From the Gobi Desert to Wall Street: a Conversation With Weijian Shan

Across South Asia, Gen Z protestors are flooding the streets, demanding change. These protests have resulted in some of the worst violence Nepal and Indonesia have seen in years, presenting a challenge to the ruling elites. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg Opinion’s Karishma Vaswani about what’s driving this wave of youth-led uprisings and what it would take for lasting political change. Read more: Gen Z Protesters Are Challenging Asia’s Old Guard Further listening: After a Deadly Student Uprising, Bangladesh Starts Over, AgainSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The leaders of China, Russia and India shared smiles and handshakes, putting on a surprising show of unity in a striking moment that went viral earlier this month. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Daniel Ten Kate about what’s driving their alignment and what the shift means for Trump and the US-led world order. Read more: Xi Unites a World That Doesn’t Want to Be Pushed Around by Trump Further listening: India Won’t Stop Buying Russian Oil. Now It’s Paying the Price.What Xi Jinping’s Military Purge Means for China and the World Watch, from Originals: How Xi Unleashed China’s Biggest Military Purge Since MaoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beijing is holding its first military parade since 2019, showcasing the strength of China’s armed forces. Underneath the show of power, a Bloomberg investigation has found President Xi Jinping is orchestrating the biggest purge of military leadership since Mao Zedong. On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg's John Liu about the dramatic restructuring of China’s military and what this sweeping shakeup could mean for the rest of the world. Read more: Xi Unleashes China’s Biggest Purge of Military Leaders Since Mao Further listening: The Shadowy Fleet of Tankers Moving Iranian Oil to China Tensions Are Growing in the South China SeaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Korean shipyards are busier than they’ve been in years. Seoul and Washington are working to finalize a new trade deal that will include a $150 billion commitment to help stimulate the US shipbuilding industry. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Weilun Soon about whether the US-South Korea shipbuilding alliance could help President Trump achieve his US shipbuilding dreams, what South Korea stands to gain from the investment – and if it will be enough to disrupt China’s maritime dominance. Read more: South Korea’s $150 Billion Bet on Trump’s Shipbuilding Dream See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a life of hard labor in the Gobi Desert to becoming a prominent Hong Kong investor, Weijian Shan's story is one of incredible contrasts.  In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg's Mishal Husain, the Chinese economist and author opens up about his childhood during the Cultural Revolution, his thoughts on Hong Kong’s National Security law and President Trump’s trade war with China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Myanmar is the world’s third-largest producer of rare earths and a critical supplier for neighboring China. But rebels have recently taken control of most of the country’s mines — creating a complicated situation for Beijing and for global supply chains. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and reporter Timothy McLaughlin discuss the Kachin Independence Organization’s newfound control of a majority of Myanmar’s rare-earth mines, how the change is shifting Myanmar's political dynamics and what the group’s growing influence could mean for the future of rare earths.  Read more: A Rebel Army Is Building a Rare-Earth Empire on China’s BorderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an unusual deal, Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices have agreed to pay the US government 15% of their revenue from AI chips they sell to China. The US has blocked the sale of other, more powerful chips to China on the basis of national security, but the exception underscores the Trump administration’s openness to make exceptions… if the price is right. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg economic statecraft reporter Joe Deaux joins host Sarah Holder to explain the unprecedented nature of the deal, concerns about its legality and how it fits into Trump’s approach to trade with global competitors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a years-long slump, Hong Kong’s IPO market is roaring back to life, thanks to a growing number of Chinese companies that are raising billions of dollars in the city.    On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Dave Sebastian explore how China is transforming the financial hub into a key funding engine for mainland firms— and the risks this poses for banks on Wall Street and beyond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump has been cranking up the pressure on India, a country the US has courted as a strategic counterweight against China. Last week, Trump announced a 25% tariff on the country, a higher rate than many other major economies in Asia. But he didn’t stop there. This week, he’s threatened to raise the levy even higher. His message to India is clear: Stop buying Russian oil.  On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, Bloomberg’s Sudhi Ranjan Sen joins K. Oanh Ha to unpack the historical and economic ties that have kept Russia and India close and discuss why that relationship is now being tested on the world stage.  Read more: Trump Vows to Ramp Up India Tariffs in Escalation of Russia Spat Further listening: Is Trump’s Trade War Strategy Working?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is building the largest power plant the world has ever seen, in a very remote corner of Tibet. But the $167 billion hydropower dam has environmentalists and neighboring countries concerned. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host Menaka Doshi speaks to Bloomberg’s Dan Murtaugh about the engineering and geopolitical challenges, and the impact construction will have on the country’s economy.Read more: Xi Ties His Legacy and China’s Economy to $167 Billion Dam Further listening: China's Plans to Make AI a UtilitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.