China Unscripted

#208 China’s Plan to Destroy Taiwan | Guermantes Lailari

China has been shooting missiles at Taiwan, sending military planes into the air identification zone next to its airspace, and attempting the control the Taiwan strait. This is all part of China's attempt to intimidate Taiwan, using psychological warfare make Taiwan submit before the first shot is ever fired. However there's another tactic that they're using, which can be seen by the drones that are buzzing all around Taiwan. In this episode of China Unscripted we discuss how China is making...

#207 The Biggest Existential Threat to the Chinese Communist Party | Levi Browde

Xi Jinping recently warned his top national security officials that they need to think about "worst case scenarios" and to prepare for "stormy seas". That's because China is facing threats from all sides. Internally it's facing rising resistance from Chinese citizens. It's neighbors, fed up with its bullying, are starting to fight back. And the more China talks about taking over Taiwan, the more the US tries to counter China's military capabilities and slow its technological development. In ...

#206 China’s Ultimate Plan for Revenge with India | Dr. Dheeraj Paramesha Chaya

China and India, both considered tigers of Asia, have fought for decades over their border. Most recently, in 2020,  the two countries came to blows in a battle that resulted in casualties on both sides. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss India's history with China, what India has learned about China's military strategy and philosophy, and why India won't ever completely align itself with the US and its allies. Joining us in this episode is  Dr. Dheeraj Paramesha Chaya, a lectur...

#205 Behind the Curtain of Trump’s China Policy | Miles Yu

The Trump administration created a historic shift in US China policy that has gained support in foreign policy circles far and wide. Even the Biden administration, which vowed to change or remove many of the Trump administration's policies once in office, has largely kept Trump's China policy in place. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss what Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did to US china policy that was so radical at the time, how US and China views on their relationsh...

#204 China Is Silently Winning the War | Anders Corr

Chinese Communist Party leaders have said that China doesn't have a drug problem, but that's only because the CCP makes sure it doesn't have a drug problem. They don't mind, however, if the US and other countries China opposes have a drug problem. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss how China is silently winning the opium war with the US, how China is taking advantage of the US push for electric vehicles, and how US politicians are being controlled by Chinese money. Joining us in...

#203 Taiwan Isn't Ready to Fight China | Madhav Das Nalapat

Taiwan needs more advanced US weapons, and if the US is serious about helping Taiwan fend off China, it would offer them at a discount, says Professor Madhav Da Nalapat, the director of the department of geopolitics and international relations at India’s Manipal University and our guest in this episode. He joins us to discuss Taiwan's importance to India, India's relationship with Russia, and why Ukraine is a sticking point between India and the US.

#202 China’s “Final Solution” for TAIWAN | Ethan Gutmann

China's forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience has been going on for decades at this point. The US House of Representatives passed a bill in March that would sanction people involved in this filthy industry. But there's still a long way to go to get China to actually stop its murder for profit industry. And if it doesn't, Taiwan could be its next source of organs. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss the history of the legislation, China's evolution of using Falun Gong...

#201 America Is a Failing Superpower | Cleo Paskal

India is the world's largest democracy. Taiwan is fighting to keep itself a democracy. And the US is the world's most powerful democracy that should be supporting other democracies around the world. However the US has been failing to support both Taiwan and India as true allies for different reasons. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss why the US is failing as a superpower to uphold democracy, why the US relationship with India has gotten so complicated, why US support for Taiwan...

#200 China Has Already Attacked the US | Grant Newsham

The Chinese Communist Party has been waging a war against the US since it took power in 1949. But the war it's waging isn't the kind that most people think of as war. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss China's 24 types of warfare, the US's role in funding China's military, why the Chinese Communist Party is desperate to take Taiwan, and many more topics. Joining us in this episode is Colonel Grant Newsham, a former Marine intelligence officer and author of the new book "When Chi...

#199 Xi Jinping Warns of Ominous Changes “Not Seen in 100 Years”

At the end of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made an ominous warning of changes happening that haven't been seen in 100 years. In this just us episode of China Unscripted, we discuss what that could have meant, China's attempts to play peacemaker in Ukraine, the CEO of TikTok's testimony to Congress, and how China is "colonizing" space.

#198 China’s Ideology of Deception | Bill Gertz

The Chinese Communist Party isn't a normal political party. When it makes an agreement with another country, it doesn't actually intend to stick to that agreement. For example, China promised the US it wouldn't militarize islands in the South China Sea. A few years later, the US military reported that China had done just that. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss China's ideology of deception, China's attempts to bully the Biden administration, and what China might be doing with a...

#197 China Meddled in Canada's Election and Trudeau Didn’t Stop It | Terry Glavin

According to leaks from Canada's intel agency CSIS, China has been meddling in Canada's elections, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was reportedly briefed on this and did nothing to stop it. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about Trudeau's history with China, his father's love of Mao Zedong, and how China's corruption in Canada has become normalized. Joining us in this episode is Terry Glavin, a Canadian journalist who writes a column for the Ottawa Citizen and the National Post...

#196 China Is Flooding the Pacific with Money, Corruption | Cleo Paskal

The Chinese Communist Party knows that if it can get a foothold in the Pacific islands, its rivals would have a hard time coming to Taiwan's aid. This is all part of the CCP's invasion plan for Taiwan, and that plan seems to be coming to fruition. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about the corruption and money China is sending to the Pacific islands, how China's biggest critic in the Solomon Islands got ousted, and what the West can do to displace China's foothold in the region. ...

#195 China’s Spy Balloon Saga Gets Weirder

After China sent a spy balloon over the US, the US government started shooting things out of the sky that it couldn't identify. Also, the China spy balloon saga gets even weirder, with reports coming out of how China uses them domestically. In this just us episode of China Unscripted, we discuss China's spy balloon saga, how China is using the Ohio train wreck and ensuing environmental disaster as a propaganda tool, and the cause of more mass protests in China, among other things.

#194 Chinese Spy Balloons Travel Over US, Angering Americans

Chinese balloons have been traveling over the US, and despite China's claims that they're civilian weather balloons, China got very upset when the US shot one down. In this just us episode of China Unscripted, we discuss the spy balloons, John Kerry's efforts to work with China on climate change, and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's planned trip to Taiwan, among other things.

#193 Japan Wants Nukes to Deter China | Dr. Robert Eldridge

China's territorial claims to Japan's close neighbor Taiwan has spurred Japan to build up its defense forces. As part of that defensive buildup, there is now talk of using nuclear weapons to defend against China, which does have nuclear weapons. Whether Japan would develop its own, ask the US to use its nukes or some other option remains an open question. In this episode of China Unscripted, we look at Japan's desire for nuclear weapons, the significance of the disputed Senkaku islands, how ...

#192 China's MASSIVE Spy Network in America | Nicholas Eftimiades

China doesn't just use trained spies to carry out its espionage work, it uses almost anyone it thinks can get the secrets it's after. Instead of just carrying out targeted attacks, it uses death by 1000 cuts to gain the information its wants from other countries. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss China's massive spy network in America, how Chinese espionage is different from US espionage, and what people can do to keep China from stealing more secrets. Joining us in this episod...

#191 China is Running Out of Water Fast | Andrew Eil

China is running out of clean water fast, and this could have far reaching consequences for its manufacturing, energy and agriculture sectors. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss why China's water has become so depleted, what the government might do in a water shortage, and how this would affect the economy. Joining us in this episode is Andrew Eil, the head of Climate Risk for North America for Tata Consultancy Services.

#190 China Is Doomed to Repeat History | Biggest China Stories of 2022

2022 was a big year in China news. While a lot of events were unforeseen, astute China watchers could probably have predicted most of them. That's because what happened in China followed a pattern we've seen in China and around the world before; China seems doomed to repeat history if it continues down its current path. In this episode of China Unscripted, we look back at the biggest China stories of 2022: Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's role in it, illegal overseas Chinese police s...

#189 China Recreating Hong Kong in Its Image | Ed Chin

China is recreating Hong Kong in its image by attacking the judicial system, limiting freedom of speech, and pushing propaganda through the education system, among other things. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about how even pro-Beijing businessmen are moving their money out of Hong Kong, the case of Apple daily owner Jimmy Lai, and what rebuilding Hong Kong might look like. Joining us in this episode is Ed Chin, a Hong Kong activist, hedge fund manager, and founder of 2047 Hong...

#188 The Nexus of China’s Repression | Benedict Rogers

When people talk about China's human rights abuses, it's often disconnected from its belligerence in the South China Sea or subversion of international organizations or theft of intellectual property. Yet when you look at the Chinese Communist Party's actions across all these areas, you start to see that China's human rights abuses aren't just an aspect of the CCP's rule, but its modus operandi. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about Hong Kong democracy, China's subversion of the...

#187 Jiang Zemin’s Legacy of Corruption and Violence

Jiang Zemin was the leader of China from 1989 to 2002. In that time, he managed to foster a culture of corruption, violence and lawlessness that continues to this day. In this just us episode of China Unscripted, we discuss Jiang Zemin's legacy, how it's still impacting China, and how his life is being portrayed in the media.

#186 Hong Kong Protesters Are Still Fighting for Freedom | Anna Kwok

While the protests of 2019 can no longer be seen on Hong Kong's streets, that doesn't mean the movement has died. Protesters have gone underground, moved abroad or are biding their time in prison. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about the new form that protests are taking, what governments and individuals can do to hold China accountable, and the significance of China going after Apple Daily. Joining us in this episode of China Unscripted is Anna Kwok, the Strategy and Campaign ...

#185 Protests in China Are Everywhere | Kevin Slaten

Dissent in China is more widespread than most people know. That’s because Chinese state media doesn’t report on it, and China’s censorship apparatus either blocks or erases evidence of it. The NGO Freedom House has created a China Dissent Monitor to track various forms of protest in China. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about the perception that protests in China are rare, what kind of protests are the most common, and the forms of dissent the China Dissent Monitor tracks. Join...

#184 China Sows Chaos, Division to Weaken Its Adversaries | Cleo Paskal

China uses "entropic warfare" to weaken its adversaries and put it in a relatively stronger position on the world stage by amplifying division and sowing chaos. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about China's relationship to TikTok, China's influence in the Pacific, particularly the Marshall Islands and the Solomon Islands, and the danger of Elon Musk turning Twitter into a platform like WeChat. Joining us in this podcast is Cleo Paskal, a senior fellow at The Foundation for Defen...

#183 China’s Most Influential Spy Agency Hides in Plain Sight | Alex Joske

The 12th Bureau of China's spy agency, the Ministry of State Security (MSS), is not your typical clandestine spy operation. Officers of MSS's 12 bureau operate in the public eye. Rather than stealing state secrets, they seek to influence public opinion on China, which is why it's made up of a coterie of of academics, artists and business people. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about how China has been using the 12th bureau to shape the international conversation on China, exampl...

#182 ‘TONE DEAF’: China's Ridiculous Xi Jinping Propaganda Ahead of Party Meeting

Ahead of a meeting of Chinese Communist Party leaders, China flooded the airwaves with propaganda about Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The over-the-top projection of Xi as a man of the people could not have been more ironic. In this just us episode of China Unscripted, we talk about security, protests and propaganda in the lead-up to the 20th Party Congress, the US cutting China off from its semiconductor technology, and Elon Musk's solution for the China-Taiwan conflict.

#181 China Enforcing Zero Covid Policy at Gunpoint

Videos of people in white PPE suits toting guns have gone viral in China, creating fear that China's unpopular zero covid policy could soon turn deadly. Taiwan draws a red line on China going into its airspace and territorial waters, saying any incursion by China will count as a "first strike". China is trying to turn Hong Kong communist—but slowly. We talk about that and more in this "just us" episode of China Unscripted.

#180 Microchip Scarcity Could CRIPPLE World Economy | Chris Miller

Modern life depends on microchips for the function of everything tech, from microwaves to phones to airplanes to drones. As important as microchips are though, their supply chain is just as fragile. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about the importance of microchips to the world economy, how a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could break the microchip supply chain, and how China is trying to shore up its chip manufacturing to insulate it from supply chain breaks. Joining us in this epi...

#179 Chinese Propaganda Is Everywhere | Sarah Cook

Chinese propaganda is no longer confined to Chinese state-controlled media. The Chinese Communist Party has realized that its propaganda is much more effective when it comes from sources that appear independent from the Chinese government. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss how Chinese propaganda has become more international and covert, how Chinese companies and ambassadors are involved in suppressing and promoting certain narratives about China, and how China tries to co-opt s...

#178 China Is Sending Its Police Overseas

China is sending its police overseas, and it could soon spread to every corner of the globe. In this just us episode of China Unscripted, we talk about China's overseas police bureaus, Hong Kong's subtle protest of CCP rule, and what to call China's form of colonialism.

#177 Chengdu Residents Trapped by Covid Lockdown During Earthquake

Chengdu residents were under strict Covid lockdowns when a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the city of 16 million. In some areas, local officials kept people from fleeing their homes due to the lockdowns. In this Just Us episode of China Unscripted, we talk about China's strict zero covid policy, China's subversion of the United Nations, a new fashion trend we've dubbed "cadre chic" and much, much more.

#176 China’s Network of Spies Target Dissidents Worldwide | Levi Browde

China has a network of spies, but not necessarily the kind of spies you might imagine. Instead of using highly-trained informants, China uses everyday citizens to monitor and suppress dissidents overseas. In this episode of China Unscripted, we discuss how China exports its repression overseas, how China uses its Covid app to track dissidents inside China, and why the Chinese Communist Party's No. 1 enemy is a group that meditates.

#175 People Leave China in Droves | Economic Crisis Looms Large

Chinese citizens are leaving China in droves as an economic crisis fueled by greedy real estate developers looms large. Things have gotten so bad that a new "run philosophy" has pushed many to seek a life elsewhere. China is no longer hiding its intentions to invade Taiwan. Why it will be better for US businesses if they pull out of China now rather than after a war with Taiwan. Watch this "just us" episode of China Unscripted for that and more hot China news topics.

#174 Could China Attack India Before Taiwan? | Rajiv Dogra

Could China attack India before Taiwan? While the world is watching breathlessly what China does with Taiwan, the conflict on the China-India border is flying under the radar. In 2020, China and India fought hand-to-hand combat there, and neither China nor India’s territorial claims have gone away. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about the difficult logistics of waging a war in the Himalayas, China and India's territorial claims along their border, and China-India trade. Joining...

#173 How China’s Military Crossed a Line Over Pelosi’s Taiwan Visit | Guermantes Lailari

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan Aug. 2-3 as part of a tour of Asia. What made it newsworthy was not that she visited a fellow democratic nation, but how Taiwan's biggest neighbor, China, reacted to her visit. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about why Pelosi's trip was so significant, what China's response to it was, and what Taiwan and its allies might have learned about China's plans to invade Taiwan. Joining us in this episode is Guermantes Lailari, a retired US A...

#172 China Is Tracking You Through Your Phone | Dr. Jaswinder Sekhon

Chinese apps don't have to steal your data from you, you give them permission to steal your data when you download them. And even after you delete Chinese apps from your phone, Beijing can still track you. Watch this episode of China Unscripted for more on how China is tracking you through your phone, other reasons Chinese apps are so dangerous, and what China could be doing with your data. Joining us in this episode is Dr. Jaswinder Singh Sekhon, a cybersecurity expert and assistant profess...

#172 China Is Tracking You Through Your Phone

Chinese apps don't have to steal your data from you, you give them permission to steal your data when you download them. And even after you delete Chinese apps from your phone, Beijing can still track you. Watch this episode of China Unscripted for more on how China is tracking you through your phone, other reasons Chinese apps are so dangerous, and what China could be doing with your data. Joining us in this episode is Dr. Jaswinder Singh Sekhon, a cybersecurity expert and assistant profess...

#171 Could Canadian Liberals Be Benefiting from China Money? | Sam Cooper

The Chinese Communist Party is running a global network of drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking. It's worth billions of dollars in Canada alone. And the CCP has corrupted Canadian government officials to the point where many of them prefer to take CCP money and benefits, rather than tackle the problem. Is Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau a sellout? Find out on this China Unscripted podcast! Read Sam Cooper’s Book, Wilful Blindness: https://www.shorturl.at/wBQUY (U...

#170 China’s Military is for World Peace

The PLA has the world's largest standing army, and is building its military faster than any country since World War II. But don't worry. Xi Jinping assures the world that the military is for peace. It's just that sometimes to maintain peace, you need to invade Taiwan. On this week's podcast, we talk about how China has the best human rights, China's military buildup, and how communist infiltration has made it hard for people in the West to stop it. Also, part way through, Matt goes on a rant...

#169 China Has *Already* INVADED America | Ian Easton

#168 Is Australia Going to Cave to China? | Andrew Phelan

Is Australia going to cave to China? That's the question on a lot of people's minds after Australia's national elections on May 21. Australia drew the ire of the CCP after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of Covid-19, and Australia-China relations have been strained ever since. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about why some Australians are lobbying for a reset in China-Australia relations, China's quest to dominate the global biotech ind...

#167 China's Pacific Expansion BLOCKED! | John Kuhns

Bougainville could be the world's next country. The small Pacific island of about 300,000 residents is fighting for its independence from Papua New Guinea, which is hopelessly in the pockets of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Bougainville wants nothing to do with it after successfully blocking Chinese influence in its own territory. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about Bougainville's plan for independence, why China covets Bougainville so much, and Bougainville's secret sauc...

#166 US Strengths, Weaknesses in a War with China | Mark Montgomery

Taiwan is on a lot of people's minds after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and there has been a lot of speculation about if and how China will invade. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about the US's strengths and weaknesses in a war with China, what a State Department website change might mean for US policy on Taiwan, and whether China would attack Japan and Guam as part of an invasion of Taiwan. Joining us in this episode is Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, former director of operatio...

#165 Arrested for Criticizing China | Drew Pavlou

Australian Senate candidate Drew Pavlou held a sign criticizing Chinese leader Xi Jinping outside a shopping mall in Australia. What happened next was shocking to see in a supposedly democratic, first-world country. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about Drew's activism against CCP influence in Australia, his new political party formed of Chinese dissidents, and the how China has corrupted elements of Australia's main political parties. Joining us in this episode is Drew Pavlou, ...

#164 China’s GROWING Military Expansion in the Pacific | Solomon Islands

China is trying to expand its influence in the Pacific, and it's gained a foothold there by signing a security deal with the Solomon Islands. This security deal was signed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, despite the opposition by local leaders such as the premier of Malaita Province Daniel Suidani. Joining us in this episode of China Unscripted is Celsus Talifilu, a political advisor to Daniel Suidani. Malaita is the most populous province of the Solomon Islands.

#164 China’s GROWING Military Expansion in the Pacific | Celsus Talifilu

China is trying to expand its influence in the Pacific, and it's gained a foothold there by signing a security deal with the Solomon Islands. This security deal was signed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, despite the opposition by local leaders such as the premier of Malaita Province Daniel Suidani. Joining us in this episode of China Unscripted is Celsus Talifilu, a political advisor to Daniel Suidani. Malaita is the most populous province of the Solomon Islands.

#163 Is China Tearing Itself Apart?

Is China tearing itself apart? In this Just Us episode of China Unscripted, we look at China's zero Covid policies, Shanghai vs a potential Beijing lockdown, and what Elon Musk buying Twitter means for Chinese influence over the platform.

#162 China NOT Deterred from Invading Taiwan After Russia Botches Ukraine Invasion | Grant Newsham

After seeing how poorly a big country like Russia fared invading its much smaller neighbor, you might think China would have second thoughts about invading Taiwan. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about what China, Taiwan and the West are learning from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, what the West needs to be doing to prevent Taiwan from meeting a similar fate, and how a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be similar and different. Joining us in this episode is retired U.S. Marine Col...

#161 The US Battles China in the Pacific | Cleo Paskal

China wants to become the dominant power in the Pacific, and for a while, it was gaining ground. However the United States is waking up to China's threat in the region and is fighting back. In this episode of China Unscripted, we talk about China's influence in the Solomon Islands, how the Solomon Islands is a case study on Chinese colonialism, and how China uses civilians to infiltrate other countries. Joining us in this episode is Cleo Paskal, a non-resident senior fellow for the Indo-Paci...