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Decoding China’s doublespeak

Examining the complex character of the Chinese Communist Party's language. Is it accidental or intentional?

How the Chinese Communist Party gets lost in translation and whether it’s accidental or intentional. “The Belt and Road Initiative”, “community with a shared future for humankind”, “socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era” - the slogans and proclamations coming out of Beijing can sound abstract and bewildering. We examine the complex character of the language and how it’s put to use by the CCP to understand why its message can get lost on the outside world.

Contributor: Tom Lam
Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 14 Sep 202511:32GMT
BBC World Service except Australasia, East Asia & South Asia

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  • Sat 13 Sep 202518:32GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Sun 14 Sep 202508:32GMT
    BBC World Service Australasia, South Asia & East Asia only
  • Sun 14 Sep 202511:32GMT
    BBC World Service except Australasia, East Asia & South Asia

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