In the latest episode in our China Rules series, we look at the rise and potential fall of China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry. Once scoffed at by Elon Musk, China’s EV industry is charging ahead in international markets with its top car brand, BYD, selling more cars than Tesla in 2025. Massive government subsidies and consistent policy have brought China to a point where it now leads in a range of technologies, from batteries to robotaxis. Yet headwinds are emerging, with domestic demand tanking and protectionism surging in the US and Europe. To discuss the rise, and potential demise, of China’s EV behemoth, Louisa and Graeme are joined by Fengming Lu from the Australian National University and Yu Yang, Principal Lead Analyst of Automotives and Robotics at Yole Group, a company that analyses tech markets.

Image: DarthArt, iStock. Beijing, China - February 25, 2026: Modern small city car Wuling Hongguang Mini EV.

Transcripts available at https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast

In the latest episode in our China Rules series, we look at the rise and potential fall of China&rsquo;s electric vehicle (EV) industry. Once scoffed at by Elon Musk, China&rsquo;s EV industry is charging ahead in international markets with its top car brand, BYD, selling more cars than Tesla in 2025. Massive government subsidies and consistent policy have brought China to a point where it now leads in a range of technologies, from batteries to robotaxis. Yet headwinds are emerging, with domestic demand tanking and protectionism surging in the US and Europe. To discuss the rise, and potential demise, of China&rsquo;s EV behemoth, Louisa and Graeme are joined by Fengming Lu from the Australian National University and Yu Yang, Principal Lead Analyst of Automotives and Robotics at Yole Group, a company that analyses tech markets.
Image: DarthArt, iStock. Beijing, China - February 25, 2026: Modern small city car Wuling Hongguang Mini EV.
Transcripts available at <a href="https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast">https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast</a>

The Little Red Podcast: interviews and chat celebrating China beyond the Beijing beltway. Hosted by Graeme Smith, China studies academic at the Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs and Louisa Lim, former China correspondent for the BBC and NPR, now with the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University. We are the 2018 winners of podcast of the year in the News & Current Affairs category of the Australian Podcast Awards. Follow us @limlouisa and @GraemeKSmith, and find show notes at www.facebook.com/LittleRedPodcast/

The Little Red Podcast: interviews and chat celeb…

The Little Red Podcast

Award-winning interviews and chat celebrating China beyond the Beijing beltway. Hosted by Graeme Smith, China studies academic at the Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs and Louisa Lim, former China correspondent for the BBC and NPR, now with the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University. We are the 2018 winners of podcast of the year in the News & Current Affairs category of the Australian Podcast Awards and we're funded by the Australian National University's Centre on China in the World. Find us on your favourite platforms: we're on Stitcher, Spotify and even Podbean. Follow us @limlouisa and @GraemeKSmith, and find show notes at www.facebook.com/LittleRedPodcast/. Our editor is the Saturday Paper's Andy Hazel, background research is by Wing Kuang, Juliette Baxter looks after our socials and transcripts, our stirring theme tune was composed by Susie Wilkins and our iconic art is courtesy of Seb Danta.

Award-winning interviews and chat celebrating China beyond the Beijing beltway. Hosted by Graeme Smith, China studies academic at the Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs and Louisa Lim, former China correspondent for the BBC and NPR, now with the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University. We are the 2018 winners of podcast of the year in the News &amp; Current Affairs category of the Australian Podcast Awards and we're funded by the Australian National University's Centre on China in the World. Find us on your favourite platforms: we're on Stitcher, Spotify and even Podbean. Follow us @limlouisa and @GraemeKSmith, and find show notes at www.facebook.com/LittleRedPodcast/. Our editor is the Saturday Paper's Andy Hazel, background research is by Wing Kuang, Juliette Baxter looks after our socials and transcripts, our stirring theme tune was composed by Susie Wilkins and our iconic art is courtesy of Seb Danta.

Out of Battery? China's EV Dreams Flicker

In the second episode of our series, China Rules, we look at an industry dominated by China: humanoid robots. Beijing’s running, dancing and fighting robots are more than just a gimmick; the country’s 15th Five-year Plan puts robotics right at the heart of its modern industrial system. China already accounts for 80% of global humanoid robot installations. In a recent half marathon, a humanoid robot called Lightning left the real humans behind for the first time, breaking the tape in just over 50 minutes.  To discuss the future of the robot wars, Louisa and Graeme are joined by Alberto Moel, former Vice President of Veo Robotics, now with the University of Hong Kong, and Chang Che, a freelance writer who was formerly the Asia technology correspondent for the New York Times.

Image: Robot in Traditional Attire at Airport Hall, c/- iStock photos, Daqian Wang, 25 February 2026.

Transcripts available at https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast

In the second episode of our series, China Rules, we look at an industry dominated by China: humanoid robots. Beijing&rsquo;s running, dancing and fighting robots are more than just a gimmick; the country&rsquo;s 15th Five-year Plan puts robotics right at the heart of its modern industrial system. China already accounts for 80% of global humanoid robot installations. In a recent half marathon, a humanoid robot called Lightning left the real humans behind for the first time, breaking the tape in just over 50 minutes.&nbsp; To discuss the future of the robot wars, Louisa and Graeme are joined by Alberto Moel, former Vice President of Veo Robotics, now with the University of Hong Kong, and Chang Che, a freelance writer who was formerly the Asia technology correspondent for the New York Times.
Image: Robot in Traditional Attire at Airport Hall, c/- iStock photos, Daqian Wang, 25 February 2026.
Transcripts available at <a href="https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast">https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast</a>

Lightning Strikes: China’s Robot Revolution

In our new series—China Rules—we look at how China is a global exporter, not just of goods, but also of standards, ideas, technologies and mechanisms of control. We’re starting with politics, and whether China is exporting its brand of “smart authoritarianism”. China’s heady mix of extractive political institutions and pro-growth economic policies makes for an attractive recipe to would-be imitators, just as China borrowed these ideas from South Korea and Singapore. Coupled with its edge in AI, digital surveillance and emerging technologies, China has moved from a passive exemplar to marketing—and profiting from—its blueprint for staying in power. Louisa and Graeme are joined by Jennifer Lind from Dartmouth College, the author of Autocracy 2.0: How China’s Rise Re-Invented Tyranny, and Bethany Allen from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and author of Beijing Rules: China's Quest for Global Influence.

Image: China’s Police Liaison Team demonstrates martial arts during a community engagement event in Honiara, Solomon Islands. RFA/AFP/Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), June 2025

Transcripts available at https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast

In our new series&mdash;China Rules&mdash;we look at how China is a global exporter, not just of goods, but also of standards, ideas, technologies and mechanisms of control. We&rsquo;re starting with politics, and whether China is exporting its brand of &ldquo;smart authoritarianism&rdquo;. China&rsquo;s heady mix of extractive political institutions and pro-growth economic policies makes for an attractive recipe to would-be imitators, just as China borrowed these ideas from South Korea and Singapore. Coupled with its edge in AI, digital surveillance and emerging technologies, China has moved from a passive exemplar to marketing&mdash;and profiting from&mdash;its blueprint for staying in power. Louisa and Graeme are joined by Jennifer Lind from Dartmouth College, the author of Autocracy 2.0: How China&rsquo;s Rise Re-Invented Tyranny, and Bethany Allen from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and author of Beijing Rules: China's Quest for Global Influence.
Image: China&rsquo;s Police Liaison Team demonstrates martial arts during a community engagement event in Honiara, Solomon Islands. RFA/AFP/Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), June 2025
Transcripts available at <a href="https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast">https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast</a>

China Rules: Autocracy for sale

As an Easter treat, we're bringing you a cracking tale of espionage from one of our favourite China podcasts: Face Off. We'll be back shortly with a new season called China Rules.

Espionage

Two young CIA agents were flown to northern China in 1952, part of a bizarre Cold War operation to overthrow Mao Zedong. The plane crashed. The two Americans were arrested, and jailed for 20 years. We fast forward to today and turn the tables: How does China spy on the US now? Who is ahead in the fight over the new technologies?

Guests: John DeLury, author, Agents of Subversion; Nigel Inkster, former director operations, MI6; former agent in Beijing.

Details about John Delury’s compelling book that tells the story of how two CIA operatives were captured in China and how they endured 20 years in jail.

https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501765971/agents-of-subversion/

Nigel Inkster’s book about the US and China, the two big tech competitors.  

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Great_Decoupling/K4xfzQEACAAJ?hl=en

As an Easter treat, we're bringing you a cracking tale of espionage from one of our favourite China podcasts: Face Off. We'll be back shortly with a new season called China Rules.
Espionage
Two young CIA agents were flown to northern China in 1952, part of a bizarre Cold War operation to overthrow Mao Zedong. The plane crashed. The two Americans were arrested, and jailed for 20 years. We fast forward to today and turn the tables: How does China spy on the US now? Who is ahead in the fight over the new technologies?
Guests: John DeLury, author, Agents of Subversion; Nigel Inkster, former director operations, MI6; former agent in Beijing.
Details about John Delury&rsquo;s compelling book that tells the story of how two CIA operatives were captured in China and how they endured 20 years in jail.
https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501765971/agents-of-subversion/
Nigel Inkster&rsquo;s book about the US and China, the two big tech competitors.&nbsp;&nbsp;
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Great_Decoupling/K4xfzQEACAAJ?hl=en

Out of Battery? China's EV Dreams Flicker

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