Podcast
Sinopinion
Hosted by CISS Tsinghua · EN
The CISS Podcast features conversations with experts from CISS Tsinghua, a research institute that analyzes international security and strategy issues based in Beijing. In the CISS Podcast, scholars and experts will address their thinking on the most pressing challenges in international relations. It will also present China Forum series conducting one-on-one discussions with top-level officials, diplomats, well-known entrepreneurs, academics, and media experts from both China and abroad.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
A Beijing Moment: Understanding Trump’s Visit
2w ago01:00:37Tap to summarizeFrom May 12 to 15, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump visited China for the first time in nine years, drawing widespread attention. In this episode, Prof. Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University, and Dr. Shao Yuqun, Director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, sit down with Senior Colonel (Ret.) Zhou Bo, Senior Fellow at CISS, and Prof. Xie Tao, Dean of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Together, they analyze the core outcomes of the summit and engage in an intriguing discussion on whether both sides achieved their respective expectations, the impact of this visit on the trajectory of U.S.-China relations and the broader international landscape, as well as its potential implications for the U.S. midterm elections.
Transcribe →A Journey of Peace Through the Dire Strait
May 100:34:13Tap to summarizeFrom April 7 to 12, 2026, at the invitation of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee, a delegation led by Cheng Li-wun, Chairperson of the Kuomintang (KMT), visited the Chinese mainland—a move that has drawn significant global attention. In this episode of Sinopinion, Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University, and Shao Yuqun, Director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Studies at SIIS, are joined by Wang Zichen, Director of International Communications at CCG and founder of the renowned newsletter Pekingnology. Together, they analyze the significance of this "Journey of Peace" in fostering communication and promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. The discussion delves into the "1992 Consensus," the "maintenance of the status quo," and addresses common misinterpretations of these concepts. They also explore how China-U.S. relations and the regional security landscape impact stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Transcribe →When AI Becomes Your “Colleague”: Digital Employees, Work Data, and the Reshaping of Labor Relations
Apr 2900:39:00Tap to summarizeAs companies begin to train “digital replicas” on employees’ chat histories, writing styles, and decision-making patterns, a fundamental question emerges. Is AI simply improving workplace efficiency, or is human labor being further datafied and turned into an organizational asset? In this episode, Dr. Dong Ting, Associate Research Fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University, and Dr. Xu Jia, Research Fellow at the Shanghai AI Laboratory, speak with Ms. Zhu Lingfeng, Head of Data and Privacy Legal Affairs at Meituan, author of AI Compliance and Data Compliance, and creator of the WeChat account “那一片数据星辰.” Drawing on her frontline experience in AI and data compliance, Ms. Zhu discusses the rise of “digital employees” in the age of large language models, their legal status, the governance challenges they pose, and the shifting boundaries between human labor and machine agency. The conversation examines who should be responsible for AI actions, how existing legal frameworks respond to these changes, and what the future of human–AI labor relations may look like.
Transcribe →Global South, Middle Powers, and the Emerging Order of AI Governance
Apr 1700:27:13Tap to summarizeFrom Bletchley to New Delhi, the roster of participants at global AI summits continues to grow, and the discourse around AI governance has become increasingly plural and fragmented. Yet has rule-making power truly shifted toward a broader range of actors? Are the Global South and middle powers active shapers of emerging rules, or merely limited participants within a predetermined agenda? In this episode, Xiao Qian, Deputy Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), and Vice Dean of the Institute for AI International Governance (I-AIIG), Tsinghua University, hosts a conversation with Wang Jingyu, assistant research fellow at I-AIIG, to examine the real role and practical limitations of the Global South and middle powers in shaping the global AI governance landscape.
Transcribe →Guns and Gas: the Iran deadlock
Apr 800:49:46Tap to summarizeThe U.S.-Iran war has now dragged on for over a month, sending shockwaves across the globe. In this episode, Prof. Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), and Prof. Shao Yuqun, Director of the Institute for Hong Kong and Macao Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), sits down with Prof. John Gong from the University of International Business and Economics. Prof. Gong draws on his experience living and working in both the United States and Israel to provide in-depth analysis of the current situation. The discussion focuses on the military and energy stalemate one month after the U.S.-Israeli "Epic Fury" operation against Iran, examining the trajectory of the conflict, its impact on the global economy, the prospects for U.S. policy, and China’s strategic options.
Transcribe →The Global South’s Voice in AI Governance: Decoding the India AI Impact Summit
Mar 2400:25:27Tap to summarizeIn February 2026, the AI Impact Summit, held in New Delhi, India, took place in a country of the Global South for the first time. Faced with technological monopolies and the digital divide, how do countries of the Global South perceive artificial intelligence technology? How can the pursuit of sovereignty AI avoid slipping into technological protectionism? And what role has China played in global cooperation on AI governance? In this episode, Xiao Qian, Deputy Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), and Vice Dean of the Institute for AI International Governance (I-AIIG), Tsinghua University, hosts a conversation with Jiang Tianjiao, Associate professor at Jiang Tianjiao, Associate Professor at the Fudan Development Institute and Research Fellow at the Fudan University Center for Global AI Innovation Governance. Dr. Jiang provides an in-depth analysis of the AI Impact Summit in India and the new landscape of global AI cooperation and governance it has introduced.
Transcribe →The Middle East in Turmoil
Mar 600:55:25Tap to summarizeRecently, the major military strike launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, along with its ensuing repercussions, has sent shockwaves around the world. In this episode of the Sinopinion podcast, our host Prof. Da Wei, director of CISS and co-host Prof. Shao Yuqun, director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Studies at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, sit down with two distinguished guests, Prof. Wu Bingbing, director of Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Peking University, and Prof. Zhang Chuchu, deputy director at Fudan University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies, for an in-depth conversation. The four scholars delve into and exchange views on critical issues, including the strategic objectives of the U.S. military action, the reconstruction of the regional order in the Middle East, China's position and role, and the potential shifts in U.S.-China relations.
Transcribe →An Insider’s View on Confucius Institute
Feb 2600:51:47Tap to summarizeOver the past decade, Confucius Institutes have consistently remained a focal point in international discussions concerning China’s global influence. While these institutes are dedicated to promoting Chinese language teaching and enhancing China's soft power, they have also been perceived by many Western countries as instruments for exporting the "China Model," finding themselves in a challenging environment. In this episode, Prof. Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, sits down with Prof. Michael Jinghan Zeng from the Department of Public and International Affairs at City University of Hong Kong, who is also the former director of the Confucius Institute at Lancaster University, to discuss his new book, Memoirs of a Confucius Institute Director, Volume 1: Challenges, Controversies, and Realities. Professor Zeng shares his firsthand experiences and observations of Confucius Institutes, offering an in-depth discussion on their operational mechanisms, internal and external pressures, requirements for localization, and pathways for survival and development.
Transcribe →Davos and the Emerging International Order
Feb 900:42:05Tap to summarizeAgainst a backdrop of mounting uncertainty in global politics and economics, the World Economic Forum in Davos once again provided a revealing lens into an international order in flux. This episode of Sinopinion is co-hosted by Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University, and Shao Yuqun, Director of the Institute of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. They are joined by Zhao Hai, Director of the Department of International Political Studies at the National Institute for Global Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Drawing on first-hand observations from Davos, the three scholars explore whether the world has already entered a new international order, or whether it remains in a transitional phase, and what these evolving dynamics mean from China’s perspective.
Transcribe →A Chinese Perspective on Trump’s Foreign Policy One Year In
Jan 2300:48:57Tap to summarizeOne year into Donald Trump’s return to the White House, U.S. policy has taken a dramatic(?) turn. From abrupt moves in Venezuela and strains with traditional allies to an unexpected steadiness in U.S.-China relations, the Trump administration’s approach continues to reshape global dynamics. How do Chinese experts assess this eventful year? What opportunities and challenges does America’s shifting posture create for China and the world at large? In this episode of Sinopinion produced by CISS, Tsinghua University, our host Prof. Da Wei, Director of CISS and co-host Prof. Shao Yuqun, director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Studies at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, sit down with Senior Colonel (Ret.) Zhou Bo, and offer a multi-dimensional Chinese perspective on Trump’s foreign policy. Together, they explore topics such as whether the U.S. is truly in retrenchment, how China is navigating a more polarized world, and what the coming year may hold for great-power relations.
Transcribe →