Why our expert guest speaker draws parallels with the chaotic Cultural Revolution in China in 1966.

Synopsis: The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 40 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests.

In this episode - recorded on March 4 - Ravi speaks with Wang Xiangwei, the eminent Hongkong-based China scholar and former editor-in-chief of South China Morning Post. Mr Wang, who currently teaches at Hongkong Baptist University, offers a Chinese perspective on the vast changes being brought to the United States by President Donald Trump. 

He draws parallels with the chaotic Cultural Revolution ordered by foundational Chinese leader Mao Zedong in 1966, and discusses what strategic openings this could present China. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:30 Comparisons with Mao’s chaotic Cultural Revolution

5:30 ‘The enemies are within’

9:00 Trump popular despite chaos unleashed

14:40 China too needs to drain the bureaucratic swamp

17:50 China gains as Trump undoes Biden policies

20:30 Putin won’t burn China bridges to please Trump

22:40 US-China confrontation will continue until there’s a winner

Host: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg)

Read Ravi's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP

Follow Ravi on X: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

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Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

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Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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