Sinobabble

How to read China well w/Alexander Boyd

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Alexander from China Books Review joins us to talk about evolutions in the Chinese book space, upcoming works by notable authors, and his favourite China books you may not have heard of before. He also gives tips on how to read more, what not to read, and how to create a good book club list!

Read more from Alexander and the team at Chinabooksreview.com and don’t forget to find out more about the Sinobabble bookclub here!

Books mentioned

The Shanghai Agents: The Soviet Plot to Start a Revolution in Interwar China by Heather Salter

Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity by Frank Dikötter

Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy by Liu Cixin

The Highest Exam: How the Gaokao Shapes China by Ruixue Jia, Hongbin Li, Claire Cousineau

I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu Anyan

Adrift in the South by Xiao Hai

Private Revolutions by Yuan Yang

Song of Praise for a Flower: One Woman’s Journey through China’s Tumultuous 20th Century by Fengxian Chu and Charlene Chu

Fly, Wild Swans by Jung Chang

Crazy Rich Asians Series by Kevin Kwan

Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zi

To Live 活着 by Yu Hua

Hunter by Shuang Xuetao

To Rule All under Heaven: A History of Classical China, from Confucius to the First Emperor by Andrew Seth Meyer

Uncanny Beliefs: Superstition in Modern Chinese History Edited by Emily Baum and Albert Wu

Why China Needs Democracy by Dongxian Jiang

Make China Great Again: Online Alt-History Fiction and Popular Authoritarianism by Rongbin Han

Anyuan: Mining China’s Revolutionary Tradition by Elizabeth J. Perry

On the Edge: Feeling Precarious in China by Margaret Hillenbrand

Negative Exposures: Knowing What Not to Know in Contemporary China by Margaret Hillenbrand

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Violence as 'family dispute': culture and politics in China's domestic violence laws

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 23:00:00 GMT

After reading the story about a young woman abused and kidnapped by her family, I went down a rabbit hole to learn why police and judiciary avoid prosecuting what they consider to be ‘family disputes’. In this episode, I unpack how domestic violence is routinely dismissed as a “family affair,” why police and courts avoid intervention, how cultural norms around shame and harmony shape reporting behaviour, and why China’s 2016 Anti‑Domestic Violence Law still has no real teeth. We cover clan and kinship networks, cultural attitudes, and political pressures to understand the roots of a system that places family harmony above victim protection.

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Tongueless by Lau Yee-Wa Review | Sinobabble Book Club

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

For more on the book club, including upcoming books and where to buy them, head to this webpage.

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Media influence as foreign policy: China’s journalist training in Africa w/Dr Emeka Umejei

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:35:45 GMT

In 2022, Freedom House released a report titled “Beijing's Global Media Influence 2022”, highlighting the numerous ways in which the Chinese government seeks to influence media across the world. They stated that China’s main tactics were the mass distribution of content, harassment and intimidation of outlets that publish negative news, disinformation campaigns, and training for media workers and officials in different locales.The provision of free or subsidised training for local journalists in the Global south is a foundational aspect of China’s efforts to ‘tell China’s story well’ through legitimate means. By co-opting local voices, China is able to disseminate its own message through local partners in an organic way and free of charge.But what does this training look like? Who is participating and what are they learning? And how does China ensure that after journalists return home, they continue to talk about China in the right way? Today’s guest is here to discuss this and more.Dr Emeka Umejei is currently Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg. He has a PhD in Journalism and Media Studies and has taught in institutions across Africa including the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, the American University of Nigeria, and the University of Ghana. Prior to this he worked as a journalist in Nigeria for leading national newspapers and served as an African correspondent for U.S.-based media outfit LNG Publications.He has written two books on Chinese influence on African journalism: Chinese Media in Africa: Perception, Performance, and Paradox (2020) and China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and Decolonization which came out this year.Buy bookclub books here Buy me a coffee Latest Substack post Links to everything

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The Party's Interests Come First | Sinobabble Book Club

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Leave a comment to let me know what you thought about the book, the review, and whether or not you’re more likely to read it if you haven’t already.

For more on the book club, including upcoming books and where to buy them, head to this webpage.

To support the show, head over to my Buy Me a Coffee page to give a one-off or monthly donations, if your discretionary entertainment funds allow!

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How Chinamaxxing foreigners are performing nationalism on Chinese social media

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 23:00:37 GMT

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An article in the Journal of Contemporary China inspire me to dip my toe in the Chinamaxxing trend and discuss how foreign influencers in China…

From victim to victor: Xenophobia and anti-Japanism as nationalism in China

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 23 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Earlier this week, I read a Substack article discussing the rise in viral anti-Japanese content on Chinese social media. The gruesome posts and recent polling data all point to the fact that anti-Japanese sentiment is increasing among Chinese people, despite increasing economic ties and a move away from 'wolf warrior' style diplomacy. Why, when China seems to be more doveish, does Japan still draw so much ire? What is about the history, proximity, and perceived injustices between the two nations that causes continuous rifts? And how does the CCP harness these feelings of hatred and disgust for their own benefit?In this episode we push the envelope a bit further on the nationalism theme, and examine how sometimes xenophobia can go really right, and how at other times it can go terribly wrong.Check out the article I mention at the beginning of the episode: "Japanophobia — a quick way to go viral in China"Buy bookclub books here Buy me a coffee Latest Substack post Links to everything

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Nationalism with International Characteristics w/Nick Zeller

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 16 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

That is the entire description of this episode. I wish I could give more detail but… you’ll see for yourself when you get there!

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The Last Quarter of the Moon Review (Sinobabble Book Club)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 09 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

A (late!) review of our April Book club book The Last Quarter of the Moon by Chi Zijian. A 90-year-old Evenki woman who has spent her life in the forests of northeast China herding reindeer recounts the story of her life, her people, and the encroachment of modernity and imperialism on how they live. A story of nature, love, loss, despair, and change, we also ask if someone who is not part of a particular ethnic group can truly capture their spirit, or are they doomed to orientalism at worst and essentialisation at best.May's book is The Party's Interests Come First by Joseph Torigian, check out the link below if you still need to buy a copy!Buy bookclub books here Buy me a coffee Latest Substack post Links to everything

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China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Law: A breakdown

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

In early March, the PRC's National People's Congress passed a law titled the P.R.C. Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress. According to the government the law, which has been in development since 2023, the law "lays out the overall requirements, important principles, and responsibilities and duties of relevant entities concerning the promotion of ethnic unity and progress. It also outlines specific measures to build a common cultural home, facilitate interaction, exchanges, and integration, and promote shared prosperity and development."In this episode we do a close reaading of the letter of the law, and look at some of the analyses that have come out in support or condemnation of its contents. We'll also look at some of the wider academic discourse on the treatment, place and role of ehtnic minorities in the Chinese nation-building project, so that we can understand the law in its full context.Buy bookclub books here Buy me a coffee Latest Substack post Links to everythingChapters (00:00) Introduction to the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law(12:25) The Letter of the Law(32:20) Initial reactions to and analyses of the law(48:48) Further discussion on ethnic minorities in China

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[Archive] Dreaming of East Turkestan: Xinjiang and China, c.700-1950

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Over the Easter break, the next two episodes of the podcast will be archival episodes covering the medieval and modern history of Mongolia and Xinjiang. This is in preparation for an episode I’ll be doing when I get back on the New Ethnic Unity Policy released by the Chinese government. Our book club book for this month is The Last Quarter of the Moon, also on the theme of ethnic minorities in China, so it’s a very topical month!This episode discusses the historical background of the relationship between China and the Xinjiang region, putting into context the current situation of the Uyghur people. It traces Chinese imperial attempts to first turn the area into a vassal, and then incorporate the region entirely into the empire, creating a new nationalist ideology based on a multicultural identity. The discussion starts from the 8th century AD and the fall of the Uyghur Khaghanate, and ends with the story of the reintegration of Xinjiang into the PRC after 1949, and the CCP’s views on the status of the region since then.

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[Archive] Why is Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia? (+Bonus Article)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Over the Easter break, the next two episodes of the podcast will be archival episodes covering the medieval and modern history of Mongolia and Xinjiang. This is in preparation for an episode I'll be doing when I get back on the New Ethnic Unity Policy released by the Chinese government. Our book club book for this month is The Last Quarter of the Moon, also on the theme of ethnic minorities in China, so it's a very topical month!The second episode of three on the CCP’s incorporation of the periphery into the PRC after 1949. We discuss the historical relationship between the Mongolian people and the Mainland Han Chinese people, to give context to why modern China feels that Inner Mongolia is part of the great Chinese nation.At the end of the episode, we discuss the numerous articles on attitudes towards sex in China that I've come across in my casual reading. We highlight a woman working towards bringing foreplay into Chinese couples' bedrooms, and a survey revealing the lack of sexual knowledge among Chinese university students.Buy bookclub books here Buy me a coffee Latest Substack post Links to everything

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How to glaze your billionaire bestie | The Troublemaker Book Review | Sinobabble Book Club

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This episode is the third installment in our book club, we’re doing well guys. The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, Hong Kong’s Greatest Dissident, and China’s Most Feared Critic certainly tries to live up to its name. It covers the “‘extraordinary life story’ (Publishers Weekly) of the billionaire businessman Jimmy Lai, a leading Hong Kong democracy activist fighting for freedom of speech who became China’s most famous political prisoner.”

My review of this book is very, very mixed. All will become clear when you listen! Please do leave your own thoughts in the way of comments, I’d love to hear what you thought about the book.

Oh and I forgot to mention in the review that Lai also blocks a state pension law using his media outlets to push anti-pension propaganda. And that’s probably why you still see old men and women picking up cardboard for pennies every morning. Enjoy!

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Internal agitprop & 'minimum compliance' in Chinese governance

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:24:00 GMT

A look at three recent papers published in the China Quarterly, and what they say about local governance, internal propaganda and the politics of ‘getting things done’ in modern China.

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Down to the countryside 2.0 & the myth of the rural reset

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

China’s post 90s and 00s generation are burnt out, mentally and emotionally drained, and apparently are not getting enough sunlight. While grinding in the city seems to have led to a law of diminishing returns -- typically referred to as ‘involution’ -- many young hopefuls are still seeking opportunity elsewhere. In this episode I explore the phenonmenon of the ‘rural reset’, the idea that one can up sticks and move down to a beautiful rural idyll and live out the dream life running a coffee shop and farming a small veg patch.

But is taking your urban ways of life and grindset mentality down to the countryside the true path to happiness? Is a bucolic setting all one really needs to reinvent the self? Is it really possible to outrun admin? We discuss all this and more as we try to determine whether or not this is a sustainable, long-term vision that can be supported by the government, or another flash in the pan fad for the downtrodden laobaixing to cling to while they can.

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Consumption as identity and politics in China w/Yaling Jiang

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Today’s guest is Yaling Jiang. Yaling is a former journalist who currently uses her research and reporting skills to provide businesses with insights and analysis on the Chinese consumer market. She is the founder of research agency Aperture China, alongside which she runs the newsletter Following the Yuan on Substack, which provides nuanced takes on Chinese consumer trends.

We discuss how Chinese people see themselves as consumers first and political citizens second, the CCP’s attempts to influence the consumer market, and how a rise in China’s soft power is linked to trends like Chinamaxxing. We also talk about how movements like involution, lying flat, and feminism present in people’s lives, and prove once more that Chinese people and Americans are more similar than we think.Subscribe to Following the Yuan Buy bookclub books Buy me a coffee Latest Substack postLinks to everything: https://linktree.com/sinobabble

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"Serve the People!" Review (Sinobabble Book club)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This is a recording of the livestream of our monthly book club. In this livestream we discuss the book Serve the People! by Yan Lianke, a banned book set during the Cultural Revolution in China.

If you would like to find out more about the book club and which books we’re reading, please see this post:

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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 48 | The Cultural Revolution part 8: The end of the Cultural Revolution

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The death of Mao Zedong and the trial of the Gang of Four are traditionally used as the signifiers of the end of the Cultural Revolution. The violent and turbulent 10 year period came to a sudden stop as political in-fighting continued until Deng Xiaoping was able to quash his foes and come out on top.In this episode, we cover how the Cultural Revolution finally came to an end, how the period is interpreted both in the West and in China, and what effect the Cultural Revolution has had on Chinese society as a whole.Intro: 00:00Opening: 01:09The end of the Cultural Revolution: 6:20Interpreting the CR: 20:25Aftermath of the CR and memory in contemporary China: 31:23Outro: 41:25

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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 51 | The Cultural Revolution part 7: Culture

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we discuss the changes made to China’s cultural realm during the Cultural Revolution. As the main target of the Cultural Revolution Group, cultural production including art, literature, theatre, and film were all subject to the new rules of the decade. But were those rules made to last? And were the CRG able to impose their will completely when they relied on the existing bourgeois cultural producers to cultivate their new vision?

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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 50 | The Cultural Revolution part 6: Economy, Education & Everyday Life

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

In this episode we look at how the economy and educational system fared during the Cultural Revolution decade. We discuss how a period of chaos led into a period of stagnation, where things neither got much better nor much worse. We also talk about differences between the countryside and the cities, and how every day life was irrevocably impacted by the social turmoil that occurred.0:00 Introduction2:11 Economy and Education to 19699:57 The Economy after 196922:45 Education after 196929:28 Urban and Rural life during the CR38:53 Conclusions

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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 49 | The Cultural Revolution part 5: The death of Lin Biao

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

In this episode we explore the mysterious and complex character of Lin Biao, and his even more mysterious demise. We ask how he rose to prominence so quickly after being a largely background figure in the party for so many years, and what effect his vice-chairmanship and sudden death had on the Cultural Revolution.*I accidentally say Liu instead of Lin at around the 22:30 minute mark*00:00 Introdution05:02 Early career in the CCP13:05 Lin Biao in the Cultural Revolution19:58 Lin’s position challenged?27:51 The ‘conspiracy’36:31 Evaluating the coup theory39:10 The impact of Lin’s death

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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 48 | The Cultural Revolution part 4: The party restored (1968-1972)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

In episode 4 of the Cultural Revolution series, we look at how the party began to rebuild itself in the period 1968-1972 through a series of internal meetings, some last-minute purges, and a few devastating mass campaigns that would end up having a much higher impact than anything the Red Guards had carried out in previous years.Though much had happened in China during the last few years, to many people it seemed like nothing had fundamentally changed. Though the people running the government were different, the structure of the party-state itself had remained the same. If anything, the only real difference was the preeminence that Mao Zedong Thought gained during this period, largely thanks to the support of the PLA.Songs: Long Live Chairman Mao and March of the Revolutionary Youth0:00 Introduction (”Long live Chairman Mao”)3:18 Rebuilding the system14:45 “March of the revolutionay youth”15:05 The dismissal of Liu Shaoqi25:40 The 9th plenum28:20 The final campaigns43:00 Lessons learned50:22 Outro

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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 47 | The Cultural Revolution part 3: Ending the chaos (1967-68)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we look at how Mao reversed the course of the Cultural Revolution, bringing in the army to end the violence and destruction caused by the factionalism between the Red Guards and other mass organisations. We discuss the much vaunted revolutionary committees, temporary governments made up of a triple alliance between the mass organisations, the Cultural Revolution Group, and the People’s Liberation Army.The original aim of the revolution to promote the masses to positions of power in place of corrupt cadres was replaced by the singular quest to restore the country to order. To do this, Mao relied heavily on the PLA, as well as the cadres who not too long ago were seen as public enemy #1.Music clips are from “Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman” and “The People of the World Will Surely be Victorious”00:00 Song “Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman”00:25 Introduction06:23 January Revolution11:50 Song “The People of the World Will Surely be Victorious”12:05 The Triple Alliance14:10 The February adverse current23:20 The Wuhan incident26:24 The 516 purge29:30 Resitance to demobilisation38:10 The failure of the revolution

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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 46 | The Cultural Revolution Part 2: Violence in the cities, violence in the countryside

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

In this episode we talk about the violence that gripped the Chinese nation at the height of the Cultural Revolution. We discuss the difference between the brutality that took place in the cities, which was mainly perpetrated by Red Guards and affected culture as much as people, and the countryside, which pitted neighbour against neighbour.Music clips are from “The East is Red” and “We Walk on the Great Road”.(Apparently I keep hitting my microphone throughout this episode, which is what that hollow sounding noise is.)00:00 Clip from the song “The East Is Red” 00:18 Introduction4:47 Red guards in the cities9:10 The revolution in Shanghai21:14 The revolution in the countryside35:15 The impact of the violence on China and the Cultural Revolution40:08 Outro

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[Archive] 20th Century History Episode 45 | The Cultural Revolution part 1: The end of the tea party

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The first of 8 episodes covering the build up, events, and aftermath of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, which took place in China from 1966 to 1976. In this episode we discuss what the Cultural Revolution was supposed to be, recap its principal causes, discuss the events that led to the declaration of the CR, and cover the formation and expansion of the Red Guards, Mao’s children of the Revolution.00:00: Introduction4:23 - What was the Cultural Revolution?15:45 - Events leading up to the Cultural Revolution29:43 - The first stages of the Cultural Revolution37:06 - The formation of the Red Guards43:48 - Those of black class background join the Red Guards46:56 - OutroSome mispronunciations - I found that I mispronounced LUO Ruiqing as LIU Ruiqing, and HAI Rui as HA Rui a few times. My bad, Luo and Hai are the correct terms!Buy bookclub books here Buy me a coffee Links to everything

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The end of exchange? The state of US-China academic relations w/Rory Truex

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

I’m very excited to have on Rory Truex as my guest for today’s episode. Rory is Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University. His research focuses on Chinese politics and authoritarian systems, and his work has been published in the American Political Science Review, British Journal of Political Science, The China Quarterly and many more. He has been featured in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The Hill, South China Morning Post, and The New York Times. He is also the host of The Civic Forum Podcast, a weekly public speaker series on democracy featuring leading scholars and practitioners.We talk the decline in funding for China related research grants in the US, the role of the government and individual institutions in creating a productive and protective relationship with China, and the golden age of China studies (and if it’s possible to ever get back there).Read the working paper here

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China travel & Ghost cities w/David Fishman

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

I’m very excited to have on David Fishman as my guest for today’s episode.

David is Head of Lantau Group in Shanghai, where he works as a consultant for stakeholders in the power sector, and advises on energy development, energy infrastructure, and electricity consumption. But I know him as the author of the Substack Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones, a travel and geography publication where he shares his experiences exploring the less-covered corners of China’s economic transformation. This is by far one of my favourite Substacks, and hopefully through this conversation you’ll come to understand why, and become a subscriber yourself.

We talk travel during Covid, conversations with taxi drivers, and the transformation of ghost cities. I also ask him a very silly question about renewable energy. Be prepared to be a China geography expert by the end!

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Engineering or Authoritarianism? Breakneck Book Review (Sinobabble Book club)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

**This livestream was recorded on Tuesday 27th January 2026**

We discuss the book Breakneck by Dan Wang. A huge hit towards the end of 2025, we talk about whether the hype is merited, the strengths and weaknesses of his narrative, and whether or not his ideas stand up to scrutiny. At the end, we (and by we, I mean I) ramble about the Three Body Problem trilogy for 10 minutes.

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Hebei heating scandal & the politics of clean energy in China

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:08:21 GMT

Recently, news of Hebei villagers freezing in their homes this winter has sparked heated discussion online. The villagers are part of a government scheme to convert the population to ‘clean’ energy sources, mainly via a coal-to-gas policy. But as subsidies taper and the cost of gas rises, poorer residents are opting out of the policy, either using traditional heating methods to stay warm or suffering the cold. In this episode we explore the origins of the coal-to-gas policy, the real-term effects it’s had on the population, and its relationship to the CCP’s wider goals of net zero and rural revitalisation. Ultimately we ask, how does this policy affect people on the ground? How has this increased the burden on local officials in impoverished areas? And how do people practice acts of resistance against government policy, regardless of potential punishment?

Chapters

(00:00) Intro: Villagers in Hebei are freezing in their homes

(06:49) *12 China Books Book Club*

(07:50) China’s climate policy and the politics of energy

(12:45) Coal-to-gas and rural resistance

(31:31) *BUY ME A COFFEE*

(35:15) Rural revitalisation and the limits of state coercion

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The CCP's war against bad vibes

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

In 2025, the Chinese Cyberspace Administration introduced a new policy that aims to police online content that promotes violence, aggression, pessimism and negative emotions. While censorship is nothing new in China, this new law poses a new set of questions: what exactly is the difference between censorship and misinformation? What is a legitimate grievance, and what is a blatant attempt by someone to spread fake news or stir up a gender war? And how exactly do you police a bad vibe?

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to the new cyberspace policy

(07:04) *12 China Books Book Club*

(07:45) Policy targets: lying flat and involution

(14:50) Censorship vs moderation

(25:45) *Buy me a Coffee*

(26:40) Misinformation vs the public interest

(34:10) The fight against debbiedowners

Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepod

Latest Substack post: https://substack.com/@sinobabble/p-178934152

Links to everything: https://linktree.com/sinobabble

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Does China owe the world good trade?

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Financial Times has argued that China is making trade impossible, but Chinese pundits argue that China's approach is not only fine, but more inclusive.

In this episode we tackle the underlying questions surrounding fears of China’s domination of all major manufacturing industries. Should China stop what they’re doing? If so, why? And if why, how should they bring back balance and let us poor Westerners keep some of our jobs?

We also talk globalisation, who’s really to blame for the current situation, and why Orientalism plays a bigger role than you might think.

Join the 12 China books in 12 months bookclub by following Sinobabble on Substack: https://sinobabble.substack.com/

Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepod

Links to everything: https://linktree.com/sinobabble

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

All the China books I read in 2025

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Leave your recommendations below. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Chapters (00:00) About the books(2:20) The Dean of Shandong(12:35) Private Revolutions(20:35) The New China Playbook(29:20) I Deliver Parcels in Beijing(40:40) Final thoughts(42:30) Books for next year, book club?Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepodLatest Substack post: https://substack.com/@sinobabble/p-178934152Links to everything: https://linktree.com/sinobabble

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Xi's PLA purges in their historical context

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

In recent months news of purges at the very top of the PLA have gripped headlines, with many speculating as to the cause and outcomes of this series of high-profile oustings. Many have concluded that regardless of the cause -- coup attempt, rampant corruption, incompetence, paranoia -- the result is that Xi has tightened his control over an historically elusive and *opaque* arm of the party-state.

Xi is an outside figure; he is not a military man, he has seen no bloodshed, commanded no battles, won no victories. And yet he now towers above the PLA as its ultimate leader, his mandate served willingly and devotedly.

How has Xi managed this feat where his predecessors have failed? The truth is the most recently publicised purges are just one in a long line of adjustments to the military that have allowed Xi Jinping to strengthen his grip on the PLA. In this episode we discuss those adjustments, how they differ to those that came before, and what the results of Xi’s strategy may be.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 29: The First Five-Year Plan

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 09:00:00 GMT

In this episode we discuss China's first Five Year Plan, a centralised form of economic development that encompasses elements of social engineering and which is still used in China till this day. What were the major aims of the FYP, what were the outcomes, and why did the CCP end up abandoning this system of slow but steady development in favour of a Great Leap? We discuss these questions, as well as looking at how the foundations of Mao's ideological and political dominance were laid in this period following the death of Stalin.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 28: Dreaming of East Turkestan: Xinjiang and China, c.700-1950

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 08:00:00 GMT

This episode discusses the historical background of the relationship between China and the Xinjiang region, putting into context the current situation of the Uyghur people. It traces Chinese imperial attempts to first turn the area into a vassal, and then incorporate the region entirely into the empire, creating a new nationalist ideology based on a multicultural identity. The discussion starts from the 8th century AD and the fall of the Uyghur Khaghanate, and ends with the story of the reintegration of Xinjiang into the PRC after 1949, and the CCP's views on the status of the region since then.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 27: Why is Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia? (+Bonus Article)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:00:00 GMT

The second episode of three on the CCP’s incorporation of the periphery into the PRC after 1949. We discuss the historical relationship between the Mongolian people and the Mainland Han Chinese people, to give context to why modern China feels that Inner Mongolia is part of the great Chinese nation.

At the end of the episode, we discuss the numerous articles on attitudes towards sex in China that I've come across in my casual reading. We highlight a woman working towards bringing foreplay into Chinese couples' bedrooms, and a survey revealing the lack of sexual knowledge among Chinese university students.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 26: The 'Liberation' of Tibet: Sino-Tibetan relations c.1200-c.1950

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 11:00:00 GMT

This episode is the first in a series of three discussing the incorporation of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Mongolia into the PRC after 1949.

In this episode we discuss the historical relationship between Tibet and China, as well as the changing nature of the CCP's approach to the inclusion of Tibet in the new nation. What makes the Tiebtans feel like they deserve their own independent nation? The answer lies in their own beliefs surrounding the unique nature of Tibetan culture and ethnicity, and their rejection of Chinese hegemony.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Modern China Episode 3: Fraud, bribes, and coverups: A brief history of China's Academic Scandals

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 23:00:00 GMT

This episode is another addition to the modern China series. Today we’re going to be talking about a deep rooted problem in China, that of frequent and recurrent academic scandals. There are many reasons why I’m not sure a career in academia is for me, and one of those reasons does revolve around the problem of ethics and free speech when it comes to doing any sort of research in or about China.

We discuss some of the most prominent examples in three different
categories: fake research, deleted research, and conflict of interest.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 25: Soviet Aid (with bonus article)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 07:00:00 GMT

In this episode we discuss what financial aid the Soviet Union provided to China, as well as how cultural connections were formed between the two states, using the example of art.

I also discuss an Economist article on poverty alleviation measures in poorer parts of China. How do Chinese officials carry out policies in a way that solves the key problem of poverty, while also promoting the party and president Xi as the saviour of the people? And is there anything that Western democracies can learn from China's integration of economic, political, and social issues?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 24: The Korean War

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Over the next couple of episodes we’re going to be examining the relationship between China and the Soviet Union, and how this relationship determined the development of China’s economy and international relations in the 1950s and the early 1960s. Today we’re going to start by discussing the The Korean War of 1950 to 1953, as this conflict was crucial in shaping Sino-Sovet relations in the early 1950s.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 23: Land Reform, 3 Antis, & 5 Antis Campaigns

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 05:00:00 GMT

In this episode we’re continuing the theme of mass campaigns, and taking a detailed look at some of the most important campaigns in PRC history in order to see the party’s revolutionary tactics in action. Last week we spoke about the structure of mass campaign in Maoist China, and this week we’re going to be looking at three campaigns in total, one rural and two urban. The rural campaign was known as the Agrarian Land Reform Policy (land reform), which was the radical redistribution of all of China’s agricultural land equitably among its peasant population. The two urban campaigns are the three antis and five antis campaigns that sought to tackle corruption and waste in China’s state bureaucracy and private sectors.

*At some point in the recording I say "anti-patriotic" instead of "unpatriotic". Apologies. I'm dumb.

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Episode 22: Propaganda, Mass Mobilisation, and Political Campaigns in the Early PRC

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:00:00 GMT

Mass campaigns were the cornerstone of the CCP’s rule during the Maoist era. They were used to spread information about policies, inculcate the masses with the correct understanding of communist ideology, and importantly mobilise the people and get the public involved in different schemes to support the so-called building of the nation.

In this episode, we’re going to be talking about the ways propaganda and mass mobilisation techniques were used in Maoist China, and serves as a sort of reference point for future episodes where we’ll be talking about more specific policies and mass campaigns in detail.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 21: New Laws, New Society (w/Emily Matson)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 16:00:00 GMT

In this episode we discuss the introduction of two new laws at the start of the PRC: the marriage law and the education reform. Both of these laws were intended to change the shape of society, making it more civilised and modern, as well as more rational and easier for the state to control. Both laws evolved in ways that the state did not intend, leading to their subsequent de-emphasis in the following years. However, both of the changes have repercussions till today.

Emily Matson is a PhD student in the Corcoran History Department, University of Virginia. Her focus is on modern East Asian history, and her areas of interest include Sino-Japanese relations, China's national identity, and Chinese patriotic education.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Hong Kong Protests 2.0: Censorship & Self-censorship in the face of Authoritarianism

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:00:00 GMT

This is the second episode in another short series I’ll be doing about the Hong Kong protests.

Certain outlets have chosen to remain silent on the most recent events in Hong Kong, as well as the June 4th vigil that was officially cancelled by the state but took place in Victoria Park regardless. This episode discusses the rise of self-censorship, instances of innocuous creeping censorship of the Chinese state against international institutions, and what this means for freedom of expression not just in China, but for everyone.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Hong Kong Protests 2.0: National Security in the time of Corona

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT

This is the first episode in another short series I’ll be doing about the Hong Kong protests.

Tensions in Hong Kong have flared up once again as the CCP pushes to introduce the National Security Law in the wake of last year's protests. This law seeks to punish those who threaten the integrity of the state through sedition, secession, terrorism, or collusion with external forces. The public and some members of parliament have also been angered by the push of the national anthem law, which would criminalise parody or insult of the March of the People.

This episode provides an overview of the most recent protests from April till date, discusses some of the international responses, and describes the escalation of police brutality and authoritarianism in Hong Kong. It is clear that Beijing has lost patience with Hong Kong and the freedoms the territory currently enjoys will be taken away much sooner than 2047.

Carrie Lam’s Letter to Hong Kong https://hongkongfp.com/2020/05/29/letter-to-hong-kong-from-carrie-lam/

New York Times “‘Facing the Darkest Hour’: Hong Kong’s Protest Movement in Crisis” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/29/world/asia/hong-kong-protest-future-china.html

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 20: The Founding of the PRC

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT

This episode is the first in the series on the People's Republic of China, the starting point for the modern China that we know today, still ruled over by the same Communist Party.

This episode serves as an update, as well as an introduction to the structure of the Chinese state and the main characters we'll need to keep in mind moving forward (it's more interesting than it sounds I promise!). This episode also gives an overview of the topics that we'll be covering in the upcoming months, including how the CCP ran their propaganda and mass campaigns, how they dealt with ethnic minorities in regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang, and how they brought the cities onside while simultaneously dismantling all capitalist forms of business.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 19: The End of the Chinese Civil War, 1945-9

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 01:00:00 GMT

The victory of the CCP over the KMT was a bit of a shock to many, it was by no means obvious that they were going to win and actually by all accounts they should have lost. Chiang Kai-shek had the bigger army, more money, control of the cities, and at least the tacit support of the USA, who were hell bent on stopping the spread of communism now that they didn’t have to pretend to be friends with the USSR anymore. Despite the KMT’s numerous advantages, there were factors both internal and external to the party that led to their downfall, including the state of China’s society and economy after the war, the way the military behaved on both sides, as well as international relations. Did the CCP politically and militarily outmaneuver the KMT, or were they better able to reach the people and therefore win as a result of overwhelming popular support? By the end of this episode, we’ll have a better understanding of whether the founding of the PRC was more a failure of the KMT or the victory of the CCP.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

The Date Debate: When did the War of Resistance Against Japan Begin? (ft. Emily Matson)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 01:00:00 GMT

In this episode, Emily Matson and I will be delving deep into the subtle yet monumental change that was made to the Chinese official curriculum a few years ago. In 2017, the government announced that the official start date for the War of Resistance Against Japan should be change from 1937 to 1931 in all textbooks. This not only goes against previous Chinese historical beliefs, but also the internationally recognised start date for the conflict. Emily and I discuss how and why this change may have come about (we have no definitive answers, only theories unfortunately) as well as the implications of this change for Chinese political, social, and cultural future. We also go off on a tangent about the purpose of history education and give some advice as to how to avoid ideological heritage and get properly informed on topics that interest you!

Emily Matson is a PhD student in the Corcoran History Department, University of Virginia. Her focus is on modern East Asian history, and her areas of interest include Sino-Japanese relations, China's national identity, and Chinese patriotic education.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 17: The 2nd Sino-Japanese War & China in WWII

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 11:00:00 GMT

In the last two episodes we covered the Communist regime in Yan’an during the period 1941-1945, and how they went about solidifying their control over CCP controlled areas, spreading their ideology through movements and campaigns. Of course, we also covered the Communists’ involvement in WWII, but generally speaking, the CCP was not at the forefront of the fighting during the war with Japan. Most of frontline fighting was done by Nationalist soldiers under the leadership of Chiang, and with the help of the allied forces, though the extent to which any fighting was actually done has often been called into question. China’s role in WWII and its importance in holding down the Japanese has been a sore point for China, which has claimed it never received the recognition it deserved from the major powers, especially considering the losses suffered and the tragedies wrought among the Chinese people. Hopefully in this episode I can provide you with enough detail for you to decide for yourself whether the Chinese war effort was of global import, or should be relegated to the annals of national memory. So, today we’ll be discussing what happened to trigger full blown war with Japan in 1937, how this evolved into WWII, how China’s Nationalist government survived and under what guise, and China’s bitter struggle against Japan until the end of the war in 1945.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 16: The Communists at Yan'an (pt2): Life after Rectification

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 01:00:00 GMT

This episode will continue the theme of the Communists at Yan'an, switching focus to the lives of Party members and ordinary people under CCP rule.

Split over two parts, we will talk about the development and spread of Communist ideology and Mao Zedong thought, the institution of political campaigns aimed at increasing social cohesion and improving the lives of peasants, and the reaction of the Party to dissent. This week we discuss the fallout from the Rectification movement, and the effect it had on the social lives of political party members as well as ordinary people living in the Communist base area. We will also discuss the evolving role of art and propaganda, alongside the growing sentiment among party members that the collective should be paramount over the individual.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 15: The Communists at Yan'an (pt1): War & Rectification

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 01:00:00 GMT

This episode will continue the theme of the Communists at Yan'an, switching focus to the lives of Party members and ordinary people under CCP rule.

Split over two parts, we will talk about the development and spread of Communist ideology and Mao Zedong thought, the institution of political campaigns aimed at increasing social cohesion and improving the lives of peasants, and the reaction of the Party to dissent. The Yan'an Rectification movement of 1942-44 was one of the most important campaigns of the Yan'an period, solidifying Mao Zedong thought as the supreme ideology, and ensuring the unity of the Party. The build up to the movement, the campaign itself, and the targets of the campaign including intellectuals and mid-level cadres will be covered in this episode. The fall out of the campaign and its impact on social and cultural life in Yan'an and the communist controlled areas will be covered in the second half of this episode next week.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 14: Mao Zedong Thought with Emily Matson (2)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 04:00:00 GMT

Mao Zedong Thought was one of the most influential ideologies of the 20th Century, and is arguably still having a huge effect on China and the rest of the world today. In this episode, Edi and Emily discuss the Long March and how it has been mythologised and used as a powerful message in propaganda since the 1940s. We also look at the first few years of the CCP at their Yan'an base, which explains Mao's rise to power in more detail.

We answer some important questions such as whether Mao is a true Marxist, and to what extent could he be considered a feminist? We also debate whether the 'Great Man Theory' can be applied to Mao, and if it's even a valuable theoretical framework in the first place.

Emily Matson is a PhD student in the Corcoran History Department, University of Virginia. Her focus is on modern East Asian history, and her areas of interest include Sino-Japanese relations, China's national identity, and Chinese patriotic education.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 13: Mao Zedong Thought with Emily Matson (1)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMT

Mao Zedong Thought was one of the most influential ideologies of the 20th Century, and is arguably still having a huge effect on China and the rest of the world today. In this episode, Edi and Emily discuss the origins of Mao Zedong Thought by tracing Mao's life from his origins as a country boy fascinated with Chinese traditional culture and monarchist heroes, to his rise as leader of the CCP, and everything in between.

We answer some important questions such as whether Mao is a true Marxist, and to what extent could he be considered a feminist? We also debate whether the 'Great Man Theory' can be applied to Mao, and if it's even a valuable theoretical framework in the first place.

Part two of this topic will cover the Long March and the first few years of the CCP at their Yan'an base, which explains Mao's rise to power in more detail.

Emily Matson is a PhD student in the Corcoran History Department, University of Virginia. Her focus is on modern East Asian history, and her areas of interest include Sino-Japanese relations, China's national identity, and Chinese patriotic education.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 12: The Nanjing Decade (5): Were the KMT fascists?

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 11:00:00 GMT

This is the last episode on the Nanjing decade, so far we’ve covered culture, economics, feminism, and academia, and I wanted to leave this episode till last because I feel it ties all the other threads together really nicely. We’ve gotten a few glimpses of the Nationalist Party’s governance and policy formulation in a few areas, and how they tried to exert control over different areas of Chinese life, but we haven’t addressed the topic of KMT politics in and of itself. Although in recent years many aspects of the Nanjing decade have been reevaluated in a more positive light, one negative connotation that seems to have stuck is the accusation that the KMT were fascists. Although, actually the KMT themselves may not have actually viewed this as a negative label at the time. In fact, there is evidence to show that they actively strove to model themselves on other successful fascistic regimes at the time, taking inspiration from Mussolini’s Italy and Hitler’s Germany in particular. So in this episode we’re going to be reviewing the evidence, taking a look at the ideology of the Nationalists, as well as examining some of their major social policies and campaigns, to see to what extent the term fascist can be applied to the Nanjing government.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 11: The Nanjing Economy

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 06:00:00 GMT

Continuing with the Nanjing Decade, in this episode we look at the successes and failures of the Nationalist government with regards to the Chinese economy.

While the Nationalists became increasingly interventionist and looked to ramp up their stake in the financial system, their policies hindered private businesses and failed to save the rural peasant economy. But was this period a complete failure? And can all the blame be lain at the feet of the KMT?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 10: Nanjing Decade (3): Feminism & The New Woman

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT

The discourse on feminism in the Nanjing decade isn’t just a simple narrative, it actually takes the form of a debate between two camps. There are those who believe that women were champions of the feminist movement, through their various publications, groups, and activist movements, and those who believe that the women’s movement was essentially co-opted simultaneously by the commercial industry for profit, the government for greater control over society, and the disenfranchised male intelligentsia for their own political gain.

The debate is quite an intriguing one, and is also wrapped up in other social and political developments taking place at the time, such as the development (or lack thereof) of a democratic movement, the launch of Chiang Kai-Shek’s New Life Movement, and the growth in competition in the newspaper and magazine industry.

In this episode we try and get to the bottom of who was in control of the women's movement, and who really decided what the 'new woman' was supposed to look like and how she was supposed to act.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Modern China Episode 2: Xi Jinping: China's New Emperor?

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 06:00:00 GMT

In March 2018, at a meeting of the 2,980 delegates of the National People’s Congress, a vote was passed to abolish the two-term limit on the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the People’s Republic of China. The ten year limit, which has been in place for almost 30 years, was initially put in place by Deng Xiaoping ostensibly to prevent the building up of a cult of personality that heavily contributed to the tragedies perpetrated under Mao Zedong’s leadership. While the title of President of China has been considered largely ceremonial in the past, and some politicians such as Deng Xiaoping have managed to hold power without such a title, this change to the constitution has been understood to be monumental across the board.

While this change could well be considered a ‘step backwards’ for China’s politics and governance, I don’t think it should be considered so unexpected or even so drastic a move. It could even be considered a return to tradition. In this video I want to look at the following questions: What exactly gave rise to this motion, and why, with only the smallest of resistance, was it passed? How big of a role does Xi’s cult of personality play? And Is Xi really the new emperor of China? To answer these questions, we first need to understand how China has been ruled in the past, and how this pattern of governance has influenced present day China. Let’s put the decision to end Presidential term limits in China in its historical context.

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Episode 9: Nanjing Decade (2): Art, Literature, & Film

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:00:00 GMT

In this week’s episode we’re returning to the Nanjing decade, the period of Chiang Kai-Shek’s Nationalist rule from 1927-1937, to discuss the development of the creative sphere at the time. In this episode we’ll talk about how art, literature, and film evolved and try to understand what the major themes and trends of the period were, as well as trying to determine the extent of political influence on artistic endeavours. It’s going to be a pretty long one, but I think it’s a little less name-and-fact heavy than previous episodes, and focuses more on analysis and style, so hopefully it’s a bit more of an easy listen.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Hong Kong's Extradition Protests (4): How the CCP Deals with Dissent

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we try and understand the formula used by the CCP to manage and quell the roughly 180,000 local protests that spring up across the territory every year. What does the resolution of the demonstrations in Wukan village in 2011 tell us about the Chinese Communist Party's methods of control and appeasement? Can this model be applied to the situation currently unfolding in Hong Kong?

This is the final episode in the Hong Kong Extradition Protests mini-series. Don't forget to listen to the previous episode if you haven't already in order to understand the full context of the protests!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Hong Kong's Extradition Protests (3): Conversation with a Protester

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 06:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode I speak to a local Hong Kong protester and a friend from mainland China to gain a wider perspective on the meaning behind the protests and the future of Hong Kong.

This conversation was recorded two weeks ago, so it focuses mainly on the July 1st stroming of the legislative council and the impact that it has had on the movement as a whole. Hopefully in the next episode I can focus a bit more on the more recent developments with a bit more nuance as to how the Chinese Communist Party deals with unrest in general, by comparing the situation in Hong Kong with that of another protest with which I'm quite familiar, that of Wukan.

I will get back to covering the history of China as soon as I can, however I feel that as I live in Hong Kong I am quite well placed to give some explanation as to what's happening here. Don't forget to listen to the previous episode if you haven't already in order to understand the full context of the protests!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Hong Kong's Extradition Protests (2): Condemning the Protesters

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 09:00:00 GMT

The protests in Hong Kong escalated on the 1st of July when a small group of protesters broke away from the larger, main protest, and chose to storm the legislative council building on Hong Kong Island. For me, this change in the nature of opposition to the extradition bill brought to mind the following question: do the people who are denouncing the protests have a point?

In the previous episode on the Hong Kong Extradition protests, I gave the historical background to both the protests and the general anti-mainland sentiment that exists in Hong Kong society, and that has arguably been growing as Beijing’s influence continues to grow. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet I highly suggest you do so, as it provides a lot of the context for this episode. I tried to maintain an objective stance and stick to the facts, but even I noticed that there was probably more of a pro-protest lean throughout the podcast, largely due to the sources that I used to help me put it together.

In this episode, we're turning to the other side of the isle to answer a different set of questions. What does Beijing have to say about the recent Hong Kong Protests? Do mainlanders support the Hong Kong people, or do they think they're ungrateful? What does local support for the amendment bill look like?

In this week's episode we talk about opposition to the protests in Hong Kong. We look at three perspectives: Beijing government, mainland Chinese people, and local Hong Kongers. There is a lot more disagreement than meets the eye, especially if you only read Western or English language news sources. Don't forget to listen to the previous episode if you haven't already in order to understand the full context of the protests!

Al Jazeera video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY_SpMS8Mwg

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Hong Kong's Extradition Protests (1): A brief History of Hong Kong-China Relations

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 07:00:00 GMT

On Sunday 9th June 2019 at 2:30pm starting at Victoria Park between the neighbourhoods of Tin Hau and Wan Chai, around 1 million Hong Kong residents took to the streets in possibly the biggest protest the territory had ever seen. They were protesting the implementation of an amendment to the preexisting Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance, known as the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill, but it’s mostly commonly known as the extradition bill for short. They objected to what they saw as an overreach by the mainland Chinese government, a threat to human rights and freedom of speech in Hong Kong, and they demanded that the bill be retracted and the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, step down.

After a silent march of thousands of lawyers opposing the bill took place on the 6th of June, public outrage finally reached boiling point on sunday 9th June, and after much planning and speculations of a turnout in the 100s of thousands, an all day march down the main roads of the Island saw families, students, old and young turn out to protest the bill.

Why is it that this particular bill has caused such feelings to rise up in the people of Hong Kong, and caused events to escalate to where they are now? Why are people in the international community seeking to protect Hong Kong’s special status, and clamouring to show their solidarity with Hong Kong protesters both online and in person? In truth, the protests over the extradition bill cannot be viewed in isolation, but must be understood within the context of Hong Kong’s relationship with China, and the development of an independent and unique Hong Kong identity that can be traced back to the 1840s. In this episode, I’d like to try and trace the roots of that identity, and try and explain why protests over the extradition bill reflect not only the fears of so many Hong Kong people, but also their determination to fight for what remains of their freedom and independence. To do that we’re first going to go back in time one hundred years or so, to see how Hong Kong became so unique in its identity and character, and how relations with the mainland have been shaped by what happened leading up to 1997.

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Modern China Episode 1: Controlling Leisure - Regulating Celebrities and Prostitutes in China

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sat, 15 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT

A new series in which I introduce some of the themes of modern China scholarship, research, and journalism, and explain these broader themes using a couple of example articles each episode.

In this episode, we look at Chinese government regulation and control of entertainment and leisure using the examples of celebrity culture and prostitution. The two articles I’ve chosen to look at are from completely different sources, but are both really well researched. The first is a research report that was published in the most recent issue of the China Quarterly, which is pretty much the most outstanding China journal out there. It’s titled Truth, Good and Beauty: The Politics of Celebrity in China by Jonathan Sullivan and Séagh Kehoe. The second article was published in the latest issues of the Made in China Journal, which is an open access online quarterly journal, and is titled The Plight of Sex Workers in China: From Criminalisation and Abuse to Activism by Tiantian Zheng.(https://madeinchinajournal.com/2019/04/18/the-plight-of-sex-workers-in-china%EF%BB%BF-from-criminalisation-and-abuse-to-activism/)

Both the celebrity entertainment industry and prostitution - organised or otherwise - are viewed by the government as having a huge influence on the social fabric of society. In both these cases, The Chinese government is working to mitigate the negative effects of the leisure industry on the population through official administrative channels that use a range of means that can sometimes border on coercion. These topics are linked as they both reflect the Chinese government’s moral panic and their way of thinking about and dealing with social influences that originate outside of the government or Communist Party. They both also touch on issues of activism in slightly different ways.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 8: Nanjing Decade (1): Academia & Journalism

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 05:00:00 GMT

The Nanjing Decade is the period from 1928 to 1937 that saw Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist rule over a semi-unified China, allowing for the blossoming of new trends in science, literature, art, and culture that were brought to an abrupt halt with the invasion of Japan in 1937.

This episode is the first in a series of episodes on the Nanjing decade, and discusses developments in academia, including natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, medicine and journalism. It gives an overview of the intellectual sphere, looks at government involvement in science and journalism, and highlights key figures in the development of new academic fields in China including Hu Shi, Gu Jiegang, and Fei Xiaotong. We will also talk about the influence of foreign nations on China, particularly Japan, the US, and European nations such as Britain, Germany, and France.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 7: End of the Alliance - Shanghai Massacre & the Ascension of Chiang Kai-shek

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 16:00:00 GMT

This episode picks up exactly where we left off in the previous episode, with Chiang Kai-shek battling with the Nationalist left and the communists for control over the revolution to overthrow the warlords and establish a unified Chinese government. This episode covers the period 1927 to 1934, we sees the KMT reunite after splitting with the Communists once and for all, and Chiang Kai-shek develop and obsession with defeating the Communists and erasing them from existence. We also see how the Communist leadership eventually comes round to the idea that the peasants may well be the future of the revolution, but unfortunately this realisation comes too late for the fledgling movement, which is forced to flee its base after being surrounded by Chiang, launching the Long March to their new base in the Northwest of China.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 6: An Uneasy Alliance - The Northern Expedition 1926-28

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 16:00:00 GMT

In this episode we will be looking at the alliance made between Sun Yat-sen's Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in an effort to defeat the warlords and reunite China under the Republican banner. Despite the tension between the left within the KMT, which allied with the CCP minority, and the conservative faction, the party was able to hold together to win major victories until a fork in the road threatens to undo the fragile alliance.

This episode covers the re-building of Sun's weakened party, the preparations made by the Nationalists in their southern base in Canton, and the Northern Expedition which finally put an end to the reign of the warlords.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 5: The May 4th Movement

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 16:00:00 GMT

On May 4th 1919 around 3,000 students from Beijing University and some 12 other universities in the capital gathered in Tiananmen square to voice their opposition to the events taking place at the Paris Peace Conference. What started as a peaceful march erupted into a violent protest, and then into a nationwide cultural and intellectual movement that was to last for three years. This movement is now known as the May 4th Movement, and is commonly cited as a decisive moment in China’s intellectual history, a short burst of vigor that is still examined, praised, and held up as a guiding example in China till this day.

On the surface, it seems as if this movement emerged primarily as a response to current events, particularly the injustice China suffered at the hands of the Japanese and West in the aftermath of the First World War. However, most historians see the May 4th movement less as a new, standalone campaign, and more as a continuation of the New Culture Movement that we began discussing in the previous episode. In fact, the May fourth movement has been described by many as simply a continuation of the reformist movement of 1898, which we talked about in episode 2. It’s sometimes called China’s ‘enlightenment’, though there are many that disagree with this statement. Whether the movement was able to usher in a new era or not will be explored in the rest of this episode, but what you should know is that May 4th is significant enough to warrant an episode entirely of its own. If it wasn’t the breaking point with China’s past, then it was certainly the ‘awakening’ point, the critical juncture at which a new intellectual class emerged to wake the Chinese people up and demand that they move with the times or risk remaining a backward global pariah.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 4: Early Republican China (1912-1919)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 03:00:00 GMT

In today's episode we're going to pick up where we left off, at the very beginning of the new Republic of China. We'll look at the rise of Yuan Shikai and the descent of China into a period of warlordism. We will explore the changing nature of China's politics and culture, right up until the next big event to hit the Chinese stage, the May 4th movement.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 3: The Xinhai Revolution

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 04:00:00 GMT

The second episode of the '20th Century China' series. On October 9th 1911 an accidental explosion in a revolutionary base in Hubei province in central China triggered a revolution that would mark the end of China’s imperial past and usher in its modern future. While the series of events that followed seem to indicate a straightforward revolution on the surface, recent scholarship on the topic shows that the exact nature, objective, outcome, and legacy of the Republican movement is anything but uncontentious. In this episode we’ll be discussing the build up to the revolution and the events as they took place to understand who the main actors were and what objectives they had, if any. Finally, we’ll look at the different debates surrounding the truth about the Xinhai Revolution, including the notion that it wasn’t really a revolution at all.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 2: The Last Dynasty (Part 2)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT

The second episode of the '20th Century China' series. In the last episode we explored the events that led to the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1912. In this episode, we look at the individuals who played an important role in these events, and who tried to shape China's future by preventing or facilitating dynastic failure. We will be covering the same events, but this time from the perspective of the intellectual sphere, introducing some notable actors who played key roles in the early 20th Century.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 1: The Last Dynasty (Part 1)

Edi Obiakpani-Reid — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT

The First Episode of the '20th Century China' series, exploring the evolution of China from empire, to warlord Republic, to Communist state, to modern nation.

In this first episode, we look at the events that took place from 1830 to the first decade of the 20th century to understand why and how China's last imperial house, the Qing dynasty, had been weakened enough to eventually fall in 1911.

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Sources

-"The Search for Modern China," Jonathan D. Spence
-"The Penguin History of Modern China," Jonathan Fenby
-"God's Chinese Son," Jonathan D. Spence
-"A History of Modern China," Li Dingyi
-"Boxers, Christians, and the Culture of Violence in North China," R. G. Tiedemann
-"Insurgency and Social Disorder in Guizhou : The Miao Rebellion, 1854-1873," Robert D. Jenks
-"Connections between Rebellions: Sect Family Networks in Qing China," Susan Naquin
-"Blinkered Visions: Islamic Identity, Hui Ethnicity, and the Panthay Rebellion in Southwest
China, 1856-1873," David G. Atwill
-"Worshipers and Warriors: White Lotus Influence on the Nian Rebellion," Elizabeth J. Perry

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinobabble.substack.com/subscribe