About this Episode Shaun Roache, Chief Asia-Pacific Economist at S&P Global Ratings, joins the Essential Podcast to explain the rapid changes taking place in China today and share his optimistic perspective on the country's future. The Essential Podcast from S&P Global is dedicated to sharing essential intelligence with those working in and affected by financial markets. Host Nathan Hunt focuses on those issues of immediate importance to global financial markets – macroeconomic trends, the credit cycle, climate risk, energy transition, and global trade – in interviews with subject matter experts from around the world. Show Notes Asia-Pacific is managing the pandemic well. The health and economic effects have been far tamer in the region than elsewhere in the world. However, S&P Global Ratings believes the region's slack domestic demand and reliance on exports could restrain its recovery and inflame trade tension with the West. Read Shaun's latest economic research, published Feb. 4, on Asia's demand recovery.