How to become a dictator

How significant is China’s military buildup? What does Xi Jinping’s ongoing purge mean for the People’s Liberation Army? And how likely is an invasion of Taiwan in the next few years?

Dive into the strengths and weaknesses of China’s military and its remarkable transformation over the last few decades from obsolete to world-class in a three-part mini series with Battle Lines host Venetia Rainey.

As the US pivots to the Indo-Pacific and the threat of a truly global war looms, understanding the evolving role of China’s military on the world stage has never been more important.

Featuring insights from the world's top China experts, including: Dr Phillip Saunders and Joel Wuthnow from the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, Oriana Skylar Mastro from the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, Meia Nouwens from the China Programme at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Timothy Heath at RAND, Amanda Hsiao at Eurasia Group, and The Telegraph’s Asia Correspondent Allegra Mendelson. 

Search 'Battle Lines China' wherever you get your podcasts to listen now.

Or Telegraph subscribers can find all episodes here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/08/battle-lines-podcast-inside-the-rise-of-chinas-military/

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Spoiler Alert. Make sure you're fully caught up on the series before listening to this bonus episode.

Join the Telegraph's award-winning China correspondent Sophia Yan and senior foreign correspondent Roland Oliphant as they explore how likely a conflict for Taiwan is, what we've learned from the G20 this week and how long Xi Jinping will really last.

We also catch up with Sophia about what life has been like since leaving China.

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Read How to build a democratic dictatorship, by Sophia Yan |

Read more from Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sk-so/sophia-yan/ |

Read more of The Telegraph's coverage of China: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/china/ |

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A look inside how Xi Jinping has turned China into a superpower to rival the US, by growing its military and taking an increasingly aggressive approach to expanding Chinese influence abroad, from Taiwan and the South China Sea to spies in the UK and US. Meanwhile, The Telegraph’s Sophia Yan is forced to make a difficult decision about her future in Beijing.

Get 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/dictator |

Read How to build a democratic dictatorship, by Sophia Yan |

Read more from Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sk-so/sophia-yan/ |

Read more of The Telegraph's coverage of China: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/china/ |

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A look inside how Xi Jinping permeates every aspect of daily life in China, from the streets to schools to people’s phones. The extraordinary new levels of propaganda and censorship under him mean one thing: he is turning himself into Mao Zedong 2.0. Meanwhile, The Telegraph’s Sophia Yan deals with the increasingly grim reality of reporting in China.

Archive used in this episode from: CCTV, CNN, Sky News, BBC News

Get 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/dictator |

Read How to build a democratic dictatorship, by Sophia Yan |

Read more from Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sk-so/sophia-yan/ |

Read more of The Telegraph's coverage of China: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/china/ |

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Xi Jinping is in power, and he immediately kicks off a campaign to clear up corruption in China. But he doesn’t stop there. Soon human rights activists, Uyghurs, and even former allies are disappearing off the streets with no explanation. Meanwhile, The Telegraph’s Sophia Yan wrestles with China’s strict Zero Covid policy while in quarantine.

Archive used in this episode from: CCTV, CGTN, CBS, ABC

Get 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/dictator |

Read How to build a democratic dictatorship, by Sophia Yan |

Read more from Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sk-so/sophia-yan/ 

Read more of The Telegraph's coverage of China: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/china/|

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A deep dive into Xi Jinping’s younger years, from being sent to a cave to do manual labour during the Cultural Revolution, to his dark family history. As Xi rises through the party, hints of his manifesto begin to emerge. Meanwhile, The Telegraph’s Sophia Yan begins her journey trying to get back into China.

Get 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/dictator |

Read How to build a democratic dictatorship, by Sophia Yan |

Read more from Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sk-so/sophia-yan/ 

Read more of The Telegraph's coverage of China: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/china/|

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A year on from Beijing’s National Security Law, Hong Kong has been silenced. Or has it? Whether laying low in the city, in jail, or in exile, the Hong Kongers at the heart of our story take the long view and reflect on what’s next for the city.

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Read more from Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sk-so/sophia-yan/ |

Read more from Nicola Smith: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/n/nf-nj/nicola-smith/ |

Read more of The Telegraph's coverage of Hong Kong: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/hong-kong/ |

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Beijing steps up its crackdown on Hong Kong, reaching behind closed doors to silence people’s private conversations, even their very thoughts. As the scope of the law becomes clear, a mother makes a difficult decision.

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Read more from Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sk-so/sophia-yan/ |

Read more from Nicola Smith: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/n/nf-nj/nicola-smith/ |

Read more of The Telegraph's coverage of Hong Kong: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/hong-kong/ |

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A sweeping new law changes everything overnight, leaving Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protest movement exposed and vulnerable - but unwilling to give up the fight. As the noose tightens, some are arrested, while others choose to flee into exile.

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Read more from Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sk-so/sophia-yan/ |

Read more from Nicola Smith: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/n/nf-nj/nicola-smith/ |

Read more of The Telegraph's coverage of Hong Kong: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/hong-kong/ |

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As Hong Kong is engulfed by the biggest pro-democracy protests in its modern history, hopes rise that people power will win the day and safeguard the city’s unique way of life. But Beijing has other plans.

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Read more from Sophia Yan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/s/sk-so/sophia-yan/ |

Read more from Nicola Smith: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/n/nf-nj/nicola-smith/ |

Read more of The Telegraph's coverage of Hong Kong: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/hong-kong/ |

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.