PODCAST · news
Sinobabble
by Edi Obiakpani
A relaxing, educational podcast covering China's modern history, current events, and academic analyses of China's politics, society, and culture in a variety of mini-series. Starting with the history of the 20th century, this podcast aims to explore all facets of the history of China, from the major events to the smallest local changes, to give you a full picture of the development of one of the world's most powerful nations. As the series develops, we will discuss Chinese art, religion, politics, culture, and economics, bringing the country's past to life. If you're more interested in modern China, stay tuned for the modern China series where we talk about how the CCP exercises control, makes people disappear, and encourages loyalty. We also get on the ground and talk to the people of Hong Kong about their recent experiences with the protests in the territory in 2019.
Episodes
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The Promise of China's Renewable Energy Market w/David Fishman
David Fishman joins us once again to serve up a complete beginner's guide to the energy market in China, from how power is generated, to how it's bought and sold, to how the future is planned at the centre. David has spent his entire career in the Chinese power sector, so if anyone knows what the...
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When China Rules the World Book Review | Sinobabble Book Club
For more on the book club, including upcoming books and where to buy them, head to this webpage. To support the show, head over to my Buy Me a Coffee page to give a one-off or monthly donations, if your discretionary entertainment funds allow! Support the show Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch…
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“It is a way for me to seek meaning in this absurd world": Digital vulnerability and the rise of spiritual scams in China
Across China and the Chinese diaspora, digital spirituality is growing as users flock to online platforms seeking services to help with luck, love, and wealth. However, these spaces are also hotbeds for scammers, who prey on prey on loneliness, uncertainty, and cultural vulnerability to exploit...
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How to read China well w/Alexander Boyd
Alexander from China Books Review joins us to talk about evolutions in the Chinese book space, upcoming works by notable authors, and his favourite China books you may not have heard of before. He also gives tips on how to read more, what not to read, and how to create a good book club list! Read...
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Violence as 'family dispute': culture and politics in China's domestic violence laws
After reading the story about a young woman abused and kidnapped by her family, I went down a rabbit hole to learn why police and judiciary avoid prosecuting what they consider to be 'family disputes'. In this episode, I unpack how domestic violence is routinely dismissed as a “family affair,”…
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Tongueless by Lau Yee-Wa Review | Sinobabble Book Club
For more on the book club, including upcoming books and where to buy them, head to this webpage. To support the show, head over to my Buy Me a Coffee page to give a one-off or monthly donations, if your discretionary entertainment funds allow! Support the show Support the show Sign up for...
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Media influence as foreign policy: China’s journalist training in Africa w/Dr Emeka Umejei
In 2022, Freedom House released a report titled “Beijing's Global Media Influence 2022”, highlighting the numerous ways in which the Chinese government seeks to influence media across the world. They stated that China’s main tactics were the mass distribution of content, harassment and…
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The Party's Interests Come First Review | Sinobabble Book Club
For more on the book club, including upcoming books and where to buy them, head to this webpage. To support the show, head over to my Buy Me a Coffee page to give a one-off or monthly donations, if your discretionary entertainment funds allow! Support the show Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch…
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[Preview] How Chinamaxxing foreigners are performing nationalism on Chinese social media
**This is a bonus episode for paid subscribers. If you would like to become a paid sub and receive bonus content, head over to Buy Me a Coffee using the link in the description, or upgrade your Substack account** An article in the Journal of Contemporary China inspire me to dip my toe in the...
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From victim to victor: Xenophobia and anti-Japanism as nationalism in China
Earlier this week, I read a Substack article discussing the rise in viral anti-Japanese content on Chinese social media. The gruesome posts and recent polling data all point to the fact that anti-Japanese sentiment is increasing among Chinese people, despite increasing economic ties and a move…
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Nationalism with International Characteristics w/Nick Zeller
Nick and I ramble about nationalism for about an hour. Follow the China Monitor and Nick on Substack Buy bookclub books here Buy me a coffee Latest Substack post Links to everything Support the show Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey:...
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Can an outsider truly portray an ethnic group faithfully? | Last Quarter of the Moon Review (Sinobabble Book Club)
A (late!) review of our April Book club book The Last Quarter of the Moon by Chi Zijian. A 90-year-old Evenki woman who has spent her life in the forests of northeast China herding reindeer recounts the story of her life, her people, and the encroachment of modernity and imperialism on how they...
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China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Law: A breakdown
In early March, the PRC's National People's Congress passed a law titled the P.R.C. Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress. According to the government the law, which has been in development since 2023, the law "lays out the overall requirements, important principles, and...
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[Archive] Dreaming of East Turkestan: Xinjiang and China, c.700-1950
Over the Easter break, the next two episodes of the podcast will be archival episodes covering the medieval and modern history of Mongolia and Xinjiang. This is in preparation for an episode I'll be doing when I get back on the New Ethnic Unity Policy released by the Chinese government. Our book...
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[Archive] Why is Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia? (+Bonus Article)
Over the Easter break, the next two episodes of the podcast will be archival episodes covering the medieval and modern history of Mongolia and Xinjiang. This is in preparation for an episode I'll be doing when I get back on the New Ethnic Unity Policy released by the Chinese government. Our book...
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How to glaze your billionaire bestie | The Troublemaker Book Review | Sinobabble Book Club
This episode is the third installment in our book club, we’re doing well guys. The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, Hong Kong’s Greatest Dissident, and China’s Most Feared Critic certainly tries to live up to its name. It covers the “‘extraordinary life story’ (Publishers Weekly)...
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Internal agitprop & 'minimum compliance' in Chinese governance
A look at three recent papers published in the China Quarterly, and what they say about local governance, internal propaganda and the politics of 'getting things done' in modern China. Buy bookclub books here Buy me a coffee Latest Substack post Support the show Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch...
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Down to the countryside 2.0 & the myth of the rural reset
China’s post 90s and 00s generation are burnt out, mentally and emotionally drained, and apparently are not getting enough sunlight. While grinding in the city seems to have led to a law of diminishing returns -- typically referred to as ‘involution’ -- many young hopefuls are still seeking...
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Consumption as identity and politics in China w/Yaling Jiang
Today's guest is Yaling Jiang. Yaling is a former journalist who currently uses her research and reporting skills to provide businesses with insights and analysis on the Chinese consumer market. She is the founder of research agency Aperture China, alongside which she runs the newsletter…
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Sex and irreverence during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution | "Serve the People!" Review (Sinobabble Book club)
This is a recording of the livestream of our monthly book club. In this livestream we discuss the book Serve the People! by Yan Lianke, a banned book set during the Cultural Revolution in China. If you would like to find out more about the book club and which books we’re reading, please click…
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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 48 | The Cultural Revolution part 8: The end of the Cultural Revolution
Part 8 of reuploading classic history episodes in the run up to our book club review of Serve the People! by Yan Lianke. The death of Mao Zedong and the trial of the Gang of Four are traditionally used as the signifiers of the end of the Cultural Revolution. The violent and turbulent 10 year…
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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 51 | The Cultural Revolution part 7: Culture
Part 7 of reuploading classic history episodes in the run up to our book club review of Serve the People! by Yan Lianke. In this episode, we discuss the changes made to China's cultural realm during the Cultural Revolution. As the main target of the Cultural Revolution Group, cultural production...
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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 50 | The Cultural Revolution part 6: Economy, Education & Everyday Life
Part 6 of reuploading classic history episodes in the run up to our book club review of Serve the People! by Yan Lianke. In this episode we look at how the economy and educational system fared during the Cultural Revolution decade. We discuss how a period of chaos led into a period of stagnation,...
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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 49 | The Cultural Revolution part 5: The death of Lin Biao
Part 5 of reuploading classic history episodes in the run up to our book club review of Serve the People! by Yan Lianke. In this episode we explore the mysterious and complex character of Lin Biao, and his even more mysterious demise. We ask how he rose to prominence so quickly after being a...
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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 48 | The Cultural Revolution part 4: The party restored (1968-1972)
Part 4 of reuploading classic history episodes in the run up to our book club review of Serve the People! by Yan Lianke. In episode 4 of the Cultural Revolution series, we look at how the party began to rebuild itself in the period 1968-1972 through a series of internal meetings, some last-minute...
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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 47 | The Cultural Revolution part 3: Ending the chaos (1967-68)
Part 3 of reuploading classic history episodes in the run up to our book club review of Serve the People! by Yan Lianke. In this episode, we look at how Mao reversed the course of the Cultural Revolution, bringing in the army to end the violence and destruction caused by the factionalism between...
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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 46 | The Cultural Revolution Part 2: Violence in the cities, violence in the countryside
Part 2 of reuploading classic history episodes in the run up to our book club review of Serve the People! by Yan Lianke. In this episode we talk about the violence that gripped the Chinese nation at the height of the Cultural Revolution. We discuss the difference between the brutality that took...
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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 45 | The Cultural Revolution part 1: The end of the tea party
A reupload of a classic history episode in the run up to our book club review of Serve the People! by Yan Lianke. The first of 8 episodes covering the build up, events, and aftermath of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, which took place in China from 1966 to 1976. In this episode we...
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The end of exchange? The state of US-China academic relations w/Rory Truex
I’m very excited to have on Rory Truex as my guest for today’s episode. Rory is Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University. His research focuses on Chinese politics and authoritarian systems, and his work has been published in the American Political Science...
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China travel & Ghost cities w/David Fishman
I’m very excited to have on David Fishman as my guest for today’s episode. David is Head of Lantau Group in Shanghai, where he works as a consultant for stakeholders in the power sector, and advises on energy development, energy infrastructure, and electricity consumption. But I know him as the...
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Engineering or Authoritarianism? Breakneck Book Review (Sinobabble Bookclub)
**This livestream was recorded on Tuesday 27th January 2026** We discuss the book Breakneck by Dan Wang. A huge hit towards the end of 2025, we talk about whether the hype is merited, the strengths and weaknesses of his narrative, and whether or not his ideas stand up to scrutiny. At the end, we...
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Hebei heating scandal & the politics of clean energy in China
Recently, news of Hebei villagers freezing in their homes this winter has sparked heated discussion online. The villagers are part of a government scheme to convert the population to 'clean' energy sources, mainly via a coal-to-gas policy. But as subsidies taper and the cost of gas rises, poorer...
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The CCP's war against bad vibes
In 2025, the Chinese Cyberspace Administration introduced a new policy that aims to police online content that promotes violence, aggression, pessimism and negative emotions. While censorship is nothing new in China, this new law poses a new set of questions: what exactly is the difference…
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Does China owe the world good trade?
China shock 2.0, $1trillion surplus, Adam Smith. Is the neoliberal global order coming to an end? Is it China's fault? Do they care? In this episode we tackle the underlying questions surrounding fears of China's domination of all major manufacturing industries. Should China stop what they're...
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All the China books I read in 2025
Leave your recommendations below. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Chapters (00:00) About the books (2:20) The Dean of Shandong (12:35) Private Revolutions (20:35) The New China Playbook (29:20) I Deliver Parcels in Beijing (40:40) Final thoughts (42:30) Books for next year, book club? Buy me…
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Xi's PLA purges in their historical context
In recent months news of purges at the very top of the PLA have gripped headlines, with many speculating as to the cause and outcomes of this series of high-profile oustings. Many have concluded that regardless of the cause -- coup attempt, rampant corruption, incompetence, paranoia -- the result...
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What do Chinese people really think about China? (W/Nick Zeller & Craig Kafura)
I'm joined by Nick Zeller (https://uscnpm.substack.com/) and Craig Kafura (https://bsky.app/profile/ckafura.bsky.social) to discuss a public opinion poll carried out earlier this year and what it tells us about what Chinese people really think about China. Broken down into 4 reports, we talk…
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Did China build too much High-Speed Railway?
Today we'll be examining the argument of a prominent Chinese scholar that China has built too much High-Speed Railway that is underutilised, unprofitable, and will cause major economic problems in the future. We ask why the state-government would pursue such a misguided policy, and how it's...
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How China built its own Silicon Valley
Hangzhou is a city once famed for its poets, tea, and silk, but it’s now capturing attention for something entirely different: AI labs, robotics startups, and IPO-hungry tech firms. The rapid rise of innovative and globally competitive tech startups has led to Hangzhou being dubbed “China’s…
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Why foreign brands are failing in China
Starbucks recently announced that it's looking to sell part of its stake in its China operations, and is looking for a domestic partner to help boost the company's profile. This comes at a time when a host of foreign firms are seemingly struggling in China after years of riding the wave of the...
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US Rare earth mineral dependency ends trade war | China news discussion #8 | 15 June 25 BMC
A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 9th June. We look at how rare earth minerals may be the deciding factor in this trade war and potentially all trade wars to come. We look at an interview with Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei who states that Chinese chips are still behind the…
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China's Soft Power Problem
We take a thorough look at the nature of soft power, how it can be used, and whether or not a country truly needs it to explore China's soft power deficit and what can be done to fix it. While China does have SOME soft power, arguably its lack of the charm of its neighbours and rivals means its...
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Why the UK is choosing China over the US | China news discussion #7 | 8th June 2025
A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 2nd June. China accuses the US of trying to reverse the temporary trade truce in place, affecting the future of Chinese students in the US. Also, China's twist on Klarna and why the UK is choosing to For the full version please head…
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Where do all those stolen iPhones go? | China news discussion #6 | 25th May 2025
A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 12th May. Will China be the main beneficiary of the clashes between India and Pakistan? Also, we find out where all those stolen iPhones end up, and whether or not China replacing the US as a global health leader is a good thing or a…
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Scam centres and fake job syndicates: Chinese white collar human trafficking in SE Asia
In January of this year, Chinese actor Wang Xing went viral after being kidnapped in Thailand having travelled for what he thought was a job opportunity, only to be rescued after his girlfriend made a post begging for the authorities to help. After a 4 day ordeal, Wang made a dramatic TV…
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Tariffs paused and Starbucks loses ground | China news discussion #5 | 18th May 2025
A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 12th May. We discuss the outcome of the China-US tariff deal and how no one in China seems to really care. Starbucks is losing out to domestic coffee brands as its lack of strategy and reliance of hollow premium branding fall flat.…
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China and the US meet for tariff talks | China news discussion #4 BMC | 11th May 2025
Apologies for the late upload for this one! A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 5th May. We discuss the upcoming scheduled talks between US and Chinese representatives in Switzerland to move towards a resolution on the trade war, as well as Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow...
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Spies, Secrets & South Korea | China news discussion #3 | 4th May 2025
A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 28th April. We discuss the CIA's attempt to recuit spies in the Chinese government, China's plans for an AI dominated future, and why China is annoying South Korea once again. #china #chinanews #AI #USChina Support the show Sign up for...
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All US-China tariff war analysis sucks and I'm sick of it
This is a rant video about the 'expert' 'analysis' coverage of the China-US trade war/tariff skirmish. There is no analysis or even coherent thought process here. This is basically just my train of thought about why it's a bad idea to try and predict the future. I try and relate it to Fukuyama as...
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Deepseek wins, Diplomacy woes | China news discussion #2 | 27th April 2025
This is last week's news analysis episode. For the most recent episode head over to Buy Me a Coffee and become a member to get the episodes as soon as they come out! A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 21stApril. We discuss mysterious Deepseek news and some of China's...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A relaxing, educational podcast covering China's modern history, current events, and academic analyses of China's politics, society, and culture in a variety of mini-series. Starting with the history of the 20th century, this podcast aims to explore all facets of the history of China, from the major events to the smallest local changes, to give you a full picture of the development of one of the world's most powerful nations. As the series develops, we will discuss Chinese art, religion, politics, culture, and economics, bringing the country's past to life. If you're more interested in modern China, stay tuned for the modern China series where we talk about how the CCP exercises control, makes people disappear, and encourages loyalty. We also get on the ground and talk to the people of Hong Kong about their recent experiences with the protests in the territory in 2019.
HOSTED BY
Edi Obiakpani
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Sinobabble have?
Sinobabble currently has 68 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Sinobabble about?
A relaxing, educational podcast covering China's modern history, current events, and academic analyses of China's politics, society, and culture in a variety of mini-series. Starting with the history of the 20th century, this podcast aims to explore all facets of the history of China, from the...
How often does Sinobabble release new episodes?
Sinobabble has 68 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Sinobabble?
You can listen to Sinobabble on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Sinobabble?
Sinobabble is created and hosted by Edi Obiakpani.
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