Ep. 42 The Second Half of 2026: War, AI, and the New World Order

Ep. 42 The Second Half of 2026: War, AI, and the New World Order

As America’s 250th birthday coincides with a turbulent second half of 2026, host Wenchi Yu examines the implications of the U.S.–Israel war in Iran for the global economy, a fraught Trump–Xi meeting over Taiwan, and AI’s rise as a new strategic resource. She explains how these forces accelerate shifts in global power, fuel AI backlash, and test America’s ability to look inward while still leading on the global stage. Perspectives with Wenchi Yu YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkK1a7U8kP0TgXhvI5Bj70H4cPPlapCdQ&si=RuA_jZROR2ynRbxH Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kXiEF08IjtT3j1DyEnBbG?si=68ab3ea172594620 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perspectives-with-wenchi-yu/id1793854395

Ep. 41 TikTok Never Dies: Filmmaker Hao Wu on What the TikTok Fight Reveals About America

Host Wenchi Yu speaks with filmmaker Hao Wu about his latest documentary, TikTok Never Dies, which recently premiered at the Tribeca Festival. Hao chronicles the legal fight between TikTok and the U.S. government — a case many expected the Supreme Court to decide on national security grounds. What he ended up capturing was a story about three American content creators caught in the middle, a presidential election TikTok helped shape, a sudden shutdown and save, and a debate that reveals as much about America's anxieties as it does about China.  For more about TikTok Never Dies: www.tiktokneverdies.com [http://www.tiktokneverdies.com] 00:00 Introduction to Hao Wu and his filmmaking journey 02:58 The origin of 'TikTok Never Dies' and Wu's fascination with TikTok 04:49 The US legislation targeting TikTok and the lawsuit 06:42 The focus on content creators and personal stakes in the lawsuit 08:53 Public perception of TikTok and the national security debate 10:55 The American story versus the China story in Wu's film 12:54 The evidence and public trust in US government claims 14:55 The influence of Trump and the 2024 election on TikTok policies 16:36 Balancing risks and impacts of banning TikTok 18:36 The future of US-China relations and social media influence 20:35 Wu's previous films and their thematic connections 22:57 The role of AI in entertainment and filmmaking 24:40 The business model of documentary filmmaking and AI's impact 26:52 The rise of Chinese short-form dramas and their global influence 28:46 The broader implications for US-China relations and technology 30:43 Current screening and access to 'TikTok Never Dies' Perspectives with Wenchi Yu YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkK1a7U8kP0TgXhvI5Bj70H4cPPlapCdQ&si=RuA_jZROR2ynRbxH Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kXiEF08IjtT3j1DyEnBbG?si=68ab3ea172594620 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perspectives-with-wenchi-yu/id1793854395

Ep. 40 Inside China’s Leading AI Labs with Kevin Xu

Host Wenchi Yu speaks with Kevin Xu, investor and author of the newsletter, Interconnected, about China’s leading AI labs and the country’s AI trajectory after the DeepSeek moment. From the rise of open‑weight models and a new generation of homegrown PhD‑level AI researchers to working around constraints on advanced chips and grappling with AI‑induced anxiety in Chinese society, Kevin shares insights from his latest visit with top AI developers across China. He also argues that “co‑opetition” will define the future of U.S.–China AI relations. Connect with Kevin Xu: * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinxu/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/kevin_xu] Interconnected: https://interconnected.blog/ [https://interconnected.blog/]  Readsail: readsail.com [http://readsail.com]  00:00 - Introduction to Chinese AI resilience amid US restrictions 02:08 - Kevin’s recent China trip overview and labs visited 05:09 - Open weight models from Chinese labs surpassing US regressions 06:28 - Impact of Deep Sea moment on global AI attention and open sourcing strategies 08:03 - The importance of the model layer and hardware collaboration in AI progress 09:00 - Young talent and their significant roles in Chinese AI labs 11:06 - How Chinese labs prioritize research despite compute constraints 13:37 - The critical relationship between chip design and AI model development 16:04 - US-China AI ecosystem rivalry and joint development of domestic chips 18:09 - Leading applications: from coding to consumer AI products 20:32 - Energy supply and infrastructure differences shaping AI research environments 23:17 - The strategic importance of open source in China’s global positioning 26:24 - The debate over open source versus closed source for large models 28:42 - Trends towards increasingly closed models driven by profitability 29:13 - The societal perception of AI, job anxiety, and public engagement in China 33:17 - Demographic challenges and AI's role in addressing them 37:11 - Competition versus coopetition: a balanced perspective on US-China AI relations 41:11 - The US-China AI dialogue, safety protocols, and future cooperation prospects 43:14 - The impact of geopolitical events like Meta and Manus deals on AI innovation 44:45 - Talent migration and government policies in AI talent retention and restriction 48:03 - Final insights on the state of US and Chinese AI development and cooperation  Perspectives with Wenchi Yu YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkK1a7U8kP0TgXhvI5Bj70H4cPPlapCdQ&si=RuA_jZROR2ynRbxH Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kXiEF08IjtT3j1DyEnBbG?si=68ab3ea172594620 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perspectives-with-wenchi-yu/id1793854395

Ep. 39 Boeing, China, and the Future of Aviation with Mark Atkeson

Host Wenchi Yu speaks with Mark Atkeson, a veteran aviation executive with over three decades of on-the-ground experience across both the American and Chinese aerospace industries, to unpack what the latest US–China summit and a smaller‑than‑expected Boeing deal really mean for the future of flying in and out of China. Drawing on decades of experience working with Air China, Pratt & Whitney, GA Telesis, and Chinese airlines, Mark takes us from 1990s engine maintenance in Beijing to today’s vast but stressed Chinese aviation market, where high‑speed rail, post‑COVID headwinds, and state‑owned conservatism are reshaping the industry. Along the way, he explains how Boeing lost ground to Airbus, why China’s homegrown COMAC jet is still struggling to catch up, and how cargo, e‑commerce, and aviation supply chains are becoming a new front in US–China strategic competition. 00:00 Introduction to US-China Aviation Dynamics 01:59 Mark Atkeson's Career in Aviation and China Experience 03:56 Challenges in Chinese Aircraft Maintenance and OEMs 05:43 China's Aircraft Manufacturing and Local Production 08:09 Aftermarket Parts and Maintenance in China 10:27 China's Aviation Sector Size and Growth Forecast 12:13 Impact of COVID-19 and Infrastructure Investment 14:42 Chinese Airlines' Business Model and Profitability 17:08 High-Speed Rail vs Air Travel in China 18:45 Post-COVID Recovery of Chinese Airlines 20:20 Management and Efficiency in Chinese State-Owned Airlines 22:41 Chinese Airlines' Unique Routing and Geopolitical Factors 24:51 Role of Cargo and E-commerce in Aviation 26:27 Boeing's Historical and Strategic Role in China 28:26 Boeing vs Airbus Market Share in China 30:45 COMAC's Development and Market Position 33:51 Supply Chain Challenges and Local Manufacturing 36:12 China's Repair Capabilities and Industry Progress 38:02 Future Outlook: Can China Rival Boeing and Airbus? Perspectives with Wenchi Yu YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkK1a7U8kP0TgXhvI5Bj70H4cPPlapCdQ&si=RuA_jZROR2ynRbxH Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kXiEF08IjtT3j1DyEnBbG?si=68ab3ea172594620 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perspectives-with-wenchi-yu/id1793854395

Ep. 38 Taiwan’s $25 Billion Special Defense Budget: Partisan Politics, Drones, and Deterrence?

Host Wenchi Yu speaks with Dr. Alexander C. Huang, a former KMT Director of International Affairs, a cross-strait war game strategist, and an expert on the PLA, about why the Taiwanese government’s US$40 billion proposal was cut to US$25 billion, what the fight over special versus regular budgets reveals about Taiwan’s politics, and how decisions on Foreign Military Sales (FMS), commercial deals, and domestic drone production will affect Taiwan’s defense posture for years to come. 00:00 Taiwan's Defense Budget Overview 02:49 Political Dynamics Behind the Budget Approval 05:40 Debate on Domestic Production and Drones 08:45 Urgency of Defense Needs and Procurement Challenges 11:43 Opposition Perspectives and Political Consensus 14:41 Future of Taiwan's Defense Spending 17:31 Implications of the Xi-Trump Summit 20:35 Lessons Learned and Future Strategies Perspectives with Wenchi Yu YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkK1a7U8kP0TgXhvI5Bj70H4cPPlapCdQ&si=RuA_jZROR2ynRbxH Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kXiEF08IjtT3j1DyEnBbG?si=68ab3ea172594620 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perspectives-with-wenchi-yu/id1793854395