日本执政的自由民主党上星期六举行总裁选举，64岁的前经济安保部长高市早苗当选，成为自民党首位女总裁。外界预计，她也将成为日本历史上首位女首相。

高市早苗在当选后表示，为了国家利益，自民党必须“像牛马一样工作”，她本人也将摒弃“工作与生活平衡”这一概念，“工作、工作、再工作”。

从政前，高市早苗曾担任电视节目主持人，并是重金属乐团的鼓手。她长期崇拜英国前首相撒切尔夫人。部分舆论称她为“日本版铁娘子”，但也有批评者认为她是“日本版特朗普”或“女版安倍”。

高市早苗政治立场鲜明，主张大力打击外国人非法居留，限制外国人购买日本土地，并推动修宪，让日本能够正式拥有国家军队。她延续已故前首相安倍晋三的外交立场，强调“台湾有事就是日本有事”。

她也曾公开表示，日本民众对中国“感到愤怒”，自己“也一样”，认为日本人“已经受够了”。因此，高市早苗被视为日本极右翼政治势力的代表人物。

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与东京大学综合文化研究科教授川岛真解析高市的当选，会给东北亚局势带来什么冲击？摆在她面前的，又有哪些重大挑战？

延伸阅读：

• 于泽远：中日关系将遭遇高市早苗冲击？
• 林泉忠：高市早苗外交之路铺满荆棘

In a landmark moment for Japanese politics, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected Sanae Takaichi as its first female leader, positioning her to become Japan’s first female prime minister. The 64‑year‑old former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications is a staunch conservative, noted for her nationalist views and uncompromising work ethic.

Takaichi, formerly a television host and heavy‑metal drummer, has cultivated a distinctive public persona. Her policy platform calls for stricter immigration controls, tighter restrictions on foreign land purchases, and constitutional amendments to formalise a national military. Closely aligned with the security positions of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she is especially vocal on Taiwan‑China tensions and is often referred to as Japan’s “Iron Lady” for her admiration of Margaret Thatcher.

In this episode of the Global Heartbeat podcast, host Han Yonghong and Dr. Shin Kawashima, Professor of International Relations at the University of Tokyo, examine Takaichi’s ascent, Japan’s rightward political shift, and the potential regional consequences.

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday, 7.00 PM SGT. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

大名鼎鼎的中国教育网红张雪峰被封杀了。

张雪峰专门提供考研辅导以及高考填报志愿指导，以“寒门指路人”的形象收获了大量粉丝。但他也因为言辞激烈而不时引发争议。

在今年北京的九三阅兵后不久，张雪峰在直播中放言，只要北京武力攻打台湾，他最起码会捐款1亿元人民币；枪声打响的那一天，他就至少会捐5000万元人民币。

然而，这次他可真是踢到铁板了。中国网信办不久后宣布，开展为期两个月的“清朗·整治恶意挑动负面情绪问题”专项行动。张雪峰以及大量网络账号，比如主张颓废生活的躺平博主“十年网吧大神”、“刘二狗”、“小A在上网”等等，都成了专项行动的整治对象。

根据官方通报，挑动群体极端对立情绪、宣扬恐慌焦虑情绪、挑起网络暴力戾气、过度渲染消极悲观情绪等内容，都在整治范围之内。中国官方自2016年以来就陆续开展“清朗”专项行动，目标是净化网络空间。

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与旅居台湾的时事评论人徐全解析这一轮又一轮的“清朗”行动，反映了什么问题？今年官方要用专项行动来整治社会情绪，它最终又会达到什么效果？

延伸阅读：

• 下午察：被清朗的户晨风和张雪峰
• 中国多名“躺平”博主被封 整治颓废内容再升级

In a dramatic development, Zhang Xuefeng, one of China’s most prominent education influencers, has been removed from major platforms as part of a government crackdown on online negativity. Renowned for his advice on postgraduate entrance exams and college application counselling, Zhang built a huge following, particularly among students from disadvantaged backgrounds. His outspoken commentary often sparked controversy, and a recent livestream pledge to donate millions if Beijing resorts to force against Taiwan brought heightened scrutiny.

Within days, the Cyberspace Administration of China launched a special “Qinglang” (“Clear and Bright”) campaign, aimed at purging content that incites negative emotions and societal anxiety. Influencers and online personalities now face investigation and removal for allegedly promoting pessimism, antagonism, or social unrest. This ongoing campaign, active since 2016, reflects Beijing’s persistent drive to reshape digital discourse and maintain a positive online atmosphere.

In this episode of the Global Heartbeat podcast, host Han Yonghong and Taiwan-based commentator Xu Quan unpack the social and political implications of China’s latest round of internet censorship and emotion management.

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday, 7.00 PM SGT. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

延宕了五年多的TikTok在美国运营的争议终于接近有了结果。

上周五，美国总统特朗普和中国国家主席习近平进行了通话，双方就TikTok出售其在美国的业务达成了框架协议。白宫发言人莱维特（Karoline Leavitt）在周六接受媒体采访时表示，TikTok将主要由美国人拥有，七名董事会成员中将有六名是美国人，TikTok的算法也将由美国人掌握。

中国企业字节跳动旗下的短视频平台TikTok在美国拥有庞大的用户群，使用人数以亿计。自 2020 年左右开始，美国政府开始担忧TikTok会收集大量美国用户数据，影响美国青少年思想，对国家安全构成威胁。从特朗普第一任政府到拜登政府，再到如今的第二任特朗普政府，美国始终要求字节跳动剥离TikTok美国业务。

中国则谴责美国对TikTok的限制是“强盗逻辑”，是“明火执仗的抢劫”。

而今，中美就TikTok出售问题达成了框架协议。出售TikTok如何从“抢劫”变成双赢？

这期的早报播客《东谈西论》，听主持人韩咏红与新加坡优势研究咨询公司创始人兼CEO张帆一起分析中美达成协议的这个时间点，背后有什么玄机？

延伸阅读：

• 分析：TikTok交易是中美妥协结果 但短期内恐难达成经贸协议
• 分析：中国或授权解决TikTok算法争议

The long-running dispute over TikTok's operations in the United States appears close to a breakthrough, as the US and China recently announced progress on a proposed framework agreement following a phone call between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping. Under the current terms, TikTok's US operations would be majority-owned by American investors, with six of the seven board seats held by Americans, ensuring U.S. control over the platform’s algorithm and data governance. ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, would retain one board seat and a minority stake, in alignment with provisions of the 2024 US law requiring divestment of foreign control.

Though both Trump and Xi have endorsed the deal’s framework, official confirmation and implementation are still pending. In this episode of the Global Heartbeat podcast, host Han Yonghong and guest Tim Zhang, Founder & CEO of Edge Research Consulting, explore the significance of this proposed deal. They discuss the timing, underlying political motivations, and the broader geopolitical implications for US-China relations, examining whether this development signals a move toward greater cooperation or sets the stage for renewed conflict.

Hosted by Lianhe Zaobao’s Associate Editor, Han Yong Hong, Global Heartbeat is a Mandarin weekly news and current affairs podcast that is updated every Tuesday, 7.00 PM SGT. It is available on zaobao.sg, Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.