Chat Lounge

Chat Lounge

A place to unpack reactions to major events and hot issues in a casual setting.

Episodes

August 8, 2025 55 mins

Beijing is demanding answers from Nvidia just weeks after Washington lifted the export ban on its AI chips. China's cyberspace regulator has summoned the U.S. company, raising concerns that its H20 chips contain backdoors. What exactly is a hardware backdoor? Are China's worries about chip security justified? How difficult is it to prove a chip is truly secure? And if backdoor functions are validated, what could this mean for Nvidi...

Mark as Played

Despite "constructive" talks, no deal was reached between China and the U.S. on extending the 90-day tariff truce, and the August 12 deadline is fast approaching. What's holding both sides back? What are the hidden costs for consumers if tariffs snap back into place? How might the outcome of the China-U.S. trade talks influence Washington's negotiations with other economies? And could this diplomatic dance set the stage for a summi...

Mark as Played

China has broken ground on the world's largest hydropower station high on the Qinghai-Xizang/Tibet Plateau, a new engine for green energy. But beyond clean power, what will the massive project on the Yarlung Zangbo River mean for China's vast west and its South Asian neighbors? What challenges lie ahead, and could it reshape regional cooperation?

Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Qu Qiang, a fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center at Minzu ...

Mark as Played

Global sovereign wealth funds are warming to China again, just as the country posts another quarter of better-than-expected growth. What's fueling the optimism? Which sectors are showing resilience amid global uncertainty? While second-quarter growth outpaced annual targets, it slowed from the first quarter. Is this a sign of fading stimulus or just a natural rebalancing? And looking ahead, does China have what it takes to sustain ...

Mark as Played

TikTok has denied reports that it's developing a separate app for the U.S. market. So how can the company resolve its prolonged standoff with Washington? Washington says a deal with Beijing is nearly done. But Beijing isn't exactly on the same page. Is this really just a business move or a high-stakes political gamble? What's the likely endgame? And what could it mean for the future of global tech?

Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Zhou Mi, the...

Mark as Played

From nickel-rich rainforests to battery plants on the rise, Indonesia is teaming up with China to chase the EV prize. A massive battery project in the Southeast Asian country promises new jobs, growth, and green power. But there are also doubts and questions. Is it a clean-energy leap, or a high voltage gamble? With big hopes, how could this shape Asia's green future?

Host Tu Yun joins Andy Mok, a Senior Research Fellow at the Cente...

Mark as Played

The newly launched Payment Connect scheme between China's mainland and Hong Kong is set to transform cross-border payments, making transfers faster, cheaper, and as simple as using a phone number. How may it reshape trade, tourism, and convenience across the Greater Bay Area? Will it pave the way for broader use of the digital Chinese currency and future breakthroughs in global finance? And how does the digital yuan fit into a bigg...

Mark as Played

China's biopharma boom is on, and foreign investors are flooding in. As we dive into the billion-dollar wave of foreign investment reshaping China's biotech landscape, check out Why pharma giants like Roche and AstraZeneca are expanding their footprint here. What strategic edge does China offer in global drug development? And can the country become a global biopharma innovation powerhouse by 2030?

Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Zhou Mi, the...

Mark as Played

As we look ahead to the upcoming second China-Central Asia Summit, we take this opportunity to explore the critical role of media in shaping and supporting regional cooperation.

How can media in China and Central Asian countries serve as a bridge for understanding and trust? What can we do to promote a more balanced and objective global discourse about our region? How do we make sure the voices of China and Central Asia are effecti...

Mark as Played

In a world increasingly divided, can diplomacy speak with a new voice? From Hong Kong, a bold new initiative is taking shape: the International Organization for Mediation, or IOMed, promises to settle disputes not with judges and rulings but with conversation and consensus. Is this a fresh, flexible alternative to the courtroom or a so-called challenge to the existing global legal order? What's the future of peaceful dispute resolu...

Mark as Played

China is strengthening its ties with Pacific Island nations following the conclusion of a major diplomatic event – the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in Xiamen. The meeting, chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, brought together senior diplomats from 11 Pacific nations with formal ties to Beijing.

What were the key takeaways from the meeting? How is China’s growing partnership with Pacif...

Mark as Played

Washington is tightening its containment of China's tech industry, launching a global crackdown on AI chips from Chinese firms, with Huawei squarely in the crosshairs. What's fueling this escalation? And how might it reshape the global semiconductor landscape?

Host Tu Yun joins Andy Mok, a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, Dr. Warwick Powell, an Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technolog...

Mark as Played

It's a deal, but not a done deal. The temporary tariff agreement reached between China and the United States has brought a glimmer of positivity to a world shrouded in Washington's tariff war. What immediate impact will the deal have on the course of two-way trade? Does the agreement have any implications for other countries currently in talks with the U.S.? How may Beijing respond if Washington backtracks? And what may we expect a...

Mark as Played

Chinese President Xi Jinping has had a state visit to Russia.

The visit coincides with Russia's Victory Day celebrations on May 9, marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, which brought an end to the Second World War in Europe.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, signifying the complete triumph of the global fight in the...

Mark as Played

A mischievous little monster packed in mystery boxes is setting off a global craze from Asia to North America. Labubu, the fluffy, toothy toy from China, is sending fans camping out overnight and driving resale prices sky-high. How did a China-made plush punch through the thick wall of tariffs and land in America's hottest new stores, opening one after another across the country? What's behind the China-made toy's unstoppable rise?...

Mark as Played

From eggs to Hollywood and global trust to monetary stability, America's tariff war against the rest of the world is dearly backfiring on its own people and economy. What are Americans losing due to the U.S. tariff war? US officials have indicated tariffs on China could drop substantially. But how reliable is such a statement, and can it reverse the damage already done?

Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Yan Liang, Professor of Economics, Willa...

Mark as Played

Three countries, one tour, and a clear message from Beijing- President Xi Jinping touched down in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia this week, marking one of his most strategic Southeast Asian tours in years. What's behind the charm offensive? While the U.S. is fueling global confusion and frustration with its tariff war, China and its Southeast Asian partners are trying to inject cooperation and stability into global growth. What do...

Mark as Played
April 11, 2025 68 mins

History doesn't just echo, it warns. As Washington ramps up tariffs and the world braces for economic whiplash, are we watching a 21st-century rerun of Hoover's Great Depression playbook? From China's counterstrikes to cracks in America's economy, we unpack whether this trade war is strategy or self-sabotage and how it may accelerate the formation of a "post-American" global trade order.

Host Tu Yun joins Professor Josef Mahoney, P...

Mark as Played

Shanghai has become a pioneering city in China to introduce standards regulating smoking in outdoor public spaces. Could this be the start of a nationwide shift? China aims to cut adult smoking from 24% to 20% by 2030, but with cigarette sales still climbing, how challenging is that goal? Can this policy truly make an impact, or will deep-rooted smoking culture stand in the way?

Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Xiongfei Pan, a Professor of Epi...

Mark as Played

The U.S. is attempting to revive its shipyards—not with innovation, but with tariffs. A hefty 1.5-million-US-dollar fee on China-made bulk ships could shake global shipping. Will it backfire on the U.S.? Can America rebuild its industry? Will business pressure sink the plan before it sets sail?

Host Tu Yun joins Dr Jane Haider, a Reader in Transport, Logistics and Operations Management at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University,...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.