Shows
SinobabbleAll the China books I read in 2025Leave your recommendations below. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!Chapters (00:00) About the books(2:20) The Dean of Shandong(12:35) Private Revolutions(20:35) The New China Playbook(29:20) I Deliver Parcels in Beijing(40:40) Final thoughts(42:30) Books for next year, book club?Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepodLatest Substack post: https://substack.com/@sinobabble/p-178934152Links to everything: https://linktree.com/sinobabbleSupport the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_i...
2025-12-2344 minSinobabbleXi's PLA purges in their historical contextIn recent months news of purges at the very top of the PLA have gripped headlines, with many speculating as to the cause and outcomes of this series of high-profile oustings. Many have concluded that regardless of the cause -- coup attempt, rampant corruption, incompetence, paranoia -- the result is that Xi has tightened his control over an historically elusive and *opaque* arm of the party-state. Xi is an outside figure -- he is not a military man, he has seen no bloodshed, commanded no battles, won no victories. And yet he now towers above the PLA a...
2025-12-0749 minSinobabbleWhat do Chinese people really think about China? (W/Nick Zeller & Craig Kafura)I'm joined by Nick Zeller (https://uscnpm.substack.com/) and Craig Kafura (https://bsky.app/profile/ckafura.bsky.social) to discuss a public opinion poll carried out earlier this year and what it tells us about what Chinese people really think about China. Broken down into 4 reports, we talk about the economy, China-US relations, global leadership, the impact of demographics on answers and why the reaction from westerners reveal an ideological bent and a lack understanding of Chinese society.Read the reports here: https://globalaffairs.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/CCGA-Carter%20Center_China%20International%20Relations%20Report.pdf
2025-11-211h 23SinobabbleDid China build too much High-Speed Railway?Today we'll be examining the argument of a prominent Chinese scholar that China has built too much High-Speed Railway that is underutilised, unprofitable, and will cause major economic problems in the future. We ask why the state-government would pursue such a misguided policy, and how it's beginning to affect the rest of the world too.Read Lu's original essay here: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/-iBh9BPpi7kl2BGhkGWHaw Chapters (00:00) Introduction - HSR and white elephants(05:00) The history of China's HSR(11:10) Arguments against HSR (25:56) Spillover Buy me a coff...
2025-10-3134 minSinobabbleHow China built its own Silicon ValleyHangzhou is a city once famed for its poets, tea, and silk, but it’s now capturing attention for something entirely different: AI labs, robotics startups, and IPO-hungry tech firms. The rapid rise of innovative and globally competitive tech startups has led to Hangzhou being dubbed “China’s Silicon Valley.” But not everyone agrees that the comparison is so black and white.Chapters (00:00) Introduction - Hangzhou(02:15) Historical role of Hangzhou(03:28) A bit on Alibaba(09:45) How Hangzhou created its own growth model(14:45) How Hangzhou and Silicon Valley differBuy me a coffee: h...
2025-08-2624 minSinobabbleWhy foreign brands are failing in ChinaStarbucks recently announced that it's looking to sell part of its stake in its China operations, and is looking for a domestic partner to help boost the company's profile. This comes at a time when a host of foreign firms are seemingly struggling in China after years of riding the wave of the rising middle class. What are the main factors leading to these struggles? What are these brands missing? And what can they do to reverse their fortunes?Chapters (00:00) Introduction - The Starbucks Story(05:45) Changes in the Chinese consumer market(09:00) Foreign brands history i...
2025-08-0934 minSinobabbleUS Rare earth mineral dependency ends trade war | China news discussion #8 | 15 June 25 BMCA discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 9th June. We look at how rare earth minerals may be the deciding factor in this trade war and potentially all trade wars to come. We look at an interview with Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei who states that Chinese chips are still behind the US and more 'basic research' is needed'. And we catch up with some of the latest developments in Hong Kong regarding the national security law.Links: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-says-china-will-supply-rare-earths-us-allow-students-2025-06-11/https://substack.com/home/post/p...
2025-06-2231 minSinobabbleChina's Soft Power ProblemWe take a thorough look at the nature of soft power, how it can be used, and whether or not a country truly needs it to explore China's soft power deficit and what can be done to fix it. While China does have SOME soft power, arguably its lack of the charm of its neighbours and rivals means its culture and ideology is often met with suspicion or outright rejection. This can lead to difficulties when interacting on the global stage, for example when it comes to pandemic management, border relations, or the promotion of language and culture. Do...
2025-06-2059 minSinobabbleWhy the UK is choosing China over the US | China news discussion #7 | 8th June 2025A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 2nd June. China accuses the US of trying to reverse the temporary trade truce in place, affecting the future of Chinese students in the US. Also, China's twist on Klarna and why the UK is choosing to For the full version please head over to Buy Me a Coffee and consider becoming a supporter today for as little as £5: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepodLinks: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/29/us-revoke-chinese-student-visashttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/02/china-us-trade-war-truce-donald-trumphttps://ww...
2025-06-1536 minSinobabbleWhere do all those stolen iPhones go? | China news discussion #6 | 25th May 2025A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 12th May. Will China be the main beneficiary of the clashes between India and Pakistan? Also, we find out where all those stolen iPhones end up, and whether or not China replacing the US as a global health leader is a good thing or a bad thing. Links: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3311270/china-urges-trust-cooperation-pakistan-afghanistan-regional-tensions-mounthttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1w3dln352vohttps://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-accuse-pakistan-of-sowing-distrust-between-afghanistan-china-/7638230.htmlhttps://www.independent.co.uk/n...
2025-06-0127 minSinobabbleScam centres and fake job syndicates: Chinese white collar human trafficking in SE AsiaIn January of this year, Chinese actor Wang Xing went viral after being kidnapped in Thailand having travelled for what he thought was a job opportunity, only to be rescued after his girlfriend made a post begging for the authorities to help. After a 4 day ordeal, Wang made a dramatic TV appearance alongside Thai police, with his head shaved but otherwise seemingly unscathed.Wang’s case shed light on an issue that had been getting little coverage in the national press. To date, over 3,000 Chinese nationals are being held in scam compounds in Southeast Asian nations like Ca...
2025-05-2837 minSinobabbleTariffs paused and Starbucks loses ground | China news discussion #5 | 18th May 2025A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 12th May. We discuss the outcome of the China-US tariff deal and how no one in China seems to really care. Starbucks is losing out to domestic coffee brands as its lack of strategy and reliance of hollow premium branding fall flat. Also, Xi's success with Latin American and Caribbean countries, and China's role in the India-Pakistan dispute.For the full version please head over to Buy Me a Coffee and consider becoming a supporter today for as little as £5: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepod
2025-05-2529 minSinobabbleChina and the US meet for tariff talks | China news discussion #4 BMC | 11th May 2025Apologies for the late upload for this one!A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 5th May. We discuss the upcoming scheduled talks between US and Chinese representatives in Switzerland to move towards a resolution on the trade war, as well as Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow ahead of the Victory Day parade.Links: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/08/xi-jinping-vladimir-putin-china-russia-kremlinhttps://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3309454/xi-jinpings-russia-visit-balances-symbolism-and-strategy-europe-watches?utm_source=rss_feedhttps://merics.org/en/china-russia-dashboard-facts-and-figures-special-relationship#:~:text=China%2DRussia%20trade%20has%20surged%20since%20Ukraine%20...
2025-05-1625 minSinobabbleSpies, Secrets & South Korea | China news discussion #3 | 4th May 2025A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 28th April. We discuss the CIA's attempt to recuit spies in the Chinese government, China's plans for an AI dominated future, and why China is annoying South Korea once again.#china #chinanews #AI #USChinaSupport the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod
2025-05-1133 minSinobabbleAll US-China tariff war analysis sucks and I'm sick of itThis is a rant video about the 'expert' 'analysis' coverage of the China-US trade war/tariff skirmish. There is no analysis or even coherent thought process here. This is basically just my train of thought about why it's a bad idea to try and predict the future. I try and relate it to Fukuyama as well, I don't know, just listen and have your own opinions."The End of History?" Francis Fukuyama: https://pages.ucsd.edu/~bslantchev/courses/pdf/Fukuyama%20-%20End%20of%20History.pdfChapters (00:00) Introduction(04:26) How is any of this relevant t...
2025-05-1029 minSinobabbleDeepseek wins, Diplomacy woes | China news discussion #2 | 27th April 2025This is last week's news analysis episode. For the most recent episode head over to Buy Me a Coffee and become a member to get the episodes as soon as they come out!A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 21stApril. We discuss mysterious Deepseek news and some of China's latest diplomacy moves in Asia. While China claims it wants peace and even allyship with its Asian neighbours, its actions often seem contrary to its words.Links: https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3307814/deepseek-opens-roles-product-and-design-start-keeps-mum-new-ai-model?utm_source=rss_feed...
2025-05-0421 minSinobabbleTariffs, Tik Tok, TSMC | China news discussion #1 | 20th April 2025First episode in a new series where I go through some trending news stories in China and analyse their impact. This version is from last week, for the most recent episode head over to Buy Me a Coffee and become a member to get the episodes as soon as they come out!A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 14th April. We discuss how the tariff war between China and the US is spilling into different industries, and how some manufacturers are suffering unexpected consequences in trying to circumvent the US market.
2025-04-2727 minSinobabbleGuo Wengui is the scammer the US deservedA billionaire with a lavish property portfolio promises to save the US from the evil clutches of the Chinese Communist Party, partnering with right-wing media figures to attract thousands of followers, only to be revealed as a criminal whose businesses scammed fans of hundreds of millions of dollars. Have you figured out who we're talking about yet? That's right, it's Guo Wengui (Miles Guo? Guo Haoyun?)! After a period of self-imposed exile, mysterious Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui begins attracting the attention of powerful political figures in the US by promising the secrets to the annihilation of the CCP and...
2025-04-2447 minSinobabbleZhao ZiyangWhen we talk about the making of modern China, no name looms larger than Deng Xiaoping. But despite the heavy media bias and weighty political legacy China's architect carries, he did not build modern China alone. In fact, he cannot claim sole responsibility for coming up with the most iconic ideas that shaped China's future, like Special economic zones and new systems of economics. Some of the credit belongs to a much less well known figure: Zhao Ziyang. Removed from power after clashing with the elders of the CCP over the Tiananmen Square Incident, Zhao was crucial to forming...
2025-03-041h 01
Sinica PodcastUnder Pressure: Michael Cerny and Rory Truex on China Discourse in the U.S. Foreign Policy CommunityThis week on Sinica, I welcome back Michael Cerny — formerly of the Carter Center and now a Ph.D. student at Harvard — and Rory Truex of Princeton University to discuss a new working paper they've co-authored. They undertook a large-scale survey of foreign policy professionals at U.S. think tanks to ascertain whether there is a "consensus" on China policy, as is often claimed, and whether people working in think tanks feel pressure to take on more "hawkish" positions on China policy. We also introduce a new segment called "Paying it Forward."5:04 – What motivated Michael and Rory to wri...
2025-01-021h 06SinobabbleThere is no decoupling from China (#2)Why are Western (or Global North, whatever) nations pursuing decoupling at this particular moment in history? What is the link between decoupling and de-globalisation? Is either achieveable, or are we doomed to live in an interconnected world with two rival powers threatening nuclear war till the end of time?Chapters (00:00) Introduction (02:50) Secondary sector(19:11) De-globalisationSupport the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Bu...
2024-12-2550 minSinobabbleThere is no decoupling from China (#1)In 2020, Donald Trump made a speech where he announced plans to decouple the US' economy from China's, leading to a media outburst and a half-hearted response from the EU. 4 years later, Trump is back in power and the question of decoupling is back on the table, but the real question here is: is decoupling even possible?In part 1 (of 2? 3?) we take a look at the primary sector of the global economy to see just what decoupling would actually take and how much of a stake China has the in the extraction of raw materials used around the...
2024-12-1638 minSinobabble20th Century Chinese History #4: Early Republican China (1912-1919)**REUPLOAD**In today's episode we're going to pick up where we left off, at the very beginning of the new Republic of China. We'll look at the rise of Yuan Shikai and the descent of China into a period of warlordism. We will explore the changing nature of China's politics and culture, right up until the next big event to hit the Chinese stage, the May 4th movement.Some famous people we will be discussing include Sun Yatsen, Cai Yuanpei, Hu Shi, Lu Xun, and some of the founders of the Chinese Communist...
2024-11-2632 minSinobabble20th Century Chinese History #3: The Xinhai Revolution of 1911**REUPLOAD**Currently in the process of reuploading old episodes from the history portion of the podcast starting with this one!DescriptionOn October 9th 1911 an accidental explosion in a revolutionary base in Hubei province in central China triggered a revolution that would mark the end of China’s imperial past and usher in its modern future. While the series of events that followed seem to indicate a straightforward revolution on the surface, recent scholarship on the topic shows that the exact nature, objective, outcome, and legacy of the Republican movement is an...
2024-11-2031 minSinobabbleThe silliest debate in Chinese academic history (Boodberg v Creel)What is the origin of the Chinese writing system? Where did Chinese characters come from, and how did they evolve over time? Are they pictographs? Ideogographs? Logographs? Phonographs? Or all of the above? This is the nature of one of the most famous debates in Sinology, which took place in the 1930s between historian Herrlee Creel and linguist Peter Boodberg. The debate not only reveals the complexity of including many diverse fields under the single umbrella of 'Chinese studies', but also reveals a deeper controversy about the way Chinese history, language, and thought is understood and interpreted in the...
2024-08-121h 00SinobabbleChina's social credit system is real. Everyone is wrong about it though.Much has been made in Western media about the Chinese social credit system. It's been painted as a totalitarian form of surveillance akin to 1984, where all citizens are tracked, monitored and ranked according to an arbitrary set of rules set up by the state. It's seen as something to be feared, something that could be coming to your country and taking over your life sooner than you think. But the truth of the real social credit system may be a lot more banal. From mistranslations to misunderstandings, let's delve into why the social credit system may be the thing...
2024-07-221h 04SinobabbleThink Tank China analysis is worthless, actually.In this episode we discuss Western (mainly US) think tank analysis of China in the 1990s and early 2000s and ask ourselves if they provide any value either for the public discourse or as pieces of policy advice. While experts work hard to produce piece after piece, report after report, looking at China's economic, military, political and technological developments, the actual usefulness of these works either individually or as a collective needs to be evaluated. What started off as the search for a common thread in the evolution of China analysis over a 10 year period ended up being a...
2024-07-0159 minSinobabbleHow Xi Jinping became emperor. And how everyone missed it.When Xi became General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, no one assumed he would take up that position for life. But when Presidential term limits were abolished in 2018, it was widely understood that Xi had made himself supreme leader, and would remain head of the state, party, and military indefinitely. But how did Xi manage to pull this off, and how did everyone seemingly miss the signs? According to some sources, Xi made a swift powergrab, sweeping over party consensus and using guile and manipulation to crush his foes. The truth, however, may be a lot less straightforward...
2024-06-1057 minSinobabbleAuthenticity and the Disney-fication of China's Cultural HeritageWhy are so many cultural heritage sites in China fake? Why is the architecture all the same? And why does no one care that all these old towns were built in the past 20 years? Let's take a deep dive into the history of the cultural heritage industry in China, the role of the CCP party-state, the agency of local actors, and try and figure out why Chinese tourists love fake reconstructions of mini European villages in the middle of their megacities.*Diary of the visit to Furong was in 2022 not 2002!!#China #culturalheritage #unesco #culturalrevolution #chinesehistory...
2024-05-1350 minSinobabbleAnnouncing the first ever Sinobabble livestream!Hi everyone,I’m really excited to announce that I will be hosting my first ever livestream this Friday 10th May over on Youtube. This is just a casual event, where you guys can ask me any questions you want, we can discuss current affairs and China news, and we can brainstorm future episode ideas as a collective.The stream will be at 10pm BST. You can join us at this link on Friday - I’m really looking forward to chatting with everyone!See you soon,EdiSu...
2024-05-0800 minSinobabbleChina's EV industry (was funded by the US)There’s a lot of outrage currently about China’s attempts to grow its EV market, at the expense of the US economy. But the truth is that the Chinese EV market wouldn't be where it is today without the generous funding it received (and continues to receive) from the US, Western governments, and multinational companies looking to cash in on the next big thing.So let's talk about the ways in which China's EV industry is funded by the US, both directly and indirectly, partly with the help of your pension fund.Chapters (00:00) Intro...
2024-04-2942 minSinobabbleI read all 212 pages of Hong Kong's new National Security Bill. It's not good."Safeguarding National Security Bill", also known as Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, was passed in March to no public opposition. I read through the whole bill and discussed how it may be used to transgress human rights and common sense in Hong Kong. I also discuss the history of recent protests in Hong Kong, and how they paved the way for Beijing to get its way and increase its control over its peopleChapters (00:00) Introduction to Article 23(03:15) Background: protests and new legislation 2019 - 2021(13:07) Going through Article 23(16:00) Part 2: Treason(18:45) Part 3: S...
2024-04-1543 minSinobabbleYoung Chinese people can't find jobs (they actually want)In the face of economic turbulence, China's youth are struggling to find jobs that are suited to their skills and can give them the life that they want and were promised. While China's government strives to alleviate youth unemployment, societal and cultural factors pose significant challenges. China's young people are reacting in unpredictable ways - finding alternate ways to get jobs, taking time out to become full time kids, or forging their own paths altogether.Chapters 00:00 Background: Employment in China vs the West03:50 Reasons for youth unemployment in China08:55 Crazy job requirements11:30 Chinese g...
2024-03-2644 minSinobabbleChina's ecommerce dystopia: TEMU, SHEIN and the fast-everything modelThe newer and nimbler players in Chinese e-commerce are pushing buttons in the West. Rock-bottom prices, fast fulfilment and addictive interfaces are pushed to their limits to take China's dopamine economy global. What's going on, where does AI fit in the picture and what can we do to take on these new standards of consumption?Support the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www...
2024-03-0831 minSinobabbleThe "White Woman aesthetic" trend and Chinese class struggleYoghurt bowls. Lululemon leggings. Ugg slippers. More young Chinese women embrace what they identify as the "white woman aesthetic" as an antidote to the pressures of high maintenance beauty standards and material achievement. As more Chinese women question the grind and settle for less, is the "white woman aesthetic" really an innocent social media fad or a deeper awakening of class consciousness? Chapters 3:15: Introduction to the "White Woman aesthetic"12:00 Chinese middle class anxiety14:31 Defining the Chinese middle class21:05 Morality and responsibility of the Chinese middle class27:32 Limitations of the Chinese middle class
2024-02-2841 min
New Books in Chinese StudiesSinobabble: A Podcast about Modern Chinese HistoryI got to chat with Dr. Edi Obiakpani-Reid about Sinobabble, her podcast series on 20th century Chinese history. In this series she offers an informed and engaging survey of China from the end of the Qing Dynasty to the death of Mao Zedong. In our wide-ranging conversation, we discussed her experiences as a graduate student in Hong Kong from 2017 to 2020, how to respectfully present the horrific absurdities of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, and the global history of Socialist Realism among many other things.After undergraduate work in Chinese Studies at the University of Ed...
2023-04-121h 15
New Work in Digital HumanitiesSinobabble: A Podcast about Modern Chinese HistoryI got to chat with Dr. Edi Obiakpani-Reid about Sinobabble, her podcast series on 20th century Chinese history. In this series she offers an informed and engaging survey of China from the end of the Qing Dynasty to the death of Mao Zedong. In our wide-ranging conversation, we discussed her experiences as a graduate student in Hong Kong from 2017 to 2020, how to respectfully present the horrific absurdities of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, and the global history of Socialist Realism among many other things.After undergraduate work in Chinese Studies at the University of Ed...
2023-04-121h 15
Reed Morin ShowUnderstanding China, Xi Jinping, & the CCP's Plan | Episode 10 - Edi ObiakpaniEdi (pronounced Eddie) is the host of Sinobabble, a podcast and newsletter about modern Chinese history, as well as contemporary Chinese news, politics, and culture. She has a PhD in Chinese History and has lived in mainland China and Hong Kong on and off for 5 years. She is currently based in the UK. You can listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts! Support the show
2023-04-021h 05
The History Voyager PodcastChinese Spy Balloon w/ Edi of Sinobabble Edi is an expert on China. We talked about the recent spy balloon her podcast is Sinobabble. She also has a substack at https://sinobabble.substack.com/Her Twitter is @sinobabbleIf you want to get in touch with methehistoryvoyager.com@theskullpodcastthehistoryvoyager@gmail.com
2023-02-181h 04
The Way(Episode Swap) Sinobabble: The Third FrontIn this episode we'll be discussing the Third Front, a covert industrialization campaign that took place between 1964 and 1972 in China's remote, mountainous interior. This little-discussed campaign actually formed a crucial part of China's Cold War policy strategy, and despite its clandestine nature cost billions of yuan in resource and personnel allocation, as well as for construction and transportation. The Third Front was part of China's preparations for war with either the US, the Soviet Union, or their allies in the region, especially after the US joined the Vietnam War in mid-1964. Major industrial and military complexes were built in southwes...
2022-04-0839 min
Turn of the CenturyBoxer Rebellion w. SinobabbleUPDATE: I'm sorry in advance for the limited release of episodes! I've had to cut back on the frequency of Turn because I’ve been inundated with audio editing and production work. The positive side is that I’m getting ready to launch some exciting new projects, which I think you will really enjoy (details to come)! What this means for Turn of the Century, though, is that we’re going to move to a monthly release schedule. I’ll post more often when I can, but I just want to be upfront about what to expec...
2021-05-1343 min
The Way35) ChinaEdi Obiakpani, a holder of a P.h.D. in Chinese and History joined me to discuss all things China. We covered topics from the Hong Kong protests to Chinese political motives and more. It was also very interesting to hear about her own personal experiences living in the country for 7 years. Edi even has her own podcast dedicated to China called Sinobabble.
Trailer - https://www.podcasttheway.com/l/china/
Sinobabble - Website - Apple - Spotify - Substack
If you're listening through Spotify, you may hav...
2021-04-061h 05
The History Voyager PodcastEdi of The Sinobabble PodcastEdi of The Sinobabble Podcast
Edi has a PhD in Chinese History and Culture.
Apple, spotify, Substack, Website
2021-03-121h 19
SinobabbleEpisode 29: The First Five-Year PlanIn this episode we discuss China's first Five Year Plan, a centralised form of economic development that encompasses elements of social engineering and which is still used in China till this day. What were the major aims of the FYP, what were the outcomes, and why did the CCP end up abandoning this system of slow but steady development in favour of a Great Leap? We discuss these questions, as well as looking at how the foundations of Mao's ideological and political dominance were laid in this period following the death of Stalin. This is a...
2020-10-3037 min
SinobabbleEpisode 28: Dreaming of East Turkestan: Xinjiang and China, c.700-1950This episode discusses the historical background of the relationship between China and the Xinjiang region, putting into context the current situation of the Uyghur people. It traces Chinese imperial attempts to first turn the area into a vassal, and then incorporate the region entirely into the empire, creating a new nationalist ideology based on a multicultural identity. The discussion starts from the 8th century AD and the fall of the Uyghur Khaghanate, and ends with the story of the reintegration of Xinjiang into the PRC after 1949, and the CCP's views on the status of the region since then.
2020-10-2447 min
SinobabbleEpisode 27: Why is Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia? (+Bonus Article)The second episode of three on the CCP’s incorporation of the periphery into the PRC after 1949. We discuss the historical relationship between the Mongolian people and the Mainland Han Chinese people, to give context to why modern China feels that Inner Mongolia is part of the great Chinese nation.At the end of the episode, we discuss the numerous articles on attitudes towards sex in China that I've come across in my casual reading. We highlight a woman working towards bringing foreplay into Chinese couples' bedrooms, and a survey revealing the lack of sexual knowledge among Chi...
2020-10-1330 min
SinobabbleEpisode 26: The 'Liberation' of Tibet: Sino-Tibetan relations c.1200-c.1950This episode is the first in a series of three discussing the incorporation of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Mongolia into the PRC after 1949.In this episode we discuss the historical relationship between Tibet and China, as well as the changing nature of the CCP's approach to the inclusion of Tibet in the new nation. What makes the Tiebtans feel like they deserve their own independent nation? The answer lies in their own beliefs surrounding the unique nature of Tibetan culture and ethnicity, and their rejection of Chinese hegemony. This is a public episode. If you'd...
2020-10-0524 min
SinobabbleModern China Episode 3: Fraud, bribes, and coverups: A brief history of China's Academic ScandalsThis episode is another addition to the modern China series. Today we’re going to be talking about a deep rooted problem in China, that of frequent and recurrent academic scandals. There are many reasons why I’m not sure a career in academia is for me, and one of those reasons does revolve around the problem of ethics and free speech when it comes to doing any sort of research in or about China. We discuss some of the most prominent examples in three differentcategories: fake research, deleted research, and conflict of interest.
2020-09-2825 min
SinobabbleEpisode 25: Soviet Aid (with bonus article)In this episode we discuss what financial aid the Soviet Union provided to China, as well as how cultural connections were formed between the two states, using the example of art.I also discuss an Economist article on poverty alleviation measures in poorer parts of China. How do Chinese officials carry out policies in a way that solves the key problem of poverty, while also promoting the party and president Xi as the saviour of the people? And is there anything that Western democracies can learn from China's integration of economic, political, and social issues?
2020-09-2129 min
SinobabbleEpisode 24: The Korean WarOver the next couple of episodes we’re going to be examining the relationship between China and the Soviet Union, and how this relationship determined the development of China’s economy and international relations in the 1950s and the early 1960s. Today we’re going to start by discussing the The Korean War of 1950 to 1953, as this conflict was crucial in shaping Sino-Sovet relations in the early 1950s. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substac...
2020-08-0123 min
SinobabbleEpisode 23: Land Reform, 3 Antis, & 5 Antis CampaignsIn this episode we’re continuing the theme of mass campaigns, and taking a detailed look at some of the most important campaigns in PRC history in order to see the party’s revolutionary tactics in action. Last week we spoke about the structure of mass campaign in Maoist China, and this week we’re going to be looking at three campaigns in total, one rural and two urban. The rural campaign was known as the Agrarian Land Reform Policy (land reform), which was the radical redistribution of all of China’s agricultural land equitably among its peasant population. The two...
2020-07-1826 min
SinobabbleEpisode 22: Propaganda, Mass Mobilisation, and Political Campaigns in the Early PRCMass campaigns were the cornerstone of the CCP’s rule during the Maoist era. They were used to spread information about policies, inculcate the masses with the correct understanding of communist ideology, and importantly mobilise the people and get the public involved in different schemes to support the so-called building of the nation.In this episode, we’re going to be talking about the ways propaganda and mass mobilisation techniques were used in Maoist China, and serves as a sort of reference point for future episodes where we’ll be talking about more specific policies and mass c...
2020-06-3022 min
SinobabbleEpisode 21: New Laws, New Society (w/Emily Matson)In this episode we discuss the introduction of two new laws at the start of the PRC: the marriage law and the education reform. Both of these laws were intended to change the shape of society, making it more civilised and modern, as well as more rational and easier for the state to control. Both laws evolved in ways that the state did not intend, leading to their subsequent de-emphasis in the following years. However, both of the changes have repercussions till today.Emily Matson is a PhD student in the Corcoran History Department, University of Virginia...
2020-06-1452 min
SinobabbleHong Kong Protests 2.0: Censorship & Self-censorship in the face of AuthoritarianismThis is the second episode in another short series I’ll be doing about the Hong Kong protests.Certain outlets have chosen to remain silent on the most recent events in Hong Kong, as well as the June 4th vigil that was officially cancelled by the state but took place in Victoria Park regardless. This episode discusses the rise of self-censorship, instances of innocuous creeping censorship of the Chinese state against international institutions, and what this means for freedom of expression not just in China, but for everyone. This is a public ep...
2020-06-0515 min
SinobabbleHong Kong Protests 2.0: National Security in the time of CoronaThis is the first episode in another short series I’ll be doing about the Hong Kong protests.Tensions in Hong Kong have flared up once again as the CCP pushes to introduce the National Security Law in the wake of last year's protests. This law seeks to punish those who threaten the integrity of the state through sedition, secession, terrorism, or collusion with external forces. The public and some members of parliament have also been angered by the push of the national anthem law, which would criminalise parody or insult of the March of th...
2020-06-0318 min
SinobabbleEpisode 20: The Founding of the PRCThis episode is the first in the series on the People's Republic of China, the starting point for the modern China that we know today, still ruled over by the same Communist Party.This episode serves as an update, as well as an introduction to the structure of the Chinese state and the main characters we'll need to keep in mind moving forward (it's more interesting than it sounds I promise!). This episode also gives an overview of the topics that we'll be covering in the upcoming months, including how the CCP ran their propaganda and mass...
2020-06-0126 min
SinobabbleEpisode 19: The End of the Chinese Civil War, 1945-9The victory of the CCP over the KMT was a bit of a shock to many, it was by no means obvious that they were going to win and actually by all accounts they should have lost. Chiang Kai-shek had the bigger army, more money, control of the cities, and at least the tacit support of the USA, who were hell bent on stopping the spread of communism now that they didn’t have to pretend to be friends with the USSR anymore. Despite the KMT’s numerous advantages, there were factors both internal and external to the party that...
2020-03-1535 min
SinobabbleThe Date Debate: When did the War of Resistance Against Japan Begin? (ft. Emily Matson)In this episode, Emily Matson and I will be delving deep into the subtle yet monumental change that was made to the Chinese official curriculum a few years ago. In 2017, the government announced that the official start date for the War of Resistance Against Japan should be change from 1937 to 1931 in all textbooks. This not only goes against previous Chinese historical beliefs, but also the internationally recognised start date for the conflict. Emily and I discuss how and why this change may have come about (we have no definitive answers, only theories unfortunately) as well as the implications...
2020-01-011h 04
SinobabbleEpisode 17: The 2nd Sino-Japanese War & China in WWIIIn the last two episodes we covered the Communist regime in Yan’an during the period 1941-1945, and how they went about solidifying their control over CCP controlled areas, spreading their ideology through movements and campaigns. Of course, we also covered the Communists’ involvement in WWII, but generally speaking, the CCP was not at the forefront of the fighting during the war with Japan. Most of frontline fighting was done by Nationalist soldiers under the leadership of Chiang, and with the help of the allied forces, though the extent to which any fighting was actually done has often been call...
2019-12-1545 min
SinobabbleEpisode 16: The Communists at Yan'an (pt2): Life after RectificationThis episode will continue the theme of the Communists at Yan'an, switching focus to the lives of Party members and ordinary people under CCP rule.Split over two parts, we will talk about the development and spread of Communist ideology and Mao Zedong thought, the institution of political campaigns aimed at increasing social cohesion and improving the lives of peasants, and the reaction of the Party to dissent. This week we discuss the fallout from the Rectification movement, and the effect it had on the social lives of political party members as well as ordinary people living...
2019-12-0820 min
SinobabbleEpisode 15: The Communists at Yan'an (pt1): War & RectificationThis episode will continue the theme of the Communists at Yan'an, switching focus to the lives of Party members and ordinary people under CCP rule.Split over two parts, we will talk about the development and spread of Communist ideology and Mao Zedong thought, the institution of political campaigns aimed at increasing social cohesion and improving the lives of peasants, and the reaction of the Party to dissent. The Yan'an Rectification movement of 1942-44 was one of the most important campaigns of the Yan'an period, solidifying Mao Zedong thought as the supreme ideology, and ensuring the unity...
2019-12-0132 min
SinobabbleEpisode 14: Mao Zedong Thought with Emily Matson (2)Mao Zedong Thought was one of the most influential ideologies of the 20th Century, and is arguably still having a huge effect on China and the rest of the world today. In this episode, Edi and Emily discuss the Long March and how it has been mythologised and used as a powerful message in propaganda since the 1940s. We also look at the first few years of the CCP at their Yan'an base, which explains Mao's rise to power in more detail.We answer some important questions such as whether Mao is a true Marxist, and to...
2019-11-1540 min
SinobabbleEpisode 13: Mao Zedong Thought with Emily Matson (1)Mao Zedong Thought was one of the most influential ideologies of the 20th Century, and is arguably still having a huge effect on China and the rest of the world today. In this episode, Edi and Emily discuss the origins of Mao Zedong Thought by tracing Mao's life from his origins as a country boy fascinated with Chinese traditional culture and monarchist heroes, to his rise as leader of the CCP, and everything in between.We answer some important questions such as whether Mao is a true Marxist, and to what extent could he be considered a...
2019-11-0151 min
SinobabbleEpisode 12: The Nanjing Decade (5): Were the KMT fascists?This is the last episode on the Nanjing decade, so far we’ve covered culture, economics, feminism, and academia, and I wanted to leave this episode till last because I feel it ties all the other threads together really nicely. We’ve gotten a few glimpses of the Nationalist Party’s governance and policy formulation in a few areas, and how they tried to exert control over different areas of Chinese life, but we haven’t addressed the topic of KMT politics in and of itself. Although in recent years many aspects of the Nanjing decade have been reevaluated in a mor...
2019-10-1725 min
SinobabbleEpisode 11: The Nanjing EconomyContinuing with the Nanjing Decade, in this episode we look at the successes and failures of the Nationalist government with regards to the Chinese economy. While the Nationalists became increasingly interventionist and looked to ramp up their stake in the financial system, their policies hindered private businesses and failed to save the rural peasant economy. But was this period a complete failure? And can all the blame be lain at the feet of the KMT? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus e...
2019-10-0124 min
SinobabbleEpisode 10: Nanjing Decade (3): Feminism & The New WomanThe discourse on feminism in the Nanjing decade isn’t just a simple narrative, it actually takes the form of a debate between two camps. There are those who believe that women were champions of the feminist movement, through their various publications, groups, and activist movements, and those who believe that the women’s movement was essentially co-opted simultaneously by the commercial industry for profit, the government for greater control over society, and the disenfranchised male intelligentsia for their own political gain.The debate is quite an intriguing one, and is also wrapped up in other social and...
2019-09-1526 min
SinobabbleModern China Episode 2: Xi Jinping: China's New Emperor?In March 2018, at a meeting of the 2,980 delegates of the National People’s Congress, a vote was passed to abolish the two-term limit on the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the People’s Republic of China. The ten year limit, which has been in place for almost 30 years, was initially put in place by Deng Xiaoping ostensibly to prevent the building up of a cult of personality that heavily contributed to the tragedies perpetrated under Mao Zedong’s leadership. While the title of President of China has been considered largely ceremonial in the past, and some politicians such as Deng Xiaopi...
2019-09-0314 min
SinobabbleEpisode 9: Nanjing Decade (2): Art, Literature, & FilmIn this week’s episode we’re returning to the Nanjing decade, the period of Chiang Kai-Shek’s Nationalist rule from 1927-1937, to discuss the development of the creative sphere at the time. In this episode we’ll talk about how art, literature, and film evolved and try to understand what the major themes and trends of the period were, as well as trying to determine the extent of political influence on artistic endeavours. It’s going to be a pretty long one, but I think it’s a little less name-and-fact heavy than previous episodes, and focuses more on analysis...
2019-08-1550 min
SinobabbleHong Kong's Extradition Protests (4): How the CCP Deals with DissentIn this episode, we try and understand the formula used by the CCP to manage and quell the roughly 180,000 local protests that spring up across the territory every year. What does the resolution of the demonstrations in Wukan village in 2011 tell us about the Chinese Communist Party's methods of control and appeasement? Can this model be applied to the situation currently unfolding in Hong Kong?This is the final episode in the Hong Kong Extradition Protests mini-series. Don't forget to listen to the previous episode if you haven't already in order to understand the full context of...
2019-08-0123 min
SinobabbleHong Kong's Extradition Protests (3): Conversation with a ProtesterIn this week's episode I speak to a local Hong Kong protester and a friend from mainland China to gain a wider perspective on the meaning behind the protests and the future of Hong Kong.This conversation was recorded two weeks ago, so it focuses mainly on the July 1st stroming of the legislative council and the impact that it has had on the movement as a whole. Hopefully in the next episode I can focus a bit more on the more recent developments with a bit more nuance as to how the Chinese Communist Party deals...
2019-07-2346 min
SinobabbleHong Kong's Extradition Protests (2): Condemning the ProtestersThe protests in Hong Kong escalated on the 1st of July when a small group of protesters broke away from the larger, main protest, and chose to storm the legislative council building on Hong Kong Island. For me, this change in the nature of opposition to the extradition bill brought to mind the following question: do the people who are denouncing the protests have a point?In the previous episode on the Hong Kong Extradition protests, I gave the historical background to both the protests and the general anti-mainland sentiment that exists in Hong Kong society, and...
2019-07-0821 min
SinobabbleHong Kong's Extradition Protests (1): A brief History of Hong Kong-China RelationsOn Sunday 9th June 2019 at 2:30pm starting at Victoria Park between the neighbourhoods of Tin Hau and Wan Chai, around 1 million Hong Kong residents took to the streets in possibly the biggest protest the territory had ever seen. They were protesting the implementation of an amendment to the preexisting Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance, known as the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill, but it’s mostly commonly known as the extradition bill for short. They objected to what they saw as an overreach by the ma...
2019-07-0143 min
SinobabbleModern China Episode 1: Controlling Leisure - Regulating Celebrities and Prostitutes in ChinaA new series in which I introduce some of the themes of modern China scholarship, research, and journalism, and explain these broader themes using a couple of example articles each episode.In this episode, we look at Chinese government regulation and control of entertainment and leisure using the examples of celebrity culture and prostitution. The two articles I’ve chosen to look at are from completely different sources, but are both really well researched. The first is a research report that was published in the most recent issue of the China Quarterly, which is pretty much the mo...
2019-06-1525 min
SinobabbleEpisode 8: Nanjing Decade (1): Academia & JournalismThe Nanjing Decade is the period from 1928 to 1937 that saw Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist rule over a semi-unified China, allowing for the blossoming of new trends in science, literature, art, and culture that were brought to an abrupt halt with the invasion of Japan in 1937.This episode is the first in a series of episodes on the Nanjing decade, and discusses developments in academia, including natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, medicine and journalism. It gives an overview of the intellectual sphere, looks at government involvement in science and journalism, and highlights key figures in the development of new...
2019-06-0431 min
SinobabbleEpisode 7: End of the Alliance - Shanghai Massacre & the Ascension of Chiang Kai-shekThis episode picks up exactly where we left off in the previous episode, with Chiang Kai-shek battling with the Nationalist left and the communists for control over the revolution to overthrow the warlords and establish a unified Chinese government. This episode covers the period 1927 to 1934, we sees the KMT reunite after splitting with the Communists once and for all, and Chiang Kai-shek develop and obsession with defeating the Communists and erasing them from existence. We also see how the Communist leadership eventually comes round to the idea that the peasants may well be the future of the revolution...
2019-03-3139 min
SinobabbleEpisode 6: An Uneasy Alliance - The Northern Expedition 1926-28In this episode we will be looking at the alliance made between Sun Yat-sen's Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in an effort to defeat the warlords and reunite China under the Republican banner. Despite the tension between the left within the KMT, which allied with the CCP minority, and the conservative faction, the party was able to hold together to win major victories until a fork in the road threatens to undo the fragile alliance.This episode covers the re-building of Sun's weakened party, the preparations made by the Nationalists in their southern...
2019-01-1444 min
SinobabbleEpisode 5: The May 4th MovementOn May 4th 1919 around 3,000 students from Beijing University and some 12 other universities in the capital gathered in Tiananmen square to voice their opposition to the events taking place at the Paris Peace Conference. What started as a peaceful march erupted into a violent protest, and then into a nationwide cultural and intellectual movement that was to last for three years. This movement is now known as the May 4th Movement, and is commonly cited as a decisive moment in China’s intellectual history, a short burst of vigor that is still examined, praised, and held up as a guiding ex...
2018-11-3045 min
SinobabbleEpisode 4: Early Republican China (1912-1919)In today's episode we're going to pick up where we left off, at the very beginning of the new Republic of China. We'll look at the rise of Yuan Shikai and the descent of China into a period of warlordism. We will explore the changing nature of China's politics and culture, right up until the next big event to hit the Chinese stage, the May 4th movement. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe
2018-11-1532 min
SinobabbleEpisode 3: The Xinhai RevolutionThe second episode of the '20th Century China' series. On October 9th 1911 an accidental explosion in a revolutionary base in Hubei province in central China triggered a revolution that would mark the end of China’s imperial past and usher in its modern future. While the series of events that followed seem to indicate a straightforward revolution on the surface, recent scholarship on the topic shows that the exact nature, objective, outcome, and legacy of the Republican movement is anything but uncontentious. In this episode we’ll be discussing the build up to the revolution and the events as t...
2018-11-0131 min
SinobabbleEpisode 2: The Last Dynasty (Part 2)The second episode of the '20th Century China' series. In the last episode we explored the events that led to the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1912. In this episode, we look at the individuals who played an important role in these events, and who tried to shape China's future by preventing or facilitating dynastic failure. We will be covering the same events, but this time from the perspective of the intellectual sphere, introducing some notable actors who played key roles in the early 20th Century. This is a public episode. If you'd like to...
2018-10-1433 min
SinobabbleEpisode 1: The Last Dynasty (Part 1)The First Episode of the '20th Century China' series, exploring the evolution of China from empire, to warlord Republic, to Communist state, to modern nation. In this first episode, we look at the events that took place from 1830 to the first decade of the 20th century to understand why and how China's last imperial house, the Qing dynasty, had been weakened enough to eventually fall in 1911._________________________________________________________________________Sources-"The Search for Modern China," Jonathan D. Spence -"The Penguin History of Modern China," Jonathan Fenby -"God's Chinese...
2018-10-0137 min