Mass deportations, national divides

During the global fight against fascism in the 20th century, countless ordinary people sacrificed their lives, never living to see the victory they helped secure. In this episode, we meet a man who collects music albums from that era. The songs he shares serve as melodic memorials to unsung heroes, ensuring their stories and spirit echo through generations.

In August 1937, one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression erupted in Shanghai. Tough ending in a Chinese defeat, the battle marked a pivotal turning point after Japan’s full-scale invasion, as the ferocious resistance demonstrated China’s unshakable resolve to defend its sovereignty – at any cost. In this episode, we visit the former home of a commander who fought in that battle, where his family safeguards his relics and the enduring legacy of national courage.

This is one of the darkest chapters in human history—the secret atrocities committed by Japan’s Unit 731 during World War II. Hidden behind the frontlines, the unit conducted horrific biological experiments on civilians and unarmed soldiers. In this episode, we meet a collector who has spent years uncovering relics from Unit 731, and a descendant of biological warfare victims, as they shed light on a haunting, yet lesser-known, chapter of history.

During World War II, one school in China stood as a cradle of heroes—the Whampoa (Huangpu) Military Academy. Founded through a unique collaboration between the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang, both sides laid its foundation, selected its instructors, trained its cadets, and shaped its mission. In this episode, we meet a passionate collector of Huangpu relics, whose dedication ensures that the academy’s legacy forged in valor, sacrifice, and national unity lives on.

Garlic scattered across the battlefield, bones half-buried in the earth, bullets rusting in the hills… These silent witnesses of the Battle of Nankou still speak for the Chinese soldiers who held their ground against the Japanese invasion. In this episode, we retrace their footsteps and meet the man dedicated to keeping their memory alive.

On November 4, 1931, a fierce battle broke out in Tailai County, Heilongjiang Province, marking China’s earliest armed resistance against Japanese aggression. In this episode, we meet a local villager who has spent years collecting relics from that historic battle in northeast China. Through his collection, he shares the story of his hometown: a tale of bravery, sacrifice, and the unyielding spirit that ignited the first sparks of China’s fight against Japanese aggression.

Eighty years after the guns fell silent, echoes of China’s fight against fascism still resonate. What can a yellowed newspaper reveal about China’s first stand in World War II? What does a blood-soaked vest tell us about a soldier’s final battle? What does an old record sing about the power of unity on the eastern front? Deep Dive special series, The Unyielding East: China’s WWII Relics, brings you the forgotten objects and the unforgettable stories of a nation that stood its ground. Discover China’s role in the global fight against fascism, and the people whose sacrifices helped secure final victory on Deep Dive, wherever you get your podcasts.

This week, China held a rare top-level meeting to rethink how cities are built, and why they matter in the fight against climate change. With over half the world now living in urban areas, cities are both the problem and the solution. In this episode, we dive into how cleaner transport, smarter energy systems, and better planning could reshape the future of urban life.

As global supply chains face increasing challenges from geopolitical tensions, national security concerns, and the shifting dynamics of international trade, businesses are being forced to adapt quickly. In this episode of Deep Dive, we explore how these challenges are transforming the global trade landscape. Reporter Tian Lu takes us inside the recent Davos Forum in Tianjin, where experts gathered to discuss the future of supply chains.

As federal immigration crackdowns intensify and local leaders push back, immigration has once again taken center stage in American politics. In this episode, reporter Han Peng examines what’s driving the divide and where the country might be headed next.