Has Xi Jinping outsmarted his rivals?

The story of how China became a superpower.

An episode of the The Global Story podcast, hosted by BBC World Service, titled "Has Xi Jinping outsmarted his rivals?" was published on January 13, 2026 and runs 27 minutes.

January 13, 2026 ·27m · The Global Story

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Summary

How will China respond to a new era of US assertiveness? Could the spectacular events of Trump’s second term change President Xi Jinping’s calculations about whether to flex China’s muscles in Taiwan?All this week, we are teaming up with our sister podcasts to explore how power and influence around the world is shifting. We’re exploring who has a sphere of influence and who finds themselves in one.Today we’re joined by Mariko Oi, host of Asia Specific from the BBC World Service, and the BBC’s China correspondent, Laura Bicker.Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Valerio EspositoExecutive producer: James ShieldMix: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: China’s President Xi Jinping. Maxim Shemetov/Pool/Reuters

Episode Description

How will China respond to a new era of US assertiveness? Could the spectacular events of Trump’s second term change President Xi Jinping’s calculations about whether to flex China’s muscles in Taiwan?

All this week, we are teaming up with our sister podcasts to explore how power and influence around the world is shifting. We’re exploring who has a sphere of influence and who finds themselves in one.

Today we’re joined by Mariko Oi, host of Asia Specific from the BBC World Service, and the BBC’s China correspondent, Laura Bicker.

Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Valerio Esposito

Executive producer: James Shield

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: China’s President Xi Jinping. Maxim Shemetov/Pool/Reuters

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