World Today

Asia, one of the most economically dynamic regions in the world, is getting increasing strategic attention. Global powers, inside or outside the region, are promoting economic, cultural or military schemes of their own, aiming to gain more influence and interests.

In its annual Asia Power Index report, Australian think tank the Lowy Institute found that the U.S. remains the top power in Asia, but the age of its uncontested primacy is over. The report said China is gaining diplomatic influence in the region while ASEAN countries like Indonesia are becoming more active on the Asia stage day by day.

Why is Asia important? What are the respective aims of global powers vying for influence in Asia? Host Liu Kun is joined by Chen Hong, Director of Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University; Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow with the Taihe Institute and Founder of Asia Narratives; and Digby Wren, a visiting scholar at the Royal Academy of Cambodia.

① Cambodian PM Hun Sen visits China. What's on the agenda? (00:44)

② Trade between China and the US hit a record high 2022, despite Washington's decoupling talk. (13:00)

③ China and Brazil agree to use the Chinese yuan in cross-border transactions. (24:04)

④Syrian Ambassador: Earthquake sufferings compounded by Western sanctions. (32:12)

⑤ Mainland urges DPP to remove unilateral barriers to cross-Straits exchanges. (42:58)

① US President Joe Biden urges for bipartisan unity in his State of Union Address. (00:42)

② Sanctions imposed by US and allies hamper relief and rescue work in earthquake-devastated Syria. (24:20)

③ France, Germany protest U.S. green subsidies on Washington trip. (34:31)

④ Australia, New Zealand talk up their relationships with China. (45:16)

① China announces emergency aid for quake-hit Türkiye, Syria. (00:53)

② Can China-Australia economic and trade ties get “back on track” as ministers talk? (13:15)

③ Study shows China surpassed the US in economic relationships and diplomatic influence in Asia. (25:00)

④ Workers stage the largest strike in the history of Britain's health service (35:52)

⑤ Google and Microsoft’s AI arms race. What’s next? (44:23)

①Travel agencies in China resume outbound group tour services to 20 countries.(00:48) ②China calls for regional stability as the United States and the Philippines agreed to larger U.S. military presence in Asia.(12:40) ③Report shows U.S. long-arm jurisdiction hurts international order and the rule of law.(26:00) ④China's securities regulators announce plans to expand registration-based IPO system across the A-share market.(36:30) ⑤The creator of the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT tries a subscription service in the U.S.(45:20)

In the face of unexpected situations, what China and the U.S. need to do is to stay focused, communicate in a timely manner, avoid misjudgment, and manage differences. Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during phone talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the latter's request following reports that a Chinese unmanned airship had recently been spotted in US airspace. How should the two handle their relationship at critical junctures?

Host Ge Anna talks with Dr. Lee Pei May, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the International Islamic University Malaysia; Dr. Chen Hong, Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Studies Centre at East China Normal University; and Dr. Josef Mahoney, Professor of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University.

①In a study session of the Communist Party of China’s top decision-making body, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed plans to revive consumption and accelerate technology independence in China. We discuss the challenges in achieving these goals. (00:54)

②US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to begin a two-day visit to Beijing. Will it stabilize the China-US ties? (13:28)

③The EU has unveiled plans for its own "Green Deal" in response to the Biden administration's green subsidy program. What does the EU-US subsidy race tell us about the rule-setting in the green industry? (24:20)

④The Fed raises rates a quarter point and signals more ahead. (35:53)

⑤We follow the probe into Joe Biden's handling of classified documents, where FBI search of Biden's Delaware holiday home finds no classified documents. (45:05)

①Western countries are weighing the next step in military assistance to Ukraine after the US and Germany announced a decision to send main battle tanks. (00:54)

②The US is launching a series of ambitious technology, space and defense initiatives with India. What’s the respective motivation of Washington and New Delhi? (12:59)

③NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg accused China of bullying its neighbors during a visit to Japan. What has driven his confrontational rhetoric? (24:19)

④China's January economic activity expands for the first time in several months, as the country is near the end of the latest Covid wave. (32:35)

⑤Large crowds march across France, raising pressure against Macron's pension reform. (42:05)

① Philippine president starts his state visit to China. What to expect? (00:42)

② Chinese FM and U.S. secretary of state hold phone talks. What is the future of China-US relations? (12:21)

③ US expert: China’s "dynamic-zero" policy saves millions of lives. (25:00)

④ Chinese tech giant Huawei expects its revenue for 2022 to reach about 91.59 billion U.S. dollars. (34:19)

⑤ South Korea considers joint nuclear planning and exercises with the US. (44:32)

①The IMF upgrades global economic outlook amid easing inflation, projecting China's economy will grow by 5.2% in 2023. We discuss the global economy and China's role in it. (00:54) ②The WHO says Covid-19 remains a global health emergency. (12:43) ③China has approved two more homegrown oral Covid-19 medicines. (24:04) ④Three years on, Britain still seems to be waiting for Brexit dividend. (35:58) ⑤The southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan will drop restrictions on unmarried people having children. We discuss the social and economic factors behind the policy shift. (44:03)