Welcome back to Asian Dialect with Ian Huang. After a long hiatus since August 2023, Ian returns with firsthand insights from his five-month stay in China, where he observed the country's geopolitical maneuvers up close.

In this episode, Ian shares an investigative report on a "free" travel program for young Taiwanese to Hainan, which turned out to be a well-orchestrated propaganda initiative by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). What was presented as a leisure trip quickly revealed deeper strategic intentions—military flexing, historical distortions, and psychological persuasion aimed at influencing Taiwanese perceptions of China.

From extravagant receptions with CCP officials to covert election interference efforts, Ian unpacks how these "free" trips serve as a tool for China's broader strategy of infiltration and influence. As tensions rise between the U.S. and China in 2025, understanding these subtle yet powerful tactics is more urgent than ever.
Tune in to hear the full story and explore the true cost of free.

Discover the surprising demographic shift as India surpasses China in population, according to UN statistics. Despite China's vast population, its growth doesn't align with expectations. With China's birth rate at 10.902 per 1000 in 2022 compared to India's 17.163, we investigate the enigma behind this trend.

In this episode of the Asian Dialect, we focus on China's dwindling marriage rate, evidenced by a record low of 6.833 million pairs in 2022 – a stark contrast to the peak of 13.469 million pairs in 2013. We explore the reasons behind this trend, from changing societal norms to economic factors, shedding light on the implications for China's population dynamics and beyond.

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From July 30, Typhoon Doksuri strokes the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, many of the surrounding regions are heavily impacted by the rain. Zhuozhou, a county-level city with 628,000 inhabitants in central Hebei province, southwest of Beijing reported the highest 39 to 40 feet of flood.

A controversy surrounding the diversion of floodwaters from Beijing to surrounding areas rose. The Chinese government's strategy to protect Beijing by sacrificing other regions leads to protests and dissatisfaction among affected populations. Some areas faced inadequate warning and preparation for evacuation, resulting in clashes with local authorities.
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