Big changes are taking place in China's relationship with Germany. Foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, from the Green party, has signalled a more assertive stance, especially on human rights issues, after the commerce-driven pragmatism of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s 16 years in power. Ms Baerbock is a key figure in the new cabinet led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, Germany's new Chancellor. In this podcast Hanns Maull, Senior Associate Fellow at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics) in Berlin analyses the political situation in both Germany and China. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.

China In Context: Episode 44  
Broadcast date: 7th December, 2021

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The highest grossing films at the Chinese box office are war movies. Wolf Warrior 1 and 2, and The Battle at Lake Changjin, portray heroic Chinese soldiers battling against foreign enemies, including the Americans. These big budget productions are overseen by an arm of the state known as the China Film Administration. Are they therefore a form or propaganda, or can they be defined as art? Dr Xiaoning Lu, a lecturer in Chinese culture and cinema at SOAS, shares her views on the political messages of the films, in conversation with Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.

China In Context: Episode 43  
Broadcast date: 30 November, 2021

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America`s president, Joe Biden, held talks by video link with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping in November 2021. Mr Xi said he was “ready to take active steps” to improve relations between the countries and Mr Biden called for cooperation “where our interests intersect.” Yet the language was often confrontational, suggesting more clashes lie ahead. In this podcast,  Dr Olivia Cheung, a specialist in the political thought of Xi Jinping at the SOAS China Institute, gives her expert analysis of the meeting and its implications for the rest of the world. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.
 
China In Context: Episode 42  
Broadcast date: 23 November, 2021

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There was a major breakthrough at the Cop-26 climate change conference when China and the United States issued a joint declaration. They said they would work together to achieve the 1.5C temperature goal set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. It paves the way for a historic virtual summit between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping before the end of 2021. In this podcast, Qinduo Xu a political analyst from China`s Pangoal Institution gives his view on Xi Jinping`s climate policy to host Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine. 
 
China In Context: Episode 41  
Broadcast date: 16 November, 2021

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Chinese culture and philosophy have influenced Japan. The languages have an overlapping system of writing and there are fusions of ideas in many spheres. Politically however, the countries seem very far apart, especially given Japan`s determination to side with the United States in the great-power rivalry between America and China, which shapes international relations in Asia and beyond. Japan recently had an election, in which Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was victorious. In this podcast, Rory Green, Head of China and Asia Research TS Lombard, talks about Japan's approach towards China with Duncan Bartlett, a Research Associate at the SOAS China Centre and former BBC Tokyo Correspondent.   
 
China In Context: Episode 40  
Broadcast date: 9th November, 2021

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China's leader Xi Jinping often visits museums and his speeches are full of analogies from history. His books, such as the Governance of China suggest he seeks to learn lessons from history as a way of deciding how China should be run today. One of the themes which often comes up is China's so-called “Century of Humiliation". Dr Andrea Janku, a Senior Lecturer in the History of China at SOAS, University of London, explains the significance of the concept to podcast host, Duncan Bartlett.   
 
China In Context: Episode 39   
Broadcast date: 2nd November, 2021

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The crisis at the Chinese property group Evergrande Group has brought into focus the exorbitant lifestyle of its chairman, Hui Ka Yan. After vying with Jack Ma for the title of Asia's richest man, Mr Hui's fortune is plunging, as his company defaults on crucial debt repayments. Neither the government nor the central bank seem prepared to bail him out. Yet with liabilities running into hundreds of billions of dollars, Evergrande is seen by investors as a reminder of the risks of doing business with China. In this podcast, Paul Hodges, Chairman Of New Normal Consulting discusses the issues with Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.   
 
China In Context: Episode 38   
Broadcast date: 26 October, 2021

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What does it feel like to live on an island which the Economist magazine recently described as “the most dangerous place on earth?” Most people in Taiwan try to get on with their lives as normal, despite the undercurrent of fear caused by a threat of invasion by China. Tensions between China and Taiwan are at an all-time high, just as relations between the US and China reach an all-time low. In this podcast, Liam Gavan Gibson from Taiwan News explains the mood in Taipei and analyses the big speeches given by the presidents of Taiwan and the PRC in the autumn of 2021. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett, the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.   
 
China In Context: Episode 37   
Broadcast date: 19 October, 2021

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There are a lot of choices on the menu of China's restaurants these days and shops are brimming with ingredients from all around the world. As the disposable income of China’s middle class grows, people want to eat better. Of course, many people still have a taste for traditional dishes. But there’s also a craving for food made from foreign ingredients, such as premium rib-eye steak from the United States, or sweet pumpkins from Japan. In this podcast, Professor Bob Ash from the SOAS China Institute explains the social and political implications of this change in eating habits. The podcast is hosted by Duncan Bartlett, the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.   
 
China In Context: Episode 36   
Broadcast date: 12 October, 2021

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No country in the world has experienced famines as severe as the ones which cost tens of millions of lives in China in the middle of the last century. Yet now China proudly claims there`s more than enough food for all its citizens and even plenty left over. As people get richer, their taste changes. That means more fish and meat on the table and it also increases demand for foreign treats. In this podcast, Professor Bob Ash from the SOAS China Institute discusses China's rich and varied food culture with Duncan Bartlett, the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.   
 
China In Context: Episode 35   
Broadcast date: 5th October, 2021

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