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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
Russia
Nuclear Weapons
Trade War
National Security
Richard Nixon
Geopolitical Competition
South China Sea
On the Beach
Jake Sullivan
Papua New Guinea
Tiananmen Square
Espionage
Donald Trump

The nuclear age began in secrecy and scientific ambition. The story is familiar, but its implications have never left us. A bomb created in a moment of wartime urgency became the foundation of a global order defined by terror and deterrence. But what happens when that global order breaks down? Face-Off: Nuclear Anarchy is an 8-part series tracing the arc of nuclear danger from the Manhattan Projec... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes42Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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

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Recent Guests

Jody Allen
Philanthropist, businesswoman, conservationist; owner of the Seattle Seahawks
Daughters for Earth / Allen family
Episode: Introducing Foreign Policy's The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women
Moreangels Mbizah
Founder and executive director of Wildlife Conservation Action (Zimbabwe)
Wildlife Conservation Action
Episode: Introducing Foreign Policy's The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women
Shivani Bhalla
Co-founder of Ewaso Lions (Kenya)
Ewaso Lions
Episode: Introducing Foreign Policy's The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women
Nicholas Burns
Former U.S. ambassador to China under President Biden
U.S. Department of State
Episode: Trump’s War, Xi’s Opportunity: Ambassador Nicholas Burns on Iran’s Hot War
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
Tripp Mickle
Technology reporter for The New York Times.
The New York Times
Episode: The Chip Whisperer
Da Wei
Professor of International Relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing
Tsinghua University
Episode: The Charm Offensive That Isn't

Hosts

Jane Perlez
Pulitzer Prize‑winning journalist and longtime foreign correspondent; co‑host focusing on China policy and U.S.–China relations; affiliated with Harvard Kennedy School.
Rana Mitter
Professor of modern China and U.S.–Asia relations; co‑host providing academic and historical context to geopolitical topics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 396 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
    Australia5 months 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
    Australia5 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 States8 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 States8 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
    Australia8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Insightful, nuanced analysis of U.S.–China relations with strong guest lineups
Strong guest diversity adds credibility and breadth to discussions
Hosts push for deep, long‑term context over surface‑level takes
Occasional criticisms call for more balanced questioning and less perceived hawkish bias

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#208
Saudi Arabia/News

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 deep, issue-driven program focused on the U.S.–China relationship, global geopolitics, and the strategic incentives shaping policy decisions. Episodes pair veteran journalists with diverse guests—diplomats, scholars, journalists, and policy experts—to unpack long‑term structural forces, security dynamics, technology competition, and regional flashpoints from Taiwan to the Middle East. The show stands out for its authoritative interviews, willingness to challenge guests, and a consistent emphasis on how geopolitics, economics, and culture intersect on the world stage. This mix helps listeners—policymakers, executives, and researchers—understand not just current events but the underlying forces guiding international relations and technology... 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. ChinaPower
2. Pekingology
3. Sinica Podcast
4. The President’s Inbox
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 3 years ago and published 42 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. Jody Allen
2. Moreangels Mbizah
3. Shivani Bhalla
4. Nicholas Burns
5. Yi-Ling Liu
6. Yun Sun
7. Barbara Demick
8. Tripp Mickle

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