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Chinese Whispers

Chinese Whispers

By: The Spectator
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About this listen

 A fortnightly podcast from the Spectator on the latest in Chinese politics, society, and more. From Huawei to Hong Kong, Cindy Yu talks to experts, journalists, and long time China-watchers on what you need to know about China.

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

343517 Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • New podcast: Quite right! with Michael Gove & Madeline Grant

    New podcast: Quite right! with Michael Gove & Madeline Grant
    Sep 10 2025

    Michael Gove and Madeline Grant launch Quite Right!, The Spectator’s new podcast promising sanity and common sense in an increasingly unhinged world. This week, they talk about Labour’s deputy drama, discuss whether Britain is sliding into a revolutionary mood a la France and investigate the claim in a new book that Margaret Thatcher was autistic.


    To hear the full episode, search Quite right! wherever you get your podcasts, or go to www.spectator.co.uk/quiteright


    Quite right! is also on our YouTube channel SpectatorTV.

    Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.


    For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.


    Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    18 mins
  • A compilation of Chinese Whispers: understanding China

    A compilation of Chinese Whispers: understanding China
    May 5 2025
    As Chinese Whispers comes to an end, here is a compilation of some of the best discussions Cindy Yu has had across the podcast to understand modern China and President Xi.

    On this episode you can hear from: journalist Bill Hayton on what it means to be Chinese (1:10); writer and actor Mark Kitto and author Alex Ash on being foreign in China (13:07); professor of international history Elizabeth Ingleson on whether China’s economic boom was made in America (23:08); professor of Chinese studies and former diplomat Kerry Brown and professor of history Steve Tsang on how the cultural revolution shaped China’s leaders today (47:05); journalist Bill Bishop and professor of political science Victor Shih on how Xi took complete control at the 20th party congress in 2022 (58:13); journalist and advisor Noah Barkin on the relationship between Europe and China (1:10:04); and, professor of China studies William Kirby and former diplomat Charles Parton on why China won’t invade Taiwan (1:19:56).

    To stay abreast of Cindy’s latest work, subscribe to her free Substack at chinesewhispers.substack.com

    Produced by Cindy Yu and Patrick Gibbons.

    Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.


    For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.


    Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • What does it take to be 'an old friend of the Chinese people'?

    What does it take to be 'an old friend of the Chinese people'?
    Apr 7 2025
    ** Chinese Whispers is coming to an end. Later this year, Cindy Yu will be joining The Times and The Sunday Times to write a regular column on China. To stay abreast of her latest work, subscribe to her free Substack at chinesewhispers.substack.com **

    The term ‘old friend of the Chinese people’ might seem a colloquial, almost sentimental, phrase to appear in official diplomatic language, but in the Chinese context, those words have a very specific meaning. Most often, they refer to high profile foreigners whose actions have helped the Chinese Communist Party in one way or another. The most famous of these is Henry Kissinger, who led the way for American rapprochement with China.

    That the CCP gives various foreigners this honour is revealing of China’s priorities over the decades, but also of its attempts to co-opt foreign forces to its cause. Think back to the United Front strategy, which we looked at on the podcast earlier in the year.

    To discuss this honorific, I’m joined Professor Anne-Marie Brady, a China expert at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, who was among the first to look at China’s old friends as a serious political concept some 20 years ago, and Ryan Ho Kilpatrick, a journalist based in Hong Kong.

    Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.


    For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.


    Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
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