Podcasts about Yu Jie

This week on Independent Thinking, we explore the growing battle for influence in Latin America between the U.S. and China. In just two decades, China has gone from a minor player in the region to a dominant force—challenging the US. How is President Trump's government responding and could his policies actually give Beijing more room to expand? Guest host Chris Sabatini is joined by Yu Jie, Robert Evan Ellis, and Bruno Binetti to discuss the shifting power dynamics and what they could mean for the global balance of power. Read our latest: South Korea's domestic tumult risks being exploited by China US ownership of TikTok won't protect democracies from digital threats Trump's tariffs will push Southeast Asia uncomfortably close to China Presented by Chris Sabatini. Produced by Amanda Nunn. Executive Producer - John Pollock. 'Independent Thinking' is an Indio Media production for Chatham House. Read the Spring issue of The World Today  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast

This week on Independent Thinking, three Chatham House experts look at the view from China now that Donald Trump is in charge. Ben Bland speaks to Yu Jie, William Matthews and  David Lubin, about how China is repositioning itself on the world stage, viewing its own security and preparing for a potential trade war.  We'll also explore what the Chinese Communist Party is really thinking, what harm tariffs are doing and what the AI battle could mean for the world. Read our latest: New US attacks on the Houthis will not bring Iran to the negotiating table – but could provoke worse violence The US and Iran are on the road to escalation. Europe can and should create an off-ramp Taking action against corruption in Nigeria Presented by Ben Bland. Produced by Jonathan Coates. Executive Producer - John Pollock. 'Independent Thinking' is an Indio Media production for Chatham House. Read the Spring issue of The World Today  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast

The story of Liverpool's once thriving port is one of spectacular rise, and spectacular fall. In Liverpool and the Unmaking of Britain, the historian Sam Wetherell looks at the city post-WWII, as the decline in the port led to the poverty and neglect of its population, the deportation of Chinese sailors, and the discrimination against the city's Black population. It's a history as prophecy for what the future might hold for the communities caught in the same trap of obsolescence.As manufacturing has declined in the UK it has grown exponentially in China, which is now known as ‘the world's factory'. Dr Yu Jie is a senior research fellow at Chatham House and an expert in China's economic diplomacy. She considers what the mega-cities that have emerged out of China's rise, and the communities living in them, can learn from the history of Liverpool. Corby in the Midlands was once at the heart of British steelmaking, with one of the largest operations in Western Europe. But once the plant was closed in the 1980s, the ‘clean-up' became known as one of the worst environmental scandals, causing serious birth defects in the town. The four-part series, Toxic Town, written by Jack Thorne (on Netflix from 27th February) tells the story of the families as they fight for justice.Producer: Katy Hickman

The re-election of Donald Trump has major consequences for America's relations with China. The panel discuss how the US-China relationship might change under the next president. Guest host Ben Bland is joined by historian and political scientist Professor Rana Mitter, the FT's US-China correspondent, Demetri Sevastopulo and Dr Yu Jie, a senior research fellow with our Asia-Pacific programme.  Read our latest: Trump's ‘America First' foreign policy will accelerate China's push for global leadership The Gulf will seek to manage Trump through self-reliance and pragmatism Donald Trump's policies risk making the US dollar a source of global instability Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Read the latest issue of The World Today  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast

In the third episode of our series on global preparations for the US election, Dr. Yu Jie of Chatham House discusses the fault lines and rivalries between the world's two largest economies. She highlights how Beijing is preparing for the potential outcomes and the broader implications for global security, trade, and defence.The World in 10 is the Times' daily podcast dedicated to global security. Expert analysis of war, diplomatic relations and cyber security from The Times' foreign correspondents and military specialists. Watch more: www.youtube.com/@ListenToTimesRadio Read more: www.thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our latest Centre for European Reform podcast our director Charles Grant and Dr Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China at Chatham House's Asia Pacific programme, join podcast host Octavia Hughes to discuss China's shifting foreign policy. They analyse the success of Beijing's European charm offensive, the strength of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping's friendship and China's objective to create a multipolar world order. Music by Edward Hipkins Produced by Octavia Hughes

Không có dấu hiệu hòa hoãn giữa Bắc Kinh với Bruxelles về thương mại và ngoại giao sau chuyến công du châu Âu đầu tiên của lãnh đạo Trung Quốc từ sau đại dịch Covid-19. Vẫn cần giữ thị trường châu Âu, ông Tập Cận Bình cảnh cáo Liên Âu nên « đánh giá đúng đắn về Trung Quốc » khi bị cáo buộc cạnh tranh bất bình đẳng. Bắc Kinh tiếp tục đẩy mạnh chiến lược phát triển công nghiệp mũi nhọn nhờ khai thác những nhược điểm của châu Âu. Ngày 10/05/2024 chủ tịch Tập Cận Bình kết thúc vòng công du ba nước châu Âu với các chặng dừng tại Pháp, Serbia và Hungary. Tiếp đón lãnh đạo Trung Quốc tại thủ đô Budapest, thủ tướng Hungary Viktor Orban, một thành viên của Liên Âu đã mạnh mẽ tuyên bố : « Thế giới đa cực đã có một trật tự mới mà ở đó Trung Quốc là một trong những cột trụ. Quốc gia này định hướng cho các hoạt động kinh tế và chính trị của thế giới ». Theo chuyên gia Pháp về Trung Quốc, Valérie Niquet, Quỹ Nghiên Cứu Chiến Lược FRS câu nói này của Viktor Orban « là tất cả những gì Tập Cận Bình chờ đợi ».Trung Quốc trực tiếp đối đầu với Liên ÂuTrung Quốc, Liên Âu và toàn cảnh thế giới đã có nhiều thay đổi trong 5 năm qua, từ lần cuối chủ tịch Tập Cận Bình đặt chân lên Lục Địa Già : sau đại dịch Covid Trung Quốc không còn là điểm đầu tư lý tưởng trong măt các doanh nghiệp phương Tây. Bruxelles và Washington cùng chủ trương giảm lệ thuộc vào hàng hóa Trung Quốc, « giảm thiểu rủi ro » khi Trung Quốc đã trở thành mắt xích quá lớn trong chuỗi cung ứng toàn cầu.Bản thân Trung Quốc từ 2019 đến nay cũng đã trải qua nhiều thay đổi : Cuộc đọ sức Mỹ -Trung không hề thuyên giảm và Hoa Kỳ từng bước khép chặt cửa với công nghệ cao của Trung Quốc. Cùng lúc, kế hoạch « Made in China 2025 » bắt đầu đem lại kết quả. Trung Quốc đã trở thành một cường quốc công nghiệp cao cấp, mà điển hình là đang dẫn đầu thế giới trong ngành ô tô điện và pin mặt trời.Về đối nội, trái với mong đợi, tăng trưởng tại Trung Quốc không khởi sắc trở lại sau 3 năm đóng cửa chống dịch và khủng hoảng niềm tin vào tương lai làm thui chột tiêu thụ nội địa. Lối thoát còn lại là xuất khẩu. Do vậy giám đốc đặc trách về Châu Á Viện Quan Hệ Quốc Tế Pháp IFRI Marc Julienne trên đài phát thanh France Info hôm 06/05/2024 nhấn mạnh đến trọng lượng kinh tế và thương mại của Liên Âu đối với khu vực sản xuất và xuất khẩu của Trung Quốc hiện tại :« Kinh tế Trung Quốc đã bị chặt mất một chân vì khủng hoảng địa ốc. Thêm vào đó là thất nghiệp rất cao nơi giới trẻ. Bắc Kinh đang đối mặt với nhiều khó khăn kinh tế. Khách hàng số 1 của Trung Quốc là Liên Hiệp Châu Âu và thị trường lớn thứ nhì là Mỹ. Nhưng Hoa Kỳ đã từng bước đóng cửa với hàng của Trung Quốc đặc biệt là cấm nhập khẩu ô tô điện do Trung Quốc sản xuất, cấm sử dụng công nghệ thông tin của Hoa Vi… Thành thử, vai trò của Liên Âu lại càng lớn hơn trong mắt các nhà sản xuất Trung Quốc so với trước đây ». Nhà nghiên cứu Yu Jie, chuyên gia về Châu Á Thái Bình Dương Viện Nghiên Cứu Quốc Tế Hoàng Gia Anh -Chatham House (09/05/2024) ghi nhận chủ tịch Tập Cận Bình trở lại châu Âu vào thời điểm « mô hình kinh tế Trung Quốc trong giai đoạn chuyển tiếp (…) lấy xuất khẩu hàng công nghiệp cao cấp làm kim chỉ nam (…) mà Liên Âu là một thị trường tiêu thụ mang tính sống còn ». Đồng thời trong tiến trình chuyển đổi đó, các doanh nghiệp Trung Quốc trực tiếp đối đầu với các đại tập đoàn của châu Âu.Bắc Kinh hoàn toàn ý thức được rằng Liên Âu đang bị chiến tranh Ukraina chi phối, 27 thành viên khối này vẫn phải đối mặt với lạm phát từ cuộc chiến Nga gây nên và vẫn chưa hoàn toàn phục hồi sau khủng hoảng y tế xuất phát từ Vũ Hán.Trả lời đài truyền hình Pháp France24 (ngày 10/05/2024) chuyên gia Isabelle Feng, trung tâm nghiên cứu Perelman, Đại Học Bruxelles - Bỉ cho rằng, Paris chặng dừng đầu tiên vòng công du ba nước châu Âu của chủ tịch Trung Quốc vừa qua, về mặt chính thức là để kỷ niệm 60 năm quan hệ song phương nhưng, giá trị thực sự của nước Pháp trong mắt ông Tập là trọng lượng của Paris trong Liên Hiệp Châu Âu :   « Nếu nhìn đến đầu tư nước ngoài vào Trung Quốc, năm 2023 chỉ số này đã rơi xuống mức thấp bằng với hồi 30 trước đây. Chuyến công du Pháp của ông Tập Cận Bình lần này cho thấy giai đoạn các bên rầm rộ thông báo ký kết những hợp đồng khổng lồ đã thuộc về quá khứ. Tuy nhiên Bắc Kinh muốn vận động để Liên Âu nới lỏng gọng kềm đối với hàng của Trung Quốc dễ dàng đổ vào thị trường châu Âu. Pháp không là một đối tác thương mại hàng đầu của Trung Quốc, chỉ là nguồn cung cấp đứng thứ 28 và xếp hạng 23 trong số các khách mua vào hàng của Trung Quốc. Đối với Paris, Bắc Kinh cũng không là một đối tác thương mại quá lớn bởi vì Trung Quốc chỉ mua vào có 4 % xuất khẩu của Pháp ra toàn thế giới. Nhưng tiếng nói của nước Pháp có trọng lượng trong Liên Hiệp Châu Âu vào lúc mà Bruxelles nhắm vào ô tô điện của Trung Quốc và ông Tập Cận Bình thì đang bận tâm vì khả năng sản xuất công nghiệp dư thừa của Trung Quốc và do vậy phải tìm cách thanh lý hàng tồn đọng …». « Trung Quốc không còn cần nhiều FDI của châu Âu » Theo báo cáo của Phòng Thương Mại Châu Âu tại Bắc Kinh công bố hôm 10/05/2024 các doanh nghiệp châu Âu không còn xem Trung Quốc là một điểm đến lý tưởng : chỉ có 13 % những doanh nhân được hỏi vẫn gắn bó với Hoa Lục. Cuối 2022 tỷ lệ này là 25 %. Một trong những lý do giải thích cho khác biệt nói trên là « tính thiếu minh bạch » của luật pháp Trung Quốc về luật đầu tư nước ngoài, là sức mua kém hấp dẫn của thị trường với gần 1,5 tỷ dân, là căng thẳng kinh tế và thương mại với Hoa Kỳ và sự thận trọng của Liên Âu.Denis Jacquet, sáng lập viên chương trình Top Cream chuyên tổ chức hội thảo dành riêng cho giới doanh nhân không ngạc nhiên trước hiện tượng đầu tư vào Trung Quốc sụt giảm mạnh :  « Thực ra Trung Quốc không còn cần đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài nhiều như trước nữa –đương nhiên là vẫn cần chứ không phải là không, nhưng Trung Quốc đã có những bước tiến dài trong nhiều lĩnh vực và không còn phải dựa vào công nghệ, vào kiến thức của Liên Âu nữa. Điều không tưởng là giờ đây chính nước Đức đã phải học hỏi Trung Quốc trong một số lĩnh vực. Trung Quốc đã tự sản xuất được ô tô điện, được máy bay. Họ tự chế tạo được tên lửa và làm chủ trí tuệ nhân tạo… đương nhiên là một khi đã học hỏi được rất nhiều sau khi chiêu dụ các doanh nghiệp Âu Mỹ vào làm ăn thì giờ đây, Trung Quốc không còn cần đến các hãng ngoại quốc nữa nên đã 'mời' các doanh nhân ngoại quốc đi chỗ khác chơi » Tại sao phải nhượng bộ Liên Âu ? Theo Eric Le Boucher của tờ báo có khuynh hướng tự do và thiên hữu L'Opinion (12/05/2024) chỉ riêng về kinh tế và thương mại, Trung Quốc đã không hề nhượng bộ Liên Hiệp Châu Âu bất kỳ điều gì. Tháng trước thủ tướng Đức một thân một mình đến Bắc Kinh với hy vọng cứu vãn một số lợi ích của các hãng xe hơi nổi tiếng của Đức như BMW hay Mercedes, cứu vãn lợi ích của các công ty sản xuất máy móc sử dụng trong công nghiệp. Olaf Scholz vẫn kỳ vọng vào « quan hệ kinh tế đặc biệt song phương » để thúc đẩy tăng trưởng cho « đầu tàu công nghiệp » của Liên Hiệp Châu Âu.Thủ tướng Scholz ra về với kết quả không nhiều, bởi « Trung Quốc đang đương đầu với Mỹ về công nghệ kỹ thuật số, cạnh tranh trực tiếp với Đức về công nghiệp xe hơi, về robot, về máy móc … và đang chiếm lợi thế nhờ đang dẫn đầu cuộc đua trong lĩnh vực ô tô điện ». Vậy ông Tập Cận Bình có cần nhượng bộ Bruxelles trước đe dọa xe điện của Trung Quốc bị Liên Âu điều tra cạnh tranh bất bình đẳng hay không ? Trái lại giờ đây, Bắc Kinh đang có kế hoạch đẩy mạnh đầu tư vào một số nước tại Châu Âu, như Hungary chẳng hạn, để cạnh tranh ngược lại với các hãng xe hơi của Đức. Tại Paris tuần qua, lãnh đạo Bắc Kinh đã tỏ ra rất « mơ hồ » khi nguyên thủ Pháp yêu cầu Trung Quốc ngừng cung cấp thiết bị điện tử giúp Nga chế tạo vũ khí để phục vụ trên chiến trường Ukraina. Tổng thống Emmanuel Macron, rồi cả chủ tịch Ủy Ban Châu Âu Ursula Von Der Leyen đã nhận được gì khi mạnh dạn đòi Trung Quốc ngừng trợ giá cho ô tô điện và pin mặt trời để xuất khẩu ồ ạt cả hai mặt hàng này sang thị trường châu Âu ?Giới quan sát đồng loạt cho rằng Bruxelles không còn « ngây thơ » hay dễ dãi với các nhà đầu tư Trung Quốc như trước nữa. Do vậy theo nhà nghiên cứu Yu Jie của Viện Chatham House, Luân Đôn « chủ đích của ông Tập là tránh để quan hệ với châu Âu xấu đi thêm ». Chủ tịch Trung Quốc đồng thời « khai thác những chia rẽ trong nội bộ Liên Âu (…) để phát huy tầm nhìn của Bắc Kinh về một thế giới đa cực ».Thâm nhập Liên Âu bằng lỗ hổng Hungary và đánh đường vòng qua SerbiaĐiển hình là sau Pháp, « tiếng nói mạnh mẽ và riêng biệt trong đại gia đình châu Âu » ông Tập Cận Bình đã bay tiếp sang Serbia và Hungary. Beograd là một mắt xích trong kế hoạch Một Vành Đai Một Con Đường. Bắc Kinh đã đầu tư hơn 11 tỷ đô la vào quốc gia trong vùng Balkan này trong giai đoạn 2009-2021. Còn Budapest thành viên « bướng bỉnh trong Liên Âu », dưới chính quyền của thủ tướng Orban, Hungrary ngăn chận Liên Âu lên án Bắc Kinh bóp ngạt các quyền tự do tại Hồng Kông. Vào lúc Bruxelles điều tra để đánh thuế ô tô điện Trung Quốc thì thủ tướng Orban đón nhận đầu tư của hãng xe BYD như « một món quà tặng » ông Tập đem lại. Báo tài chính Nhật Bản Nikkei Asia nhận xét Liên Hiệp Châu Âu bị ám ảnh trước khối lượng ô tô Trung Quốc đang tồn đọng trên các bến cảng Anvers và Zeebruges của Bỉ chờ thâm nhập thị trường châu Âu. Nhưng đó chỉ là « một cái cây che khuất cánh rừng » bởi một khi mà các hãng xe Trung Quốc mở nhà máy lắp ráp tại châu Âu thì đó cũng là hồi kết của cả ngành công nghiệp xe hơi châu Âu.Trong vài năm sức mạnh của các nhà sản xuất pin mặt trời Trung Quốc đã « loại gần hết các con chim đầu đàn trong ngành của châu Âu ». Nhà kinh tế Anthony Morlet Lavidalie công ty tư vấn Rexecode trụ sở tại Paris báo động « Trung Quốc đang vươn lên trong rất nhiều những lĩnh vực công nghiệp cao cấp nơi mà tới nay châu Âu luôn dẫn đầu ».Theo giáo sư kinh tế đại học Clermont-Auvergne, Mary Françoise Renard trên đài truyền hình France24 bất cân đối trong cán cân thương mại giữa Liên Hiệp Châu Âu và Trung Quốc giờ đây là hậu quả từ những tính toán sai lầm trong chiến lược phát triển của Bruxelles :« Liên Hiệp Châu Âu không ngây thơ mà chỉ là Bruxelles đã mải miết lo phục vụ những lợi ích ngắn hạn của khối này cho nên Liên Âu đã không có hẳn một chính sách công nghiệp về lâu dài. Hơn nữa, trong lúc Mỹ, hay Trung Quốc là một quốc gia, thì Liên Âu là một khối với 27 thành viên với những lợi ích riêng biệt và khối này không phải lúc nào cũng đồng lòng với nhau do vậy khó mà có một tiếng nói chung để rồi Liên Âu bị đặt trước sự đã rồi ».Vào lúc Hoa Kỳ đã có đạo luật IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) để ngăn chận hàng Trung Quốc ồ ạt đổ vào Hoa Kỳ thì Liên Hiệp Châu Âu vẫn loay hoay đi tìm một lối thoát để không bị cuốn vào vòng xoáy của hàng cao cấp « made in China ». Ít bi quan hơn, kinh tế gia Elvire Fabry viện nghiên cứu châu Âu Jacques Delors cho rằng, Liên Hiệp Châu Âu bắt đầu tự vệ nhưng tránh áp dụng các biện pháp bảo hộ, tránh vượt ra ngoài khuôn khổ của Tổ Chức Thương Mại Thế Giới và do vậy Pháp đang vận động vì một mối quan hệ mới với Trung Quốc dựa trên nguyên tắc « réciprocité- có đi có lại ».Trước mắt nếu như cả Pháp lẫn Liên Âu cùng không đạt được bất kỳ một nhượng bộ nào sau chuyến công du vừa qua của ông Tập Cận Bình trên vế thương mại thì chí ít, như bà Niquet bên Quỹ Nghiên Cứu Chiến Lược Pháp nhận định, Liên Hiệp Châu Âu đã trông thấy rõ hơn những nhược điểm của mình và qua đó là những thách thức phải vượt qua để tồn tại.  

Bronwen Maddox is in Japan this week, and is joined from Taipei by journalist Bethany Allen to discuss China's National People's Congress and the political calculations of Beijing's neighbours. Joining them are Robert Ward from The International Institute for Strategic Studies and Dr Yu Jie – a Senior Fellow with our Asia-Pacific programme. Read our latest: Why Egypt's improved economic outlook is mostly down to luck, not skill This time Haiti really is on the brink. The US and UN must act to restore order The EU's new AI Act could have global impact Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast

The profound reconfiguration of the international order in the 21st century is primarily due to the emergence of new global actors, with China being the most prominent of them all. In this pódcast, the director of EsadeGeo, Angel Saz-Carranza, interviews Dr Yu Jie about the current challenges of China and its relations with the rest of the world. Dr Yu Jie is a senior research fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House. Her research focuses on the decision-making process of Chinese foreign policy and China's economic diplomacy. She regularly briefs senior policy practitioners from the G7 member governments and the Silk Road Fund in Beijing and advises major FTSE 100 corporates and leading European financial institutions on China's political landscape.

China projects its power and secures its national interests in three ways: exercising might, spending money and expressing its own mindset. Read by Leighton Pugh. Image: CCP propaganda printed in rice fields. Credit: Fabio Nodari / Alamy Stock Photo 

Yu Jie Chen built her career from the ground up as a RE/MAX Results real estate professional, and now, she's one of the top producers nationwide. Learn how she did it and get insider tips to grow your own business. 5 Must-Hear Moments: Going from stay-at-home mom to top real estate pro Transitioning from residential to commercial real estate Specializing in business sales - especially restaurants Marketing tricks that get clients calling you Never stopping education - always learning to stay ahead To excel in real estate, take out a pen and start taking notes. This conversation with superstar Yu Jie Chen shares hard-won lessons to help take your career to the next level. Whether you're just starting or looking to expand, Yu Jie has advice to help you find more success. Yu Jie's website: https://www.realtoryujie.com/ Email: RealtorYuJie@Gmail.com Who should be our next guest? We want to hear from you! www.ResultsDrivenFeedback.com

In the final episode of our first season, we return to the topic we started Season 1 of the podcast with: China and how Beijing sees the world post-February 2022. Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, Western capitals, especially Washington and London, have been watching ties between Russia and China closely, attempting to decipher any signs of disagreement or even disapproval between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.  We discuss how China views the invasion of Ukraine, the ties between China and Russia and above all how both countries view the EU, NATO, and the transatlantic alliance.  Joining Bronwen Maddox on the show this week is Yu Jie, a Senior Research Fellow with our Asia-Pacific programme; Samuel Ramani, a tutor of international relations at the University of Oxford and author of the book Putin's War on Ukraine and Marcin Kaczmarski, a Lecturer in Security Studies at the University of Glasgow. Read our expertise: China's new scientists How to end Russia's war on Ukraine Ukraine is disappointed after the NATO summit – but not discouraged Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you get your podcasts. Please listen, rate, review and subscribe. Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Matthew Docherty and Abdul Boudaif.

For the next half year leading up to the elections in Taiwan, we will be bringing you a mini-series focusing entirely on the island, from domestic politics to its relationship to neighboring China.For this first installment of the Taiwan mini-series, host Sophia Yan speaks to Yu-Jie Chen, an assistant research fellow from Academic Sinica who focuses on Human Rights and International relations with a specific focus on cross-strait relations.Not only does Yu-Jie provide listeners with one of the clearest, most succinct summaries of three hundred years of Taiwanese history, but she also delves into how political and personal identities on the island have changed in the past three decades. With cross-strait tensions worsening in recent years, what does the future hold for Taiwan? Yu-Jie also explains how the ambiguity of the 1992 Consensus has caused the modern-day complexities in the region. Taiwan is so much more than the occasional headline, so make sure you don't miss this episode!

Although traditionally focused on economic engagement in the Middle East, in recent months China has indicated a greater willingness to engage in regional conflict mediation. The Saudi-Iran normalization agreement, brokered in Beijing, speaks to China's growing involvement in regional political and security issues. Chinese officials have also expressed interest in de-escalating the Israel-Palestine crisis and renewing the Iran nuclear deal. Meanwhile, the United States appears to be shifting its strategic focus toward the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Europe. Will China replace the United States as the leading outside power in the Middle East? What role can Beijing play in meditating regional disputes? How are Middle Eastern states responding to rising U.S.-China rivalry?In this live recording of the China in the World podcast, Paul Haenle moderated a discussion with Maha Yahya, Yu Jie, and Benjamin Ho on the key issues in China-Middle East relations. This panel is the fifth of the Carnegie Global Dialogue Series 2022-2023 and is also available to be watch at CarnegieChina.org. https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/06/08/china-s-rising-influence-in-middle-east-event-8107

Kalush Orchestra on winning Eurovision, touring the world and meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger's donkey. The BBC's Orla Guerin gives us a close up account of life on the frontline in Bakhmut as Russia throws everything to claim this symbolic city and how are relations between Presidents Xi and Putin after a year of war in Ukraine? China expert, Dr Yu Jie from Chatham House gives her views. Today's episode is presented by Adam Fleming and Vitaliy Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Josh Jenkins. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 Join us for a recording of a special episode of Ukrainecast on 24th February to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Venue: BBC Radio Theatre, London. Tickets: www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours

A new report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons on conditions at Eastwood Park women's prison has been released today. We speak to Sandra Fieldhouse, lead for women's prisons at HMI Prisons about the findings. The TV drama Happy Valley has captured the public's imagination with the final episode of the final series airing this Sunday. Catherine Cawood played by Sarah Lancashire is the policewoman who we see bringing up her grandson Ryan after her daughter took her own life. We hear from one listener who contacted Woman's Hour about how as a kinship carer she has felt “heard” by the drama and Anita also speaks to Dr Lucy Peake the chief executive of Kinship – the UK's largest charity for kinship carers. The Grammy's will be held on Sunday in Los Angeles and Beyoncé leads the pack with nine overall nominations. She has also announced her first tour in seven years, which led to the ticket website crashing. The UK concerts are part of a 43-date world tour in support of her Grammy-nominated Renaissance album. Anita discusses her success with Jacqueline Springer, curator Africa and Diaspora: Performance at the Victoria and Albert Museum and music journalist. China and Japan are seeing a marked reduction in their birth rates which will have a major impact on how their societies function in the next decades. With ageing populations and a birth rate well below the 2.1 replacement level observers are predicting significant problems ahead. By the end of the century China is predicted to drop from more than a billion to around 800 million and Japan's population will drop from 123 million today to around 75 million. Anita Rani discusses the reasons and implications with Dr Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China Asia Pacific Programme at Chatham House; and Yoko Ishikura an independent business consultant, professor emeritus at Hitotsubashi University who is working with the Japanese Government's Digital Agency. Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

In our first episode of 2023, we look at Africa and the complex role China plays on the continent. A recently published Chatham House report highlights twenty-two African countries suffering from debt distress, with Beijing a key creditor to many. This comes as China's new Foreign Minister Qin Gang is touring several African this week and next, with visits to Ethiopia, Angola, Gabon, and the headquarters of the African Union. This week we also hosted Dr Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group, where, in conversation with our own Dr Patricia Lewis, Comfort discussed the ten conflicts to watch in 2023. Our panel look at some of the key conflicts mentioned and how the world is responding to them. Joining Bronwen Maddox on the podcast this week are Dr Alex Vines, the Director of our Africa programme; Creon Butler, the Director of our Global Economy and Finance programme; Dr Yu Jie, the Senior Fellow on our Asia-Pacific programme, and Armida van Rij, a Research Fellow with the International Security programme. Read our expertise: The response to debt distress in Africa and the role of China Ten conflicts to watch in 2023 Africa in 2023: Continuing political and economic volatility The Director's Annual Lecture 2023 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you get your podcasts. Please listen, rate, review and subscribe. Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Abdul Boudiaf and Robin Gardner.

Anti-lockdown protests are sweeping the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. What does the unrest tell us about China's response to COVID-19? How serious a challenge are they for Xi Jinping's legitimacy so soon after the 20th Party Congress? Meanwhile on the Korean Peninsula, 2022 has been a record year for Pyongyang's ballistic missile tests. How far has the North's nuclear programme and its missile systems developed, and what does it mean for the country's neighbours such as Japan? Joining Bronwen Maddox in the studio to answer these questions and more are Ben Bland the Director of Chatham House's Asia-Pacific programme and Dr Yu Jie a Senior Research Fellow with the Asia programme. Joining the panel this week from Washington DC is special guest Ankit Panda, the Stanton Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Editor-at-Large for The Diplomat magazine. Read our expertise: China's zero-COVID cannot continue, reopening is needed Indonesia shows the value of non-aligned leadership Weathering the storm: In conversation with David Miliband Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you get your podcasts. Please listen, rate, review and subscribe. Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Abdul Boudiaf and Robin Gardner.

This week Chinese president Xi Jinping told his military to prepare for war in what he called an increasingly “unstable” security environment.  China just had its 20th party congress, with Xi Jinping securing an unprecedented third term in power. And amid rising tensions between China and the US, the first in-person meeting between Xi and Biden has been confirmed next week. But with no immediate loosening of the zero-Covid policy, we ask what's next for Xi?  In this week's episode of the Fourcast, Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China at Chatham House, tells us about the recent Communist Party Congress in China, the rule of Xi Jinping, and where next for this superpower. Sources: MSNBC, AP Producer: Freya Pickford

Amid political chaos in the UK, with the resignation of Liz Truss, Bronwen Maddox speaks with Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times, and Orysia Lutsevych, Head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House, about the latest developments surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Putin's nuclear threats. Joining them is Dr Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow for Chatham House's Asia Pacific program, to break down Xi Jinping's speech at the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party Read more of our expertise: After Truss, the UK can still rebuild its global reputation 20th CCP National Congress: Five issues to watch Ukraine's allies must dig deep to save its economy now Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you get your podcasts. Please listen, rate, review and subscribe. Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Abdul Boudiaf and Robin Gardner. 

As democratic support for Taiwan increases, so has Beijing's message to the world about its “One China principle” and the myth of a global consensus regarding the sovereignty of Taiwan. The truth is, every country - including Taiwan - has its own “One China policy”. And that policy (according to each country) is not the same as the principle (according to the PRC).It can be confusing. In a fight about international discourse on Taiwan, Beijing's diplomats and ambassadors are proactively trying to confuse the world. And this confusion is increasingly challenging for Taiwan's participation in global affairs and organizations. It's also challenging for different countries' own One China policy. Beijing insists that its “principle” should be adhered to by every country in the world. The end goal is for the world to confuse Beijing's' “principle” with an actual international law. The PRC would later use international law to say: exactly, this is our internal affairs and we can do whatever we want to do. No such international law exists. The UN resolution 2758 doesn't say that Taiwan is a part of China (despite what China says in its recent white paper.) The One China principle is PRC's principle only - not international law. And each country has (and should) clarify their own positions on Taiwan's sovereignty. China's “trying to say to the international society, to create a confusion that Taiwan belongs to China. So when China either sends out military aircrafts or flight jets around Taiwan, it's China's international affairs that other countries should not interfere with,” says Dr. Chen Yu-Jie. Dr. CHEN offers a solution. It's very important that all countries, including Taiwan, that don't agree with the One China principle to speak up, says Dr. Chen. “It's important that countries should voice out their different opinions, because international law depends on international practice. So if countries don't object to something that's being said, in the long run when it becomes a practice it might become a norm.” Our guest today is Yu-Jie CHEN, a key legal expert on international law and diplomacy in the context of China-Taiwan relations. CHEN has a JSD from the New York University School of Law. She is an assistant research professor at Taiwan's prestigious Academia Sinica. In addition to publishing and academic journals in the US, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the UK, CHEN also writes op-eds and takes part in public facing discussions.  Articles mentioned in this episode include:  “I'm Taiwanese and I Want to Thank Nancy Pelosi”, op-ed by Yu-Jie CHEN (New York Times, August 5, 2022): https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/05/opinion/taiwan-china-pelosi-democracy.html““One China” Contention in China–Taiwan Relations: Law, Politics and Identity”, scholarly paper by Yu-Jie CHEN (China Quarterly, September 27, 2022): https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/china-quarterly/article/abs/one-china-contention-in-chinataiwan-relations-law-politics-and-identity/3D4369ACBC0E9062F2FB9462D8961763#“China Is Using a UN Resolution to Further Its Claim Over Taiwan” by Madoka Fukuda (The Diplomat, August 26. 2022): https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/china-is-using-a-un-resolution-to-further-its-claim-over-taiwan/China white paper on Taiwan: https://english.news.cn/20220810/df9d3b8702154b34bbf1d451b99bf64a/c.htmlToday's host is JR Wu, a former journalist with two decades of media experience in the US and Asia. She has led news bureaus for Reuters and Dow Jones.Support the show by donating on patreon.com/taiwanEPISODE CREDITProducer, Host / Emily Y. Wu @emilyywuResearch / Min Chao @wordsfromtaiwanProduction Assistant / Gerald WilliamsA Ghost Island Media production / @ghostislandmewww.ghostisland.mediaSupport the show: https://patreon.com/TaiwanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent visit to Taiwan by Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has heightened tensions between the US and China. America has accused China of dangerous military provocations in the region. China has warned the US not to play with fire. Add to all that Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and concerns that China could be contemplating something similar in Taiwan, and it's time to ask the question: Will the US and China go to war over Taiwan? Contributors: James Lin from the University of Washington and expert on Taiwanese history Dr Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China, Chatham House

China's Global Development Initiative (GDI) was launched by President Xi Jinping on September 21, 2021. In a speech at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, Xi stated that, in the face of the severe shocks of the coronavirus pandemic, the world needed to work together to steer global development toward a new stage of balanced, coordinated, and inclusive growth. The GDI was meant to achieve those objectives as well as the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A Group of Friends of the GDI was launched at the UN in January, and more than 55 countries have joined it to date.In today's episode of China Global, Bonnie Glaser speaks with Dr. Yu Jie to discuss the GDI, which like most PRC initiatives, began as a bumper sticker and was described using vague and abstract language. Dr. Yu is a senior research fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific Program at Chatham House in London.[1:26] Beijing's Objectives[5:54] GDI's Relation to the BRI[7:34] China's Resources into GDI[10:31] UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development[14:06] Group of Friends of the GDI and Interested Countries[20:04] Origin of the GDI

China is often accused of breaking international rules and norms. Just last week at Mansion House, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: 'Countries must play by the rules. And that includes China'. So what are its transgressions, and what are its goals for the international system? My guests and I try to answer this question in this episode through looking at China's attitude to and involvement in international organisations, past and present. Professor Rana Mitter, a historian at the University of Oxford and author of  China's Good War , points out that there's a fundamental difference in China's approach compared to, say, Russia. 'Russia perceives itself as, essentially, a country that is really at the end of its tether in terms of the international system. Whereas China still sees plenty of opportunities to grow and expand its status'. To that end, China is actually a member of dozens of international organisations, most notably – as we discuss in the episode – sitting on the United Nations Security Council, which gives it veto power on UN resolutions (though, Yu Jie, senior  research fellow at Chatham House, points out that China is most often found abstaining rather than vetoing). It wants a seat at the table,  but it also frequently accuses our existing set of international norms and rules as designed by the West. To begin with, then, China is seeking to rewrite the rules in its own favour – Jie gives the example of China's ongoing campaign to increase its voting share in the IMF, on the basis of its huge economy. 'It's not exactly overthrowing the existing international order wholesale, but choosing very carefully which parts China wants to change.' This multilateral engagement has a historical basis. Nationalist China was keen to be seen as an equal and respected partner in the international community, and Rana points out – something I'd never thought of before – that China after the second world war 'was a very very unusual sort of state… Because it was the only state, pretty much, in Asia, that was essentially sovereign… Don't forget that 1945 meant liberation for lots of European peoples, but for lots of Asian peoples – Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaya, wherever you want to name – they basically went back into European colonialism'. This (together with its then-alliance with the United States)  gave the Republic of China a front row seat in the creation of the United Nations and, before then, the League of Nations. It didn't take long for Communist China to start building links with the rest of the world, either. Mao  'had not spent decades fighting out in the caves and fields of China to simply become a plaything of Stalin', Rana points out, making its multilateral relations outside of the alliance with the USSR vitally important. After it split with Moscow, and before the rapprochement with the US, the Sixties was a time of unwanted isolationism,  ' which is well within living memory of many of the top leaders', says Rana, adding more to its present day desire to have as much sway as possible in the world, which still comes through international organisations. Finally, my guests bust the myth – often propagated by Beijing – that China had no role in the writing of today's international laws, pointing out that Chinese and other non-western thinkers played a major role in the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . What's more, do western ideas have no place in guiding and governing China? After all, Karl Marx was certainly not Chinese, and that doesn't seem to bother his Chinese Communist believers.

China is often accused of breaking international rules and norms. Just last week at Mansion House, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: 'Countries must play by the rules. And that includes China'. So what are its transgressions, and what are its goals for the international system? My guests and I try to answer this question in this episode through looking at China's attitude to and involvement in international organisations, past and present. Professor Rana Mitter, a historian at the University of Oxford and author of  China's Good War , points out that there's a fundamental difference in China's approach compared to, say, Russia. 'Russia perceives itself as, essentially, a country that is really at the end of its tether in terms of the international system. Whereas China still sees plenty of opportunities to grow and expand its status'. To that end, China is actually a member of dozens of international organisations, most notably – as we discuss in the episode – sitting on the United Nations Security Council, which gives it veto power on UN resolutions (though, Yu Jie, senior  research fellow at Chatham House, points out that China is most often found abstaining rather than vetoing). It wants a seat at the table,  but it also frequently accuses our existing set of international norms and rules as designed by the West. To begin with, then, China is seeking to rewrite the rules in its own favour – Jie gives the example of China's ongoing campaign to increase its voting share in the IMF, on the basis of its huge economy. 'It's not exactly overthrowing the existing international order wholesale, but choosing very carefully which parts China wants to change.' This multilateral engagement has a historical basis. Nationalist China was keen to be seen as an equal and respected partner in the international community, and Rana points out – something I'd never thought of before – that China after the second world war 'was a very very unusual sort of state… Because it was the only state, pretty much, in Asia, that was essentially sovereign… Don't forget that 1945 meant liberation for lots of European peoples, but for lots of Asian peoples – Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaya, wherever you want to name – they basically went back into European colonialism'. This (together with its then-alliance with the United States)  gave the Republic of China a front row seat in the creation of the United Nations and, before then, the League of Nations. It didn't take long for Communist China to start building links with the rest of the world, either. Mao  'had not spent decades fighting out in the caves and fields of China to simply become a plaything of Stalin', Rana points out, making its multilateral relations outside of the alliance with the USSR vitally important. After it split with Moscow, and before the rapprochement with the US, the Sixties was a time of unwanted isolationism,  ' which is well within living memory of many of the top leaders', says Rana, adding more to its present day desire to have as much sway as possible in the world, which still comes through international organisations. Finally, my guests bust the myth – often propagated by Beijing – that China had no role in the writing of today's international laws, pointing out that Chinese and other non-western thinkers played a major role in the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . What's more, do western ideas have no place in guiding and governing China? After all, Karl Marx was certainly not Chinese, and that doesn't seem to bother his Chinese Communist believers.

China has so far refused to intervene in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but could Vladimir Putin's most powerful ally, President Xi Jinping, be the person to bring the war to an end? On the Sky News Daily podcast with Belle Donati, we are joined by our Asia correspondent Tom Cheshire, and Dr Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China at Chatham House. Editors - Philly Beaumont & Paul Stanworth Senior podcast producer - Annie Joyce Podcast producers - Soila Apparicio & Rosie Gillott Junior podcast producer - Aishah Rahman Interviews producer - Reece Denton Digital producer - David Chipakupaku Archive - Simon Windsor, Nelly Stefanova, Rob Fellowes

WHICH ROADS WILL CHINA FOLLOW TOWARDS 2035? Dr Yu Jie is senior research fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House.

The controversial AUKUS security agreement, perceived by some as a way to counter China's expansionist ambitions, has underlined the geopolitical significance of the Indo-Pacific region. One possible site of future conflict in the region is the Taiwan Straits, which separate the Republic of Taiwan from the Asian mainland. In this episode, Amrit speaks to Dr Yu Jie and Dr Liana Fix about a recent study on how military escalation in the Taiwan Straits could play out, and how Europe might respond.  Then, Mariana is joined by Dr Chris Sabatini to discuss the trends and lessons emerging from a series of recent elections in Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile. Read the briefing: Escalation in the Taiwan Strait: what to expect from Europe? Credits: Speakers: Liana Fix, Yu Jie, Chris Sabatini Hosts: Amrit Swali, Mariana Vieira Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

The controversial AUKUS security agreement, perceived by some as a way to counter China's expansionist ambitions, has underlined the geopolitical significance of the Indo-Pacific region. One possible site of future conflict in the region is the Taiwan Straits, which separate the Republic of Taiwan from the Asian mainland. In this episode, Amrit speaks to Dr Yu Jie and Dr Liana Fix about a recent study on how military escalation in the Taiwan Straits could play out, and how Europe might respond.  Then, Mariana is joined by Dr Chris Sabatini to discuss the trends and lessons emerging from a series of recent elections in Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile. Read the briefing: Escalation in the Taiwan Strait: what to expect from Europe? Credits: Speakers: Liana Fix, Yu Jie, Chris Sabatini Hosts: Amrit Swali, Mariana Vieira Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Only a handful of small states officially recognise Taiwan as an independent country, though in many ways this democratic territory has the trappings of an independent nation. But Taiwan's giant neighbour, China, argues that the island is a renegade province that will one day reunify with the mainland - and Beijing reserves the right to use force to accomplish that if need be. In recent years the Chinese have built up their military forces substantially, including many aimed at Taiwan, and the rhetoric from Beijing remains that Taiwan belongs to China. Meanwhile calls within Taiwan for full independence have grown louder. The United States says it is committed to preserving the ambiguous status quo in the region and to opposing any Chinese coercion of the Taiwanese. Japan, too, has recently become more outspoken about supporting the US military forces in any possible conflict over Taiwan. So could the dispute over Taiwan trigger a war?Joining David Aaronovitch in the Briefing Room are:Margaret Hillenbrand, Associate Professor of modern Chinese culture and literature at the University of Oxford.Dr. Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House.J Michael Cole, Taipei-based Senior Fellow with the Taiwan Studies programme at Nottingham University.Bonnie Glaser, Director of the Asia Programme at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Washington DC.Producers: John Murphy, Ben Carter, Kirsteen Knight, Jim Frank Sound Mix: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Jasper Corbett

The Communist Party of China has just celebrated its 100th anniversary by highlighting its economic track record at the helm of the Asian superpower. President Xi Jinping sought to capitalize on this occasion to further improve his standing within the party. Moreover, another recent anniversary went more unnoticed: July 9th marked half a century since the first visit to China by US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. This milestone was the starting point of the US-China rapprochement in the 1970s, and is worth reflecting on, given the recent tensions between the two countries. In this EsadeGeo Exchange podcast, Óscar Fernández, senior researcher at EsadeGeo, comments these two events and their local and global significance with Dr Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China at Chatham House. Read the podcast transcript on our Do Better hub! https://dobetter.esade.edu/en/100-communist-party-china

Exactly 20 years ago, China acceded to the World Trade Organisation. In the decades since, the globalised world became what we know today, with hundreds of millions of Chinese and people around the world lifted out of poverty through free trade. But the promised liberalisation - both economic and political - doesn't seem to have happened. China is now challenging western-led world order, and too difficult to disentangle from the world economy. So was it a mistake to allow China into the WTO, and has engagement failed?With Stewart Paterson, author of China, Trade and Power, and Yu Jie, senior research fellow at Chatham House.

Exactly 20 years ago, China acceded to the World Trade Organisation. In the decades since, the globalised world became what we know today, with hundreds of millions of Chinese and people around the world lifted out of poverty through free trade. But the promised liberalisation - both economic and political - doesn't seem to have happened. China is now challenging western-led world order, and too difficult to disentangle from the world economy. So was it a mistake to allow China into the WTO, and has engagement failed? With Stewart Paterson, author of China, Trade and Power, and Yu Jie, senior research fellow at Chatham House.

This week the Undercurrents team dive into two critical issues for the global economy. Amrit speaks to Chris Sabatini from the US & Americas programme about his latest briefing on how governments and economic institutions can protect informal workers in the post-pandemic gig economy. Then Ben is joined by Yu Jie from the Asia-Pacific Programme, who explains the key developments and implications arising from China's 14th five-year plan, which was published in March 2021. Read the briefing: Developing social insurance schemes for informal and 'gig' workers Read The World Today article: Beijing sets new course Credits: Speakers: Yu Jie, Chris Sabatini Hosts: Ben Horton, Amrit Swali Editor: Ben Horton Recorded and produced by Chatham House

This week the Undercurrents team dive into two critical issues for the global economy. Amrit speaks to Chris Sabatini from the US & Americas programme about his latest briefing on how governments and economic institutions can protect informal workers in the post-pandemic gig economy. Then Ben is joined by Yu Jie from the Asia-Pacific Programme, who explains the key developments and implications arising from China's 14th five-year plan, which was published in March 2021. Read the briefing: Developing social insurance schemes for informal and 'gig' workers Read The World Today article: Beijing sets new course Credits: Speakers: Yu Jie, Chris Sabatini Hosts: Ben Horton, Amrit Swali Editor: Ben Horton Recorded and produced by Chatham House

What must be done to stop trade becoming a weapon in a 3-way geopolitical stand-off? Moderator: Rem Korteweg, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael Institute Panellists: Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China, Chatham House Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, Center for Strategic and International Studies Frans-Paul van der Putten, Senior Research Fellow, the Clingendael China Centre This podcast episode was recorded on July 28 2020 The AIG Global Trade Series 2020 examines the forces reshaping the world's multilateral trading system. As the geopolitical and economic rivalry between the US and China intensifies, what will ‘decoupling' mean in practice for the world's two superpowers? As the stand-off continues, is the European Union destined to be a bystander, or can the European Commission seize a leadership role in protecting multilateralism and promoting global free trade? In this podcast, moderator Rem Korteweg of the Clingendael Institute is joined by Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China, Chatham House; Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Frans-Paul van der Putten, Senior Research Fellow, the Clingendael China Centre. Listen as they discuss the mutual frustration and mistrust growing between Washington DC, Brussels and Beijing as trade, technology and security increasingly fuse into a toxic, zero-sum mix. What must be done to stop trade becoming a weapon in a 3-way geopolitical stand-off between the US, China and the EU? What scope is there for defusing the clash over trade matters when it also involves security, influence and values? __________ The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of American International Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliates (“AIG”). Any content provided by our speakers are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything. AIG makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, or validity of any information provided during this podcast series and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses injuries, or damages arising from its use.

China's National People's Congress has set a 6% economic growth target for the year ahead. Premier Li Keqiang also warned other countries not to interfere in the affairs of Hong Kong. We find out more from Dr Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China at the foreign affairs research institute Chatham House. Also in the programme, we gauge market reaction with Shanti Kelemen of Brown Shipley to news that the US economy added 380,000 jobs in February, well ahead of economists' expectations. Throughout the week we've been examining the impact of the pandemic on workers' mental health, but today the BBC's Szu Ping Chan reports on what makes for a happy and satisfying career. Plus, the US band Kings of Leon is releasing its latest album today, but it has also chosen to issue it as a tradeable digital token, which is being described as a bit like the digital currency Bitcoin. Alex Hern is technology editor of The Guardian, and dicusses whether this marks a genuine breakthrough in how artists can earn money, or just a triumph of marketing to get people talking about the new release.

China's president Xi Jinping has spoken to a virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum. Dr Yu Jie is senior research fellow on China at Chatham House, and discusses what he had to say. Also in the programme, the UN's International Labour Organisation says that as a result of the pandemic, 93% of the planet's workforce is subject to restrictions on what they can and can't do. We find out more from the ILO's director general, Guy Ryder. In Uganda, many citizens have turned to virtual private networks to get round government internet restrictions in the wake of this month's general election. But the government is now cracking down and threatening anyone using VPNs with prosecution, as the BBC's Patience Atuhaire explains from Kampala. Plus the BBC's Benjie Guy reports on why two Hollywood stars have come to the aid of Wrexham football club in north Wales.

2020 is drawing to a close but none of us will forget this year anytime soon. For China, has it also been a watershed year? Western rhetoric hasn’t been so hawkish on China in a very long time, with talk of a second Cold War gracing commentary pages and calls to decouple supply chains. Lost in the noise is China's own turning away from the world. In a new strategy called 'dual circulation', the government is encouraging economic self-reliance. On this episode, Cindy Yu talks to Chatham House's Dr Yu Jie to find out how China is instigating its own decoupling.

2020 is drawing to a close but none of us will forget this year anytime soon. For China, has it also been a watershed year? Western rhetoric hasn’t been so hawkish on China in a very long time, with talk of a second Cold War gracing commentary pages and calls to decouple supply chains. Lost in the noise is China's own turning away from the world. In a new strategy called 'dual circulation', the government is encouraging economic self-reliance. On this episode, Cindy Yu talks to Chatham House's Dr Yu Jie to find out how China is instigating its own decoupling.

What must be done to stop trade becoming a weapon in a 3-way geopolitical stand-off? In this podcast, moderator Rem Korteweg of the Clingendael Institute is joined by Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China, Chatham House; Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Frans-Paul van der Putten, Senior Research Fellow, the Clingendael China Centre. Listen as they discuss the mutual frustration and mistrust growing between Washington DC, Brussels and Beijing as trade, technology and security increasingly fuse into a toxic, zero-sum mix. The AIG Global Trade Series 2020 is a series of podcasts analysing the complex interplay of factors shaping the global trade system. The series is brought to you by AIG in partnership with the Clingendael Institute and some of the world’s leading centers of expertise on global trade.

This week's podcast accompanies the launch of the CER policy brief 'Europe, the US and China: A love-hate triangle?', which examines the complex triangular relations between Europe, Beijing and Washington, and considers both what the EU can do to reduce the risks of a China-US conflict, and what it should do to protect its own interests against pressure from both sides. Leonard Schuette, researcher at the University of Maastricht and former Clara Marina O'Donnell Fellow at the CER speaks to Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, as well as fellow co-authors of the paper Sophia Besch, senior research fellow at the CER and Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the CER. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

The recent border clash between China and India is seen as a watershed moment in the two nuclear nations' relationship. How will its repercussions affect Asia, and the rest of the world? Contributors: . Chris Dougherty - a senior fellow with the Defence Programme at the Centre for New American Securities. . Ananth Krishnan – a correspondent for the Hindu newspaper. And the author of “India's China Challenge” . Tanvi Madan – a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy programme at the Brookings Institution. . Yu Jie - a Senior Research Fellow on China at Chatham House. Presenter: Tanya Beckett Series Producer: Estelle Doyle (Chinese President Leader Xi Jinping with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2017 BRICS Summit. Photo: Kenzaburo Fukuhara/Getty images)

This week we're talking with Dr. Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific Programme at the London-based think tank Chatham House, where her work focuses on China’s foreign policy and economic diplomacy. Yu Jie and I discuss China's economic recovery since its worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the government is strategizing for continued economic growth. We also discuss what economic policies may now change as the country's economic priorities shift, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the next Five Year Plan. 

Business relations have declined between India and China following a border dispute. Users of the Chinese mobile app TikTok express frustration that they're no longer allowed to use the service since the Indian government banned it along with dozens of other apps. Renu Agal, Hindi editor at The Print explains the background to the row, whilst we get wider context from Dr Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China at Chatham House. And Parveen Khandelwal, secretary of the Confederation of All Indian Traders discusses a boycott of Chinese goods that many shops are engaged in. Also in the programme, the US economy created 4.8 million jobs in June. The BBC's Samira Hussein brings us the latest figures, and we examine the likely impact of it all on the US economy, with Chris Low of FHN Financial. Plus, a committee of the UK House of Lords is calling for tougher controls on loot boxes that can be bought in video games, which contain special characters or equipment, arguing that it is a form of gambling. Lord Grade is chairman of the committee, and explains why it has taken that stance. And we get reaction from Jo Twist, chief executive of UKIE, the trade body for the UK's games and interactive entertainment industry.

Will Western economies and companies decouple from China? For decades, the world has relied on this rapidly emerging economy as its factory, producing everything from toilet rolls to iPhones. But post Covid-19, US trade wars and tensions with Hong Kong, is that all about to change? Evan Davis and guests discuss GUESTS Liam Casey, CEO and founder, PCH International Diana Choyleva, chief economist, Enodo Economics Dr. Yu Jie, senior research fellow, China, Chatham House

How have China's relations with other countries changed since the arrival of the virus? The US and China have been facing each other off for years, but increasingly other nations are questioning the benefits that China's growing dominance has brought. David Aaronovitch explores how that is being viewed within China itself. Has trust in the communist regime declined or are nationalistic attitudes strengthening? And what changes might this bring to global power dynamics in the future? Contributors: Professor Niall Ferguson of Stanford University, Rafaello Pantucci from RUSI, Yu Jie from Chatham House, economist and author Dr Linda Yueh and Professor Steve Tsang from SOAS. Producers: Kirsteen Knight, Sally Abrahams and Rosamund Jones. Editor: Jasper Corbett.

How did China really perform in the biggest global health disaster in 100 years? Chatham House China and diplomacy expert DR YU JIE gives Alex Andreou the inside story on the PRC's response to Corona. What was behind the infamous silencing of warnings about the virus from local doctors? Will the Crisis threaten the Party's rule? What it's like to live with China's stringent, ultra-personal monitoring programme? And how do things feel different for a Chinese person in the West now?“China needs to let the scientific evidence speak for itself, rather than orchestrating a propaganda campaign to tell its narrative.” “Chinese social media is not particularly kind about Chinese people returning home. They say ‘Why are you bringing the virus home to us?” “The 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party comes in 2021. China will need an economic success story to tell its population.”Presented by Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lorenzo Codogno, visiting Professor at the London School of Economics and previously chief economist in the Treasury Department of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance joins Vincent to discuss the Eurozone's initial response to the rapid spread of Covid-19 in Italy and together look at what might be done to aid Italy on both a humanitarian and economic level. Vincent is then joined by Dr Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China at Chatham House to discuss the possible motivations behind China positioning itself as a helpful world leader in this time of crisis. Sir Angus Deaton, Nobel Prize winning economist and co-author of 'Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism' joins Vincent to discuss why in the past two decades, deaths from suicide, drug overdose, and alcoholism have risen dramatically in the United States and attempt to shed light on the socioeconomic forces that are making life harder for working class Americans as a whole. Taking Stock is brought to you in association with PwC Ireland.  

This week Undercurrents returns with interviews on decolonization and the impact of the coronavirus crisis on China’s economy. Ben is joined by Events team colleague Amrit Swali to interview Tristram Hunt and Meera Sabaratnam about the decolonization process. They explore the role of civic institutions in re-thinking the legacies of the British Empire and breaking down colonial power structures which survive to this day.  Next, Agnes discusses the Coronavirus crisis with Yu Jie from the Asia-Pacific Programme. They assess the impact of the health emergency on China's economy and its reputation globally.  Watch the Chatham House Event: Understanding Decolonization in the 21st Century Read the Chatham House Expert Comment: Centralization is Hobbling China's Response to the Coronavirus Listen to the new podcast: Independent Thinking - The Events Podcast from Chatham House Credits: Speakers: Tristram Hunt, Meera Sabaratnam, Yu Jie Hosts: Agnes Frimston, Ben Horton, Amrit Swali Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Producer: Ben Horton Recorded and produced at Chatham House

This week Undercurrents returns with interviews on decolonization and the impact of the coronavirus crisis on China’s economy. Ben is joined by Events team colleague Amrit Swali to interview Tristram Hunt and Meera Sabaratnam about the decolonization process. They explore the role of civic institutions in re-thinking the legacies of the British Empire and breaking down colonial power structures which survive to this day.  Next, Agnes discusses the Coronavirus crisis with Yu Jie from the Asia-Pacific Programme. They assess the impact of the health emergency on China's economy and its reputation globally.  Watch the Chatham House Event: Understanding Decolonization in the 21st Century Read the Chatham House Expert Comment: Centralization is Hobbling China's Response to the Coronavirus Listen to the new podcast: Independent Thinking - The Events Podcast from Chatham House Credits: Speakers: Tristram Hunt, Meera Sabaratnam, Yu Jie Hosts: Agnes Frimston, Ben Horton, Amrit Swali Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Producer: Ben Horton Recorded and produced at Chatham House

This week Ben takes a deep dive into the US-China economic competition over technology, and then discusses intelligence agencies in the Global South.  Marianne Schneider-Petsinger from the Americas Programme and Yu Jie from the Asia-Pacific Programme explain their recent co-authored report on US-China strategic competition, and Zakia Shiraz from the University of Leicester draws on her recent article in International Affairs to explore the culture and practice of intelligence agencies beyond the 'Five Eyes' alliance.  Read the Chatham House Research Paper: US-China Strategic Competition: The Quest for Global Technological Leadership Read the International Affairs article: Secrecy, spies and the global South: intelligence studies beyond the 'Five eyes' alliance

This week Ben takes a deep dive into the US-China economic competition over technology, and then discusses intelligence agencies in the Global South.  Marianne Schneider-Petsinger from the Americas Programme and Yu Jie from the Asia-Pacific Programme explain their recent co-authored report on US-China strategic competition, and Zakia Shiraz from the University of Leicester draws on her recent article in International Affairs to explore the culture and practice of intelligence agencies beyond the 'Five Eyes' alliance.  Read the Chatham House Research Paper: US-China Strategic Competition: The Quest for Global Technological Leadership Read the International Affairs article: Secrecy, spies and the global South: intelligence studies beyond the 'Five eyes' alliance

Rana Mitter considers fearing Russia past and present with Mark B Smith, and the way Russia controlled fears over Chernobyl. Plus Tamar Koplatadze from the University of Oxford on her research into contemporary post-Soviet/colonial women writers’ responses to the fall of the Soviet Union, Victoria Donovan from the University of St Andrews outlines her project in the Donbass region of Ukraine that attempts to reconcile an industrial, Soviet past with an uncertain future and Yu Jie, Research Fellow at Chatham House, gives an account of the Chinese view of Russia. Mark B Smith teaches at the University of Cambridge and is the author of The Russia Anxiety. Chernobyl the TV miniseries was created and written by Craig Mazin, directed by Johan Renck and produced by HBO in association with Sky UK You can hear a Free Thinking discussion of Soviet history featuring the authors Svetlana Alexievich and Stephen Kotkin https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09d3q93 This discussion of Tarkovsky's 1979 film Stalker hears research into tourism in Chernobyl https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0775023 Cundill Prize winning historian Daniel Beer, Masha Gessen and Mary Dejevsky consider Totalitarianism and Punishment https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09h659t Producer: Torquil MacLeod

This week, as presidents Xi and Trump meet at the G20, is the world on the eve of a new Cold War (00:30)? Plus, Boris Johnson's campaign has had a tough week – but is this anything more than a wobble (15:55)? And last – he's had three wives, and his current partner is more than 20 years his junior – but why doesn't anyone ever talk about Jeremy Corbyn's love life (24:30)?With Gerrard Baker, Yu Jie, James Forsyth, Camilla Tominey, Melissa Kite, and Paul Staines.Presented by Isabel Hardman.Produced by Cindy Yu and Siva Thaganrajah.

This week, as presidents Xi and Trump meet at the G20, is the world on the eve of a new Cold War (00:30)? Plus, Boris Johnson’s campaign has had a tough week – but is this anything more than a wobble (15:55)? And last – he’s had three wives, and his current partner is more than 20 years his junior – but why doesn’t anyone ever talk about Jeremy Corbyn’s love life (24:30)? With Gerard Baker, Yu Jie, James Forsyth, Camilla Tominey, Melissa Kite, and Paul Staines. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Produced by Cindy Yu and Siva Thaganrajah.

Tuesday, 30 April 2019 - 9.00am Location: Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, Finley Library All-day workshop: 09:00 - 17:00 hrs Conveners: Eyal Benvenisti, Harold Hongju Koh, and Tomohiro Mikanagi In 2019 three major treaty withdrawals will reach important watersheds. Sometime in spring, the United Kingdom is scheduled to withdraw from the European Union under the withdrawal notice it gave under Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon. On November 4, 2019, the United States (under the administration of Donald Trump) is set to give notice that it will withdraw from the Paris Climate Change Accord one year later. In November 2019 the dispute resolution mechanism of the WTO will terminate effectively unless the US agrees to re-appoint a judge of the Appellate Body. These events may be seen as signaling a decline in leading states’ commitment to multilateralism and a growing preference to bilateralism. The Trump administration has clearly asserted its preference for bilateral deals while dismissing international organisations as taking advantage of US generosity. China also seems to prefer alternative groupings outside existing multilateral organisations. In October 2007, during its ascent to global power, China declared FTAs to be its basic international economic strategy. America’s disengagement from multilateralism did not prompt China to fill the void by reinforcing existing multilateral bodies with global reach. Instead, its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its regional security arrangements are modelled on the “hub and spokes” pattern, an architecture that allows it to tightly control its numerous partners and limit the application of existing standards and mechanisms. Famously, it ignored the UNCLOS arbitral award on the South China Sea in 2016. Perhaps to confront the risk of two superpowers busy dividing and ruling the rest, other countries have sought to preserve the minilateral institutions (eg the CPTPP) and utilise existing multilateral mechanisms (WTO reforms, UNCLOS conciliation and arbitration, OPCW attribution mechanism, etc.). In this workshop we wish to address the uncertain future of multilateralism in light of the prospective withdrawals and resurgence of bilateralism. We wish to discuss motivations, prospects, and implications for domestic and international law. This one day workshop seeks to reflect on the questions. In particular we wish to address the following questions: Panel I: The Domestic and International Legal Issues Surrounding US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord and Revising the WTO Since 2017, the Trump Administration has announced its withdrawal from a host of bilateral and multilateral arrangements, including the Paris Climate Agreement; the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA or Iran Nuclear Deal); the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; the Global Compact on Migration; the U.N. Human Rights Council; the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Relations with Iran; the 1961 Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention for Diplomatic Relations on Dispute Settlement; the Universal Postal Union Treaty; and the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty. This panel will address the following questions, among others – Is the Trump Administration aberrational, or are we witnessing the culmination of a long-term trend of U.S. withdrawal from multilateralist institutions? To what extent has the Trump Administration applied tactics first adopted by prior administrations: e.g., blocking reappointment of members of the WTO Appellate Body? What constraints do U.S. and international law place upon blanket unilateral presidential withdrawal from all disfavored organizations? Panel II: The Domestic and International Legal Issues Surrounding China’s “Hub and Spoke” Strategy This panel will address the following questions, among others – Is China accepting the existing multilateral legal rules and mechanisms in economic and non-economic areas? Is China deviating from international standards (including with respect to ISDS) in its various legal arrangements under BRI? Is China deviating from UNCLOS in the South China Sea, including through bilateral COC negotiation? Panel III: The Future of Rule-Based Global Governance through International Institutions: Limits and Potential What are the prospects for international institutions to reclaim multilateralism through concerted action, or through insistence on multilaterally binding norms? To what extent can the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice, or other international organisations and tribunals can contribute to maintaining and developing further globally-binding norms? To what extent can international process enhance the rule-based global governance through the clarification of law and facts? The UK and the Changing Legal Landscape: The Way Forward from Here

Tuesday, 30 April 2019 - 9.00am Location: Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, Finley Library All-day workshop: 09:00 - 17:00 hrs Conveners: Eyal Benvenisti, Harold Hongju Koh, and Tomohiro Mikanagi In 2019 three major treaty withdrawals will reach important watersheds. Sometime in spring, the United Kingdom is scheduled to withdraw from the European Union under the withdrawal notice it gave under Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon. On November 4, 2019, the United States (under the administration of Donald Trump) is set to give notice that it will withdraw from the Paris Climate Change Accord one year later. In November 2019 the dispute resolution mechanism of the WTO will terminate effectively unless the US agrees to re-appoint a judge of the Appellate Body. These events may be seen as signaling a decline in leading states’ commitment to multilateralism and a growing preference to bilateralism. The Trump administration has clearly asserted its preference for bilateral deals while dismissing international organisations as taking advantage of US generosity. China also seems to prefer alternative groupings outside existing multilateral organisations. In October 2007, during its ascent to global power, China declared FTAs to be its basic international economic strategy. America’s disengagement from multilateralism did not prompt China to fill the void by reinforcing existing multilateral bodies with global reach. Instead, its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its regional security arrangements are modelled on the “hub and spokes” pattern, an architecture that allows it to tightly control its numerous partners and limit the application of existing standards and mechanisms. Famously, it ignored the UNCLOS arbitral award on the South China Sea in 2016. Perhaps to confront the risk of two superpowers busy dividing and ruling the rest, other countries have sought to preserve the minilateral institutions (eg the CPTPP) and utilise existing multilateral mechanisms (WTO reforms, UNCLOS conciliation and arbitration, OPCW attribution mechanism, etc.). In this workshop we wish to address the uncertain future of multilateralism in light of the prospective withdrawals and resurgence of bilateralism. We wish to discuss motivations, prospects, and implications for domestic and international law. This one day workshop seeks to reflect on the questions. In particular we wish to address the following questions: Panel I: The Domestic and International Legal Issues Surrounding US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord and Revising the WTO Since 2017, the Trump Administration has announced its withdrawal from a host of bilateral and multilateral arrangements, including the Paris Climate Agreement; the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA or Iran Nuclear Deal); the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; the Global Compact on Migration; the U.N. Human Rights Council; the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Relations with Iran; the 1961 Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention for Diplomatic Relations on Dispute Settlement; the Universal Postal Union Treaty; and the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty. This panel will address the following questions, among others – Is the Trump Administration aberrational, or are we witnessing the culmination of a long-term trend of U.S. withdrawal from multilateralist institutions? To what extent has the Trump Administration applied tactics first adopted by prior administrations: e.g., blocking reappointment of members of the WTO Appellate Body? What constraints do U.S. and international law place upon blanket unilateral presidential withdrawal from all disfavored organizations? Panel II: The Domestic and International Legal Issues Surrounding China’s “Hub and Spoke” Strategy This panel will address the following questions, among others – Is China accepting the existing multilateral legal rules and mechanisms in economic and non-economic areas? Is China deviating from international standards (including with respect to ISDS) in its various legal arrangements under BRI? Is China deviating from UNCLOS in the South China Sea, including through bilateral COC negotiation? Panel III: The Future of Rule-Based Global Governance through International Institutions: Limits and Potential What are the prospects for international institutions to reclaim multilateralism through concerted action, or through insistence on multilaterally binding norms? To what extent can the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice, or other international organisations and tribunals can contribute to maintaining and developing further globally-binding norms? To what extent can international process enhance the rule-based global governance through the clarification of law and facts? The UK and the Changing Legal Landscape: The Way Forward from Here

This week Agnes and Ben meet with experts on China's economy and the history of UK relations with the gulf states.  Yu Jie joins Ben to explain what's happening to the Chinese economy in 2019, and what's really driving the US-China trade war.  Then Agnes discusses UK foreign policy in the Middle East with David Wearing, drawing on his new book, Anglo Arabia.  Read The World Today article: Marx and spenders Find the book: Anglo Arabia: Why Gulf Wealth Matters to Britain

This week Agnes and Ben meet with experts on China's economy and the history of UK relations with the gulf states.  Yu Jie joins Ben to explain what's happening to the Chinese economy in 2019, and what's really driving the US-China trade war.  Then Agnes discusses UK foreign policy in the Middle East with David Wearing, drawing on his new book, Anglo Arabia.  Read The World Today article: Marx and spenders Find the book: Anglo Arabia: Why Gulf Wealth Matters to Britain

In 2013 China launched its flagship economic project, the 'Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI). In the five years since the initiative has rapidly expanded trade and infrastructure relationships between China and 88 countries in Eurasia and Africa, covering over 60% of global GDP. Ben speaks to the Asia-Pacific Programme's Yu Jie to find out more. The rise of populism is a phenomenon affecting political systems across the West. From the 2016 electoral shocks of Brexit and Trump through to the victories of Salvini and Bolsonaro in 2018, conventional ideological divisions between left and right are being dismantled and replaced by a politics of polarization and identity-fuelled tribalism. Agnes speaks to the Europe Programme's Matthew Goodwin about his new book on 'national populism'.  Read the Chatham House Expert Comment: Money, Might and Mindset: China's Self-centred Global Ambition Listen to the interview: Yu Jie on China's halloumi craze [from 27:00] Find the book: National Populism: the Revolt Against Liberal Democracy

In 2013 China launched its flagship economic project, the 'Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI). In the five years since the initiative has rapidly expanded trade and infrastructure relationships between China and 88 countries in Eurasia and Africa, covering over 60% of global GDP. Ben speaks to the Asia-Pacific Programme's Yu Jie to find out more. The rise of populism is a phenomenon affecting political systems across the West. From the 2016 electoral shocks of Brexit and Trump through to the victories of Salvini and Bolsonaro in 2018, conventional ideological divisions between left and right are being dismantled and replaced by a politics of polarization and identity-fuelled tribalism. Agnes speaks to the Europe Programme's Matthew Goodwin about his new book on 'national populism'.  Read the Chatham House Expert Comment: Money, Might and Mindset: China's Self-centred Global Ambition Listen to the interview: Yu Jie on China's halloumi craze [from 27:00] Find the book: National Populism: the Revolt Against Liberal Democracy

Theresa May has been in Beijing this week at the head of a large British trade delegation. China is an important partner for Britain, especially given the UK's imminent departure from the EU. In particular, Beijing is keen for Britain to support its huge infrastructure project initially dubbed the New Silk Road, but now more generally known as the Belt and Road Initiative. China is spending unprecedented sums on building physical infrastructure; roads, railways, ports and even whole cities, not only in its own hinterland, but in many neighbouring countries. But to what end and what is the potential cost for these countries? Should Britain get involved? David Aaronovitch hears eye witness accounts of vast construction projects in Central Asia and Pakistan. And he invites the expert witnesses, Professor Steve Tsang from the School of Oriental and African Studies, Dr Yu Jie of the London School of Economics and James Kynge of the Financial Times to explore Britain's relationship with an increasingly powerful China.

REFLECTION QUOTES “Everybody wants to save the earth; nobody wants to help Mom do the dishes.” ~P.J. O'Rourke, American satirist and journalist “Regardless of what anyone may personally think or believe about him, Jesus of Nazareth has been the dominant figure in the history of western culture for almost twenty centuries… It is from his birth that most of the human race dates its calendars, it is by his name that millions curse and in his name that millions pray.” ~Jaroslav Pelikan (1923-2006), scholar and professor at Yale “Commitment is not a trap. It is not a prison. Commitment is an escape from prison—the prison of selfishness.” ~Ray C. Ortlund, Jr., American pastor “You can destroy freedom as much by abusing it as you can be taking it away.” ~Attributed to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh “You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.” ~Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), famed London preacher “He that is down needs fear no fall; He that is low no pride; He that is humble ever shall Have God to be his guide.” ~John Bunyan (1628-1688), English preacher and writer “…Persecution has purged the church. If you attend a church that is being persecuted, you do so only for the sake of truth—you cannot have other motives…. Because of the persecution of our church community, our bond of brotherhood is really strong.” ~Yu Jie, Chinese dissident intellectual who has become a Christian SERMON PASSAGE Selections from the Gospel of Mark (ESV) Mark 1 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 8 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Yu Jie 余杰 is a remarkably prolific writer. Born in 1973, Yu graduated from Peking University in 1997 and took a master's degree in 2000. Even while still a student, he published a collection of his essays, Fire and Ice. Numerous books have followed, including a novel Fragrant Grass Mountain. He's not been able to publish his recent work in China, but has found an audience in Hong Kong and Taiwan. His newest book, China's Greatest Actor: Wen Jiabao, sold out almost immediately. Yu Jie says that press attention following efforts by Beijing police during the summer to discourage him from publishing the book did much to drive sales. Yu Jie spoke at USC on October 7 and returned to China a few days later. Press reports say that he and his wife Liu Min have been under virtual house arrest since October 18. These reports describe Yu's confinement as part of a larger effort by China's government to silence critics following the announcement on October 8 that Liu Xiaobo, a writer and democracy activist imprisoned since 2008, would receive the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. Yu argues that the notion that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is reform-minded, someone who wants to open up China's governing system, is wrong. He suggests that as with previous Chinese Communist Party leaders, Wen plays a carefully defined role and that any perceived "space" between his ideas for China's present and future and those of Communist Party General Secretary Hu Jintao is an illusion. Yu believes that he has a duty to speak out. He draws inspiration from both Liu Xiaobo and Vaclav Havel. He says that a democratic China must be built by ordinary people and that it's pointless to wait for leaders to initiate democratization. He concludes by saying that he's chosen to live freely -- even if he doesn't live in a free society. Yu Jie was among the Chinese Christians meeting with US Pres. George W. Bush at the White House in May 2006.

Yu Jie 余杰 is a remarkably prolific writer. Born in 1973, Yu graduated from Peking University in 1997 and took a master's degree in 2000. Even while still a student, he published a collection of his essays, Fire and Ice. Numerous books have followed, including a novel Fragrant Grass Mountain. He's not been able to publish his recent work in China, but has found an audience in Hong Kong and Taiwan. His newest book, China's Greatest Actor: Wen Jiabao, sold out almost immediately. Yu Jie says that press attention following efforts by Beijing police during the summer to discourage him from publishing the book did much to drive sales. Yu Jie spoke at USC on October 7 and returned to China a few days later. Press reports say that he and his wife Liu Min have been under virtual house arrest since October 18. These reports describe Yu's confinement as part of a larger effort by China's government to silence critics following the announcement on October 8 that Liu Xiaobo, a writer and democracy activist imprisoned since 2008, would receive the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. Yu argues that the notion that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is reform-minded, someone who wants to open up China's governing system, is wrong. He suggests that as with previous Chinese Communist Party leaders, Wen plays a carefully defined role and that any perceived "space" between his ideas for China's present and future and those of Communist Party General Secretary Hu Jintao is an illusion. Yu believes that he has a duty to speak out. He draws inspiration from both Liu Xiaobo and Vaclav Havel. He says that a democratic China must be built by ordinary people and that it's pointless to wait for leaders to initiate democratization. He concludes by saying that he's chosen to live freely -- even if he doesn't live in a free society. Yu Jie was among the Chinese Christians meeting with US Pres. George W. Bush at the White House in May 2006.