For years, it has been the biggest question in geopolitics. Who will win the struggle for world domination? China? Or the United States? American president Joe Biden has dubbed it the “fight to win the 21st century”.

But behind the grandiose rhetoric, there is one tiny country stuck in the middle of these two superpowers. Taiwan, the independent country that China claims as its own.

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on how Taiwan’s new president - a former political ‘hot-head’ inaugurated earlier this week - might manage his country’s struggle for sovereignty. And his citizens’ growing fear of invasion.

For years, it has been the biggest question in geopolitics. Who will win the struggle for world domination? China? Or the United States? American president Joe Biden has dubbed it the “fight to win the 21st century”.
But behind the grandiose rhetoric, there is one tiny country stuck in the middle of these two superpowers. Taiwan, the independent country that China claims as its own.
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on how Taiwan’s new president - a former political ‘hot-head’ inaugurated earlier this week - might manage his country’s struggle for sovereignty. And his citizens’ growing fear of invasion.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

Taiwan’s new president was once a ‘hothead’. Can he beat back China?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/6a6bfcd2-af6c-4a57-8d5d-b178004feba8/transcript

This week Opposition leader Peter Dutton unveiled the Coalition’s plans for its nuclear energy policy. In doing so, he drew the battle lines for the next election, with the Albanese government firmly backing in its own plan to lower emissions using renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar.

Plus, this week Australia hosted a visit from the Chinese Premier Li Qiang. So did the visit improve relations with our largest trading partner, or set them back?

Today, chief political correspondent David Crowe, national climate and environment editor Nick O’Malley and national affairs correspondent Matthew Knott, join Jacqueline Maley.

This week Opposition leader Peter Dutton unveiled the Coalition’s plans for its nuclear energy policy. In doing so, he drew the battle lines for the next election, with the Albanese government firmly backing in its own plan to lower emissions using renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar.
Plus, this week Australia hosted a visit from the Chinese Premier Li Qiang. So did the visit improve relations with our largest trading partner, or set them back? Today, chief political correspondent David Crowe, national climate and environment editor Nick O’Malley and national affairs correspondent Matthew Knott, join Jacqueline Maley.

Inside Politics: Dutton's nuclear plans 'slightly bonkers', but will it win an election?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/0251f692-44b1-451f-9c19-b195004f2817/transcript

The Chinese Communist Party has long used unconventional means to improve strained relationships. In the 1970s, this meant sending ping pong players to the United States, to encourage the country to lift its embargo against China. (It worked.)

So it was that China pledged, over the weekend, that it would loan one of our zoos two so-called therapy pandas. That’s right, pandas.

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher, on how this diplomatic strategy went down in Canberra. And the skirmish in Parliament House that highlighted the perennial tensions between Australia and its largest trading partner. Which might take a lot more than therapy pandas to fix.

The Chinese Communist Party has long used unconventional means to improve strained relationships. In the 1970s, this meant sending ping pong players to the United States, to encourage the country to lift its embargo against China. (It worked.) So it was that China pledged, over the weekend, that it would loan one of our zoos two so-called therapy pandas. That’s right, pandas. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher, on how this diplomatic strategy went down in Canberra. And the skirmish in Parliament House that highlighted the perennial tensions between Australia and its largest trading partner. Which might take a lot more than therapy pandas to fix.

Is China trying to buy us off with…therapy pandas?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/15c873f7-5d13-433c-9ee4-b194006fb878/transcript

There’s less than five months to go until the American presidential election. And the race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is neck and neck, with one recent poll putting Trump ahead by less than one point. 

Both are geriatric candidates. And they face the same challenge. How will they attract the youth vote? 

Today, world editor Nick Ralston, on which young celebrities are most likely to sway voters. (A hint: it’s no longer Taylor Swift.) And whether former Neighbours star Holly Valance might influence a political shift to the far right.

There’s less than five months to go until the American presidential election. And the race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is neck and neck, with one recent poll putting Trump ahead by less than one point. 
Both are geriatric candidates. And they face the same challenge. How will they attract the youth vote? 
Today, world editor Nick Ralston, on which young celebrities are most likely to sway voters. (A hint: it’s no longer Taylor Swift.) And whether former Neighbours star Holly Valance might influence a political shift to the far right.

Trump and Biden: how do geriatric candidates attract young voters?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/2d8eb455-a089-43c6-8f2c-b1930055e759/transcript

Taiwan’s new president was once a ‘hothead’. Can he beat back China?

In 1 playlist(s)

The Morning Edition

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips