Description

There's a growing trend on TikTok of being in a "very Chinese era of life". It's associated with changing shoes indoors, drinking hot water, and preparing traditional Chinese meals. It's being called 'Chinamaxxing'. But what exactly is this indicating more broadly? China has been growing in 'soft power' -- the kind of power that comes from cultural influence and intrigue rather than more forceful geopolitical approaches. Kaiser Kuo, heavy metal rocker and host of the Chinese current affairs podcast, Sinica Podcast, will join Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue to talk about the internal cultural shifts of China, including how much creative expression exists under Xi Jinping's regime. Guest: Kaiser Kuo, host of Sinica Podcast. Recommendations:  Geraldine – The Infrastructure of Jeffrey Epstein's Power, The Ezra Klein Show  Hamish – L-FRESH The Lion, 2006, The Year that Made Me -------------  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Summary

The episode of 'Global Roaming' featuring Kaiser Kuo explores China's growing 'soft power' through cultural exchanges and influence, reflected in the online trend 'Chinamaxxing'. The discussion touches on China's internal cultural dynamics under Xi Jinping, highlighting creative expressions amidst political constraints. Although the program delves into societal and cultural aspects of AI in the form of dancing robots, it does not significantly contribute to the discourse on AI safety or existential risks. Instead, the focus is on broader cultural trends and their geopolitical implications.

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