Interviews

The 20th Party Congress: A One Man Show — An interview with Joseph Torigian
Joseph Torigian is an assistant professor at the School of International Service at American University in Washington and a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center. His research focuses on the politics of authoritarian regimes and elite power struggles, with a focus on China and Russia. On Aug. 24, 2022 we sat down with Torigian to discuss his thoughts on the upcoming 20th Party Congress, Xi Jinping’s efforts to consolidate power, and the historical parallels with both China and the USSR. As an expert on elite politics, Torigian provides a unique perspective on the misunderstandings that some China watchers have had about inner-party power struggles. 

Heightened Tensions in the Taiwan Strait — An Interview with Oriana Skylar Mastro
Following Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to Taiwan and subsequent Chinese live-fire drills, uncertainty remains surrounding Taiwan’s future and the U.S. position on Taiwan. On August 5th, we sat down with Oriana Skylar Mastro, an expert on China’s military and strategic thinking who serves as a Center Fellow at the Stanford University Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. We discussed the recent developments in Taiwan, U.S. and Chinese military capabilities, and the evolving state of Chinese-Russian cooperation in light of Taiwan.

How China’s Environments Changed its Modern History: An interview with Micah Muscolino
Muscolino shows how the making of Qing, National, and PRC rule were often built on its relationships to natural resources. He has also come to see many similarities between today’s environmentalist transformations and China’s past. China stands, as he asserts, at the heart of the world’s present-day predicaments.

China Scholar Profile: Joseph Esherick (PDF: Chinese)
The China Scholar Profile series is based on original interviews conducted in Chinese. It features UC San Diego faculty and researchers who have pursued a career in the study of China, made important contributions to Chinese studies, and improved our understanding of China and the Chinese people.

Didi and China’s Data Regulation
Professor Lizhi Liu discusses Chinese tech firms' relationship with the state and geopolitics as well as China's ongoing approach toward data regulation.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry on China’s Future in the Region Following U.S. Military Withdrawal [Exclusive Interview]
Karl Eikenberry discusses the U.S. withdrawal of American troops in Afghanistan and how this decision will impact China.

A New Era of Chinese Technology and Innovation
Tai Ming Cheung delves into Chinese technology and innovation in the new era.

U.S. Bans on TikTok and WeChat: Legal and Policy Issues [Video]
Susan Shirk joins experts legal experts to discuss the controversy from the perspective of constitutional law, data privacy, cyber security and the U.S.-China technological.

The Changing Political Views of Chinese Students in the U.S.
Yiqing Xu discusses the effects of the pandemic and U.S.-China tensions on the political views of Chinese students in the U.S.

COVID-19’s Impact on Chinese Consumer Behavior and Business Strategy
David Michael discusses China’s stimulus package and how the pandemic affects the long term productivity, trade and domestic spending

A Dangerous Moment in U.S.-China Relations
Susan Shirk and Erin Carter discuss the domestic drivers to China's posture towards the U.S. and the impact of the U.S. elections on bilateral relations

Bloomberg New Economy Conversations: Risks of U.S.-China ‘Decoupling’ [Video]
Susan Shirk, Kevin Rudd, Cui Tiankai and Mikko Huotari on what it will take to rebuild trust between the two superpowers at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum

Hong Kong’s National Security Law and the Fear of the Unknown
Victor Shih and Kwai Ng discuss the new law’s impact on Hong Kong’s civil society, political stability, economic competitiveness

China policy and the American presidency [Audio]
Susan Shirk and Barry Naughton share how they would advise the future occupant of the Oval Office on the Sinica podcast

Military modernization in Xi Jinping’s China [Audio]
Tai Ming Cheung discusses Beijing’s long march to technological self-reliance on the Sinica podcast

Censored: How China uses deterrence, distraction, and dilution to control its internet [Audio]
Molly Roberts discusses her book that examines how internet censorship impacts Chinese internet users on the Sinica podcast

Susan Shirk on Xi Jinping’s Overreach
Susan Shirk speaks with The Wire China on the consequences of Xi Jiping’s personalistic rule

U.S.-China Ties Have Become 'Extremely Hostile,' Former Official Says
Susan Shirk speaks with Bloomberg Asia about the tensions between the U.S. and China

Global Coronavirus Challenge Calls for U.S.-China Cooperation
Susan Shirk, Barry Naughton, Steph Haggard and Victor Shih explain what’s at stake

Decoding the Hong Kong protests and more
Ruixue Jia sheds light on economic development in China and the potential impacts of current protests in Hong Kong