On November 15th, the world watched as a highly anticipated meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden took place amid the scenic backdrop of Woodside, California.
From a controversial visit by a US House Speaker to Taiwan, to a Chinese spy balloon crossing the United States – the two countries’ relations have sunk to their lowest point in decades.
And from the war in Ukraine to the conflict opposing Israel and the Palestinians, and a general election in Taiwan that could decide the fate not just of the island, but the entire region – a more assertive Beijing may be attempting to redefine the rules of the game.
As the country marks the end of its presidency of the UN Security Council this November, we ask a simple question: what does China want?
Ilaria Carrozza is a Senior Researcher at PRIO and an expert on Chinese foreign policy. She is joined from Beijing by Zichen Wang, a Chinese public intellectual with the Center for China and Globalization, and the founder and editor of newsletter Pekingnology.
This episode is hosted by Emmy-award winning journalist Arnaud Siad.