The Alibaba affair

Xi Jinping and Joe Biden have exchanged greetings to mark the start of the new year, noting the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said cooperation between China and the US ...

9 Jan 202415min

China has been trying to persuade the world’s super wealthy that it remains a good place to invest. It throws parties where the finest champagne flows to show its enthusiasm for international business...

12 Des 202314min

In the early 1990s, China enjoyed a period of rapid economic progress, as the government emphasised the importance of so-called pillar industries, including construction. In this podcast, Rory Green, ...

5 Des 202315min

The FBI claims that spying by China represents the "defining threat of this generation". It says a vast network of agents in China and abroad are gathering secrets on an unprecedented scale, spreading...

28 Nov 202314min

The overall assessment of the historic summit between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden seems to have been positive. There was a softness in Biden’s tone, and Xi seemed happy during and after their long meetin...

21 Nov 202314min

China’s currency, the yuan, has seen its value against the US dollar depreciate sharply this year. That may reflect foreign disillusionment with China’s economic prospects and policy making. Many inve...

14 Nov 202314min

China says it will do its utmost to restore peace to the Middle East and has called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip. Its proposal has been rejected by Israel as the ground a...

7 Nov 202314min

For ten years, China has been pushing other countries to partner with it through the Belt and Road initiative (BRI). While some nations such as Russia are fans of the project, it has largely been snub...

31 Okt 202314min