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Artwork for Face-Off: The U.S. vs China

Face-Off: The U.S. vs China

Airwave Media
China
United States
U.s.-China Relations
Xi Jinping
Taiwan
Artificial Intelligence
Cold War
Nuclear Weapons
Russia
National Security
Trade War
Richard Nixon
Geopolitical Competition
South China Sea
On the Beach
Jake Sullivan
Papua New Guinea
Espionage
Carnegie Corporation
Tiananmen Square

FACE-OFF: US vs CHINA is an inside look at the turbulent relationship between the world's two superpowers, the two men in charge, and the vital issues that affect us all. FACE-OFF is hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jane Perlez, former New York Times Beijing bureau chief and current fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. In each episode Professor Rana Mitter, recently of ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes41Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Face-Off: The U.S. vs China

Latest Episodes

We’re hard at work on Season 4 of Face-Off. And we have some great episodes in the works, but while we’re in production I wanted to share an episode from a different podcast that I thought you might enjoy….

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As this episode is published - on April 21, 2026 -  it’s far from clear which direction the war between the US and Iran is headed. Even so, America’s reputation around the world is in decline, to say the least.

Trump is unrestrained.  He’s invaded V... more

In this episode, we take you inside the Chinese internet.

China is currently home to the world's most sophisticated, far-reaching internet censorship regime. Chinese censors are trained to comb the web for off-limits words and phrases. Offending pos... more

This week: China and Iran.

The two countries have close ties and, yet, while China initially condemned the US-Israeli war on Iran, the Chinese government has stayed mostly quiet even as the bombing continues.

Meanwhile the Iranian government is dou... more

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Recent Guests

Yi-Ling Liu
Author of The Wall Dancers, exploring freedom and censorship on the Chinese Internet
Author, The Wall Dancers
Episode: Climbing the Great Firewall: Freedom, Censorship, and China’s Internet
Yun Sun
Senior fellow focusing on China's relations with other authoritarian regimes
Stimson Center
Episode: How Far Will China Go for Iran?
Barbara Demick
Journalist and author of Daughters of the Bamboo Grove
Author, Daughters of the Bamboo Grove
Episode: Stolen in China, Raised in Texas: Twins Caught Between Two Superpowers
Zhou Bo
Retired colonel in the People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
Episode: The Black Box: Inside China’s Military Mind
Tripp Mickle
Technology reporter for The New York Times.
The New York Times
Episode: The Chip Whisperer
Rana Mitter
Professor of U.S.-Asia Relations at Harvard Kennedy School.
Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: The Chip Whisperer
Da Wei
Professor of International Relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing
Tsinghua University
Episode: The Charm Offensive That Isn't
Marites Vitug
Editor at large at Rappler, host on WorldView
Rappler
Episode: Clash on the High Seas
Oliver Nobetau
Lawyer from Papua New Guinea and fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney
Lowy Institute
Episode: The Rugby Gambit

Host

Jane Perlez
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist; former New York Times Beijing bureau chief; co-host focused on US–China relations; affiliated with Harvard Kennedy School and Belfer Center.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 392 ratings
  • Old Chestnuts

    I nearly went crazy listening to self-proclaimed China Hawk Nick Burns in the last episode of Series 3. All the more infuriating as Jane constantly chimed in her agreement to each hawkish observation. A couple of years ago I walked out of a Burns Ambassador’s briefing in Shanghai; this guy does the bilateral relationship more harm than good. I’m dropping Face-Off from my feed. Good bye.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    I'm In China
    Australiaa month ago
  • Very informative

    Great show. Loved the episode with Jake Sullivan. Small NB: PNG is not off the northwest coast of Australia, it is off the northeast coast. And ‘rugby’ is never used to refer to rugby league (the preferred code in PNG). ‘Rugby’ always means rugby union, the favoured code in most of the rest of the Pacific.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Darth Porkus
    Australia2 months ago
  • Binge it!

    I am flying through this show. Some episodes are better than others but every one has a nugget of new insight. She is honest and forthright. That style is needed more often these days.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lrhhrl
    United States5 months ago
  • Jane Perez is so Biased it’s Laughable

    When Jane interviewed Da Wei you could tell she was dying for him to trash Trump for gutting Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, and for shutting down USAID. She was so disappointed when he didn’t. She then tried to get Rana to agree with her, but he actually sided with Da Wei. Hahaha! Jane is what a journalist shouldn’t be. Also when she interviewed Jake Sullivan, a man who radiated nothing but small d!ck energy every time he met with his Chinese counterparts, Jane lobbed nothing but softball... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Htylvr
    United States5 months ago
  • Behind the headlines

    Whilst there are many U.S. - China podcasts out there that will keep you up to do date on the day-to-day, this is one you need to listen to in order to understand the structural forces which shape the relationship over the long term.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JCA Syd
    Australia5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show for in-depth, nuanced analysis that connects diplomacy with real-world implications.
Overall, audiences find the discussions insightful, accessible to non-specialists, and essential for understanding long-term structural forces in US–China relations.
Some reviews criticize perceived bias or aggressive interviewing style, signaling strong personalities and emphatic discourse.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Trump’s War, Xi’s Opportunity: Ambassador Nicholas Burns on Iran’s Hot War
Q: What role do NATO and traditional allies play in the current balance with China and Taiwan?
Burns emphasizes the importance of NATO and allied coalitions as the backbone of U.S. strategy, warning that abandoning or weakening alliances would be a strategic gift to China and Russia.
Trump’s War, Xi’s Opportunity: Ambassador Nicholas Burns on Iran’s Hot War
Q: What would a U.S.-China G2 arrangement look like and is it in America's interests?
Burns argues against a formal G2; such a condominium would undermine U.S. alliances and democratic values, and would be detrimental to U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
Trump’s War, Xi’s Opportunity: Ambassador Nicholas Burns on Iran’s Hot War
Q: Do you think China will take advantage of Washington's fixation on the Middle East and move more heavily against Taiwan?
Burns suggests that while disruption is possible, an invasion is not the most likely outcome in the near term; instead, China might seek to increase political pressure or influence within Taiwan and maintain strategic ambiguity given the risks involved.
Climbing the Great Firewall: Freedom, Censorship, and China’s Internet
Q: What is the Great Firewall, and how has it evolved beyond a simple filter?
It is a complex system that includes regulators, content moderators, and a constantly shifting set of rules; it operates through a mix of top-down directives and proactive corporate moderation, creating a dynamic, often opaque landscape rather than a single blacklist.
The Charm Offensive That Isn't
Q: How will China capitalize on this soft power vacuum that Trump has created?
Da Wei suggests that while China might see the situation as an opportunity, there are significant challenges and economic constraints that limit its capability to truly capitalize on it.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Face-Off: The U.S. vs China

What is Face-Off: The U.S. vs China about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A high-signal geopolitics show that centers US–China relations through in-depth conversations with journalists, academics, former policymakers, and regional experts. Episodes frequently explore military strategy, technology, soft power, and regional flashpoints (Taiwan, the South China Sea, and Pacific alliances), often featuring insider perspectives from military or diplomatic circles. The interplay between rigorous analysis and first-hand experience yields nuanced takes on strategy, diplomacy, and global power shifts. The program stands out for pairing seasoned reporters with prominent experts, producing thoughtful, sometimes provocative discussions that appeal to policy professionals, researchers, and executives seeking a deeper understa... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Face-Off: The U.S. vs China?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Face-Off: The U.S. vs China:

1. Sinica Podcast
2. Pekingology
3. ChinaPower
4. ChinaTalk
5. The Foreign Affairs Interview

How many episodes of Face-Off: The U.S. vs China are there?

Face-Off: The U.S. vs China launched 2 years ago and published 41 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Face-Off: The U.S. vs China?

Recent guests on Face-Off: The U.S. vs China include:

1. Yi-Ling Liu
2. Yun Sun
3. Barbara Demick
4. Zhou Bo
5. Tripp Mickle
6. Rana Mitter
7. Da Wei
8. Marites Vitug

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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