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.

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Help Guangfu Recover: The town was devastated, and families need support. Please donate or share the GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-rebuild-guangfu-township-after-typhoon-ragasa

In this episode of Strait Talk, we examine the "ROC" territorial map—a symbol that frequently surfaces in online debates about Taiwan. Both pro- and anti-China voices invoke it for different purposes. Anti-China netizens highlight how the PRC lost territories far larger than Taiwan, while pro-China commentators point to the map as evidence that Taipei still harbors ambitions of reclaiming the Chinese mainland. In reality, the DPP administration today would prefer to abandon these territorial claims entirely, as the map and the "ROC" framework under which it exists function as structural safeguards against "Taiwan independence." This is precisely why Beijing, unlike "pro-China" westerners, does not comment on the map at all.

We then trace the long and complex history of Mongolia: how it became part of China, why it remained integrated for centuries, and how China ultimately lost it due to national weakness and foreign interference.

For anyone seeking to understand the hard lessons the Chinese people have learned about national strength, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, this episode provides essential historical context.

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Help Guangfu Recover: The town was devastated, and families need support. Please donate or share the GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-rebuild-guangfu-township-after-typhoon-ragasa

In this episode of Strait Talk with Xiangyu, I sit down with Angelica, who joined me in disaster relief efforts in Taiwan's Guangfu Township, Hualien County after Typhoon Ragasa. We share firsthand accounts of the widespread destruction, and discuss how government inaction and neglected infrastructure worsened the crisis.

We cover:

• The overflow of the barrier lake at Matai’an Dam
• The situation we saw on the ground
• Challenges faced by the people of Guangfu
• The local community's resilience and cooperation
• Lessons for disaster preparedness

Support Strait Talk on Patreon Become a member of Strait Talk's YouTube channel

Make a one-time donation to Strait Talk through Buy Me a Coffee, CashApp, or Venmo

Follow Xiangyu on X and more

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