Consumption as identity and politics in China w/Yaling Jiang

Consumption as identity and politics in China w/Yaling Jiang

From Sinobabble by Edi Obiakpani

March 6, 2026 · 1h 1m

About this episode

Yaling Jiang discusses the relationship between consumption and identity in China, highlighting how consumers prioritize their roles as buyers over political citizens.

Today's guest is Yaling Jiang. Yaling is a former journalist who currently uses her research and reporting skills to provide businesses with insights and analysis on the Chinese consumer market. She is the founder of research agency Aperture China, alongside which she runs the newsletter Following the Yuan on Substack, which provides nuanced takes on Chinese consumer trends. We discuss how Chinese people see themselves as consumers first and political citizens second, the CCP's attempts to in...

People in this episode

Guest: Yaling Jiang

Topics covered

  • Chinese consumer market
  • identity
  • politics
  • CCP
  • consumer trends

Keywords

  • Aperture China
  • Following the Yuan
  • Substack

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Following the Yuan on Substack

Places: China

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