The Spectator magazine combines incisive political analysis with books and arts reviews of unrivaled authority. Absolutely free. Go to spectator.com.uk forward slash voucher.

Hello and welcome to Chinese Whispers with me, Cindy Yu. Every episode, I'll be talking to

journalists, experts and long-time China I'll be talking to journalists, experts,

and long-time China watches about the latest in Chinese politics, society and more.

There'll be a smattering of history to catch you up on the background knowledge and some

context as well. How do the Chinese see these issues? Outside of China, tiger moms and

tiger dads are famous or infamous. But inside of China, tiger moms and tiger dads are famous or infamous.

But inside of China, the strict parenting style also arguably yields results.

15-year-olds in Shanghai consistently outperform the rest of the world in their PISA schools on maths and reading,

PISA being the OECD's program for international student assessment,

which means that even the poorest student in Shanghai is doing better academically in these

subjects than the richest in the UK. And at higher education, on some counts, China has

surpassed America in terms of the number of top international universities. But at what cost

does this educational attainment come? That's the topic of this number of top international universities. But at what cost does this educational attainment come?

That's the topic of this episode of Chinese Whispers,

taking a look at the philosophy, the sacrifices,

and the results of the Chinese education system.

My guest today is Lenora Chu,

who's a Chinese American journalist and author of the book,

Little Soldiers, an American boy, a Chinese school and journalist and author of the book Little Soldiers,

an American boy, a Chinese school and the global race to achieve.

Welcome to the podcast, Lorna.

...