Best East And Southeast Asian Podcasts (2024)

1
Ep171: Why the partnership between Russia and China worries Europe 14:01

1h ago14:01

14:01

The war in Ukraine has made the Russian leader Vladimir Putin something of a pariah in the West but he still meets regularly with Xi Jinping. In theory, Russia and China enjoy a no-limits partnership. But are there constraints on their relationship? Abigaël Vasselier is a former diplomat and is currently Director for Policy and European Affairs and…

1
Ep170: The looming trade war between China and the EU 15:11

4d ago15:11

15:11

Manufacturers of Chinese electric vehicles intend to build their companies into powerhouses to rival Volkswagen and Renault. The Chinese government backs their expansion into new markets, including Europe. This has caused political tension and as a result, a trade war is looming between China and Europe. On this podcast, Duncan Wrigley, Chief China…

1
Ep169: Women, Communism and social change 15:11

11d ago15:11

15:11

The best-selling book Wild Swans by Jung Chang contains harrowing accounts of life in China during the 20th Century. It covers the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, the civil war, the establishment of the CCP and the Cultural Revolution. In this podcast, Dr Chang gives a riveting account of how these momentous events impacted her mother and grandmo…

1
Ep168: Why are Russia and China squabbling over North Korea? 14:05

17d ago14:05

14:05

North Korea is a troublesome neighbour for China. At one level, its Workers' Party, led by Kim Jong-Un, claims fraternity with the Chinese Communist Party. But Marshall Kim follows his own agenda, including belligerent rhetoric against South Korea, the United States and Japan. He's also nurturing his relationship with Vladimir Putin. In this podcas…

1
Why India is not the next China, with Alicia García Herrero 25:33

21d ago25:33

25:33

As India’s economy continues to grow, can the world’s most populous country truly replicate China's success of the past decades? Should India even imitate China? Maybe not, says our guest on this episode, Alicia García Herrero, Hong Kong-based Chief Economist for Asia-Pacific at French investment bank Natixis, and Senior Fellow at European think ta…

1
Ep167: Xi Jinping's attitude towards the Global South 14:40

25d ago14:40

14:40

China has a strategy to forge partnerships with countries in the so-called Global South. This pits it against other influential nations which also claim to be international leaders. Furthermore, many people in developing countries resent being pressed to pick sides. The podcast includes a discussion on Chinese foreign policy between Professor Steve…

1
Myanmar More Than Three Years into the Coup, and Prospects for the Future 36:19

1M ago36:19

36:19

Two human rights experts and members of the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar, Yanghee Lee and Chris Sidoti, join Asia Society Executive Vice President and Asia Society Policy Institute Senior Fellow Debra Eisenman to discuss the current state of play in Myanmar, where effective control of the country lies, and prospects and recommendations for …

1
Ep166: The risk of war over Taiwan 14:56

1M ago14:56

14:56

Tension rose in East Asia following the inauguration of the Taiwanese president Lai Ching-Te in May 2024. China dispatched fighter jets, bombers armed with live missiles and naval vessels into areas very close to Taiwan’s east coast. Was this a signal that under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China could be prepared to launch an amphibious assault o…

1
Ep165: The political significance of Tibet 13:40

1M ago13:40

13:40

Tibet, on China's border with India, is seen as having great strategic importance to Beijing. The region, which has been prone to unrest, has been under Chinese control since 1950. Its spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama is in exile in India but plans to visit the United States this summer. In this podcast, Michael Bristow, China Correspondent for the…

1
Ep164: China's approach to the Middle East 13:17

2M ago13:17

13:17

China's leaders have taken a sharply critical tone against Israel over its war with the Palestinian militant group, Hamas. They have also suggested that the United States is exploiting and exasperating long-running conflicts in the Middle East. In this podcast, Richard Spencer, a correspondent for The Times newspaper, warns that a regional conflagr…

1
Permission To Come Home: Dr. Jenny Wang on Asian Americans and Mental Health 55:56

2M ago55:56

55:56

May 14, 2024 — Dr. Jenny Wang, nationally recognized psychologist and author on the intersections of mental health, Asian American identity, and racial trauma, discusses strategies for both Asian and non-Asian communities to prioritize mental health, reshape limiting narratives, and progress towards personal and collective freedom and autonomy. Kan…

1
Insights into the Indian Elections with Dr. Ronojoy Sen 19:31

2M ago19:31

19:31

With over 970 million eligible voters, the ongoing Indian elections mark the world's largest democratic exercise. As the six-week-long election process unfolds, Farwa Aamer, director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute, sits down with Dr. Ronojoy Sen, senior research fellow and research lead in Politics, Society, and Gove…

1
Japan’s Balancing Act, with Yuki Tatsumi 35:37

2M ago35:37

35:37

As tensions simmer in its immediate environment, Japan is on high alert. In the midst of China's "sustained aggressiveness," Japan is revising its defense and security policies. But how does this align with its pacifist constitution, and is there still room for engagement with China? Hear from Yuki Tatsumi, senior fellow and co-chair of the East As…

1
Ep163: China's grip on the internet in Southeast Asia 14:18

2M ago14:18

14:18

China is becoming a dominant force in the online realm in Southeast Asia. Partnerships through a network known as the Digital Silk Road enable China to have extensive influence on how people access the internet in countries such as Cambodia, Nepal and Thailand. In this podcast, campaigner Michael Caster explains what he sees as a battle for free sp…

1
China and Eastern Europe, with Alicja Bachulska 38:14

2M ago38:14

38:14

Views of China in Central and Eastern Europe range from Hungary, eager to be Beijing’s best friend, to the adverse Baltics. Hear Warsaw-based China analyst Alicja Bachulska on the unique experiences Beijing has with the region, and how this could contribute to a more robust European China policy. This episode is from Asia Society Switzerland's STAT…

1
Ep162: Xi Jinping's fraught relationship with Europe 14:16

2M ago14:16

14:16

The prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, regards China as a "pillar of the new world order." Mr Orban admires leaders such as Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, who are challenging the western-led system. Professor Hanns Maull from the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) believes that Xi Jinping’s visit to Hungary in May 2024 showed that …

1
Ep161: What does Xi Jinping think about technology? 14:01

2M ago14:01

14:01

Xi Jinping is urging Chinese companies to compete vigorously with other countries in the development of advanced technology, including high end computer chips. There is an ideological basis to the strategy: Xi Jinping has spoken about China becoming much more self-reliant. But the battle for supremacy in tech causes tension in the realm of internat…

1
Episode 112: Sirithorn Ing Siriwan, Department of Asian Studies, Cornell University 54:50

2M ago54:50

54:50

In this episode, Francine interviewed Sirithorn Siriwan, or Ing, a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Asian Studies at Cornell University. Ing discusses rice rituals in northern Thailand and how they relate to animism, or “Sasana Phi.” She draws from narratives surrounding what she coins Thai "ricelihood" to unfold the juxtaposition of phi, rice …

1
A Conversation with Asia Society President Dr. Kyung-wha Kang on Leadership and Global Governance 54:17

3M ago54:17

54:17

Managing Director Rorry Daniels interviews Asia Society President and CEO, Dr. Kyung-wha Kang, on what has shaped her career, including her mentors and key successes. The conversation also covers how Dr. Kang's experience in national government and international institutions influences her perspective on global governance and the important role of …

1
Episode 111: Diana Kim, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University 49:10

3M ago49:10

49:10

In this episode, Francine interviewed Dr. Diana Kim, who is an assistant professor at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service as well as a core faculty member of the Asian Studies Program. In this conversation, Dr. Kim discusses how the Japanese occupation can help us understand the legacies of European colonial institutions in Southeas…

1
Nepal’s Challenges, with Deputy Speaker Indira Ranamagar 30:44

3M ago30:44

30:44

Indira Ranamagar is Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal since January 2023. She started her career as a primary science and maths teacher in village schools in the southeast of Nepal, and became a social worker in prisons in 1990. For well over 30 years now, she has been a prolific human rights and social worker. In 2000, she fo…

1
Ep160: China criticises Japan’s alleged "wrong actions" 14:44

3M ago14:44

14:44

Japan has taken a tough stance on China, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida firmly committed to upholding the American vision of a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” But China is also a huge market for Japanese companies for which talk of “decoupling” from China is regarded as commercial folly. In this podcast, Duncan Bartlett, a Research Associate at th…

1
Ep159: Can China still shock the global economy? 14:42

3M ago14:42

14:42

China's factories have pumped out so many solar panels that other countries are complaining. Some people are said to be lining their garden fences with the panels, due to a global glut of the product. This is being held up as an example of a new type of "China shock". Previously, China’s economic rise caused a shock to trade and the labour markets.…

1
Ep158: How China sees Gaza 13:49

3M ago13:49

13:49

China has emphasised its pro-Palestinian stance during the Israel-Gaza war. It has been critical of Washington’s handling of the situation, especially the American policy of arming Israel. In this podcast, Dr Mercy Kuo from Pamir Consulting considers how China’s role in the Middle East has developed since President Xi Jinping came to power. The hos…

1
The Broad Appeal of Modi’s BJP, with Nalin Mehta 34:09

3M ago34:09

34:09

Nalin Mehta is a political scientist and journalist in Delhi, India, and author of The New BJP, a work you can only call THE book on the BJP, the largest political party in the world. Under the leadership of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has solidified its position as the uncontested center of power in the world's most populous coun…

1
Episode 110: Boreth Ly, Art History and Visual Culture, University of California Santa Cruz 56:18

3M ago56:18

56:18

In this episode, Francine interviewed Dr. Boreth Ly, an associate professor of Southeast Asian Art History and Visual Culture at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Dr. Ly discusses her research on the black and white photographs of the Sultans of Java as well as the Dutch governors from the colonial era. Transitioning to a postcolonial conte…

1
Ep157: Why does China spy on its citizens? 15:04

3M ago15:04

15:04

The introduction of advanced surveillance technologies has given the Chinese Communist Party powerful tools. It collects information related to people’s spending habits. It is also able to record how they act at work, and even in their homes. Is the state justified in using these tools to influence people’s behaviour? In this podcast, Professor Min…

1
Ep156: China’s alarm at the Red Sea crisis 14:29

4M ago14:29

14:29

The escalating Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region are creating economic and security concerns globally. The US and UK have responded with airstrikes against Houthi sites in Yemen, in an attempt to prevent the group from endangering freedom of navigation and disrupting trade. The repercussions are also felt in China, a powerful maritime nation. On…

1
The United States, China, and the Future of the Global Order with Kishore Mahbubani and Orville Schell 1:10:37

4M ago1:10:37

1:10:37

NEW YORK, March 21, 2024 — Asia Society Policy Institute, in partnership with Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania, hosts a discussion on the U.S.-China relationship and how it impacts global trends. Speakers include Kishore Mahbubani, 2023-24 Schlager visiting fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Perry World House; and Orville…

1
Ep155: What does Taiwan want from America? 15:04

4M ago15:04

15:04

China is quickly amassing weapons and systems to militarily overwhelm Taiwan, according to a senior US admiral. John Aquilino told a recent hearing in Washington that China could be poised to take such an action within the next six years. If conflict breaks out, it would be a grave matter to deal with, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the…

1
Episode 109: Nora Taylor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 54:26

4M ago54:26

54:26

In this episode, Francine interviewed Dr. Nora Taylor, an Alsdorf Professor of South and Southeast Asian Art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Dr. Taylor discusses her research on contemporary Vietnamese art and the ways in which she has engaged with the paradoxical nature of monuments. She reveals how the Vietnamese public views art p…

1
Ep154: Australia toasts Xi Jinping 14:59

4M ago14:59

14:59

The government of Anthony Albanese in Australia has sought to stabilise the relationship with China and avoid heated rhetoric. As a result, China has agreed to relax a 200% tariff on Australian wine, which was imposed during a period of diplomatic strife. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong says: “We seek to cooperate with China where we can, d…

1
Episode 108: Hew Wai Weng, Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, National University of Malaysia) 49:01

4M ago49:01

49:01

In this episode, Francine interviewed Dr. Hew Wai Weng, a research fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, National University of Malaysia. He is currently a visiting fellow at Cornell University under the Fulbright Malaysia Scholar Program. He discusses the rise of right-wing majoritarianism and the popularity of decolonial…

1
Ep153: Hong Kong rushes through new security legislation 14:57

4M ago14:57

14:57

The Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee has been instructed by his superiors in mainland China to enact further strict security legislation in the city without delay. Pro-democracy advocates warn the move will have a detrimental impact on civil liberties. The proposed new laws cover treason, insurrection, incitement and collusion with external f…

1
S4 Ep1: Food and restaurant writer/editor David Jay Paw 57:42

4M ago57:42

57:42

I chat with David Jay Paw who is a food and restaurant writer/editor. We talk mostly on food. Heading straight in to his role at Resy and collaborating with some amazing people such as Amanda Nguyen and Susie Bubble who have written articles to share their stories on food and restaurant. Speaking of restaurants, we have a conversation on Somsaa and…

1
Ep152: Trouble on the stock market 13:13

5M ago13:13

13:13

The authorities in China are trying to put an end to a three-year stock market decline and win back the confidence of overseas traders. It is not proving an easy process. Investors cite a range of reasons to be cautious about the Chinese market, including a slowdown in growth, doubts about the reliability of information and opaque policymaking. In …

1
Episode 107: Daniel Whitehouse, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, SOAS 45:45

5M ago45:45

45:45

In this episode, Francine interviewed Dr. Daniel Whitehouse, an ERSC postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, SOAS University of London. Dr. Whitehouse introduces the idea of "network institutions," specifically through Suan Kularb Wittayalai. Suan Kularb Wittayalai is Thailand’s oldest state-administered secondary schoo…

1
Asia Spotlight 2024: Telling Asia's Stories, Reporting on the Region 1:06:26

5M ago1:06:26

1:06:26

WASHINGTON D.C., January 25, 2024 — In this episode of Asia Inside Out, Wendy Cutler, Vice President & Managing Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., leads a discussion at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Asia Spotlight 2024 conference with Nick Schifrin, Foreign Affairs and Defense Correspondent at PBS Newshour; Dem…

1
Ep151: Advising American CEOs on China risks 14:38

5M ago14:38

14:38

Just a few years ago, it would have been inconceivable that a Chinese company would disrupt the automotive industry by exporting vast quantities of cheap, reliable electric vehicles. But the Chinese company BYD has overtaken Tesla in terms of overall sales and it is determined to win market share from long-established car giants, such as Volkswagen…

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East And Southeast Asian Podcasts

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