Sinobabble

A 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-165729238 https://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/pc/content/202506/10/content_30078133.html  https://substack.com/home/post/p-165599519 https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/jun/11/hong-kong-police-taiwan-mobile-games-reversed-front https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3313909/english-lessons-hong-kong-primary-schools-cover-national-security?utm_source=rss_feed Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod] Sign up for Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442] to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter [https://sinobabble.substack.com/]: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod%20]: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

We 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 small wins like the success of the video game Black myth: Wukong present a way out for China's cultural tzars? Or is the hand of the state just too heavy to allow the organic spread of a rich cultural heritage that has the potential to bring China into a new era of prestige and attractiveness? Chapters  (00:00) Introduction - South Korea's soft power boom (04:50) What is soft power? (17:22) How soft power can be used and the failure of Confucius Institutes (26:52) Does China need or want soft power? (41:25) Consequences of China's lack of soft power (47:50) Missed soft power opportunities (52:45) Black Myth: Wukong and a potential new era of Chinese soft power Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod] Sign up for Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442] to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter [https://sinobabble.substack.com/]: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod%20]: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

A 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/sinobabblepod Links: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/29/us-revoke-chinese-student-visas https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/02/china-us-trade-war-truce-donald-trump https://www.economist.com/china/2025/05/29/chinas-crazy-reverse-credit-cards https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c071jr159p0o Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod] Sign up for Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442] to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter [https://sinobabble.substack.com/]: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod%20]: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

A 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-mount https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1w3dln352vo https://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-accuse-pakistan-of-sowing-distrust-between-afghanistan-china-/7638230.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/mobile-phone-theft-london-met-police-b2693476.html https://www.wral.com/news/state/charlotte-woman-tracks-stolen-iphone-china-may-2025/ https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/21/many-iphones-stolen-in-the-us-and-europe-end-up-in-one-building-in-china/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/21/china-who-donation-500-million/?utm_source=reddit.com https://chinahealthpulse.substack.com/p/no-china-wont-replace-usaid-but-here Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod] Sign up for Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442] to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter [https://sinobabble.substack.com/]: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod%20]: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

In 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 Cambodia and Laos, many of them run by other Chinese nationals. What caused the rise of these scam centres? How do they target Chinese white collar workers? Why is the Chinese government not doing anything to shut these operations down? Let's explore the world of sprawling forced labour compounds in Southeast Asia, their ties to local governments and police, and how they're getting rich in crypto scams targeting pensioners in pig-butchering schemes around the world. Chapters  (00:00) Introduction (04:00) The rise of scams around the world (06:09) SE Asian scam centres and their targets (21:45) The rise of the scam centres and pig-butchering scams (33:00) No justice, no peace of mind Latest Substack post: https://sinobabble.substack.com/p/i-asked-4-china-experts-4-questions?r=bgkuv Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod] Sign up for Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442] to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter [https://sinobabble.substack.com/]: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod%20]: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod