In this week’s episode of China Insider, Miles Yu discusses the Chinese Communist Party’s 100-million-member milestone, what this means for China, and whether declining annual membership growth rates indicate a concerning trend for the future health of the party. Next, Miles comments on Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit with European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas. In particular, he looks at candid comments the foreign minister made during a closed-door meeting, which revealed that China’s stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine is more one-sided than previous official party statements have indicated. Lastly, Miles tests the myth of China’s consumer consumption crisis and unpacks the nuanced relationship between China’s selective consumer spending and current income disparities.
China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute’s China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world’s future.