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The Beijing Brief

The Beijing Brief

The Brookings Institution 6 Episodes Aug 18, 2026

On The Beijing Brief, Brookings China scholars and expert guests take listeners behind the scenes in Washington, D.C., and Beijing to unpack the forces shaping U.S.-China relations and China's political, economic, and technological ambitions.

Episodes

How secure is Taiwan? The view from Taipei
How secure is Taiwan? The view from Taipei Aug 18, 2026 33:38 Ryan Hass and Jon Czin are joined by Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Caitlin Talmadge for a special episode of The Beijing Brief from on the ground in Taipei. Drawing on conversations with Taiwanese counterparts, they unpack how Taiwan is thinking about its own defense, why its technology industry is central to its national security, and where Washington's read of the situation falls short. Tr
Can Europe survive China Shock 2.0?
Can Europe survive China Shock 2.0? Aug 5, 2026 43:07 As China searches for markets to absorb its excess exports, it has increasingly directed much of that manufacturing overcapacity toward Europe, hollowing out the continent's industrial capacity. On this episode of The Beijing Brief, Ryan Hass and Jon Czin are joined by Constanze Stelzenmüller and Kari Heerman to examine how Europe reached this point, what it can do to safeguard itself and advance
Why Washington fears China's open-source AI
Why Washington fears China's open-source AI Jul 30, 2026 06:48 What does the invention of Chinese AI model Kimi K3 mean for Washington and Silicon Valley? In a new explainer for The Beijing Brief podcast, Kyle Chan breaks down the ongoing AI battle between Chinese open-source models and American AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI. Transcript and show notes. The Beijing Brief is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Subscribe and listen wherever you liste
Will China replace America on the world stage?
Will China replace America on the world stage? Jul 21, 2026 29:21 America's leading role in the world is eroding under the second Trump administration, raising questions about how China will position itself in the future global order. "We blew it," says historian and Senior Fellow Robert Kagan in conversation with Ryan Hass and Jon Czin on the latest episode of The Beijing Brief. Kagan examines what this could mean for China's ambitions and behavior in the inter
No limits? Testing the China-Russia relationship
No limits? Testing the China-Russia relationship Jul 7, 2026 40:51 The Ukraine war, shifting American foreign policy priorities under President Trump, and increased global instability have shifted the balance in the China-Russia relationship, one of the world's most consequential relationships. Jon Czin is joined by Fiona Hill and Patirica Kim to examine the convergences and divergences in Beijing and Moscow's strategic interests and personal relations. Transcrip
From Geneva: AI, security, and US-China dialogue
From Geneva: AI, security, and US-China dialogue Jul 1, 2026 15:58 In this special episode of The Beijing Brief, Ryan Hass speaks with R. David Edelman on the sidelines of the United Nations Global Conference on AI, Security, and Ethics in Geneva, Switzerland. Drawing on seven years of experience participating in a track II dialogue on AI and national security, they discuss the importance of sustained dialogue despite broader strategic competition, prospects for
Are the US and China really in an AI "race"?
Are the US and China really in an AI "race"? Jun 23, 2026 39:21 How are the United States and China pursuing AI development? On this episode of The Beijing Brief, Ryan Hass sits down with Kyle Chan and R. David Edelman to discuss the two countries differing AI strategies and assess why the two countries have taken a different approach to their AI ambitions. Transcript and show notes. The Beijing Brief is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Subscribe and lis
What Beijing got from the Trump-Xi summit
What Beijing got from the Trump-Xi summit May 22, 2026 32:57 President Trump came home from China on May 15 hauling trade deals and stability. But how did Beijing read the visit? On this episode, Ryan Hass sits down with China Center scholars Patricia Kim, Kyle Chan, and Jon Czin to unpack what the summit really means for the future of the relationship. Transcript and show notes. The Beijing Brief is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Subscribe and list
Beijing's playbook for the US-Iran war
Beijing's playbook for the US-Iran war May 8, 2026 29:44 What does Beijing really want from the war in Iran, and what do Washington and Tehran want from China? On this episode of The Beijing Brief, Jon Czin speaks with co-host Ryan Hass and experts Suzanne Maloney and Mara Karlin about the triangular interplay among the United States, China, and Iran. They explore China-Iran relations, Beijing's role in regional dynamics, and Washington's strategic posi
Is China's military as strong as it looks?
Is China's military as strong as it looks? Apr 28, 2026 35:41 Ryan Hass speaks with Jon Czin and John Culver, a top expert on China's military, about how sweeping leadership purges and rapid military modernization are reshaping the People's Liberation Army. What do these competing forces mean for the risk of conflict with the United States? And what lessons are China's military leaders learning from the U.S. war with Iran? Transcript and show notes. The Beij
What to know about China's economic ambitions and its Five-Year Plan
What to know about China's economic ambitions and its Five-Year Plan Apr 14, 2026 39:20 In early March, Beijing released its fifteenth Five-Year Plan, detailing the Party leadership's economic and technological ambitions for the years ahead. Jon Czin sits down with China Center colleague Kyle Chan and Andrew Polk of Trivium China to discuss Beijing's push to move up the value chain — from low-end manufacturing toward high-tech industries like AI, robotics, and semiconductors. The two
The delayed Trump-Xi summit, Iran, and the US-China relationship
The delayed Trump-Xi summit, Iran, and the US-China relationship Mar 31, 2026 32:57 President Trump's planned visit to Beijing has been postponed to May 14 to 15 because of the ongoing U.S. war with Iran. What does the delay signal about the state of U.S.-China relations, how does Chinese leadership read this moment? On the inaugural episode of The Beijing Brief, Ryan Hass, Jon Czin, Pattie Kim, and Kyle Chan unpack what the postponement reveals about the trajectory of U.S.-China

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