ChinaPower

This episode explores the evolution of the e-commerce market in China, the challenges it presents, and its impact on the Chinese economy. Our guest, Mr. Jacob Cooke, examines fundamental differences between the e-commerce markets in China and the United States, and discusses the shifting consumer landscape toward digital trends. He also analyzes the outlook for e-commerce in China, including the potential impact of outside events like the COVID-19 epidemic and the US-China phase one trade deal.

Jacob Cooke is co-founder and CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies, a digital marketing and consulting firm based in Beijing. Mr. Cooke started WPIC in 2004 as an alternative for the many Western organizations frustrated by China’s obstacles to brick and mortar sales. He graduated from Beijing Jiaotong University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and participated in MIT Sloan School of Management’s executive education program focusing on artificial intelligence.

This episode explores China’s key interests and investments in Africa, as well as how China-Africa relations are likely to evolve in the future. Our guest, Dr. Joshua Eisenman, breaks down the political and economic toolkit China is using to achieve its core interests in Africa. Dr. Eisenman offers his insights on the impact of U.S. engagement on China-Africa ties, as well as analyzes the feasibility of African countries following China’s development model.

Dr. Joshua Eisenman is an Associate Professor in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, and Senior Fellow for China Studies at the American Foreign Policy Council. Dr. Eisenman’s research focuses on the political economy of China’s development and its foreign relations with the U.S. and the developing world—particularly Africa. He is working with Ambassador David Shinn on their second co-authored book on China-Africa relations, examining the political and security aspects of China's engagement on the continent.

This episode explores the major challenges that threaten China’s water resources, from scarcity and mismanagement, to pollution and climate change. Our guest, Dr. Scott Moore, describes China’s sweeping attempts to mitigate the negative impacts that growing water challenges pose at home. Dr. Moore also discusses how China’s efforts to secure its water resources have created security challenges with its neighbors, and the ways in which China has exported many of its most ambitious water projects to Belt and Road partner countries. 

Dr. Scott Moore is the Director of the Penn Global China Program and senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Moore was previously a Young Professional and Water Resources Management Specialist at the World Bank Group, and an Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Officer for China at the U.S. Department of State. He holds doctoral and master’s degrees from Oxford University and an undergraduate degree from Princeton, and is a Truman, Fulbright, and Rhodes Scholar.

This episode explores how China has responded to the deadly outbreak of a new coronavirus originating in the central city of Wuhan. Our guest, Dr. Yanzhong Huang, compares Beijing’s response to its handling of the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic, analyzing what key lessons the government appears to have learned and where it has fallen short. Dr. Huang also describes the varying local and global reactions to the Chinese government’s response efforts, and assesses how Beijing’s ability to control this outbreak will affect the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party. 

Dr. Yanzhong Huang is a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he directs the Global Health Governance roundtable series. He is also professor and director of global health studies at Seton Hall University's School of Diplomacy and International Relations. Dr. Huang has written extensively on global health governance, health diplomacy and health security, and public health in China and East Asia.

This episode explores the evolution of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the developments that have occurred since it was first introduced in 2013 as One Belt One Road. Our guest, Dr. Wang Huiyao, discusses China’s efforts to generate greater buy-in from the international community and to transform the project into a shared objective for sustainable development. He also addresses the concerns of ‘debt-trap diplomacy’ and China’s push for greater transparency and institutional collaboration.

Dr. Wang Huiyao is the Founder and President of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG); Vice Chairman of the China Association for International Economic Cooperation (CAIEC) under the Ministry of Commerce; and Counselor for the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (appointed by Premier Li Keqiang in 2015). He is also the Vice Chairman of China Western (Overseas) Returned Scholars Association; and the Vice Chairman of the China Talent Society under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

This episode explores the key challenges and opportunities in the China-Czech bilateral relationship. Our guest, Dr. Richard Turcsányi, describes the impact of the recent cancellation of the sister city agreement between Prague and Beijing as well as divergent views on China within the Czech government. He also addresses the economic and cultural factors that impact public opinion on China in the Czech Republic, and assesses the drivers of Chinese investment in the country.

Dr. Richard Turcsányi is a Key Researcher at Palacky University and Assistant Professor at Mendel University, both in the Czech Republic. Dr. Turcsányi is also a Program Director at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies, an independent think tank with branches in Bratislava, Olomouc, and Vienna. In his academic research, he focuses on Chinese foreign policy and China’s relations with Central and Eastern Europe.

This episode explores China's retaliatory actions against the NBA after a recent incident, as well as the larger questions surrounding the Chinese government’s treatment of foreign private companies. Our guest, Dr. Victor Cha, discusses how both US and Chinese audiences have reacted to the NBA controversy and weighs in on whether Chinese public opinion might sway Beijing’s handling of the incident. Dr. Cha also addresses the struggles that other foreign companies have faced in China and how Beijing uses “predatory liberalism” to serve its political interests.

Dr. Victor Cha is a senior adviser and holds the Korea Chair at CSIS. He is also a Professor of Government and the holder of the D.S. Song-KF Chair in the Department of Government and the School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University. In July 2019, he was appointed Vice Dean for Faculty and Graduate Affairs in the SFS. His article, “Flagrant Foul: China’s Predatory Liberalism and the NBA,” will appear in the December issue of the Washington Quarterly.

This episode explores Europe’s evolving approach toward including Chinese telecommunications companies in its 5G infrastructure. Our guest, Dr. Janka Oertel, explains the security risks behind allowing Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE to supply 5G technology to Europe, as well as the potential economic and political risks of shutting them out. Dr. Oertel also describes how Europe’s attitude toward Chinese technology differs from other countries like the US and Japan, and assesses the feasibility of Europe putting forth a uniform policy on 5G security.

Dr. Janka Oertel is a senior fellow in the Asia program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States’ Berlin office. Dr. Oertel primarily works on transatlantic China policy, Chinese foreign policy, and security in East Asia. She holds a PhD from the University of Jena, focusing on Chinese policies within the United Nations.