Sharp China Podcast

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 Li Chenggang in Washington for another round of meetings with American negotiators. Topics include: Outreach to soybean farmers and rumors of Boeing purchases, why the PRC may sense an opportunity for dealmaking, President Trump's plans to welcome 600,000 PRC students, 200% tariffs and the stakes surrounding rare earths, and more details on the EU-US trade deal. From there: Investors are all-in on Cambricon's upside, the FT reports on big chipmaking plans in China, while additional reports of a ban on Chinese H20 purchases spawn more questions about Beijing’s motivations and the state of domestic chips. At the end: Reactions to an extensive New York Times investigation of PRC interference in New York politics, and Labubu news for Tashi.

Related Readings:

SCO Summit; PRC trade negotiator invites himself to DC; Trump wants more PRC students; AI+ Initiative; Nvidia -- Sinocism

Top Chinese Trade Negotiator Set to Head to U.S. as Talks Resume -- WSJ

Ambassador Xie Feng attended the U.S.-China Soybean Industry Partner Breakfast Reception and delivered remarks -- PRC Embassy to the U.S.

China’s Soy Crushers May Be Facing a Winter Without US Beans -- Bloomberg

Trump to allow 600,000 Chinese students entry to US for college as trade talks with China press on -- New York Post

Send Harvard’s Chinese Students Home -- WSJ

China has to give US magnets or face 200% tariff -- Reuters

Joint Statement on a United States-European Union Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade -- The White House

Meet Cambricon: how 2 ‘genius brothers’ created China’s potential rival to Nvidia -- SCMP

China Nvidia rival Cambricon adds to $40 billion rally with 4,000% revenue jump -- CNBC

Changing times: Cambricon tops Moutai as China’s costliest stock as chips trump baijiu -- SCMP

China turns against Nvidia’s AI chip after ‘insulting’ Howard Lutnick remarks -- FT

Nvidia Orders Halt to H20 Production After China Directive Against Purchases -- The Information

Opinions of the State Council on Deepening the Implementation of the “Artificial Intelligence+” Initiative -- Translation by Sinocism

How China Influences Elections in America’s Biggest City -- N.Y.T.

Inside Our Investigation of China’s Influence Campaigns -- N.Y.T.

Red Envelopes With Cash Are Changing Hands at Adams Campaign Rallies -- N.Y.T.

How a Criminal With Close Ties to China Became a New York Power Broker -- N.Y.T.

Red Packets in the USA! --

Imagethief - by Will Moss

This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall.

Show Notes:

On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with a raft of news on Nvidia that came during the podcast’s vacation, including reports the company was summoned to meeting with the Cyberspace Administration of China, sources saying the same regulators have warned PRC companies against purchasing the H-20 chips, and news that the US is now granting licenses to sell H-20 chips to PRC companies in exchange for 15% of China chip revenue. Topics include: Jensen Huang’s successful lobbying, criticism of the 15% tax, questions about the motivation in Beijing, and thoughts on the near future in Washington. From there: Checking in with the real estate market and stock market as Beijing pledges more support for real estate and the SSE Index hits a 10-year high. At the end: Liu Jianchao is reportedly under investigation, Bao Fan has reportedly been released, India and China move to improve relations in the face of US tariffs, and an email about the Labubu phenomenon and PRC soft power exports.

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Related Readings:

Rectifying the PV industry; Youth unemployment; Wang Yi in India; September 3 -- Sinocism

Beidaihe break over; New Xi books; Support for real estate; Liu Jianchao; PRC-India -- Sinocism

China Demands Companies to Halt Nvidia Chip Orders Over Security Concerns -- The Information

Nvidia's China prospects undimmed by Beijing's H20 worries -- Nikkei

DeepSeek’s next AI model delayed by attempt to use Chinese chips -- FT

Exclusive: Nvidia working on new AI chip for China that outperforms the H20, sources say -- Reuters

Exclusive: US embeds trackers in AI chip shipments to catch diversions to China, sources say -- Reuters

April Politburo Study Session on AI is bad news for Nvidia -- Sinocism

China’s Stock Rally Has the Makings of a Durable Bull Run -- Bloomberg

China Detains Senior Diplomat Who Aided U.S. Relations -- WSJ

High-profile Chinese dealmaker Bao Fan released from detention after two years, source says -- Reuters

Modi Hails ‘Friend’ Putin and Boosts China Ties in Tilt From US -- Bloomberg

At Wang meeting, China asked India not to deal with Taiwan. What Jaishankar said -- Hindustan Times

How These Little Elves Turned Into a Global Sensation -- NYT

The curious case of Labubu's Chinese identity -- Following the Yuan

Tashi’s dream of a Labubu chew toy. Thanks ChatGPT:

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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 July’s Politburo meeting, including a date for the Fourth Plenum, more condemnations of “disorderly competition,” and signals that Party leadership remains confident despite the tumultuous year. From there: the U.S.-China meetings in Stockholm, the latest moves from Trump to moderate on chips and possibly Taiwan, and debating a spate of reports suggesting that Trump is working toward a deal and a meeting with Xi and adopting a softer approach to China.

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Related Readings:

July Politburo meeting; 4th Plenum set for October; US-China; AI safety -- Sinocism

No drama in Stockholm; Rare Earths and Trump's China shift; Beijing floods; Ok to say overcapacity, New Shaolin Temple Abbot -- Sinocism

China Politburo Holds off on Further Stimulus -- WSJ

China struggles to break its addiction to manufacturing -- FT

Trump softens stance on China amid trade talks and summit push -- WaPo

Trump Is Shifting to Dealmaking Mode on China -- WSJ Donald Trump freezes export controls to secure trade deal with China -- FT Donald Trump blocks Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te from New York stopover -- FT

US cancelled military talks with Taiwan -- FT

EU, US to form metals alliance to counterbalance Chinese overcapacity -- Reuters

Is This the Start of a U.S.-China Friendship? -- Foreign Policy

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 comments from Xi Jinping and renewed emphasis on building more rational marketplaces across key sectors in tech and beyond. Topics include: The implication that not every province has to participate in new growth areas, cadres parsing conflicting guidance from Beijing, and efforts to stimulate a healthy investment ecosystem for startups as U.S. venture investment recedes. From there: Thoughts on two high-profile exit-bans on American citizens traveling in China, why the two cases are different, more chatter that the Trump administration is softening on China, counterpoints to that argument, and a bit more news on "The Big Tariff," Yang Hansen.

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Related Readings:

PLA to try again to eliminate "toxic influences"; Tibet dam project; Involution; Trump’s softening approach to China; More Americans exit banned -- Sinocism

PLA Daily on political cadres; EU-China summit expectations; US-China talks next week; Lab-grown diamonds -- Sinocism

Life Atop China’s Car Market Starting to Look Shaky for BYD -- Bloomberg

Cover Story: A New Gold Rush Begins in China’s Hard Tech Sector -- Caixin

China VC Funds Tap Global Investors for $2 Billion in Comeback -- Bloomberg

U.S.-Based Wells Fargo Banker Blocked From Leaving China -- WSJ

U.S. citizen who works for Commerce Dept. ensnared in Chinese exit ban -- Washington Post

Chinese Officers Questioned U.S. Government Employee About His Army Service -- NYT

China says Wells Fargo banker under exit ban is involved in criminal case -- Reuters

Post by Desmond Shum -- X

As Trump Courts a More Assertive Beijing, China Hawks Are Losing Out -- NYT

Navigating the President’s Policy Whiplash on China -- WSJ

No joke: Chinese rookie Yang Hansen is the NBA’s biggest summer star -- WaPo

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 reports that Nvidia will soon be allowed to again sell its H20 chips in China. Topics include: A win-win deal for Nvidia and the PRC, whether this is the beginning of more rollbacks of existing chip controls as the PRC exerts leverage with rare earth export controls, and Jensen Huang emerging as a bridge between US and PRC leaders. From there: Reports that Trump may be softening his approach to US-China issues, Xi Jinping's busy schedule of public appearances, and checking in on the real estate sector as stimulus hopes are deferred in the wake of this week's readout from the Central Urban Work Conference. At the end: A question on BRICS and the SCO, signs to look for if there is a leadership change in Beijing, and notes from Las Vegas after Yang Hansen becomes one of the biggest stories of NBA Summer League.

This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall.

Show Notes:

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with a look at tensions between the PRC and the EU ahead of the EU-China summit later this month. Topics include: Reports concerning Wang Yi's comments to EU counterparts conveying Beijing's perspective on the Ukraine war, the PRC Foreign Ministry implores the EU to "rebalance its mindset" rather than rebalancing trade, and the rare earths leverage that looms as Europe mulls its next moves. From there: Stepped up party efforts to combat overcapacity and "disorderly competition," the decades-long challenge of stimulating consumption, and extended thoughts on the spate of rumors surrounding Xi's grip on power and what can and can't be gleaned from observed behavior the past few months. At the end: A bit of TikTok news, and a welcome to the NBA for Yang Hansen.

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And if you enjoy this podcast please share it far and wide:

Related Readings:

More on June Politburo meeting; Stabilizing employment; Trump's threat to bomb Beijing; EU's mindset needs "rebalancing"; TikTok -- Sinocism

Xi's Shanxi tour; VDL's tough on China speech; Rare earths; Kindergarten mass lead poisoning; "London Framework" -- Sinocism

Exclusive | China tells EU it does not want to see Russia lose its war in Ukraine: sources -- SCMP

China Rebukes EU Chief After Demand for Greater Trade Access -- Bloomberg

France Urges Tariff Barriers to Stop China From Killing Industry -- Bloomberg

Germany summons China’s ambassador after a plane is lasered over Red Sea -- AP

China’s top leadership takes aim at ‘disorderly low-price competition’ -- SCMP

Calls grow for China's household sector to be bigger economic driver -- Reuters

Deeply Understand and Comprehensively Rectify "Involutionary" Competition -- Qiushi - Translation

China’s producer prices fall 3.6% in June, biggest drop in nearly two years as deflation deepens -- CNBC

Is Chinese President Xi Jinping on his way out? -- NY Post

‘Containing Xi’, or refining party rule? -- Observing China

Is Xi's Grip Holding? -- China Media Project

Visualizing Power in China's Press - China Media Project

Exclusive: TikTok prepares US app with its own algorithm and user data -- Reuters

NBA Draft surprise: China center Yang Hansen picked at No. 16, dealt to Blazers -- The Athletic

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.

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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

Show Notes:

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with PRC perspectives on the past two weeks of attacks on Iran. Topics include: dispelling notions that U.S. involvement was welcomed by the PRC, why regional stability in the Middle East is stressed in every PRC statement, and how Iran and other PRC partners may view China's inaction over the last few we…

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

Show Notes:

On today’s show Andrew and Bill take stock of the US-China trade framework in the wake of last week’s negotiations in London. Topics include: US escalations that brought the PRC side back to the table, PRC rare earth leverage that forced a compromise but no additional export control concessions, and variables to watch as trade tensions continue. From there: A survey of the various implications for the PRC as Israel attacks Iran and Wang Yi condemns the violations of Iran’s sovereignty. At the end: The FT reports on struggles in the PRC auto industry, the politics of factory closures, another compelling data point undermining Xi rumors, and a Wall Street Journal story about new chip workarounds for PRC firms.

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 call between President Trump and Xi, two days of meetings between the U.S. and China in London, and an apparent effort from both sides to de-escalate. Topics include: retracing steps of the past few weeks, clarity for the U.S. and others on the PRC’s leverage over rare earths, the possibility of the U.S. easing tech export controls, and the lack of trust on both sides in the wake of the past few months. From there: the U.S. has concerns about a Chinese embassy in the UK, the New York Times surfaces a purported FSB document outlining various counterespionage anxieties related to the PRC, and Xi’s daughter joins a dinner with Lukashenko. At the end: People’s Daily publishes an interview with Ren Zhengfei, Xi continues his attempts to curb excess among party members, and Victory Wembanyama visits the Shaolin Monastery.

This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall.

Show Notes:

On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with a series of escalatory policies from the U.S. and talk of a call between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump later this week. Topics include: The rare earth frustration on the American side, the PRC’s use of leverage, the potential downsides for the PRC as the rest of the world grapples with shortages, and the maddening failures of the West to prepare for exactly this scenario. At the end: An update on TikTok, the death of Xu Qiliang and continued mystery at the top of the PLA, a week of rumors swirling around Xi, and two notes on the EV sector.

You can listen to the podcast in the Substack app:

Or click here for instructions to add the podcast to your preferred player.

To subscribe to Sinocism, click here.

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And if you enjoy this podcast please share it far and wide:

Related Readings:

Xi meets Lukashenko; Xi-Trump call soon?; Rare earths; Bill O'Reilly and China — Sinocism

Xi rumors; US-China tensions; Rare earths; Xu Qiliang — Sinocism

US-China Messaging in Singapore; New Quality Productive Forces; Putin and a Natural Gas Impasse; 35 Years After Tiananmen Square — Sharp China (2024)

US curbs chip design software, chemicals, other shipments to China -- Reuters

U.S. Pauses Exports of Airplane and Semiconductor Technology to China — N.Y. Times

‘The president is obsessed’: Trump fixates on Xi call amid faltering trade talks — Politico

China’s New Trade Negotiator Is Ready to Play Hardball — WSJ

Watching China in Europe—June 2025 — Noah Barkin

China increases scrutiny over rare earth magnets with new tracking system — Reuters

U.S. Dependence on China for Rare Earth Magnets Is Causing Shortages — NYT

Trump poised to extend TikTok ban deadline – for third time – as US, China meet for trade talks: source— NY Post

Former senior Chinese military official Xu Qiliang passes away — Xinhua

Confronting China — Bill O'Reilly

New price wars among China carmakers mask hidden dangers, Beijing warns -- SCMP

China car dealers urge automakers to stop dumping inventory on them -- Reuters

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