What Beidaihe reveals about the changing nature of Communist leadership
Chinese Whispers21 Elo 2023

What Beidaihe reveals about the changing nature of Communist leadership

178 miles to the east of Beijing, there’s a beach resort called Beidaihe. The water is shallow and the sand is yellow and fine. Luxurious holiday villas dot the coastline. Starting from the 1950s, leaders of the Chinese Communist Party have moved their families and work to Beidaihe in the summer, making the beach resort something of a summer capital. Secrecy clouds the gatherings, and though this tradition continues, today the resort seems to serve a much more leisurely purpose when the CCP visits.

On this episode, I’m joined by the historian James Carter and Bill Bishop, editor of the very popular Sinocism newsletter, to discuss where Communist leaders go, when they go on summer holiday. What is the changing role of Beidaihe, and what does this tell us about the changing nature of Communist leadership?

Presented by Cindy Yu.

Produced by Cindy Yu and Joe Bedell-Brill.

Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.


For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.


Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(122)

Hong Kong's National Security Law, one year on

Hong Kong's National Security Law, one year on

In the 12 months since the enactment of the National Security Law on Hong Kong, opposition leaders, journalists and activists have been arrested; reforms on education and elections begun; and last wee...

28 Kesä 202134min

Has economic engagement with China failed?

Has economic engagement with China failed?

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 wo...

14 Kesä 202139min

Journalism in China: what can and can't you say?

Journalism in China: what can and can't you say?

What is it like to be a journalist in China? There are obvious restrictions on freedom of speech, but, as I find out on this episode, there are creative ways to navigate the strict system of censorshi...

31 Touko 202138min

The fightback against facial recognition

The fightback against facial recognition

China has run wild with facial recognition. From using it to ration tissues in public toilets, to identifying highest paying customers in stores and criminals from a crowd, what is a budding technolog...

17 Touko 202140min

Respect your elders: how the Chinese see family life

Respect your elders: how the Chinese see family life

The archaic-sounding notion of 'filial piety' has little direct translation into English, but is a deep-rooted part of Chinese culture and ethics. On this episode, I find out about what motivates the ...

3 Touko 202130min

Do China's intellectual elite support the government?

Do China's intellectual elite support the government?

You might think that in a country as tightly controlled as China, diversity of opinion is hard to come by in written form. But as I find out in this episode, there is a vibrant conversation going on w...

19 Huhti 202134min

Why does China care about Taiwan?

Why does China care about Taiwan?

Cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan seem to be hotting up, with headlines frequently touting the possibility of a military takeover by Beijing. But why does China care so much about this s...

5 Huhti 202140min

Is anyone still communist in the Chinese Communist Party?

Is anyone still communist in the Chinese Communist Party?

'Scratch a communist, you’ll find a nationalist underneath’, Professor Kerry Brown, the director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London, tells me on this episode. Together with Professor ...

22 Maalis 202140min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

uutiscast
aikalisa
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
politiikan-puskaradio
tervo-halme
rss-podme-livebox
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
the-ulkopolitist
otetaan-yhdet
rss-asiastudio
aihe
rikosmyytit
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-merja-mahkan-rahat
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-aijat-hopottaa-podcast
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka
viisupodi