China Decode: The World Order Is Tilting Toward China (Series Finale)

After a year of decoding China's rise, Alice Han and James Kynge sit down for one final episode, and they go big picture on where China goes from here.

First: the real AI race isn't just about who has the best model — it's about who embeds AI into the physical economy fastest. China spent roughly 23x less than the U.S. on private AI investment in 2025, yet is shipping ten times more humanoid robots and deploying industrial AI robots at nearly nine times the U.S. rate. Alice and James dig into the shifting balance of AI talent, chips, and capability — and make their predictions on who leads next.

Then: a look at the broader balance of power. A striking Pew poll shows more countries now view China more favorably than the U.S., and the Lowy Institute's 2025 Asia Power Index recorded the U.S.'s largest-ever single-year decline in regional power. Alice and James weigh whether China's global-south strategy is paying off, and where Xi's leadership goes from here.

Finally: China's cultural export machine — from Ne Zha 2's record-breaking box office to Pop Mart's next blind-box phenomenon after Labubu, to TikTok's continued global growth. Is Chinese soft power just getting started?

And with that, a heartfelt thank you: this is the final episode of China Decode. Thank you for a year of listening, sharing, and following along as we explored the economy, politics, and culture of a country that will only grow more important to the world.

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