Against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical complexities, global attention turns to the Asia-Pacific as leaders gather for the APEC summit. In today’s episode, we are glad to have with us Dr. SHAO Yuqun, director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Studies and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for America Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, and Dr. ZHAO Hai, director of International Political Studies at the National Institute for Global Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. They will join Prof. DA Wei, director of CISS, for a dialogue delving into the potential for leader-level summits, analyzing South Korea's role as the host nation, and assessing APEC's relevance in today's international landscape.

During China's National Day Golden Week, Professor Susan Shirk traveled to Guangxi with her family at the invitation of Professor Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), Tsinghua University. During the trip, she engaged in conversations with local residents and grassroots officials.As a long-time scholar of China, Professor Shirk gained fresh insights and reflections on China's economic development, poverty alleviation policies, urban–rural disparities, and broader social transformation.In this episode, she joins Professor Da Wei for an in-depth conversation on the significance of field research, the evolution of research methods, and the real-world challenges facing China–U.S. academic exchange.

Amid the complexities of China-U.S. relations, youth exchanges remain an indispensable bridge. In this episode, Professor Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, moderates a conversation with Ying Huang, PhD candidate in International Relations at Tsinghua University and former Secretary-General of CISS Youth, and Blake Kravitz, a Yenching Scholar at Peking University and the sixth-cohort member of CISS Youth. Drawing on their personal experiences, the two guests reflect on their participation in China-U.S. youth dialogue, share insights on overcoming misunderstandings and building trust in cross-cultural communication, and explore the unique role young people can play in shaping the future of the bilateral relations.

The 2025 SCO Summit recently concluded in Tianjin amid a rapidly changing global landscape and the rapid rise of AI technology. How the SCO positions itself, enhances cohesion, and responds to technological disruption has drawn wide attention. In this episode, CISS China Forum is joined by four distinguished experts — professor Zhao Huasheng, China Forum expert, and professor from Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, Dr. Zhao Long, Deputy Director of the Institute for International Strategic and Security Studies and Professor at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, Dr. Zhou Mi, China Forum expert, and Deputy Director of the Institute of American and Oceania Study at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce, and Ms. Xiao Qian, Deputy Director of CISS and Vice Dean of the Institute for AI International Governance at Tsinghua University—to analyze the summit’s outcomes and the challenges ahead from geopolitical, economic, security, and AI governance perspectives.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the European Union and China. As a multipolar world is emerging, China and Europe navigate a dynamic of both friction and cooperation, exploring new paradigms of competition and collaboration, and reshaping the global multipolar order through the clash of concepts. In this episode, CISS China Forum invited Dr. Jin Ling, Director and Senior Research Fellow of the Department for Global Governance and International Organizations at the China Institute of International Studies, to share her insights on the mindsets and administrative models shaping China-EU relations. She will discuss in depth the conceptual divergence between EU’s “values-based diplomacy” and China’s emphasis on “civilizational diversity”, along with their implications for the international order.

As U.S.-China relations grow increasingly complex, people-to-people exchange remains an irreplaceable bridge between the two nations. However, lingering uncertainties—especially those stemming from student visa policy shifts during the Trump administration—have cast a shadow over bilateral youth exchange. In this episode, the China Forum of the Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University, is honored to feature Neysun Mahboubi, Director of the Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. He will share his reflections on the current state of U.S.-China people-to-people exchange and youth dialogue, drawing on his recent visit, leading a group of American students to China. Through these firsthand interactions, Mahboubi explores how young people engage in meaningful cross-cultural conversations and expresses his hopes for the future of bilateral people-to-people exchange.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, a significant milestone for bilateral ties. Against the backdrop of an evolving international landscape, a sound and stable China-EU relationship is mutually beneficial and of wider global importance. In this episode, we have invited Professor Cui Hongjian， director of the Center for the EU and Regional Development Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University to share insights from five decades of China-EU relations and discusses future cooperation. Professor Cui emphasizes that successful collaboration requires not only identifying common ground but also developing joint problem-solving approaches.

As the United States under President Trump enters a new phase of strategic competition with China, a fresh wave of tariffs in 2025 has reignited tensions across the Pacific. Is this conflict a passing phase of protectionism, or the beginning of a long-term global realignment? In this episode of the CISS Podcast, we are honored to speak with Professor John Gong, a leading expert on international economics, to unpack the structural forces behind this trade war. From industrial decoupling and subsidy races to innovation strategy and geopolitical bargaining, this conversation sheds light on what’s really at stake in the China-US rivalry.

Amid ongoing global turbulence, China’s military development has drawn increasing attention. What are the key priorities of China’s military modernization? How might this process contribute to global security? In this episode, Zhou Bo, Senior Fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University, offers deep insights into international perceptions of China’s military rise, and the principles and goals behind its military modernization. Mr. Zhou stresses that China’s military modernization is a peaceful rise, with a strong focus on safeguarding overseas interests and enhancing maritime capabilities—all while upholding the principle of peaceful development. Looking ahead, China’s military evolution aims to foster a more stable and peaceful international landscape.

Against the backdrop of technological innovation profoundly reshaping international security dynamics and great power strategic competition, how do emerging technologies become key variables influencing China-U.S. strategic stability? The China Forum of Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) invited CISS Director Da Wei and University of Pennsylvania Assistant Professor Fiona Cunningham for an in-depth dialogue on the impact of emerging technologies on traditional nuclear deterrence theory, nuclear strategy, and the future landscape of China-U.S. competition and cooperation.

Under Trump’s second administration, the United States has undergone significant adjustments in both domestic and foreign policy, dramatically increasing the uncertainty of China-U.S. relations. In this episode, CISS China Forum invites Susan A. Thornton, a retired senior U.S. diplomat with rich experience with the U.S. State Department in Eurasia and East Asia, and currently a Senior Fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center, for an in-depth discussion with Professor Da Wei, Director of CISS. on critical dimensions of China-U.S. relations such as the dynamics of fentanyl issues, potential implications of the Trump 2.0 era, and the role of professional diplomacy in current geopolitical landscape. Ms. Thornton also shares her personal experience teaching at Yale, exploring the role of education, cultural exchange and the younger generation in shaping future China-U.S. relations.

How does the diffusion of general-purpose technologies (GPTs)—rather than mere innovation—redefine the dynamics of global power competition? In this episode, CISS China Forum invites Professor Jeffrey Dean from George Washington University to a in-depth discussion with CISS fellow, Dr. Dong Ting, on how diffusion shapes economic competition, inspired by his latest book. Prof. Dean offers insights into U.S. and Chinese technological strategies, the military-civilian nexus of GPT diffusion and recent policy shifts from “innovation-centric” to “diffusion-driven” paradigms. The dialogue also explores future research frontiers, including gender inclusivity in STEM education and open-source ecosystems, offering a fresh lens to decode technology’s role in global power transitions.

During the 61st Munich Security Conference on February 14-16, discussions were held on European security, the Ukraine crisis, and other global security topics. On February 15, Ambassador Fu Ying, former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, was invited to a panel discussion on the topic of “Making Waves: Maritime Tensions in the Indo-Pacific?”, where she emphasized, “China is committed to maintaining stability in the South China Sea and promoting regional economic cooperation”. This episode showcases a selection of Ambassador Fu Ying’s speech at the 61st Munich Security Conference, sharing her views on the China’s position on the South China Sea.

In recent years, the BRICS mechanism has played a pivotal role as a key platform for cooperation among emerging economies, contributing to global governance reform and the advancement of South-South cooperation. The China Forum of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University has invited Dr. Sun Chenghao, a fellow at CISS, to engage in a dialogue with Professor Wang Lei, Director of the BRICS Cooperation Research Center at Beijing Normal University. Prof. Wang will review the history of BRICS cooperation, provide an in-depth analysis of its significance in the evolving global landscape, and explore how deepening “Greater BRICS Cooperation” can drive the global governance reform. He will also highlight the unique strengths of the BRICS mechanism, discuss China’s contributions, and share insights on the future prospects of BRICS cooperation.

Donald Trump has officially been sworn in as the 47th president of the US in Washington DC, marking the start of his second term in the White House. Characterized by America First and anti-globalization, Donald Trump’s first term saw him launch a trade war with China and demand higher military spending from European allies. With Trump’s return to the White House for his second term, are both China and Europe likely to see big challenges in his second term? What does Trump 2.0 mean for the China-Europe-US triangle? The China Forum of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) of Tsinghua University has invited Dr. Shi Yan, a Fellow at CISS, to be a guest on this podcast to share her views on China-Europe relations and how to address challenges in the future.

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States earlier today, ushering in his second term in office. What shall we expect in terms of challenges, opportunities, and potential risks in China-U.S. relations under Trump 2.0.？How can both sides proactively address the upcoming challenges？ In this episode produced by China Forum, Center for International Security and Strategy of Tsinghua University, five experts will have a panel discussion on the implications of Trump’s second term for U.S.-China relations. They are Professor Da Wei ,Director of CISS; Ms.Xiao Qian, Deputy Director of CISS; Mr.Zhou Bo，Senior Fellow of CISS; Professor Gong Jiong from University of International Business and Economics and Professor Xie Tao, Dean of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

A new geopolitical landscape is evolving in an unstable and fragmented international context. In early November, Ambassador Fu Ying, former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, was invited to a panel discussion at the 7th Paris Peace Forum on the topic of “History in the making: How will the US election impact the world?” , where she emphasized, “No one country or group of countries can resolve all the global challenges”. This episode showcases a selection of Ambassador Fu Ying’s speech at the 7th Paris Peace Forum, sharing her views on the global order, multilateralism and China-U.S. relations.

Discourse power is a critical topic in political science and the study of international order. In this episode of the CISS podcast, Rachel Ann Hulvey, an assistant professor at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, and a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Belfer International Security and Columbia-Harvard China and the World program, explores the definition of discourse power and its role in shaping the international order. She will also share her perspectives on how China and the United States can leverage discourse power to shape national narratives and improve bilateral relations.

The current international situation is constantly evolving, making mutual communication and understanding between countries increasingly important. In today’s episode, we are joined by Professor Zhang Feng, a visiting scholar at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School, in conversation with Sun Chenghao, a fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University. Sharing his views on China-U.S. relations, particularly the diversity of U.S. strategic competition towards China, Professor Zhang presents the perspective of viewing competition from a Confucian angle, arguing that competition should be seen as a process of mutual enhancement rather than a zero-sum game.

Sport diplomacy has been a central pillar in bridging cultural gaps and easing geopolitical tensions. In today’s episode, Prof. DA Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), sits down for an exclusive interview with former NBA star and President of Chinese Basketball Association YAO Ming. Mr.Yao will share his experience and insights on how sports foster cross-culture people-to-people dialogue, and discuss how globalization will continue to support sports' role as a bridge between individuals, nations, and cultures.