In this thought-provoking episode of our new student-led podcast series, Eleanor Channer is joined by Yaling Jiang, founder of research and strategy consultancy ApertureChina, to explore a fascinating and timely question: Is China becoming cool?
Drawing on Yaling’s popular article “Labubu’s Chinese Identity” and her broader research into Chinese consumer trends, the conversation delves into how China’s soft power is evolving in the global cultural landscape.
Together, they discuss:
• The viral success of Labubu and what it symbolises
• Whether cultural products need to be recognisably Chinese to be considered soft power
• The growing influence of Chinese pop culture, from Ne Zha II to iShowSpeed’s visit to China
• The strategic value of ambiguity in China’s global brand storytelling
• How Donald Trump’s policies unintentionally contributed to China’s rising cultural influence
• The nuances of Yaling’s view: “Transparency at the government level, ambiguity at the business level”
📚 About the Guest
Yaling Jiang is the founder of ApertureChina, a research and strategy consultancy, and the author of the newsletter Following the Yuan, where she analyses consumer and cultural shifts in Greater China.
🔗 Follow Yaling’s work:
https://www.chineseconsumers.news/
