The Pods

In this episode of China Decode, hosts Alice Han and James Kynge unpack how the U.S. and China are building the backbone of the AI era — massive data centers that are reshaping global energy use and government policy. They look at who’s paying for the AI boom, why electricity might decide the winner, and how China’s homegrown models are quietly catching up to Silicon Valley. Then, China’s newest aircraft carrier, and why it’s raising questions about Beijing’s military ambitions and the U.S. strategy in the Pacific. And finally — flying taxis might actually be here. Alice and James take to the skies with EHang’s new pilotless air taxi and what it says about China’s appetite for futuristic tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of China Decode, hosts Alice Han and James Kynge unpack how the global auto industry is facing a new chip crisis. Dutch chipmaker Nexperia has halted shipments to China after a payment and ownership dispute, forcing carmakers like Honda and Volkswagen to scramble for crucial semiconductor parts. They explain how a fight over factory control became the latest flashpoint in the U.S.–China tech rivalry — and why Europe is caught in the middle. Then, they turn to China’s most pressure-packed test: the Gaokao. With more than 10 million students vying for spots at top universities, the exam has long promised meritocracy but increasingly reflects inequality. Alice and James explore how this high-stakes system shapes opportunity, status, and ambition in modern China — and why reform remains so elusive. Finally, Trump and Xi agree to a one-year trade truce, pledging to ease tariffs, restart soybean purchases, and cool tensions over rare earths and fentanyl. But can either side really trust the other to follow through? The hosts break down what’s at stake — and whether this pause is a real breakthrough or just a political timeout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of China Decode, hosts Alice Han and James Kynge dive into Trump’s trip across Asia — and what it means as Xi Jinping tightens his grip at home. Are the U.S. and China inching toward a truce, or gearing up for another long standoff? Then, they decode China’s crypto paradox — a country that bans trading on the mainland but cheers on Hong Kong’s Web3 boom. And finally, Italy takes aim at Shein and Temu with new levies, but can it really rein in China’s fast-fashion giants without alienating its own shoppers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of China Decode, Alice Han and James Kynge break down Beijing’s new export restrictions on rare earth minerals and what they mean for global supply chains, a British spy scandal rattling UK–China relations, and the growing space race that could determine who gets back to the moon first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of China Decode, Alice Han and James Kynge talk through Trump’s recent escalation in his war of words with Xi, in response to China’s move to ban the export of crucial rare earth minerals. Plus — why N.B.A. basketball is back in China after a six-year absence, and a breakthrough medical procedure that could change organ transplants forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of China Decode, Alice Han and James Kynge break down Xi Jinping’s next five-year plan and the politics behind it, explore the US-China soybean trade war and its impact on American farmers, and dive into the rise of a viral “Chinese Trump” comedian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of China Decode, Scott Galloway joins Alice Han and James Kynge to  break down how China’s new buzzword “involution” is shaking its economy. Then , Alice and James discuss why Beijing is courting global talent as Trump tightens U.S. visas and what it means that hip hop stars from Kanye to Travis Scott are now being welcomed onto China’s biggest stages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of China Decode, Alice Han and James Kynge discuss China’s decision to block Nvidia’s newest AI chips—what’s behind the move, and what it could mean for the global AI race. They also break down the long-running TikTok saga, now moving toward a new U.S. ownership structure—who will really control the app and its algorithm? Finally, they explore a social media trend capturing Chinese Gen Z’s nostalgia for the “boom years,” revealing what today’s young people are longing for and why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of China Decode, hosts Alice Han and James Kynge explore whether China’s stock market rally marks the start of a true bull market—or just another round of state-driven froth. They then turn to Ethiopia’s $5 billion Grand Renaissance Dam, built with Chinese expertise and financing, and ask what it reveals about Beijing’s expanding influence in the Global South—and how tensions with Egypt could put that influence to the test. Finally, they look at the global rise of Labubu, the sharp-toothed plush toy embraced by celebrities from Rihanna to Naomi Osaka, and what this craze says about China’s growing role as a cultural exporter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices