Geopolitics and International Security

On the inaugural episode of The Eurofile, Max and Donatienne talk Qatargate and tanks, two issues causing heated debate in Europe right now. Later on, they sit down with Sophia Besch, Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss Zeitenwende and all things German foreign and defense policy.  

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Victor Cha to discuss the changing dynamics on the Korean Peninsula and the relationship between China and North Korea. He explains that despite outward appearances, the China-DPRK relationship is deeply fraught and not as close as it may seem. Dr. Cha reveals that between a strict Covid-19 lockdown and the sanctions imposed between 2016-2017, North Korea's dependence on China has fallen and Beijing may now lack adequate tools to place pressure on Pyongyang. Lastly, Dr. Cha challenges the notion that the United States and China share goals for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. Rather, he contends, the two share common ground in wanting to prevent conflict on the peninsula.

Dr. Victor Cha is a Senior Vice President for Asia and holds the CSIS Korea Chair. He is professor of government and holds the D.S. Song-KF Chair in the Department of Government and the School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University. In July 2019, he was appointed vice dean for faculty and graduate affairs in SFS. While working for the White House between 2004-2007, Dr. Cha was the director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council. He was responsible primarily for Japan, the Korean peninsula, Australia/New Zealand, and Pacific Island nation affairs. Dr. Cha was also the deputy head of delegation for the United States at the Six-Party Talks in Beijing. He is the author of five books, including the award-winning Alignment Despite Antagonism: The United States-Korea-Japan Security Triangle.

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is joined by Margaret Pearson, Distinguished Professor and Distinguished Scholar-Teacher in the Department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland, College Park to discuss her recent research on Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa. Her recent works include “Does Chinese FDI in Africa Inspire Support for a China Model of Development” and “Foreign Direct Investment, Unmet Expectations and the Prospects of Political Leaders: Evidence from Chinese Investment in Africa.” 

Mike and Jude are joined by Christopher B. Johnstone to look at what Japan’s new national security strategy means for its role in the region and the U.S.-Japan alliance.

As 2023 opens, Yanzhong Huang kicks off our new podcast series focused on China.

“The Eurofile” looks at Europe through a Washington lens. We will discuss, debate, and dissect the big issues consuming Europe with some of the leading voices from the transatlantic community. We’ll try to make sense of developments in Brussels, break down European elections, and discuss all the issues roiling transatlantic relations. So join us for “The Eurofile” every other Thursday, wherever you get your podcasts. 

CSIS’s Mark Cancian joins the podcast to discuss the wargame exercise he created for a Chinese amphibious invasion of Taiwan.