisis-미중 군사회담 주요 시사점 분석 및 아프가니스탄 사태에 대한 중국 접근 논의Guest: Dr. Richard McGregor, Senior Fellow for East Asia, the Lowy InstituteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A version of this essay is published by swarajya.com at https://swarajyamag.com/world/chinas-clampdown-on-national-technology-champions-xis-new-industrial-statism-triumphalist-hubris-and-art-of-ju-jitsu The world has been baffled by China’s sudden clampdown on its very successful, and giant, companies such as e-payments company Ant Financial, ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing, food-delivery firm Meituan, and several online education firms. Given the opacity of the Chinese communist party, commentators can only imagine what the reasons might be. Writing in Nikkei Asia, Richard McGregor suggested that “Xi’s tech crackdown preserves socialism with Chinese characteristics”. On the website unherd.com, Marshall Auerback suggested that “The West can learn from China”. The Economist’s current cover story is titled, “China’s attack on tech”. There is a plethora of other views on the topic, and it is worth exploring why this happened, and what we might take away, especially from an Indian point of view.It seems to me that there are at least three plausible scenarios, and any of them may be in play, and maybe all three at once:Industrial policy, directing where investment and funding will goTriumphalist hubris, because of how successful China has been latelyA cosmic form of ju-jitsu, using the very strengths of the West against itIndustrial policyIt may well be that China has decided (as in the Made in China 2025 plan) that there are certain technologies that have an outsize impact on the future, and they have decided to focus their attention therein. For example, Quantum Computing, Biotechnology, Materials Science, along with specific applications of AI and Machine Learning (a recent report suggests that China has overtaken the US in the citations of their papers in AI).Such a direction would not be particularly surprising. A much-cited article by C K Prahalad (“The Core Competence of the Corporation”, Harvard Business Review, 1990) made a comparison between GTE and NEC, and concluded that the latter handily defeated the former by concentrating on the crucial technology of the then-future, semiconductors. Others, for instance Scott Adams (cartoonists often have surprisingly sage perspectives), have suggested that China’s management model is engineering-driven and is thus focused, ruthless and unaffected by the legal hair-splitting that bedevils many other countries, including India. Thus, industrial policy could well be a sensible way of dealing with the uncertainties of the future. Japan’s MITI tried to guide industry in the 1980s and 1990s with mixed results, but China’s mandarins may well believe they have a better handle on reading the tea leaves. There is the other side of the picture, which is quite relevant to India as well. What is considered the ‘tech industry’ in the US these days consists of a number of behemoths in what is loosely referred to as Silicon Valley, although several of them, such as Microsoft and Amazon are actually in Seattle. The usual suspects include, apart from the above, Google parent Alphabet, Facebook and Apple. In a sense, the Chinese are asking a very good question: what exactly is high-tech about these companies? It is true that they are extremely successful financially, in fact spewing out oodles of cash, and some are valued in trillions of dollars, but exactly what is their innovation? Take Apple, for instance. Yes, it is true that the iPhone, which debuted a decade ago, was revolutionary, but what have they designed lately? Not to be dismissive, but Facebook and Google do ‘surveillance capitalism’, basically selling their users to advertisers. Amazon and Microsoft are soaring on the basis of their cloud-computing infrastructure. But one could argue that they are merely milking their innovations of a decade ago, and don’t have much of a recent product line that creates a ‘moat’ for them, or in MBA-speak, a ‘blue ocean’. The same question can be asked of India’s lionized unicorns, of which here is a partial list as per the Economic Times a few days ago. Exactly what earth-shaking and life-changing innovations do they bring to the table? Yes, if they have managed to build big, loyal customer bases, sure, that can be of value. But just copying and indigenizing business models successful elsewhere is not exactly setting the stage for world-beating companies.To put it bluntly, the Chinese may be calculating that Silicon Valley’s best brains are now engaged in minutely tweaking algorithms to capture the attention span of customers, and are not thinking of solving the world’s problems. For instance, Silicon Valley engineers have been notably less than successful in addressing climate change or even the Wuhanvirus/Covid-19 pandemic. The Chinese may have a point, and India’s policy makers should take note. There has long been disquiet about India’s very successful IT services companies based on the fact that they have, nevertheless, left little by way of a technology legacy the way early Silicon Valley pioneers such as Hewlett Packard and Fairchild Semiconductor did. Triumphalist hubrisChina has good reason to believe they have won. They have, for all practical purposes, created a new world order dominated by them. Just think of what they have done lately in terms of riding roughshod over the world. Nobody would dare to demand reparations from them for what could be construed as the crime against humanity of 4 million dead from the virus that arose in their country (and could well be something they designed in a lab). Similarly, they have captured the South China Sea, used their debt-trap diplomacy to extort their way to strategic assets, and cavalierly sent up rockets that might fall on anybody’s head. One could also make a cogent argument that they were able to harness their media and social media assets to defenestrate an American president they didn’t like. Not to mention the pandemic narrative that, for long, completely exonerated them from any blame. I wouldn’t blame them for quietly celebrating a little, or for believing they have cracked the puzzle of how to, if not make friends, at least influence people and get them to do anything they want. In this context, they have also infiltrated institution after institution, insinuated their cadres into positions where they could capture data or inventions from others, often illegally.Maybe they believe that they know so much about us that they, in effect, have incriminating evidence on us that they can use to intimidate us into doing their bidding. One example is the big super-apps from China: Tencent and Ant Financial, which have evolved into efficient ways of vacuuming up data from and about consumers. Unlike the American model of stand-alone apps that know a great deal about individuals, the super-apps offer a walled garden that has everything from payment to mutual funds to loans to travel agencies. These apps know so much about Chinese people that the government, using it,  is able to create the infamous social credit score for all residents. There have been overseas ventures as well. It is rumored that Chinese-branded smartphones and surveillance cameras may well be capturing and transmitting data to their servers back home. There is also the story of the African Union, whose building was constructed by China. It is said that every day at 5pm, all the confidential conversations in the building were transmitted back to China.There is also the sinister story of the Chinese gene company BGI group. According to a Reuter’s story (“China’s gene giant harvests data from millions of pregnant women”) their prenatal tests were “developed in collaboration with the country’s military” and they are using them to “collect data from millions of women for sweeping research on the traits of populations”. Perfect information, one could imagine, for well-targeted biological weapons.It may well be that the Chinese have decided they know enough from snooping; they don’t really need the super-apps any more, and so they are cut loose. In their triumphalist fantasies, there is nothing that prevents them from reclaiming their (mythical) ‘Middle Kingdom’ status, the center of the Universe.The art of ju-jitsuThe very strengths of the West are being deployed against it by the Chinese, who also believe that their model of “capitalism with Chinese characteristics” ie. the private sector is ultimately subservient to the State, is the right model for the rest of the world, rather than the buccaneer capitalism exemplified by the US. That anyway is CCP dogma, and it appears that they are proving it too.Consider the (erstwhile strengths of the West, especially the US, that China has usurped:Manufacturing: hollowed out, and China owns the supply chain nowInnovation and R&D: now confined to tweaking social media applications. China also sends it bright students to learn at the best US universities and then bring the knowledge back home with themEducation: while ‘woke’ dogma and the cancel culture are dumbing-down US students, China is deprecating its own online education companies because it doesn’t want rote learning and exam hell, but problem-solving skills and creativity/innovation in its children and college students. Finance: Wall Street has been able to crush competitors in the past (for instance, they did something to Japan, I am not sure exactly what, to bring its meteoric rise to a halt), but now they are hand in glove with China. The Wall Street Journal wrote a year ago that “China has one powerful friend left in the US: Wall Street”Marketing: the narrative building that China does is world-class, and it has bought its way into media (for instance, it is alleged by nationalinterest.com that the WSJ got $6 million and the Washington Post $4.6 million from China). The obvious biases in social media and in mainstream media (apparently including science and medicine journals The Lancet and Nature) support this perspectiveCapitalism: Investors have made much money in the tech runup in the US, but they also lost a lot when China decided to make a policy change. According to the WSJ, “Investors lost hundreds of billions in July”, which means that the very ideas of capitalism are being deprecated in plain sight by China.A case can be made that it is not any longer a single point attack by China, but “unrestricted warfare” as in the infamous book by two Chinese colonels. They are single-mindedly on the warpath, and they intend to do anything, I mean anything, to win. The skirmish over the technology companies should be seen in that light. From an Indian point of view, it would be foolish to surmise that China has actually won: the much better lesson would be to take the good part of their industrial policy and to figure out how India can leverage the exodus of investors and funds from Chinese firms to create long-term competitive advantage. 1600 words, 13 Aug 2021 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com

In the last week, Biden’s government implemented several measures that indicated a hardening stance against China. We speak to Richard McGregor, Senior Fellow, Lowy Institute about this tension between the two countries. Image credit: Shutterstock.com

100 years ago the Chinese Communist Party was founded and across the span of that century has become one of the most powerful organisations on the planet. Today, it is an economic powerhouse and a superpower challenger to the United States. Its origins were humble though with just a few members at its foundation. Indeed, the official anniversary date of 1 July was chosen by Chairman Mao years later as the real date remains a mystery. China saw an epic struggle through the 20th century both with external enemies and between its own people with the CCP emerging victorious in 1949. Following the communist victory, there were decades of Mao's rule which became increasingly erratic and led to the death of many millions during the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural revolution. Following Mao's death, the country changed tack and started to move towards the China that we know today economically and politically. To help make sense of this tumultuous 100 years and where China stands today on the world stage Dan is joined by Richard McGregor a journalist and author and formerly the Beijing and Washington bureau chief for the Financial Times. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

100 years ago the Chinese Communist Party was founded and across the span of that century has become one of the most powerful organisations on the planet. Today, it is an economic powerhouse and a superpower challenger to the United States. Its origins were humble though with just a few members at its foundation. Indeed, the official anniversary date of 1 July was chosen by Chairman Mao years later as the real date remains a mystery. China saw an epic struggle through the 20th century both with external enemies and between its own people with the CCP emerging victorious in 1949. Following the communist victory, there were decades of Mao's rule which became increasingly erratic and led to the death of many millions during the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural revolution. Following Mao's death, the country changed tack and started to move towards the China that we know today economically and politically. To help make sense of this tumultuous 100 years and where China stands today on the world stage Dan is joined by Richard McGregor a journalist and author and formerly the Beijing and Washington bureau chief for the Financial Times. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China's ruling communist party celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding on 1 July 2021. Not only is it the world's largest political party, with over 90 million members, it is also the richest, presiding over an economy en route to surpass that of the US. Richard McGregor, Lowy Institute senior fellow, hosted a discussion with three leading China specialists about the anniversary and what it means for Australia and the world. Chris Buckley is an award winning New York Times China correspondent. Melinda Liu has spent more than a quarter century living and working as a foreign correspondent in Beijing; she is Newsweek's Beijing Bureau Chief. Steve Tsang is director of the China Institute at SOAS university in London.

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic originated in China, the country currently seems to have the virus largely contained. The United States, on the other hand, continues to be hobbled by the disease. At the moment, America has over 2 million cases and over 120,000 deaths, more than any other country. As a result, Beijing is now displaying a fair amount of triumphalism. Has the coronavirus pandemic actually strengthened China, at least vis-à-vis the United States? We discuss with Richard McGregor, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute in Australia and former Financial Times bureau chief in Beijing and Shanghai.

The Gunpowder Plot in a new tv dramatisation by Ronan Bennett plus presenter Rana Mitter explores anti-Catholic prejudice in Britain today with Catherine Pepinster and Tim Stanley, and historians Richard McGregor and Hans van de Ven discuss relations between Japan, US and China. And the Icelandic poet and songwriter Sjón on hisrole in Poetry International as it celebrates its 50th anniversary since it was founded in 1967 by former poet laureate Ted Hughes. Richard McGregor is former Beijing bureau chief for The Financial Times and the author of Asia's Reckoning: China, Japan, and the Fate of U.S. Power in the Pacific Century. Hans van de Ven has written China at War: triumph and tragedy in the emergence of the new China 1937 - 1952. He is Professor of Modern Chinese History, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Cambridge. 'Gunpowder' a 3-part TV series developed by Ronan Bennett, Kit Harington and Daniel West will air on BBC TV Poetry International is on London's Southbank from Friday 13th-Sunday 15th October as part of the London Literature Festival. Catherine Pepinster has written The Keys and the Kingdom: The British and the Papacy from John Paul II to Francis. You can hear Ronan Bennett's Private Passions on BBC Radio 3 on November 5th. Producer: Fiona McLean.

Minxin Pei, Richard McGregor, Andrew Wedeman, Evan Osnos, and Charles Davidson discuss China's Crony Capitalism and kleptocracy in China.