Best Cross Strait Relations Podcasts (2025)

1
A Busy Month for Central Asian Multilateralism 15:09

Play Pause

10h ago15:09

15:09

From a dinner at the White House and dozens of deals to a gathering in Tashkent, it’s been a busy diplomatic month for the Central Asian presidents. In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast, Ankit Panda and Katie Putz discuss the significance of the recent C5+1 summit in Washington, the shift toward economic diplomacy in the Centr…

1
What Americans Really Think of Trump's Foreign Policy 55:40

5h ago55:40

55:40

Trump embodies many contradictions when it comes to foreign policy. IGA's newly released study, "Reckless Peacemaker? How Americans See Trump's Foreign Policy," tries to make sense of these contradictions by polling Americans on the biggest geopolitical challenges of today. We found that Americans think Trump is performing poorly overall, but there…

1
The State of US Asia Policy in the Trump Era, With Special Guest Jim Sciutto 22:24

13h ago22:24

22:24

Reflecting on the U.S. president’s recent Asia trip, how American partners view Trump’s nontraditional diplomatic style, and what (in Asia) keeps Jim up at night. In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) and Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) are joined by Jim Sciutto, CNN’s chief national security correspondent, f…

1
How will South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung Approach Taiwan? (with Eun A Jo) 21:33

2d ago21:33

21:33

In Season 6, Episode 5 of Global Taiwan Insights, Ben Sando interviews Dr. Eun A Jo, an Assistant Professor at William and Mary and expert on South Korean politics. In June this year, the Democratic Party of Korea’s Lee Jae Myung was elected president, triggering speculation that South Korea would discontinue its policy of clear alignment with the …

1
Inside China’s Struggle for Influence in Central Asia 16:57

15d ago16:57

16:57

For Beijing, Central Asia is a testing ground for its foreign policy innovations – and a challenge. In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) is joined by Bradley Jardine, managing director at the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, to discuss his upcoming book, written with Edward Lemon, titled “Bac…

1
Under New Leadership, What’s Next for Japan? 19:34

12d ago19:34

19:34

It’s a been crazy few months in Japanese politics. In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) is joined by Yuki Tatsumi, a longtime contributor to The Diplomat and a senior director at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security (IIPS), to discuss the recent upheavals in Japanese domestic politics, including …

1
Escalating Tensions, Fresh Clashes on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border 15:13

20d ago15:13

15:13

After air strikes and fighting on the border, a ceasefire has been declared. But how long can it hold? In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the recent, and major, escalation of tensions on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In light of recent Pakistani airstrikes on …

1
Inside the Story of America’s Failure to Disarm North Korea 22:42

23d ago22:42

22:42

Why has the U.S. failed time and again to forestall North Korea's nuclear ambitions? In this episode of the Diplomat's Asia geopolitics podcast, hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) welcome Joel Wit, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center, to the show to discuss his book “Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Dis…

1
Strategic Alliances: The Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Mutual Defense Pact 15:11

1M ago15:11

15:11

Under the agreement, the two countries pledged that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the recent Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, explori…

1
What’s Really Behind Nepal’s Gen Z Revolution? 14:30

2M ago14:30

14:30

Nepal is the latest South Asian country to witness large-scale youth-driven protests take down a government. In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the recent protests in Nepal, which led to the resignation of the prime minister, in the context of other protest-drive…

1
The PRC ID Card Controversy in Taiwan (with Sze-Fung Lee) 18:16

2M ago18:16

18:16

In Season 6, Episode 4 of Global Taiwan Insights, Ben Sando interviews Sze-Fung Lee, an independent researcher specializing in hybrid warfare. In December 2024, the Taiwanese YouTuber "Ba Jiong" (八炯) made the explosive claim that some 200,000 Taiwanese citizens possess People’s Republic of China (PRC) ID cards – an activity that is illegal under Ta…

1
What Actually Mattered at China’s Big Military Parade? 24:01

2M ago24:01

24:01

It was a big week for China, hosting an SCO Summit in Tianjin and then a massive military parade in Beijing. The world was watching closely. In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) -- joined by The Diplomat’s Editor-in-Chief Shannon Tiezzi -- discuss China's recent hosting of…

1
South Korea’s Lee Hits the Road to Japan and the United States 20:59

2M ago20:59

20:59

What did Lee accomplish in Tokyo and Washington? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss South Korea President Lee Jae-myung’s recent trips to Japan and the United States, the significance of his stopping off in Tokyo first, and how the Japan-South Korea-U.S. trilateral is working under…

1
Geopolitical Ripple Effects: US-Russia, China-India, and More 19:37

3M ago19:37

19:37

Will Trump’s overtures to Russia yield anything? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss recent geopolitical developments between the United States and Russia, India and China, and more.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iT…

1
Reviewing Thailand and Cambodia’s July 2025 Border Skirmish 21:05

3M ago21:05

21:05

What led to the flare-up of the long-running dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbors? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) is joined by Sebastian Strangio to discuss the recent fighting between Thailand and Cambodia.Click the play button above to listen. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to…

1
A Trade ‘Deal’ and a Historic Election: What’s Next for Japan? 23:52

4M ago23:52

23:52

What comes next for Japan? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) is joined by Tobias Harris, author of the Observing Japan Substack newsletter, to discuss recent developments in Japanese politics.Click the play button above to listen. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitic…

1
Episode 10: Why The '90s Matter 30:48

4M ago30:48

30:48

The 1990s were a pivotal decade for the United States and the world. This season on None Of The Above, we rewinded to the '90s to cover the breakup of the Soviet Union, America's unipolar moment, and the rise of China. We explored civil war in Afghanistan, the spread of nuclear weapons, South Africa's transition to democracy, and much more. The '90…

1
The Geopolitics of the Second China-Central Asia Summit 16:06

5M ago16:06

16:06

How are Central Asian states navigating great power dynamics? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the recent China-Central Asia summit.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you c…

1
What Does South Korea’s New Progressive Administration Portend for Northeast Asia? 24:17

5M ago24:17

24:17

Will Lee Jae-myung succeed in implementing a pragmatic foreign policy? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the geopolitical environment that South Korea's new government inherits.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTune…

1
Episode 9: A Military Without Rival 39:12

5M ago39:12

39:12

The military and the very idea of national security changed a lot in the 1990s. Politicians promised a new period of peace and prosperity after the Cold War, but the military would not draw down from the international arena. On the contrary, the United States turned to policing the world, and the military carried out new types of missions meant to …

1
Winning the Cross-Strait Content War with Comedy (Feat. LeLe Farley) 18:03

5M ago18:03

18:03

In Season 6, Episode 3 of Global Taiwan Insights, Ben Sando and Diarra Molock interview Lawrence Farley, better known by his stage name LeLe Farley (樂樂法利). Farley is a YouTuber with nearly half a million subscribers, and satirizes the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP, 中國共產黨) contradictory propaganda related to Taiwan and its own political system. Far…

1
France as a ‘Resident Power’ in the Pacific 23:38

6M ago23:38

23:38

How does Paris think about the region? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) is joined by Paco Milhiet, a visiting fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore, to discuss France's interests in the Indo-Pacific.Click the play button above to listen. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you ca…

1
Episode 8: The Cost of Humanitarian Intervention 43:12

6M ago43:12

43:12

When the Cold War ended, many imagined a more peaceful world. Yet the 1990s were marked by humanitarian crises in Somalia, Rwanda, and former Yugoslavia. Images of mass atrocities and genocide reached wide audiences on newly available 24/7 TV news channels, as humanitarians increasingly advocated for military intervention. The United States under B…

1
The India-Pakistan Clashes of 2025: Why Things Are Different (And More Dangerous) This Time 17:57

6M ago17:57

17:57

How bad will things get between India and Pakistan? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the outbreak of violence between India and Pakistan and the scope for escalation in South Asia.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on i…

1
Episode 7: America's China Gamble 41:25

6M ago41:25

41:25

China's violent Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989 marked a turning point in US-China relations. After two decades of slowly but steadily nurturing friendly relations, the United States would choose to develop economic ties without insisting on democratic reforms. The prevailing hope was that China's economic growth would inevitably lead to politic…

1
Sudan and the Limits of Western Peacebuilding (from the archive) 26:33

7M ago26:33

26:33

Sudan's civil war recently entered its third year. It has claimed the lives of around 150,000 people and displaced around 13 million. In this archival episode, we revisit the outbreak of violence that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Army, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces, led by…

1
Asia’s New Nuclear Age 18:49

7M ago18:49

18:49

Why are nuclear weapons back at the forefront of international politics? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss Ankit's new book, The New Nuclear Age: At the Precipice of Armageddon.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTune…

1
Tariffs, Trade Wars, and Asian Geopolitics 22:03

7M ago22:03

22:03

How sustainable is this trade war? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the Trump tariffs and the implications for Asian geopolitics.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can …

1
Chile’s Cross-Strait Relations and its Dependence on China (feat. Sascha Hannig Nuñez) 19:07

7M ago19:07

19:07

In Season 6, Episode 2 of GTI Insights, Ben Sando interviews Sascha Hannig Nuñez, an executive secretary at the Centro de Análisis para la Democracia (CAD) of Chile. As Chile’s minerals industry grows more dependent on the People's Republic of China (PRC), Chilean politicians are taking increasingly pro-Beijing lines about Taiwan. Some Chilean orga…

1
Episode 6: How Apartheid Ended in South Africa 40:05

7M ago40:05

40:05

In the 1990s, South Africa ended apartheid, a brutal system of racial segregation, and became a democracy. During the Cold War, the United States supported South Africa's apartheid government because it was anti-communist. But American civil rights activists pushed Washington to reassess its support – which it did as the Cold War wound down. Nelson…

1
Episode 5: Why the Israel-Palestine Peace Process Failed 45:19

8M ago45:19

45:19

The 1990s witnessed a turning point in one of the world's most intractable disputes. After four decades of conflict, the 1991 Madrid Conference opened the door for peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. A flurry of negotiations and agreements followed. The Camp David Summit in 2000 was the Clinton administration's last-ditch attempt to prod…

1
Trump, Tariffs, and America’s Global Messaging 19:51

8M ago19:51

19:51

The Asia Geopolitics podcast discusses the latest developments in Washington and their implications for Asia policy. The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the Trump tariffs and the implications for U.S. foreign policy.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diploma…

1
Duterte in The Hague: The Philippines and the Geopolitics of International Law 14:45

8M ago14:45

14:45

What does Rodrigo Duterte's arrest mean for the Philippines and international law? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest on a warrant from the International Criminal Court.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The …

1
Episode 4: Fewer Nukes, More Danger 38:29

8M ago38:29

38:29

Nightmares of mushroom clouds and fears of mutually assured destruction plagued many during the Cold War. But by the early 1990s, both the United States and Russia promised a world with fewer nuclear weapons. Together, they agreed to dismantle 80% of their strategic nuclear warheads. Meanwhile, other countries such as North Korea and Pakistan saw v…

1
Is the United States Relitigating Its Grand Strategy? 17:20

9M ago17:20

17:20

What can be gleaned from the first month of the second Trump administration about the U.S. approach to world affairs? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the evolving U.S. approach to alliances and much more.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia…

1
Episode 3: The CIA, Afghanistan, and the Road to 9/11 46:17

8M ago46:17

46:17

This is the story of how a CIA covert action program inadvertently created the conditions for the Taliban to seize control and provide safe haven for Osama bin Laden. Following a Cold War proxy battle between the Soviet Union and the United States, al Qaeda gained strength throughout the 1990s, leading to the deadliest attack on American soil on Se…

1
DeepSeek and the AI Competition 17:32

9M ago17:32

17:32

What does American anxiety over DeepSeek reveal about the state of US-China competition in AI? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the rise of DeepSeek and the state of geopolitical competition over artificial intelligence technologies.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subs…

1
Episode 2: How Democracy Failed in Russia 45:24

9M ago45:24

45:24

America was on top of the world in the 1990s as its erstwhile rival, Russia, was struggling to find its footing. President Boris Yelstin's liberal reforms were soon dashed by economic crises and infighting among Russian elites. US policymakers also contributed to this tragedy, which would lead to Vladimir Putin's rise by the end of the decade. In t…

1
Trump 2.0 in America: Geopolitical Ripples Across Asia and the World 30:13

9M ago30:13

30:13

The second Trump term is nothing like the first. The implications for Asia are massive. The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the early days of the second Trump administration in the United States.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics …

1
Episode 1: Dawn of Unipolarity 42:32

9M ago42:32

42:32

The 1990s were a decade of transformation and optimism. Teenagers were listening to grunge rock and hip hop on their walkmans. Flannels and jean jackets became staples of '90s fashion. And seemingly without warning, the Cold War was over, the Soviet Union had dissolved, and the United States emerged as the sole superpower. Today's world seems more …

1
What can Ukraine’s Civil Defense Teach Taiwan? (Feat. Maksym Skrypchenko) 30:20

10M ago30:20

30:20

In Season 6, Episode 1 of GTI Insights, Ben Sando interviews Maksym Skrypchenko, president of the Transatlantic Dialogue Center and an expert in Ukrainian security. In the years since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s civil defense has evolved to feature software tools, robust air raid shelters, and efficient command of volunteer fighter…

1
The Biden Administration’s Asia Legacy 23:24

10M ago23:24

23:24

How will the Biden administration's approach to Asia be remembered? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the Biden administration's policy legacy in Asia.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows…

1
South Korea’s Martial Law Crisis: Geopolitical Implications and Beyond 19:42

11M ago19:42

19:42

What does 2025 portend for South Korea's politics and foreign relations? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the implications of South Korea's December 2024 political crisis.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes her…

1
Central Asian Militaries and Asian Geopolitics 14:07

11M ago14:07

14:07

How are Central Asia's militaries changing? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) are joined by Michael Hilliard, director of defense and security analysis at the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, to discuss trends in Central Asian militaries.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also s…

1
America First, Again: US-China Relations and the Second Trump Administration 25:56

12M ago25:56

25:56

Where does the U.S.-China relationship go from here? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) is joined by Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat's editor-in-chief, to discuss prospects for U.S.-China relations under the second Trump administration.Click the play button above to listen. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also sub…

1
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (with Tom Fraser) 23:15

12M ago23:15

23:15

In Season 5, Episode 5 of GTI Insights, Ben Sando interviews Tom Fraser, programs director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), on marshalling parliaments around the world to pass legislation regarding China. In the summer, IPAC held their annual summit in Taipei, with both progress on China legislation and major pushback from the C…

1
America First, Again: Asian Geopolitics and the Second Trump Administration 21:14

1y ago21:14

21:14

How will the second Trump administration approach Asia? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election and its implications for Asia.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here…

1
A New China-India Border Deal? 15:29

1y ago15:29

15:29

What does the latest India-China deal portend? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the significance of the new India-China border deal and the BRICS+ Summit in Kazan, Russia.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes her…

1
The Geopolitical Implications of the UK-Mauritius Chagos Islands Deal 12:06

1y ago12:06

12:06

What are the implications of the United Kingdom's historic deal with Mauritius? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands from the United Kingdom to Mauritius, and the implications for Indian Ocean security and geopolitics.If you’re an i…

1
Feminism and Geopolitics in the Asia-Pacific 17:43

1y ago17:43

17:43

What are Asia's feminist organizers primarily concerned with in 2024? The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the recent Asia Pacific Feminist Forum in Chiang Mai, Thailand.If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if…