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.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Fentanyl: From Accusation to Cooperation
2w ago00:50:17Tap to summarizeFentanyl has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans, becoming a public health catastrophe that has torn apart countless families and communities. It has also gradually evolved into one of the most sensitive and controversial issues in China–U.S. relations. In this episode, Prof. Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University, sits down with Ms. Shan Yehua, Deputy Secretary-General of China’s National Narcotics Control Commission and Deputy Director-General of the Narcotics Control Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security. Together, they delve into the root causes of the fentanyl crisis, common misunderstandings, China’s role in precursor chemicals control, and the current state and future prospects of China-U.S. counternarcotics cooperation.02:20 The Origins of the Fentanyl Crisis08:59 The Drug Tragedy in American Society11:00 The Complexity of the Global Fentanyl Illicit Supply Chain16:26 U.S. Claims vs. China’s Counters20:00 China’s Regulatory and Enforcement Measures28:22 Key to Resolving the Fentanyl Crisis in the U.S.36:11 The Importance of China–U.S. Counternarcotics Cooperation38:33 The History and Current State of China–U.S. Counternarcotics Cooperation45:59 The Future of Counternarcotics CooperationExecutive Producer：GUO JiaProducer：QIAN JiatongPodcast Editor：CHAI JingruContent Assistant：RUAN XinyiGraphics Designer：CHAI Jingru
Transcribe →Shangri-La Dialogue 2026: Less Dialogue, More Ships? What Asia Heard from Washington
3w ago00:57:46Tap to summarizeThe 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue was held in Singapore from May 29 to 31, 2026. As the first major regional security forum following the Beijing summit between the Chinese and U.S. presidents, the Dialogue provided an important opportunity to assess the trajectory of China-U.S. relations and the evolving security landscape in the Asia-Pacific.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 Macao Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), are joined by Zhou Bo, Research Fellow at CISS, and Jerry Jin, journalist with the International Communication Center of the Oriental Broadcasting Center. Drawing on their observations and first-hand experiences at the Dialogue, they examine the strategic messages conveyed in U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s keynote speech, discuss developments in the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy and alliance network, regional multilateral security mechanisms, and broader security dynamics in the Asia-Pacific, and explore how China and the United States can work toward building a constructive framework for strategic stability between China and the United States.02:12 Key Differences in This Year's Shangri-La Dialogue06:49 The Taiwan Question and New Dynamics in China-U.S. Relations15:23 Why China's Delegation Drew Attention19:47 Strategic Messages from Pete Hegseth's Speech26:35 Alliance Burden-Sharing and the Future of U.S. Partnerships35:20 Can “Constructive Strategic Stability” Become a New China-U.S. Framework42:07 ASEAN Perspectives on Improving China-U.S. Relations43:12 Quad, AUKUS and the Evolution of Regional Minilateralism49:00 ASEAN Centrality and Strategic Autonomy52:10 Japan's Security Policy and Historical Memory56:52 The Future of the Asia-Pacific Security OrderExecutive Producer：GUO JiaProducer：GUO MingxinyiPodcast Editor：CHAI JingruContent Assistant: ZHONG Huiqing
Transcribe →A Beijing Moment: Understanding Trump’s Visit
May 2001:00:37Tap 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.
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