Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang

About Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang

Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang offers in-depth conversations with Chinese experts from across the country’s most dynamic sectors – from foreign policy and tech to grassroots culture and economic reform. Hosted from China, the show brings on-the-ground insights you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re a policymaker, business strategist, researcher, or curious global citizen, Inside the China Room is your front-row seat to real conversations with people shaping China’s present – and its global future. New episodes every few weeks. Subscribe for timely, topical, and thoughtful China insights. www.gingerriver.com (https://www.gingerriver.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Jiang Jiang

Category

news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Feb 2023

Latest episode

20 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Sept 2026

   What Strategic Stability Means for China-U.S. Relations

   In this episode of Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang, I’m joined by Da Wei (https://x.com/mawangcun1), Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) (https://ciss.tsinghua.edu.cn/column/english) and a Professor in the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University. His research focuses on China-U.S. relations, as well as U.S. security and foreign policy. Da Wei is regarded by many overseas China watchers as one of Beijing’s most prominent voices on U.S.-China relations. On September 7, Foreign Affairs published an article by Da Wei, titled “The Emerging U.S.-China Détente (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/emerging-us-china-detente?check_logged_in=1&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email),” with the subtitle “A Confident Beijing and a Pragmatic Washington Can Get Along.” The article has drawn considerable attention among observers of China-U.S. relations. The timing is particularly interesting. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Washington this month for another meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump this year. The two leaders could also meet again later in the year around the APEC and G20 summits. Da Wei has been a frequent participant in Track Two and people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States, traveling regularly between the two countries for dialogue with academics, former officials, and business leaders. In today’s episode, Da Wei discusses what “constructive strategic stability” means for China-U.S. relations and what to watch for in the next leaders’ meeting. We also talk about Taiwan, AI, the thinking behind his recent Foreign Affairs article, and what years of Track Two and people-to-people exchanges have taught him about how the two countries see each other. With three decades of experience spanning China’s academic and policy communities, Da Wei has built a career in both think tanks and higher education. He spent more than two decades at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, or CICIR, where his last position was Director of the Institute of American Studies from 2013 to 2017. He later served as Assistant President at the University of International Relations. Since January 2021, he has been at Tsinghua University. Beyond his institutional roles, Da Wei is Vice President of the Chinese Association of American Studies and serves on the boards of multiple academic organizations. Da Wei holds a BA and MA from the University of International Relations in Beijing and a PhD from CICIR. His international academic experience includes visiting appointments at the Atlantic Council, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, and Nanyang Technological University. Highlights: 02:50 – What “constructive strategic stability” means for China-U.S. relations 08:55 – How Da Wei assesses the idea of strategic stability in recent China-U.S. interactions 13:51 – Leader-level meetings and their role in China-U.S. relations 18:07 – How Da Wei sees his Foreign Affairs article and his role as a scholar 22:37 – Taiwan and what to watch for in the next leaders’ meeting 28:21 – Track Two dialogue, face-to-face exchanges, and mutual understanding 39:33 – How younger Chinese and Americans see the bilateral relationship 44:45 – The prospects for China-U.S. dialogue on AI 52:31 – Book recommendations Recommendations: Da Wei: The Neighborhood: Space, State, and Daily Life in a Manchurian City (西塔) (https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/N/bo252739068.html) , by Song Niansheng Jiang Jiang: Beijing and Washington Can Build AI Safety Despite Mutual Distrust (https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/08/31/china-us-safety-ai-artificial-intelligence-summit-regulation/), by Xiao Qian Enjoyed the episode? Follow Inside the China Room on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-china-room-with-jiang-jiang/id1672632606?l=zh-Hans-CN), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0mAhl79iQO2e12j5qdD38d?si=ec24eb3e9342448b&nd=1), or YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheChinaRoom/podcasts). New episodes drop every two weeks. Share & rate us to help more listeners discover expert perspectives from inside China. This episode was recorded on Sept. 16. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.gingerriver.com (https://www.gingerriver.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   10 Sept 2026

   Where China–India Relations Stand Today

   This episode of Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang, I’m joined by Mike Liu (https://www.linkedin.com/in/liu-mike-hong-1701306/details/experience/) (刘宏), VP & Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, or CCG (http://en.ccg.org.cn/), a leading non-governmental think tank based in Beijing. Mike is also an accomplished business executive with more than 30 years of experience in hi-tech industry with leading multinational corporations. His career has taken him across Greater China, the United States, Singapore, and India. In this episode, Mike assesses the current state of China–India relations against the backdrop of this year’s BRICS Summit in India, and explains why the relationship matters far beyond the two countries. Drawing on his experience in India’s technology sector, he discusses whether India’s outsourcing-led IT model can adapt to the AI era and how the different strengths of China and India may shape their interactions in the field. He also talks about trade and economic ties, the visa imbalance, the need for more firsthand exchanges, and China’s engagement with South Asia and other neighboring regions. Mike is the former Managing Director and Legal Representative of DXC Technology in Greater China. Before that, he served as Global Vice President, Country Head, and Legal Representative at Infosys, one of India’s largest IT services and consulting companies, in the Greater China region. He is also the author of The Rise of India’s IT (https://www.amazon.com/%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6IT%E7%9A%84%E5%B4%9B%E8%B5%B7-%E6%88%91%E7%9A%84%E5%8D%B0%E5%AD%9A%E7%91%9F%E6%96%AF%E4%BD%93%E9%AA%8C-Traditional-Chinese-%E5%88%98%E5%AE%8F-ebook/dp/B0BS951F76/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13798IDUMYH6W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dfpsO180umftj9_YXCgqXQ.tX5qxPMJMLWhXBPtUPq8B1Kh4XfKiKfLW3B1J0K_nOA&dib_tag=se&keywords=%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6IT%E7%9A%84%E5%B4%9B%E8%B5%B7%EF%BC%9A%E6%88%91%E7%9A%84%E5%8D%B0%E5%AD%9A%E7%91%9F%E6%96%AF%E4%BD%93%E9%AA%8C&qid=1789007529&s=books&sprefix=%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6it%E7%9A%84%E5%B4%9B%E8%B5%B7+%E6%88%91%E7%9A%84%E5%8D%B0%E5%AD%9A%E7%91%9F%E6%96%AF%E4%BD%93%E9%AA%8C%2Cstripbooks%2C577&sr=1-1), a book that draws on his experience and and research to examine the factors behind the success of India’s IT industry in a global context. Mike was also our guest three years ago, the last time we discussed India on this podcast show (https://www.gingerriver.com/p/a-deep-dive-into-china-india-relations). Highlights: 01:09 – Introduction: China–India relations ahead of the BRICS Summit in India 13:34 – Why China–India ties matter globally, and where trade and economic relations fit in 19:09 – Can India’s outsourcing-led IT model adapt to the AI era? 34:02 – Visa barriers, firsthand experience, and the importance of people-to-people exchanges 41:30 – China’s engagement with South Asia and other neighboring regions 46:50 – Book recommendations 54:33 – Closing remarks Recommendations: Mike Liu: On China (https://www.amazon.com/China-Henry-Kissinger/dp/0143121316), by Henry Kissinger The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World (https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Road-William-Dalrymple/dp/140886441X), by William Dalrymple JJ: The Rise of India’s IT (《印度IT的崛起：我的印孚瑟斯体验》) (https://www.amazon.com/%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6IT%E7%9A%84%E5%B4%9B%E8%B5%B7-%E6%88%91%E7%9A%84%E5%8D%B0%E5%AD%9A%E7%91%9F%E6%96%AF%E4%BD%93%E9%AA%8C-Traditional-Chinese-%E5%88%98%E5%AE%8F-ebook/dp/B0BS951F76/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13798IDUMYH6W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dfpsO180umftj9_YXCgqXQ.tX5qxPMJMLWhXBPtUPq8B1Kh4XfKiKfLW3B1J0K_nOA&dib_tag=se&keywords=%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6IT%E7%9A%84%E5%B4%9B%E8%B5%B7%EF%BC%9A%E6%88%91%E7%9A%84%E5%8D%B0%E5%AD%9A%E7%91%9F%E6%96%AF%E4%BD%93%E9%AA%8C&qid=1789007529&s=books&sprefix=%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6it%E7%9A%84%E5%B4%9B%E8%B5%B7+%E6%88%91%E7%9A%84%E5%8D%B0%E5%AD%9A%E7%91%9F%E6%96%AF%E4%BD%93%E9%AA%8C%2Cstripbooks%2C577&sr=1-1), by Mike Liu 701 Days in India, (《我在印度的701天》) (https://www.amazon.com/701-Days-India-Chinese-Guo/dp/7553507377/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2NFRNF61WYBOQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-S4i2kd-IMiGGukQONFmKw.zDi7EUVeer9IkuqYxZUwNTJ5O-7bnWoKMEAA_wMtOnU&dib_tag=se&keywords=%E6%88%91%E5%9C%A8%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E7%9A%84701%E5%A4%A9&qid=1789029703&s=books&sprefix=%E6%88%91%E5%9C%A8%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E7%9A%84701%E5%A4%A9%2Cstripbooks%2C394&sr=1-1), by Fei Guo Enjoyed the episode? Follow Inside the China Room on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-china-room-with-jiang-jiang/id1672632606), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0mAhl79iQO2e12j5qdD38d?si=ec24eb3e9342448b&nd=1), or YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheChinaRoom/podcasts). New episodes drop every two weeks. Share & rate us to help more listeners discover expert perspectives from inside China. This episode was recorded on Sept. 3. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.gingerriver.com (https://www.gingerriver.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   30 Jan 2026

   Jinghan Zeng on the controversy and reality of Confucius Institutes and China–UK relations

   This episode of Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang, I’m joined by Professor Michael Jinghan Zeng (https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/jingzeng/) from the Department of Public and International Affairs at City University of Hong Kong explore the controversies — and realities — surrounding Confucius Institutes and China–UK relations. Before relocating to Hong Kong, Professor Zeng spent 13 years in the UK, where he built his academic career. At 31, he was appointed Professor of China and International Studies at Lancaster University, becoming one of the youngest full professors in Britain. Simultaneously, he served as Director of Lancaster University Confucius Institute (https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/confucius-institute/). Under his leadership, the Institute grew into an award-winning institution while successfully navigating unprecedented challenges — from the global pandemic and the abrupt dissolution of the Confucius Institute Headquarters to a political campaign by the UK’s then-ruling government to shut down Confucius Institutes. These experiences are chronicled in his three-volume memoir, Memoirs of a Confucius Institute Director (https://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Confucius-Institute-Director-Controversies/dp/9819691516), with the first volume released in August 2025. Before embarking on his academic career, he worked at the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs in New York City. Highlights: 03:41 - What does a Confucius Institute director actually do — and why Zeng took on the role at a politically sensitive moment 13:34 - The biggest misconceptions about Confucius Institutes in British society 17:34 - Cultural engagement vs. propaganda: where the line really lies 19:19 - Confucius Institutes and the British Council: similar missions, different politics 22:43 - Inside the “Confucius Institute of the Year” award 25:13 - Leading a Confucius Institute through crisis: pandemic, politics, and pressure 33:10 - How Zeng reads the current China–UK reset — and why Starmer’s China visit matters 42:22 - What’s next: a preview of Volume Two of Memoirs of a Confucius Institute Director Recommendations: Jinghan Zeng: Black Myth: Wukong (https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/2358720/) (a video game inspired by the ancient Chinese tale “Journey to the West”) JJ: Memoirs of a Confucius Institute Director, Volume 1: Challenges, Controversies, and Realities (available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Confucius-Institute-Director-Controversies/dp/9819691516)), by Jinghan Zeng Enjoyed the episode? Follow Inside the China Room on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-china-room-with-jiang-jiang/id1672632606?l=zh-Hans-CN), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0mAhl79iQO2e12j5qdD38d?si=ec24eb3e9342448b&nd=1), or YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheChinaRoom/podcasts). Share & rate us to help more listeners discover expert perspectives from inside China. This episode was recorded on Jan. 29. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.gingerriver.com (https://www.gingerriver.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

671

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

62

Social presence

0

YouTube

66

Engagement

68

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