CISS Podcast

In recent years, China has become increasingly prominent in global affairs, yet its narratives and perspectives remains somewhat peripheral in international discourse. In this episode, the China Forum of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) Tsinghua University invites Mr. Wang Zichen, Director of International Communications at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and editor of the widely-read newsletter “Pekingnology,” to share his on-the-ground experience and insights on cross-cultural communication. He will explore: Why does China’s narrative remain marginalized abroad? How has his storytelling evolved from his time in official media to his current role in think tanks? How can China’s voice not only be heard but also substantially debated in a Western-led discursive environment? And what guidance does he offer the younger generation navigating today’s complex global discourse?

From November 16 to 19, 2025, the US-China People-to-People Dialogue, co-organized by the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University and the National Committee on US-China Relations, was successfully held in Los Angeles. During the event, Prof.DA Wei, Director of CISS, interviewed four distinguished guests: Steve Orlins, President of the National Committee on US-China Relations; TIAN Wei, host at CGTN; Robert Daly, former Director of the Kissinger Institute at the Wilson Center; and YANG Bin, Vice Chancellor of the Tsinghua University Council. The guests shared their insights and experiences in education, media, cultural exchange, and bilateral cooperation, providing in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities in US-China people-to-people exchanges, and offering fresh ideas to strengthen collaboration and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical complexities, global attention turns to the Asia-Pacific as leaders gather for the APEC summit. In today’s episode, we are glad to have with us Dr. SHAO Yuqun, director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Studies and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for America Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, and Dr. ZHAO Hai, director of International Political Studies at the National Institute for Global Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. They will join Prof. DA Wei, director of CISS, for a dialogue delving into the potential for leader-level summits, analyzing South Korea's role as the host nation, and assessing APEC's relevance in today's international landscape.

During China's National Day Golden Week, Professor Susan Shirk traveled to Guangxi with her family at the invitation of Professor Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), Tsinghua University. During the trip, she engaged in conversations with local residents and grassroots officials.As a long-time scholar of China, Professor Shirk gained fresh insights and reflections on China's economic development, poverty alleviation policies, urban–rural disparities, and broader social transformation.In this episode, she joins Professor Da Wei for an in-depth conversation on the significance of field research, the evolution of research methods, and the real-world challenges facing China–U.S. academic exchange.

Amid the complexities of China-U.S. relations, youth exchanges remain an indispensable bridge. In this episode, Professor Da Wei, Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, moderates a conversation with Ying Huang, PhD candidate in International Relations at Tsinghua University and former Secretary-General of CISS Youth, and Blake Kravitz, a Yenching Scholar at Peking University and the sixth-cohort member of CISS Youth. Drawing on their personal experiences, the two guests reflect on their participation in China-U.S. youth dialogue, share insights on overcoming misunderstandings and building trust in cross-cultural communication, and explore the unique role young people can play in shaping the future of the bilateral relations.