Chat Lounge

Chat Lounge

By China PlusNewsNews Commentary
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Chat Lounge episodes

  • SMILE: When China and Europe meet beyond Earth
    SMILE, a joint China–Europe satellite, is about to capture something we've never seen before: Earth's magnetic shield in action. What is it trying to do? Why does it matter, and how could it affect your phone, your flight, or even the power grid? And in a divided world, what does this rare space partnership really reveal?
    Host Tu Yun joins Professor Quentin Parker, the Director of the Lab for Space Research, University of Hong Kong, Dr. Zhang Fan, an Associate Professor of Astronomy, Beijing Normal University, and Professor Andy Mok of Beijing Foreign Studies University, who's also a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization to break down the science, the stakes, and the geopolitics behind the SMILE mission.
    55 min
  • China's ocean economy at a turning point
    Since elevating the goal of becoming a "maritime power" in 2012, China has made significant progress. What are the most eye-catching achievements? As the focus shifts from speed to quality, how could China's AI and digital tech edge help reshape the country's traditional maritime sectors? And in a system where a few countries still hold technological and narrative dominance, how can China gain a greater voice in rule-setting through global cooperation?
    Host TU Yun joins Yan Yan, a senior research fellow with the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Qu Qiang, a professor and fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center at Minzu University of China, and Warwick Powell, an adjunct professor at Queensland University of Technology, to navigate the opportunities, challenges, and what lies beneath the surface.
    55 min
  • China's consumer rebound: What's really driving the new trends?
    China's consumer spending has shown a noticeable rebound in the first two months of the year. What are the key drivers? Though the performance beat expectations, it remains the weakest start to a year since 2000, excluding the pandemic slump. How much of a concern is this against the backdrop of still-fragile consumer confidence and broader economic headwinds? And as the rise of the "emotional economy" comes into focus, what should policymakers, investors and businesses do to adapt to these new trends?
    Host Tu Yun joins John Gong, Professor of Economics, University of International Business and Economics, Subramania Bhatt, the Founder and CEO of the Singapore-based marketing technology company China Trading Desk, and Chen Jiahe, the Chief Investment Officer of the Beijing-based Novem Arcae Technologies to find out the answers.
    55 min
  • Is Apple becoming more compliant in China?
    Apple is lowering its App Store commission in China, a move believed to be a major concession in one of its most important markets. What's driving the change? How may it affect developers, consumers, and Apple's business model in the country? And could this signal a broader shift in the balance of power between regulators and Big Tech?
    Host TU Yun joins Professor Doug Guthrie, the Director of China Initiatives at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Professor Liu Baocheng, the Director of the Center for International Business Ethics, University of International Business and Economics, and Professor Warwick Powell, Adjunct Professor, the Queensland University of Technology for a close look.
    55 min
  • Is the era of U.S. stocks dominance shifting?
    Global financial giant UBS has downgraded U.S. stocks, as markets stumble into one of their worst starts in decades. Is this a routine reset or a warning shot? Where is capital moving now? Are emerging markets the real story? And with geopolitics heating up and the Fed in play, is this a short-term wobble or the start of a structural shift in global capital?
    Host Tu Yun joins Warwick Powell, Adjunct Professor, Queensland University of Technology, Australia, Li Lun, Assistant Professor of Economics, Peking University, and Chen Jiahe, the Chief Investment Officer of the Beijing-based Novem Arcae Technologies for a close look.
    55 min
  • Two Sessions Special: Decode China's financial priorities for the coming year
    China will set up a national-level mergers and acquisitions fund to help venture capital investors find an exit. How urgent is the need? And with cumulative dividends and share buybacks hitting a record high, what does that signal about the reshaping of China’s securities market?
    Host TU Yun joins Yao Shujie, Chueng Kong Professor of Economics, Chongqing University, John Gong, Professor of Economics, University of International Business and Economics, and Einar Tangen, a senior fellow of the Canadian think tank, the Center for International Governance Innovation, and the Chairman at Asia Narratives for a close look.
    55 min
  • 2026 Two Sessions: China’s Global Governance Initiative in action
    For the first time, the Global Governance Initiative, a framework for reforming international relations, is set to feature in the recommendations for China’s new Five-Year Plan.
    This comes as national lawmakers and political advisors prepare to gather in Beijing for the annual “Two Sessions” in the coming days.
    GGI emphasizes sovereign equality, international law, and multilateralism. It prioritizes the Global South, focusing on true multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and tangible results. What does “people-centered” actually mean for communities in the Global South?
    Host Xu Yawen is joined by Özgür Altınbaş, Chief of the Foreign News Service at Aydinlik in Türkiye, and Muhammad Zamir Assadi, Director at the China Desk of Lord Media Network in Pakistan, to explore how these ideas translate into everyday impact around the world.
    55 min
  • Will the U.S. rare earth futures plan undermine China's dominance?
    Chicago-based financial services company CME Group is reportedly working on a plan to launch the world's first rare earth futures contract. Can the U.S. reshape pricing power without controlling production? What countermove may Beijing take? Will China's dominance in price-setting be diluted? And are we expecting a bifurcated system in the global mineral sector?
    Host Tu Yun joins Professor Andy Mok of Beijing Foreign Studies University, who's also a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, Professor Warwick Powell, Adjunct Professor, Queensland University of Technology, Australia, and John Gong, Professor of Economics, at the University of International Business and Economics to unpack the high-stakes battle over minerals, markets, and geopolitical leverage.
    55 min
  • When the world comes to China for Spring Festival
    This Spring Festival, China isn't just welcoming the Year of the Horse. It's welcoming the world. Foreign flight bookings are up more than 400 percent, with visitors flooding in from Russia, Europe, and even Argentina. Why now? What's driving this surge? Visas, social media, or something deeper? And as more foreigners come to China to experience the holiday, is Spring Festival becoming a global cultural event.
    Host Tu Yun joins Helen Han, Co-founder and Secretary General, the Beijing Club for International Dialogue, Dr. Zhou Mi, Senior Research Fellow, the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Mike Bastin, China observer and Senior Lecturer, the University of Southampton to break down the boom and what it means for China and for travelers from around the world.
    55 min
  • China bans hidden car door handles: Safety fix or global rule-setting moment?
    Sleek, flush, futuristic--hidden door handles once symbolized the EV era. Now, they're being flagged as safety risks. China is set to ban them, becoming the first country in the world to do so. What triggered the move? How will it affect automakers? Will the impact stop at car design, or ripple into global standards?
    Host Tu Yun is joined by Professor Yan Liang, Professor of Economics, Willamette University, the United States, Professor Andy Mok of Beijing Foreign Studies University, who's also a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, and Professor Warwick Powell, Adjunct Professor, Queensland University of Technology, Australia for a chat.
    55 min

About Chat Lounge

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A place to unpack reactions to major events and hot issues in a casual setting.

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