Free Daily Podcast Summary
Pekingology: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Center for Strategic and International Studies
China is one of the 21st century’s most consequential nations, and it has never been more important to understand how the country is governed. Pekingology is the podcast that unpacks Chinese politics, the inner workings of the Communist Party, and how China's domestic and foreign policy will impact the world. Pekingology is hosted by Henrietta Levin, Senior Fellow with the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS. It is produced by Gina Kim.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago34 min
Embodied AI and the Transformation of China’s Robotics Industry
China is rapidly emerging as a global leader in robotics and embodied artificial intelligence, leveraging its manufacturing scale and deep supply chains to shape the future of automation. In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Wendy Chang, Senior Analyst at MERICS, to unpack the significant advances – and limitations – of China’s robotics sector and its embodied AI ecosystem. They discuss the politics that have driven huge amounts of capital towards innovative Chinese robotics companies, why China’s humanoid robots may not be quite as impressive as they initially appear, and the global implications of China's robotics ambitions. To learn more about China's embodied AI strategy, you can read the new MERICS report from Wendy Chang, Rebecca Arcesati, and Altynay Junusova: Embodied AI: China's Ambitious Path to Transform Its Robotics Industry.
- 2 weeks ago49 min
Avoiding War in the South China Sea
Ten years after an international tribunal found the vast majority of China’s claims in the South China Sea to be unlawful, the risk of conflict in this vital global throughway remains stubbornly high. This week on Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Greg Poling, Director and Senior Fellow of the CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and Southeast Asia Program, for a wide-ranging discussion on China’s strategy, successes, and failures in the South China Sea. They examine the evolving nature of China’s maritime claims, why Beijing cares so much about small rocks in the middle of the ocean, and why the South China Sea has become a major flashpoint in U.S.-China relations. To learn more about the South China Sea, you can read Greg’s book On Dangerous Ground: America’s Century in the South China Sea. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/on-dangerous-ground-9780197633984
- Jun 25, 202643 min
China Was Ready for the Age of Anarchy
As a global power, China faces a growing tension between its ambitions to reshape the international order and its disinterest in bearing the costs of upholding that new system. In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Sam Chetwin George, Senior Fellow at the Asia Society’s Center on U.S.–China Relations and Research Fellow at China Heritage, to explore Beijing’s evolving perspectives on the post-World War II order and what comes next. They discuss China’s vision for global governance, the ideological foundations of its international strategy, how its domestic economic challenges may shape its international priorities, and how it approaches the conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, and Myanmar. To learn more about Sam’s perspectives on Chinese foreign policy, you can read his new Foreign Affairs article, China Was Ready for the Age of Anarchy: Why Turbulence Will Make Beijing More Assertive. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/china-was-ready-age-anarchy
- Jun 11, 202642 min
Inside the China-Russia Partnership
China and Russia have transformed a historically fraught relationship into one of the most consequential strategic partnerships in the world. This week on Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Alexander Gabuev, a leading expert on China-Russia ties and director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. They examine how Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have deepened their bilateral and personal ties, what China gains from supporting Russia's war in Ukraine, and where the limits of their “no-limits” partnership may lie. The conversation explores energy, sanctions, leverage, people-to-people ties, and the role of the Xi-Putin relationship in shaping the future of international order.
- May 28, 202638 min
Can China Control North Korea?
In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Adam Farrar, who previously served as Special Advisor to the Vice President for the Indo-Pacific, Space, and Intelligence as well as Director for the Korean Peninsula and Mongolia at the White House National Security Council. Adam is currently a Senior Geoeconomics Analyst at Bloomberg and Non-Resident Senior Associate with the CSIS Korea Chair. As Xi Jinping prepares for a rare trip to Pyongyang, Henrietta and Adam unpack China’s complex relationship with North Korea. They discuss what the Trump-Xi summit revealed about Beijing’s position on denuclearization, how much leverage China actually has over Pyongyang, and why Kim Jong Un keeps creating problems for Xi. The conversation also explores how Beijing balances its desire for stability on the Korean Peninsula with Moscow's growing influence there, and what all of this means for U.S. strategy in Asia.
- May 15, 202643 min
BONUS POD: Trump and Xi Meet in China
In this bonus episode of Pekingology, host Henrietta Levin is joined by Jon Czin to discuss the May 14-15 summit between President Trump and President Xi in Beijing. Henrietta and Jon unpack the personal relationship between Trump and Xi, as well as the full range of issues on the bilateral agenda - Taiwan, technology, trade, the war in Iran, soybeans, and more. Jon previously served as Director for China at the White House National Security Council and a member of the Senior Analytic Service at the CIA. He is currently Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies and a fellow at the Brookings Institution. To learn more about U.S.-China summitry, check out these Pekingology episodes: How to Win a Summit: China’s Economic and Commercial Leverage (https://www.csis.org/podcasts/pekingology/how-win-summit-chinas-economic-and-commercial-leverage) Behind the Scenes of U.S.-China Summitry (https://www.csis.org/podcasts/pekingology/behind-scenes-us-china-summitry) Kurt Campbell on China Strategy and Diplomacy (https://www.csis.org/podcasts/pekingology/kurt-campbell-china-strategy-and-diplomacy)
- May 14, 202644 min
How to Win a Summit: China’s Economic and Commercial Leverage
In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Philip Luck, Director of the CSIS Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business. Phil was previously the deputy chief economist at the U.S. Department of State. Phil and Henrietta discuss the economic and commercial context for the big summit between President Trump and President Xi in Beijing, what it means to have “managed trade,” the trajectory of U.S. tariff rates and export controls, and how soybeans may shape the future of U.S.-China relations. Tune in tomorrow (May 15) for a special bonus episode unpacking the outcomes from President Trump's visit to China, featuring Jon Czin, fellow at the Brookings Institution and former Director for China at the White House National Security Council.
- Apr 30, 202639 min
China and the Iran War: Beijing's Ambitions in the Middle East
In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Aaron Glasserman, an expert on China's Middle East strategy and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Study of Contemporary China. Aaron and Henrietta unpack what China is really trying to achieve in the Middle East, how China is approaching the U.S. war against Iran, and what this all means for the upcoming summit between President Trump and President Xi.
Get Pekingology summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
School of War
In-depth interviews explore military history, strategy, and wartime decision-making with experts and policymakers.
Not Another Politics Podcast
Political scientists analyze major political issues using data, theory, and research to explain the forces shaping American politics.
The Context
A deep dive into the historical and cultural forces shaping contemporary China and its people.
One Decision
Former intelligence leaders and journalists examine high-stakes decisions that shaped global events.
The Rest Is Politics: US
Insightful analysis of U.S. politics and policy from a former White House official and a veteran BBC correspondent.
CSPI Podcast
Conversations with CSPI scholars and experts on topics in science, technology, and politics.
The Truth of the Matter
Breaks down complex global policy issues through informed, balanced discussions without spin or sensationalism.
The Sixth Bureau
An investigation into a Chinese intelligence officer’s attempt to steal U.S. aerospace technology and his eventual capture by the FBI.
Global Security Briefing
Experts analyze global security challenges and international defense policies, with a focus on the UK, Indo-Pacific, and Gulf regions.
Search Engine
Explores curious questions about the world with investigative storytelling and thoughtful analysis.
In the Room with Peter Bergen
Peter Bergen examines global news stories through interviews with experts and firsthand reporting on national security, technology, and conflict.
The Intelligence from The Economist
Global news and analysis on politics, business, and culture from The Economist’s correspondents, with weekday stories and a weekend deep-dive.
About Pekingology
China is one of the 21st century’s most consequential nations, and it has never been more important to understand how the country is governed. Pekingology is the podcast that unpacks Chinese politics, the inner workings of the Communist Party, and how China's domestic and foreign policy will impact the world. Pekingology is hosted by Henrietta Levin, Senior Fellow with the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS. It is produced by Gina Kim.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Pekingology in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Pekingology daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Pekingology as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Pekingology podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Pekingology product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Pekingology release new episodes?
Pekingology publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Pekingology cover?
Pekingology covers topics including Government. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Pekingology summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.