Archive - Sinobabble

China's biggest soft power flop

Confucius Institutes were once the boogeymen of the China-hawk brigade. Now they are a forgotten relic of China’s soft power push.

22 hrs ago

May 2025

I asked 4 China experts 4 questions no one is asking about tariffs

Watch snooker, go for a run, contemplate the future of our planet. Forget the noise. Take action where you can.

May 1

April 2025

Between Reform and Revolution: Zhao Ziyang and China's Forgotten Future

Zhao Ziyang is an almost forgotten relic of China’s brief liberalising past. But his story shows us exactly why democracy could never win over the CCP’s…

Apr 24

China's EV industry has already won

Now that we all collectively hate Tesla, this is probably a good time to bring up how the US helped the Chinese EV market succeed to its own detriment

Apr 17

March 2025

"Get a car. Get a house. Get a baby." The Weird World of China's Single Momfluencers

As legislation around children born to single mothers has changed, so have attitudes. Should the CCP embrace this trend as a birthrate Hail Mary?

Mar 30

Book Review: The Dean of Shandong

Not the book I was expecting, but maybe the one I deserved. Either way I’m frustrated.

Mar 24

The problem with China's Periphery

The transformation of a historically contested space into the next global industrial hub provides more challenges than distance and capital investment.

Mar 15

The problem with China's Periphery (audio)

The transformation of a historically contested space into the next global industrial hub provides more challenges than distance and capital investment.

Mar 15

22:41

January 2025

Ramblings about deglobalisation

Decoupling, derisking, deglobalisation. Ending connections. Maintaining hegemony. Preventing the usurpation of China. Making sure everyone can still buy…

Jan 12

December 2024

Chinese characters and Orientalism

The debate between western sinologists over the origin of Chinese characters reflects the orientalism of the past, and the present. Oh, and Merry…

Dec 23, 2024

The consistency of the Chinese party-state

The CCP is more like a machine than a political party. No party can stop it. Only a more powerful machine.

Dec 8, 2024

November 2024

How China is preparing for a new Trump Presidency (audio version)

Not much has changed in the past four years, but this may serve to harden resolves. While some may hope for speedy resolutions, China plans to double…

Nov 24, 2024

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