Could China become the world's policeman?

Could China become the world's policeman?

Author: The Times January 30, 2026 Duration: 36:03

Keir Starmer is visiting China, becoming the first UK prime minister to travel to Beijing in eight years. His trip comes amid a queue of world leaders seeking meetings with Xi Jinping, as some countries look for leverage in an increasingly volatile global order. But can China be trusted as a global partner? And as the US appears to be stepping back from its role as the world’s policeman, what kind of power is China prepared to become?



This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: 

  • Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor at The Times & The Sunday Times.
  • Isabel Hilton, journalist and China watcher.


Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Julia Webster, Harry Stott, and Sophie McNulty.


We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com


Read more: What Keir Starmer and Xi Jinping said in China (and what they meant)

Further listening: Is China’s mega-embassy a mega-spy base?

Clips: BBC, World Economic Forum, CBS, APT, DRM News

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Story
Podcast Episodes
Will voters back "the poster boy for the far-right"? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:51
Hungary goes to the polls on Sunday and for the first time in sixteen years, Donald Trump’s right-wing ally Viktor Orbán might lose his iron grip on power. But who is this man who’s ruled the country for so long? What do…
The contract killing scandal rocking France’s MI6 - The Sunday Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:37
It's the trial rocking France's intelligence service. Two guards who had always dreamt of going under cover were allegedly tricked into a plot to kill a ‘Mossad agent’, who was nothing of the sort. It's an unbelievable t…
Inside the world of 'Disney adults' - The Saturday Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:08
For millions of people, Disney was a huge part of their childhood. But, for a great number of people that love never went away, and today, it's those people who have become central to Disney’s bottom line. They are the s…
The descent into madness under Putin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:02
When The Times foreign correspondent Marc Bennetts moved to Russia in 1997, there was hope for a new future for the country. But over the next 25 years, he witnessed the rise of Vladimir Putin and the erosion of civil li…
Artemis II: NASA’s plan for the Moon and beyond [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:52
The countdown has begun for the launch of NASA's Artemis II mission around the Moon, the first manned mission there in more than 50 years. Their voyage around our nearest neighbour will pave the way for a lunar landing a…
How a US invasion of Kharg Island could play out [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:39
Donald Trump has threatened that the US would “obliterate Kharg Island” if a deal with Tehran was not reached. The US president has suggested he’d put boots on the ground to seize control of Iran's key oil export termina…
Pete Hegseth: the former TV host selling Trump’s war [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:26
Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of war, was one of the most controversial picks in Trump’s cabinet. But as Trump’s foreign adventures have come to define his second term, Hegseth is not just more visible, he’s become the…