Why has a little-known figure known as "Professor" Jiang suddenly become a viral presence online? And why are completely different camps attacking him for opposite reasons? In this episode of Strait Talk, we use the controversy surrounding Jiang Xueqin as a starting point to explore something much bigger: the competing intellectual currents and elite networks inside China itself.

Zhenming, the author of the viral investigative thread examining Jiang's background, joins us to connect the dots. How can the same person be portrayed as both a Western NGO activist and a mouthpiece of the Chinese system? And what does this reveal about the different circles, institutions, and ideological tendencies that exist within China's upper echelons?

Rather than focusing solely on Jiang, this conversation examines the broader landscape of power, influence, and ideas shaping contemporary China, from globally oriented elite networks to the competing visions of China's future emerging from within the system itself.

Follow Zhenming on X "Who is 'Professor' Jiang" thread: https://x.com/zhen_ming_/status/2035083436860612639

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Taiwan separatism is often presented as a simple struggle between "democracy" and "authoritarianism." Others continue to view cross-strait politics through the lens of the struggle between the CPC and the KMT despite the reality that history has since moved on. Regardless, most people simply do not understand Taiwan separatist ideology and therefore do not know how to argue against it, because they only see the tip of the iceberg.

In this episode, we break down the identity politics iceberg, and explore the deeper layers that shaped modern separatist narratives on the island.

At the top of the iceberg is the familiar rhetoric: claims that Taiwan has "never been part of China," and attempts to place Qing and Kuomintang rule in the same category as Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese colonialism. This narrative often frames both the KMT and the Communist Party of China as equally illegitimate simply because they are "Chinese" (from the mainland).

But beneath that surface lies a more complicated story.

The middle layer reveals a paradox: modern separatist ideology is both a rejection of the KMT and a continuation of some of its Cold War foundations, particularly anti-communism. What once served as justification for reunification under the "Republic of China" now serves as justification for permanent separation. Whereas the KMT claimed to be the true representatives of Chinese culture and framed Taiwan as a bastion of Chinese culture, Taiwan separatists reject the idea of belonging to Chinese civilization.

Deeper still is a factor that rarely gets discussed openly: Hoklo chauvinism and identity politics. While Taiwan is often described as 98% Han, the island's Han population is itself diverse, including Hoklo, Hakka, and Waishengren. The political dynamics between these groups played a major role in shaping modern identity narratives.

Understanding these historical and social foundations is essential if we want to understand how Taiwan's political identity debates developed in the first place.

In this episode, we go beyond the slogans and examine the ideological iceberg beneath Taiwan separatism.

If you want to understand Taiwan's politics beyond the surface narratives, this episode is for you.

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In this episode, Ezra and I dive into the debates surrounding UN Resolution 2803 and the intense online reaction that followed China's abstention. We explore why so many Western leftists (baizuo) default to a universalist worldview that ends up upholding the existing world order in practice, especially when they assume their values should apply uniformly across all civilizations. The conversation moves beyond surface-level ideology as we unpack how many commentators mistakenly interpret China solely through the lens of communism, ignoring the deeper philosophical foundations that have shaped Chinese statecraft and thinking for thousands of years.

Ezra and I get into the Chinese philosophical traditions that inform China's decision-making, offering a perspective that helps make sense of China's policy of non-intervention and why China acts the way it does on the global stage. If you're looking for a grounded discussion that cuts through Western noise and digs into the civilizational logic behind China's choices, this episode has you covered.

Follow Ezra on X

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