Sharp China Podcast

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Show notes:

On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the latest confrontation between the PRC and the Philippines in the South China Sea, clarity as to PRC maritime tactics that look increasingly like an undeclared blockade, and questions about when and how the US might get involved. From there: Qin Gang and Li Shangfu are formally removed from the State Council, the MSS discloses details of another citizen accused of spying for the US, and leaders of the Five Eyes go to Silicon Valley and 60 Minutes. At the end: Heightened scrutiny of Foxconn in advance of January’s presidential election in Taiwan, Tim Cook goes to China, Jon Stewart leaves Apple, and the New Yorker’s Evan Osnos examines the sentiments in China after Xi Jinping's first decade in power. 

Related readings:

Li Shangfu and Qin Gang; 1T RMB in new debt; Xi visits PBoC and SAFE; Neighborhood diplomacy; AI chip controls

Second Thomas Shoal approaching a crisis?; Wang Yi to visit the US; Spy games intensify; Real estate, debt and stock market support; Malaise -- Sinocism 

U.S. Support for our Philippine Allies in the Face of Repeated PRC Harassment in the South China Sea  -- U.S. Dept. of State 

Speak its name: Blockade -- Sealight 

2017 - Counter-Coercion Series: Second Thomas Shoal Incident -- Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative 

CCTV show on the arrest of another alleged American spy:

China stealing technology secrets -- from AI to computing and biology, "Five Eyes" intelligence leaders warn -- 60 Minutes

Five-Eyes Spies Are Bringing Their China Warnings in From the Cold - Bloomberg Opinion

2017 - Killing C.I.A. Informants, China Crippled U.S. Spying Operations -- N.Y. Times 

China launches investigation into iPhone maker Foxconn, says state media -- FT

2016 - How China Built ‘iPhone City’ With Billions in Perks for Apple’s Partner -- N.Y. Times 

Jon Stewart’s Show on Apple Is Ending -- N.Y. Times 

China's Age of Malaise -- The New Yorker 

To add the Sharp China feed to your preferred podcast player:

Click on the "listen on" button and you will see a dropdown with several options. Make sure you are logged into your account when you do it so you get the correct private RSS feed for subscribers. If you have not logged in for a while you can enter your email and then we will send you a login link.

The “email link” in the pulldown shown above will send you an email that also makes it easy to set it up in your preferred podcast app on your phone.

If you use the Substack app it has a built- in podcast player.

Thanks for listening.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.com

Show notes:

On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the long-awaited updates to the Biden Administration’s export controls on chips. Topics include: Bad news for Nvidia and good news for PRC semi companies, initial responses from PRC leadership, and follow-up thoughts on the strategic calculus of the U.S. From there: Impromptu TikTok discussion in light of the export controls underscoring the importance of strategic considerations. Then: Xi welcomes Vladimir Putin back to Beijing, the state of the Russia-China partnership, and why Xi and Putin may see opportunity as war erupts in the Middle East. At the end: Brief thoughts on the Belt and Road Initiative, and Bill shares an abridged version of the Sinocism origin story to celebrate the site's six-year anniversary as a paid newsletter.

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Related readings:

Commerce Department moves to cut key supply lines to China’s AI industry -- Washington Post 

U.S. curbs export of more AI chips, including Nvidia H800, to China -- CNBC 

Stratechery - China Chips and Moore’s Law

Xinhua Commentary: Belt and Road cooperation to hasten demise of "neocolonialism"

Will Xi Jinping’s Gamble on Vladimir Putin Pay Off? -- Bloomberg 

How the Israel-Hamas War Is Tilting the Global Power Balance in Favor of Russia, China -- Wall Street Journal 

Rush by west to back Israel erodes developing countries’ support for Ukraine -- FT 

China Got a Big Contract. Nepal Got Debt and a Pricey Airport. -- N.Y. Times 

This episode of Sharp China is free for everyone.

Show notes:

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with a meeting between Xi Jinping and a congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the latest indication that Xi and the PRC are working toward a trip to APEC in November and a likely meeting with President Biden. From there: Reports of updates to the semiconductor export controls in advance of a Xi visit, Senator Schumer asks Xi and Wang Yi for a swift condemnation of Hamas terror attacks, and whether PRC messaging in the Middle East will deviate from the playbook we saw Russia and Ukraine. Then: The introduction of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, an analyst's look at the evolution of semiconductor export controls, and why Nvidia reportedly sought to have the aforementioned analyst "sidelined" as policymakers continue to calibrate new restrictions for U.S. exports. At the end: Tim Cook's takes on manufacturing expertise in China, a competing theory as to how that expertise was honed, and Kyrie Irving becomes a global ambassador for ANTA apparel.

To subscribe to Sinocism and gain access to all podcast episodes as well as every issue of Sinocism from Bill Bishop, click here.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinocism.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.com

Show notes:

On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with a correction to last week’s episode and the latest bizarre twist in the Qin Gang saga. Then: A closer look at the recent clashes between the PLA and the Philippines in the South China Sea, this week’s news at the Scarborough Shoal, the Filipino media strategy under President Marcos, and possible PRC responses as international attention intensifies. From there: Xi welcomes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Hangzhou, Syria praises the “counter-terrorism” efforts in Xinjiang, and new information indicates that Uyghur history scholar Rahile Dawut has been sentenced to life in prison. At the end: The rumors of Rahm’s Twitter demise were greatly exaggerated, exploring “Back to Bali” as momentum builds for increased US-China engagement, and the Panda farewell at the National Zoo yields a great Foreign Policy article, memories of a film set in 1994, and uncertainty about the future of Panda Diplomacy in the United States.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.com

Show notes:

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with this week's Wall Street Journal reporting on Foreign Minister Qin Gang. As sources in Beijing relay allegations of an affair and a lovechild eligible for a US passport, plenty of questions remain. How could those details have gone undetected before Xi departed from protocol and promoted Qin ahead of …

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.com

On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with Xi Jinping's visit to Heilongjiang during the G-20 Summit, President Biden's comments on containment and the likelihood of a Taiwan invasion, and why news that Wang Yi will skip the UN General Assembly next week does not necessarily tell us anything about Xi's plans for APEC in November. From there: Rahm Emanuel highlights a disinformation campaign centered on the Maui Wildfires and the disappearance of Defense Minister Li Shangfu, rumors continue to swirl about investigations of party leadership and members of the PLA, and there are reasons to be skeptical of a report that Xi was reprimanded by party elders at Beidaihe. At the end: Espionage arrests in the UK and an interference inquiry in Canada, Apple tries to avoid getting caught in the middle of the US-China rivalry, big decisions loom at the BIS, and a word about pronunciation. 

Show notes:

On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the news that Xi Jinping will skip this weekend’s G-20 summit in India, a Ministry of State Security warning that the United States has work to do before any Biden-Xi summit later this year, and the ongoing questions surrounding the recent MSS foray into social media and US-China directives. Then: The international media learns more about Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro, what it could mean if reports are true that SMIC -- the largest semiconductor foundry company in mainland China -- assisted Huawei in making 7 nanometer chips, and the various considerations of the Biden Administration and other US legislators as they respond to this week’s Huawei fanfare. From there: Last week’s unusually candid comments from the US Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emmanuel, and a report that Apple is looking to Chinese manufacturers for help with its Vision Pro ambitions. At the end: The Wall Street Journal’s report on Chinese nationals gate-crashing at U.S. military sites, whether China’s going to have its “Lehman moment,” a recommendation for Chinese media, and a word about Caixin.

To subscribe to Sinocism and gain access to all podcast episodes as well as every issue of Sinocism from Bill Bishop, click here.

To subscribe to Stratechery Plus and receive daily writing from Ben Thompson and daily podcasts from Andrew Sharp, click here.

Note: I am testing a beta version of an automated transcription service. You can access it from the “transcript” tab here. In the beta version I can not yet edit the transcript and there may be some errors, including with the transcriptions of some Chinese words.

Related readings:

Li Qiang to G-20; MSS on US-China relations; Huawei's 5G phone; Italy and the BRI -- Sinocism 

Xi’s Unexplained G-20 Snub Erodes Image as Global Statesman -- Bloomberg

China’s spy agency blasts US for ‘engagement and containment’ approach -- Financial Times 

China to Its People: Spies Are Everywhere, Help Us Catch Them -- N.Y. Times 

New phone sparks worry China has found a way around U.S. tech limits -- Washington Post 

Huawei Teardown Reveals China Chip Breakthrough -- Bloomberg 

Huawei Watchers and the Land of Magical Thinking -- Digits to Dollars 

Far Ahead Mobile Phone Case, Huawei Mate 60 Pro -- TaoBao

Rahm Emanuel Takes Aim at China’s Leadership -- WSJ 

Apple Hopes Chinese Suppliers Can Solve Vision Pro’s Display Challenges -- The Information 

Chinese Gate-Crashers at U.S. Bases Spark Espionage Concerns -- WSJ 

China’s Mortgage Relaxation Spurs Weekend Sales in Mega Cities -- Bloomberg 

The Big Short Trailer (2015)  -- YouTube 

My Chinese Media Recipe --

China Cuts Caixin From Approved Media, Curbing Influence -- Bloomberg 

I know some of you have followed me on Twitter for a long time. I am using that service much less now as it is increasingly not useful. I am spending more time on Substack Notes and am hopeful that China-related content will increase, as there are already many good China-focused Substacks, and since you subscribe to Sinocism you already have an account on the Substack platform. Here are some of my recent posts:

To add the Sharp China feed to your preferred podcast player:

Click on the "listen on" button and you will see a dropdown with several options. Make sure you are logged into your account when you do it so you get the correct private RSS feed for subscribers. If you have not logged in for a while you can enter your email and then we will send you a link login link.

The “email link” in the pulldown shown above will send you an email that also makes it easy to set it up in your preferred podcast app on your phone.

If you use the Substack app it has a built- in podcast player.

Thanks for listening.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinocism.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.com

On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power facility and the response from PRC authorities, media and consumers. With a ban of an imports of all aquatic products from Japan and additional boycotts proliferating, what measures might be next? And with the IAEA and many governments largely in agreement that Japan’s plan is safe enough, what does this conflict say about Chinese leadership? From there: Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo meets with Party leaders in Beijing, reactions to the early returns from those discussions, and the well-timed launch of a new Huawei phone as the Commerce delegation makes its way through the PRC. At the end: A victory lap for TikTok, memories of high-speed rail, and a few minutes on the most recent measures to stimulate the economy.

Related readings:

Stock market support; Xi in Xinjiang; Real estate; US-PRC Commerce meeting; New Xi Thought book -- Sinocism 

Mortgage rate cuts; Raimondo meets Li Qiang; Huawei launches 5G phone early; Putin to China -- Sinocism 

Fukushima: Discharge from Japan nuclear plant safe, tests show -- BBC 

Chinese consumers punish Japan over Fukushima nuclear water release -- Washington Post 

Anti-Japanese Feeling Rises in China After Fukushima Water Discharge -- WSJ 

China says its ban on Japanese seafood is about safety. Is it really?  -- CNN 

U.S. Does Not Want to ‘Decouple’ From China, Commerce Chief Says -- N.Y. Times

Huawei surprises with presales of its latest Mate handset, as it seeks to revive smartphone unit following US sanctions -- SCMP 

Huawei Building Secret Network for Chips, Trade Group Warns -- Bloomberg 

TikTok’s U.S. Future Still in Limbo as Commerce Secretary Visits China -- N.Y. Times 

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo meets with China Premier Li Qiang -- CNBC 

Communist Party Priorities Complicate Plans to Revive China’s Economy -- WSJ 

To add the Sharp China feed to your preferred podcast player:

Click on the "listen on" button and you will see a dropdown with several options. Make sure you are logged into your account when you do it so you get the correct private RSS feed for subscribers. If you have not logged in for a while you can enter your email and then we will send you a link login link.

The “email link” in the pulldown shown above will send you an email that also makes it easy to set it up in your preferred podcast app on your phone.

If you use the Substack app it has a built- in podcast player.

Thanks for listening.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.com

Show notes:

On today's show Bill and Andrew begin with an unexplained absence for Xi Jinping in Johannesburg before turning to the multi-faceted problems facing Beijing policymakers as the PRC economy continues to sputter. Topics include: Why a giant stimulus package remains unlikely, whether Xi is the right leader to manage a restructuring of the world's second-largest economy, the "takeover or collapse" false binary, and what to make of the disappearing youth unemployment data. From there: The Ministry of State Security proudly identifies two PRC nationals who were allegedly working with the CIA, while the Biden Administration successfully executes a Camp David summit with the South Korea and Japan. At the end: Beijing scuttles Intel's Tower Semiconductor plans, ARM has myriad risks in China, the Wall Street Journal goes deep on the Village Basketball League, and James Harden's wine helps stimulate consumer spending.

Related readings:

Xi skips BRICS Business Forum; Fukushima waste water; Philippines resupplies grounded ship; Arm IPO; Raimondo trip -- Sinocism

Xi to South Africa; Disappointing rate cut; Another CIA spy; Central Science and Technology Commission meets -- Sinocism 

Xi Skips Speech Defending China Economy at BRICS Business Forum -- Bloomberg

China’s Hidden Financial Dangers Erupt With Shadow Bank Crisis -- Bloomberg 

China’s 40-Year Boom Is Over. What Comes Next? -- Wall Street Journal 

Biden calls China a ‘ticking time bomb’ over economic problems -- NBC News 

China Suspends Report on Youth Unemployment, Which Was at a Record High -- N.Y. Times 

China’s ‘whack-a-mole’ economic playbook leads to confusion -- Financial Times 

How Will a Chinese Financial Crisis Impact the World? -- N.Y. Times

China unveils second CIA espionage case within 15 days -- Global Times 

U.S., China Try to Draw Nations to Their Side as Divisions Harden -- Wall St. Journal 

China Scuttles a $5.4 Billion Microchip Deal Led by U.S. Giant Intel -- N.Y. Times 

Arm Needed 3,500 Words to Explain Its China Risks Before IPO -- Bloomberg 

In Depth: How SoftBank Wrestled Back Control of Arm China -- Caixin 

Arm set to regain control of renegade China unit after near 2-year battle -- Financial Times 

Even Jimmy Butler Had to Witness the Hottest Village Basketball League in China -- WSJ

NBA’s James Harden stunned as Chinese fans buy 10,000 bottles of his wine in 10 seconds – after a ‘great move’ criticising Daryl Morey -- SCMP 

J-Harden Wines -- J-Hardenwines.com

To add the Sharp China feed to your preferred podcast player:

Click on the "listen on" button and you will see a dropdown with several options. Make sure you are logged into your account when you do it so you get the correct private RSS feed for subscribers. If you have not logged in for a while you can enter your email and then we will send you a link login link.

The “email link” in the pulldown shown above will send you an email that also makes it easy to set it up in your preferred podcast app on your phone.

If you use the Substack app it has a built- in podcast player.

Thanks for listening.

Click here for instructions to add the podcast to your preferred player.

This episode of Sharp China is free for everyone. If you are not a full subscriber and would like have access to all podcast episodes as well as every issue of Sinocism please click this button:

Show notes:

On today's Andrew and Bill begin with the heaviest rainfall in at least 140 years in Beijing this week. Topics include: Best wishes to all those affected by the floods, the astounding scale of these storms and resulting damage, citizens angry after local officials allegedly divert floods to protect Xiong’an, and the CPC playbook that will likely restrict information and hide the full extent of the tragedy. From there: Changes atop the PLA Rocket Force raise questions about espionage, the PLA nuclear program, and a years-long anti-corruption campaign under Xi Jinping that may not be over. From there: Follow-up to last week's Intel discussion, officials concerned about Chinese malware in America's military and civilian infrastructure, and a question about the American media and strategic alternatives to dialogue. At the end: The potential security pact between South Korea and Japan, the history and contemporary reality of the Beidaihe Meetings, and a reminder that the podcast will be off until the week of August 21st. 

We would love to hear feedback and suggestions/questions for future episodes in the Sinocism Chat, which is always open.

Related readings:

Awful flooding in and around Beijing; MSS on counter-espionage; More signals of real estate support; Wang Yi invited to visit US -- Sinocism

Beijing records heaviest rainfall in at least 140 years, causing severe flooding and 21 deaths -- AP

China floods: Dramatic rescue in Hebei, Beijing neighborhoods submerged -- YouTube 

Collage: Floods in Beijing and Hebei -- Sixth Tone 

China Official’s Call to Save Xi’s City Angers Flood Victims -- Bloomberg 

New PLA Rocket force leadership; Consumption measures; Hopes for real estate policy support; US-China -- Sinocism 

China ousts top generals from nuclear Rocket Force -- Financial Times 

China names General Wang Houbin as new PLA Rocket Force chief after former commanders snared in corruption scandal -- South China Morning Post 

The Week of LK-99 Intrigue, China and Trailing Edges Chips, Intel Goes to Washington -- Sharp Tech 

U.S. Hunts Chinese Malware That Could Disrupt American Military Operations -- N.Y. Times 

China Doesn’t Want to Compete. It Wants to Win. -- The Atlantic 

US seeks to deepen Tokyo-Seoul security links to boost Pacific deterrence -- Financial Times 

China hints leaders started annual seaside vacation in flood-hit province -- Reuters 

At Mao’s Beach, China’s Leaders Still Make History as Lifeguards Hide From the Sun -- N.Y. Times 

To add the Sharp China feed to your preferred podcast player:

Click on the "listen on" button and you will see a dropdown with several options. Make sure you are logged into your account when you do it so you get the correct private RSS feed for subscribers. If you have not logged in for a while you can enter your email and then we will send you a link login link.

The “email link” in the pulldown shown above will send you an email that also makes it easy to set it up in your preferred podcast app on your phone.

If you use the Substack app it has a built- in podcast player.

Thanks for listening.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinocism.com/subscribe