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The Beijing Brief

The Beijing Brief

The Brookings Institution 6 Episodes Oct 13, 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

Is China dynamic or dysfunctional?
Is China dynamic or dysfunctional? Oct 13, 2026 40:10 Ryan Hass and Jon Czin are joined by Evan Osnos, a Brookings nonresident senior fellow, to look at China from the ground up. What do people really want and how has that changed over the past decade? And how are they living through a period today of slower growth, tighter control, and rapid technological change? Transcript and show notes. The Beijing Brief is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.
What's next for US-China relations after Xi Jinping's state visit?
What's next for US-China relations after Xi Jinping's state visit? Sep 30, 2026 31:27 In September, President Xi Jinping made his first state visit to Washington in more than a decade. Ryan Hass, Jon Czin, and Kyle Chan assess what the visit means for U.S.-China relations and where the relationship may be headed under President Trump. Transcript and show notes. The Beijing Brief is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Subscribe and listen wherever you listen to podcasts. Send fee
How strong is the Chinese Communist Party's hold on power?
How strong is the Chinese Communist Party's hold on power? Sep 15, 2026 38:18 Why has the Chinese Communist Party survived so long, and how does it rule? Jon Czin and Ryan Hass sit down with Minxin Pei, editor-in-chief of China Leadership Monitor, to unpack China's political system, the party's historical dynamics from Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping, and the government's foreign and domestic priorities. Transcript and show notes. The Beijing Brief is part of the Brookings Podcast
What's lost when reporters leave China?
What's lost when reporters leave China? Sep 2, 2026 32:17 How do you tell China's story when journalism in China is so limited? What is lost when so few reporters remain? Ryan Hass and Jon Czin sit down with former China correspondent Jane Perlez to discuss her favorite beats and stories, the difficulties of reporting in China, how Beijing steers foreign coverage toward "shiny bauble" stories, and the importance of people-to-people exchange between the U
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

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