China Global

The German Marshall Fund
  • 4.7 (42)
  • Politics
  • Updated Biweekly

China’s rise has captivated and vexed the international community. From defense, technology, and the environment, to trade, academia, and human rights, much of what Beijing does now reverberates across the map. China Global is a new podcast from the German Marshall Fund that decodes Beijing’s global ambitions as they unfold. Every other week, host Bonnie Glaser will be joined by a different international expert for an illuminating discussion on a different aspect of China’s foreign policy, the worldview that drives its actions, the tactics it’s using to achieve its goals—and what that means for the rest of the world.

  1. 1d ago

    Europe's China Policy at a Critical Juncture

    In today’s episode, we’ll examine the state of Europe-China relations and the trajectory of the EU’s policy toward China at a pivotal moment. The EU-China relationship has become increasingly complex and contentious. The growing trade imbalance is among the top priority issues: The EU had a record trade deficit in goods with China of 360 billion Euros last year. China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine also remains a major concern. At the same time, uncertainty in the transatlantic relationship has prompted debate across Europe about strategic autonomy, de-risking, and whether the EU should recalibrate its approach toward Beijing. We'll discuss the outcomes of the recent European Council meeting, debates taking place within Europe, and what we should expect in EU-China relations going forward. To make sense of where EU policy toward China is headed, we are joined by Noah Barkin, Visiting Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, Senior Advisor at Rhodium Group, and author of the fantastic Watching China in Europe newsletter, which you can read on Substack. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction  [01:38] Partner, Competitor, and Systemic Rival: Accurate or Obsolete?   [03:36] How Europe is Responding to Trade Imbalances  [06:26] European Council Meeting Outcomes  [09:53] EU-China Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism [12:30] Germany’s China Policy [19:57] EU's Top Concerns About China   [23:45] Transatlantic Tensions Influencing EU-China Relations [28:05] The Future of EU-China Relations

    33 min

  2. Jun 23

    China's Push in the South China Sea

    On today’s episode of the China Global Podcast, we’re going to discuss the South China Sea. The past year has been marked by four intersecting dynamics: First, a sharp escalation of Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia operations, especially against the Philippines. Second, a resumption of large-scale Chinese island construction after nearly a decade-long pause; Third, increasingly sophisticated Chinese legal and administrative moves to consolidate and institutionalize its claims; And fourth, a deepening of the US-Philippines military partnership and the emergence of a broader network involving US allies and partners from Europe and the Indo-Pacific. To discuss these trends, I’m delighted to have as my guest today, Dr. Collin Koh, who is a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies based in Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [01:33] Beijing’sObjectives in the South China Sea [06:24] Changes in China’s Strategy  [09:13] A Revival of Island Building in Antelope Reef [16:11] Increased Activity in Scarborough Shoal  [20:13] Violating the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct?  [24:21] Pros and Cons to Finalizing the Code of Conduct [28:58] China’s Response to US-Philippines Security Cooperation [33:15] Claimant Perceptions of US Policy

    38 min

  3. May 26

    Unpacking the Trump-Xi Summit

    Summits between US and Chinese leaders are important events. They provide opportunities to discuss sensitive issues, manage friction, and to identify ways to solve problems and promote cooperation where possible. A great deal of preparation usually goes into a US-China summit, involving hundreds of phone calls, virtual, and in-person meetings between US and Chinese officials.   The May 14-15 summit in Beijing was atypical, perhaps not surprisingly since Donald Trump is a very atypical president. Today we are going to talk about the summit – the process and well as the outcomes and the implications for the US-China relationship and American interests.  Joining us today to talk about these issues is Sarah Beran. Sarah Beran was senior director for China and Taiwan affairs in the National Security Council during the Biden administration from 2022 to 2024. She was subsequently deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Beijing. At the NSC, she led strategic preparations for multiple summits between President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. After her 23 years in government service, Sarah joined Macro Advisory Partners.   Timestamps:   [00:00] Introduction   [01:45] Differences in Preparing for the Summit   [03:33] What Was Missing from Trump’s Itinerary   [08:18] US and Chinese Objectives for the Summit   [12:30] Constructive Strategic Stability as a Framework   [18:09] Iran, North Korea, and Denuclearization in Chinese Policy [23:55] Tension over Taiwan Language   [29:15] Potential Reactions to Trump Calling President Lai   [30:12] Future of US-China Relations and Ally Reactions

    34 min

  4. May 12

    China's Push to Internationalize the RMB

    A currency becomes “internationalized” when it is widely used beyond its home economy for trade, financial transactions, and as a store of value. Achieving that status can lower transaction costs and exchange rate risks, while also enhancing the issuing country’s geopolitical influence. Today, the global financial system remains overwhelmingly dollar-centric, with China’s renminbi playing a comparatively modest role. Yet over the past decade, Beijing has taken steps to expand its global use, expanding offshore renminbi markets, establishing bilateral swap lines, and developing alternative payment infrastructure.  To help us unpack where China’s renminbi internationalization efforts stand today, we are joined by Zongyuan Zoe Liu, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Zoe’s research centers on international political economy and global financial markets, with a focus on China and East Asia, as well as the Middle East. She is the author of Can BRICS De-dollarize the Global Financial System? and Sovereign Funds: How the Communist Party of China Finances Global Ambitions.   Timestamps:  [00:00] Introduction  [01:54] Strategic Motivations for Beijing  [04:55] Progress Report on RMB Internationalization  [08:16] Main Mechanisms Used to Promote the RMB  [11:08] RMB in the Belt and Road Initiative  [13:46] Using Clean Energy Supply Chains to Promote RMB in Key Commodities  [15:57] RMB as a Reserve Currency?  [21:23] Xi’s Fourth Term Goals with the RMB  [27:26] How Global Conflicts Impact RMB Internationalization

    32 min

  5. Apr 28

    Why China–North Korea Ties Are Warming Again

    In the 1950s, Mao Zedong described the relationship between China and North Korea as “as close as lips and teeth.” Over subsequent decades, the relationship has ebbed and flowed, alternating between close alignment and periods of strain. In recent months, China-NK ties appear to be warming once again. A series of high-level exchanges, including Kim Jong Un’s attendance at China’s Victory Day parade last September, followed by a trip to North Korea by Chinese Premier Li Qiang the following month, suggest renewed diplomatic momentum. Chinese Foreign Affairs Commission Director and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Pyongyang in mid-April is the latest sign of this trend. What is driving this renewed rapprochement between China and North Korea, and what are the implications for the United States? To explore these questions, we are joined today by Andrew Scobell. Andrew is a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute for Security and Development Policy’s Asia Program and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. His work focuses on Chinese foreign and security policy, and he has published extensively on China-North Korea relations. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction  [01:38] China’s Interests on the Korean Peninsula [04:41] A Cooling of Pyongyang-Beijing Relations? [07:48] How Beijing Views Russia-North Korea Ties  [11:26] What’s Driving Chinese Interest in North Korea [14:57] Assessing Wang Yi’s Visit to Pyongyang  [18:20] Shifting Stances on Denuclearization [22:09] Implications for the United States [25:48] US-China Shared Interests on the Korean Peninsula

    30 min

  6. Apr 14

    Unpacking the Xi-Cheng Meeting: Objectives and Outcomes

    On today’s episode, we’ll discuss the recent meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, the first in a decade between a Chinese Communist Party General Secretary and a KMT Chair. Ms. Cheng was elected party chair only four months ago, and her top priority was to meet with Xi Jinping. She has not yet visited the United States, but says she intends to do so later this year. In their public statements, Xi Jinping and Cheng Li-wun highlighted several common themes, including opposition to Taiwan independence, support for the 1992 Consensus, shared history and Chinese heritage, that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family, the importance of China’s national rejuvenation, and the need to preserve peace and promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. To discuss this historic meeting, I’m joined by Amanda Hsiao. Amanda is a director in Eurasia Group's China practice covering China's foreign policy and cross-strait relations. This episode was recorded on April 10, 2026. Timestamps:  [00:00] Introduction   [01:42] Why the Xi–Cheng Meeting Matters    [03:00] Cheng Li-wun’s Aims and Messaging  [06:13] Xi Jinping’s Strategic Objectives  [11:17] Signaling Ahead of the Trump-Xi Summit  [13:23] Progress Towards Unification  [17:53] Shifting Positions on the 1992 Consensus  [22:25] Public Views of Cheng Li-wun  [26:32] Potential Shifts to China’s Taiwan Policy  [28:12] Implications for Use of Force   [30:34] What Stood Out During Cheng’s China Trip

    34 min

  7. Mar 31

    What the Iran War Means for China’s Energy Security

    On February 28th, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on multiple sites in Iran, marking the beginning of a wider military conflict with Iran. Tehran responded with attacks on Israel, US military bases, and US allies across the Middle East and closed the Strait of Hormuz. These events have caused a major disruption in the global supply of oil and gas. China, as the world’s largest energy importer, is exposed to these disruptions, but its long-term energy security strategy has left it better prepared than most.  How has China approached energy security, and how might the current conflict reshape this strategy? To discuss these issues, we are joined today by Dr. Erica Downs. Erica is a Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Her research focuses on Chinese energy markets and geopolitics, and she has published extensively on the subject. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction  [01:38] China’s Energy Security Strategy [03:54] Divergent Approaches to Energy Security in the US and China [06:03] Beijing’s Response to Supply Chain Shocks  [09:55] Dependencies on Russian Oil & Gas [12:33] New Lessons for Chinese Policymakers? [15:30] Impact on Teapot Refineries and Responses [18:37] Percentage of Chinese Oil and Gas Impacted [22:26] Could China Buy Gas from the US? [25:15] Potential Wins and Losses for Chinese Industries

    29 min

  8. Mar 17

    What to Expect from the Trump-Xi Summit: A Conversation with Dr. Da Wei

    President Donald Trump is expected to visit Beijing from March 31 to April 2 for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. It will mark the first meeting between the two leaders since they agreed to a trade truce last October that ended months of escalating tensions prompted by tariffs imposed by the United States and Chinese restrictions on rare earth exports. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris later this week to explore possible outcomes that could be announced during the Beijing summit. Planning for such a major summit usually takes place over several months, and is getting underway quite late, causing many observers to question whether anything meaningful can be achieved. In the meantime, the US is distracted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Iran and a US-Israel coalition. To discuss the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, we're joined today by Dr. Da Wei. He is director of the Center for International Security and Strategy and professor of International Relations at Qinghua University. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [01:40] The Status of US-China Relations [03:07] Middle East War Impact on the Bilateral Relationship [05:36] Rethinking the US Decline in Chinese Foreign Policy [08:23] Chinese and US Sources of Leverage [13:01] Beijing’s Goals for the Trump-Xi Summit [19:52] New Language for Taiwan  [30:12] Expanding Chinese Investment in the US?   [32:03] Potential for US-China Cooperation on Iran? [35:54] Implications of Military Officer Purges

    40 min
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4.7
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

China’s rise has captivated and vexed the international community. From defense, technology, and the environment, to trade, academia, and human rights, much of what Beijing does now reverberates across the map. China Global is a new podcast from the German Marshall Fund that decodes Beijing’s global ambitions as they unfold. Every other week, host Bonnie Glaser will be joined by a different international expert for an illuminating discussion on a different aspect of China’s foreign policy, the worldview that drives its actions, the tactics it’s using to achieve its goals—and what that means for the rest of the world.

Information

  • Creator
    The German Marshall Fund
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    129
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2021
  • Show Website
    China Global

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