Over the past week, the U.S. President Trump has visited Asia, with Malaysia as his first stop, followed by Japan, and concluding in South Korea, where he met with the Chinese supreme leader. This Asian tour offers a valuable opportunity to observe U.S. foreign policy and strategy.

Undoubtedly, Trump is an unconventional U.S. president. Whether his second-term foreign policy is underpinned by a grand strategic logic or driven by transactional thinking and short-term gains remains a matter of debate. Skeptics argue that Trump lacks strategic vision, relying on instincts to navigate international relations while prioritizing personal relations over systematic approach. John Bolton, Trump’s National Security Advisor during his first term, espouses this view. Supporters, however, contend that Trump possesses a grand strategy and is vigorously implementing it.

Yet even among these supporters, there is no consensus on what grand strategy Trump actually pursues. Three prominent arguments exist: First, the “Priority Strategy,” where Trump seeks to shed burdens in Europe and the Middle East to focus entirely on countering China in the Indo-Pacific. Second, the “Sphere of Influence” theory, positing that Trump no longer pursues global hegemony but instead divides spheres of influence with China and Russia—China controlling Asia, Russia controlling Eastern and Central Europe, and the U.S. controlling Western Europe and the Americas. Third, the “Isolationist” view, suggesting the U.S. withdraws from the world stage to concentrate on domestic matters.

By examining Trump’s recent tour of Asia, we can empirically evaluate these diverse opinions, thereby acquiring a more precise, nuanced, and thorough comprehension of his prospective foreign policy over the coming 3 years.

For video, please visit:

https://youtu.be/IWTMHz_eYTA

or https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Fh1YB3EWr

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hybridtalk.substack.com

In this episode, Yating shares her journey as a PhD student in Germany.

Timeline:

00:00 Opening Theme

00:31 Start of conversation

01:30 Why did Yating move to Germany for PhD studies?

06:51 Research topic

09:42 Experiences of moving to Germany in the Covid Time

19:00 Reverse cultural shock, Hierarchy in Chinese and German academia, Alcohol culture in China

27:00 Encountering different views about China? Negative or just curious about China?

31:30 Do Chinese eat dogs?

33:30 The broader image of China in Germany

35:39 Comparing China’s image with Korea and Japan, soft power, stereotypes, Anime, K-pop, video games

44:00 Cultural differences between China and Germany, Payment

45:00 Is Bairenfan (White people’s food) helathier than Chinese food？

47:50 Social media, emoji languages and flirting

54:50 Are Germans friendly to strangers?

56:00 Being friendly, network, socialist society and social code

58:42 Commons and differences of dating culture in China and Germany

01:05:42 Chinese parents dress their daughters like boys? Feminism and beauty duty

01:09:27 Fitness, individualism, masculinity, male attractiveness

01:18:10 Beauty standards in China and Germany

01:20:35 Girls are encouraged to be strong in Germany

01:23:13 Concluding remarks

For video, please visit https://youtu.be/wUDjOgNRoTc or https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1YZW2zYEt3

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hybridtalk.substack.com

On Sunday, September 14, 2025, we discussed the death of Charlie Kirk and its cause, impact, particularly for ordinary people, and possible solution……

For video, please visit:

https://youtu.be/EkBlduGm88c

or

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1XrpuzRE47

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hybridtalk.substack.com

For video, please visit https://youtu.be/9nu8mtjW1iM

or https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Yoanz2E59

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hybridtalk.substack.com

For video please visit:

https://youtu.be/9DcXw9hlTfU

or

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1XdtUzjEjq

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hybridtalk.substack.com

On May 27th, 2025, I, Chaoting Cheng (X: @ChaoticGenghis), was interviewed by Max Hofer of top.tirol - Wirtschaftsnews and answered many questions: China-Austria regional cooperation, Austria's neutral status, the Belt and Road Initiative, risks in China-EU cooperation, Chinese investment in Europe, electric vehicles, Huawei, the US-China tariff war, and China-EU relations, among others. It felt like I had become a grassroots spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For video, please visit https://youtu.be/NrdZYKTZQhU or https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1U9jBzmEL9

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hybridtalk.substack.com

For Video, please visit

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1oBJVzYEwb/

or

https://youtu.be/DZM5Uuhbcmw

What is driving the US-China trade war — and how does it affect Germany and the everyday citizen?

In this episode, we explore the economic, political, and strategic logic behind the ongoing trade conflict between the United States and China. We analyze the balance of power between the two global giants, their respective strengths and weaknesses, and the broader implications for global trade.

Speakers:

Björn (YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@China-mk2xr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bjoern.in.china)

Yating

Chaoting (X: @ChaoticGenghis)

👉 Key questions discussed:

What motivates the US-China trade war?

How do China and the US compare in terms of power and influence?

What are the long-term prospects of this conflict?

How is Germany affected by this global power struggle?

What does the trade war mean for ordinary people?

Whether you're interested in international relations, global economics, or the future of German industry, this video offers clear insights into one of the most critical geopolitical tensions of our time.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hybridtalk.substack.com

For audiences in mainland China, please visit https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/episodes/67b5a609606e5c59407ee85d

We had an English conversation with a German citizen in early February. We discussed Germany's current hot political issues, such as immigration policy and nuclear energy:

00:00 Trailer

00:31 Introduction

01:25 Parliamentary Democracy in Germany

05:06 CDU's policy

07:57 Immigration policy, AfD, and populism in Germany

15:08 Why doesn't the German citizen trust mainstream parties in Germany? Angela Merkel, Gerhard Schrödel, Iraq, German media, and nuclear energy policy

24:40 Why the mainstream parties can't deliver their promise. Donald Trump and populism

27:49 Immigrants with Islam background, terrorism, and background check

34:11 Guest speaker's comments and questions: the complexity of background check. What kind of politics is necessary? What does this German citizen think about the nuclear energy policy？

37:41 Reaction: Nuclear energy policy, Angela Merkel

00:40 Direct democracy implemented in Switzerland about the Covid restriction. The German government and the people don't trust each other

46:32 Nuclear energy and Russian dependency

51:11 Legitimacy, input democracy, and output democracy, possibilities of direct democracy and trust in professional politicians

55:14 Disadvantages of radical democracy. Q1: the boundary between the referendum and constitutional rule. Q2: Who can vote for the referendum? Why do only citizens have the right to vote rather than all people being affected?

01:00:06 Reaction: Referendum on taxation, joining the EU

01:11:30 Ancient Greek tradition that foreigners couldn't vote; conditions for voting;

01:15:07 Q: Do people have more contributions to societies should more right?

01:20:05 Reaction: every person under the law is the same

01:28:33 Concluding remarks

To watch the video, please visit our YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/XGmjzogcFNQ

#germany #deutschland #wahl #wahlen2025 #cdu #afd #deutsch #immigration #german #politics #democracy #directdemocracy #nuclear #russland #referandearn #olafscholz

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hybridtalk.substack.com

00:10 Self-Introduction

01:38 Motivation

04:13 Purpose

04:38 Purpose: Non-Academic Career

06:03 Purpose: New Way of Knowledge Spreading

08:00 Purpose: Intercultural Exchange

09:30 Purpose: Approach More People

10:45 Purpose: Self-Improvement

11:37 What Hybrid Means?

13:00 Plan

To watch the video, please visit our Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/x0RGUDJ3iqk

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hybridtalk.substack.com