SOAS in the Media: May 2026

China’s relations with the US

• Director of the SOAS China Institute Professor Steve Tsang provided insight to TIME, LBC Radio, BBC Radio World Service, Al Jazeera, iNews, BBC Radio Scotland, discussing relations between China and the US ahead of Donald Trump’s visit to the country.
  • Other outlets with Professor Tsang’s commentary included CNN, The Independent, DW News, Central News Asia, Sydney Morning Herald, and Chilean-based publication El Mercurio.

Green manufacturing in India

• Professor Pallavi Roy shared commentary in an article from Nature, on the effects of corruption on green manufacturing in India.

Analysing the Africa Forward summit 

• Professor Phil Clark spoke on RFI’s Spotlight on Africa podcast, to discuss the Africa forward summit and what it means for relations between France and countries across the continent.

China’s intelligence agencies

• Professor Tsang shared commentary with Chinese-based publication Ming Pao on the verdict and controversial case of two individuals found to be spying for Chinese Intelligence in the UK.
• Wider commentary from Professor Tsang surrounding Chinese Intelligence agencies, and the country’s youth featured with German publication Blick.

Delving into politics across Africa

• Professor Phil Clark featured on Monocle Radio 24, looking at the case of corruption facing South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the reopening of the French genocide case against Agatha Habyarimana, former First Lady of Rwanda.

The latest on Iran

• Director of the SOAS Middle East Institute Professor Adam Hanieh gave an interview and featured with Chinese-based publication Ming Pao during a visit to Hong Kong, discussing the global impacts of the conflict in Iran.
• Dr Katayoun Shahandeh wrote for The Conversation on the absence of Iranian artists from this year’s Venice Biennale, and what it means for the world of art and politics.
• Professor Dan Plesch was interviewed on LBC News, discussing the ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran, and featured on Sunrise TV Australia on the latest developments.

War reportage in the era of social media

• Professor Dina Matar featured in a Response Source article on war reporting in the modern era of social media. 

Japanese film 

• Dr Alan Cummings wrote for The Conversation to review Kokuho, Japan’s highest ever grossing live-action that explores kabuki – the country’s most popular traditional performing art. The article also featured in Asia Times.

The 2026 International Booker Prize

• Senior Lecturer Narguess Farzad featured on an article with The Conversation – providing expertise on the nominations for the 2026 International Booker Prize. 

The legacy of a historic Bengali polymath

• Dr Sahana Bajpaie wrote for Scroll.in on the life and legacy of Bengali polymath, Rabindranath Tagore.

Taiwan’s sugar Railways

• Professor Dafydd Fell appeared on the podcast The Interlocutor podcast to discuss his research and book ‘The Twilight Years of Taiwan's Sugar Railways’.