Sharp China with Bill Bishop

By Andrew Sharp and Sinocism’s Bill BishopNews

Sharp China with Bill Bishop episodes

September 13, 2023 (Preview) Biden and Xi Updates; Lies, Spies and Agatha Christie; Interference Allegations in the UK and Canada; Apple’s Latest Marketing Challenge
Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
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.
To email the show: [email protected]
Xi in Heilongjiang; G-20; Biden on China; MSS on another US spy; UK arrests; Warning to RMB shorts; Rumors — Sinocism
Circular on Taiwan-Fujian; Real estate; More on UK spy/influence mess; House Committee goes to Wall Street; Semiconductor controls — Sinocism
China’s Top Diplomat to Skip U.N. Assembly, Raising Doubts About Possible Xi Visit to U.S. — Wall Street Journal
Remarks by President Biden in a Press Conference — The White House
@USAmbJapan — X
@USAmbJapan — X
And Then There Were None — Agatha Christie
China Sows Disinformation About Hawaii Fires Using New Techniques — New York Times
China's defense minister not seen for two weeks — Nikkei
Xi reprimanded by elders at Beidaihe over direction of nation — Nikkei
Canada Appoints Judge to Probe Allegations of Foreign Interference in Elections — Wall Street Journal
U.K. Arrests Parliamentary Researcher in China Spy Probe — Wall Street Journal
Apple Risks Chinese Users Souring on iPhones Ahead of Launch — Bloomberg
@CGMeifangZhang — X
China AI & Semiconductors Rise: US Sanctions Have Failed — SemiAnalysis
The Huawei Mate 60 Pro, 7nm Background, Implications and Reactions — Stratechery Update
Charter Wins and Does Disney a Favor, Charter and the Broadband Market, SMIC Gets the US Government’s Attention — Sharp Tech
Michigan Man Sentenced 48 Months for Attempting to Spy for the People’s Republic of China — US DoJ
Game of Pawns — FBI YouTube Channel
Mandarin Chinese Pinyin Chart — Dig Mandarin
12 min
September 06, 2023 (Free) Xi Skips the G-20 as the MSS Puts APEC in Question; More Fallout from the Huawei FU; Rahm Emmanuel Has Takes; Apple Needs VR Help
Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
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To email the show: [email protected]
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 — New York 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 — Tao Bao
Rahm Emanuel Takes Aim at China’s Leadership — Wall Street Journal
Apple Hopes Chinese Suppliers Can Solve Vision Pro’s Display Challenges — The Information
Chinese Gate-Crashers at U.S. Bases Spark Espionage Concerns — Wall Street Journal
China’s Mortgage Relaxation Spurs Weekend Sales in Mega Cities — Bloomberg
The Big Short Trailer (2015) — YouTube
My Chinese Media Recipe — Following the yuan
China Cuts Caixin From Approved Media, Curbing Influence — Bloomberg
1 hr 12 min
August 30, 2023 (Preview) Fukushima Outrage Continues; Secretary Raimondo in China; Perfect Timing for a Huawei Launch; TikTok Lobbyists Take a Bow
Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
To email the show: [email protected]
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 — Wall Street Journal
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 — New York 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 — New York Times
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo meets with China Premier Li Qiang — CNBC
Communist Party Priorities Complicate Plans to Revive China’s Economy — Wall Street Journal
12 min
August 23, 2023 (Preview) The World Gets Bearish on China; MSS and CIA Spies; US-Japan-South Korea; Complications for Intel and ARM
Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
To email the show: [email protected]
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 — New York Times
China’s ‘whack-a-mole’ economic playbook leads to confusion — Financial Times
How Will a Chinese Financial Crisis Impact the World? — New York 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 Street Journal
China Scuttles a $5.4 Billion Microchip Deal Led by U.S. Giant Intel — New York Times
Arm Needed 3,500 Words to Explain Its China Risks Before IPO — Bloomberg
Arm’s F-1, Arm’s Risks, Arm’s Price — Stratechery
In Depth: How SoftBank Wrestled Back Control of Arm China — Caixin Global
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 — Wall Street Journal
This Viral Mountain Village Hosts China’s Rural Version of NBA — YouTube: 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
11 min
August 04, 2023 (Free) Flooding Hits Beijing and Hebei Province; The PLA's Rocket Force Shakeup; US-China Updates; Unpacking the Beidaihe Mystique
Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism

To email the show: [email protected]
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 — Associated Press
China floods: Dramatic rescue in Hebei, Beijing neighbourhoods 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 — New York 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 — New York Times
1 hr 1 min
July 27, 2023 (Preview) Qin Gang ‘replaced and erased’; July Politburo Meeting; Semiconductor CEOs and the Biden Administration
Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
To email the show: [email protected]
Wang Yi replaces Qin Gang; Is Qin under investigation?; Korean War 70th anniversary; Xi'an protests — Sinocism
Politburo meeting on the economy; Qin Gang; Measures to encourage private investment; RIP Gen. Wang Shaojun — Sinocism
Replaced, Then Erased: Mystery Deepens Around China’s Former Foreign Minister — Wall Street Journal
China’s missing foreign minister loses his job — Economist
Elon Musk and the Disappearing Man — @ThisIsWenhao
China signals more support for real estate with a ‘big change’ in tone — NBC News
Exclusive: Beijing pushes for toning down of China risks in IPO prospectuses — Reuters
Sample Letter to Companies Regarding China-Specific Disclosures [1] — Securities and Exchange Commission
Chip CEOs Urge US to Study Impact of China Curbs and Take Pause — Bloomberg
Kyle Anderson obtains Chinese citizenship — China News Service
Mavericks' Kyrie Irving partners with ANTA on new shoe deal — ESPN
10 min
July 19, 2023 (Preview) Qin Gang Disappears; Kissinger Makes a Surprise Trip to Beijing; Chip Lobbying and Email Hacking in DC; More Worrisome Economic Data
Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
To email the show: [email protected]
National conference on ecological and environmental protection; Kerry and Henry Kissinger in Beijing; Qin Gang; Tang poems — Sinocism
Weak GDP data; National security "covert front 隐蔽战线"; US export controls; Covid excess deaths — Sinocism
Xi Jinping’s foreign minister has vanished from public view. His prolonged absence is driving intense speculation — CNN
Where Is China’s Foreign Minister? Beijing Won’t Clear Up the Mystery — New York Times
China Blocked Jack Ma’s Ant IPO After Investigation Revealed Likely Beneficiaries — Wall Street Journal
Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang made first throw at an NBA game. — YouTube
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang sends New Year greetings at NBA game — YouTube
Kissinger Meets China Defense Chief in Pursuing Closer Ties — Bloomberg
China’s envoy to US Xie Feng congratulates Henry Kissinger on 100th birthday — SCMP
Chip companies, top US officials discuss China policy — Reuters
Chinese Hackers Targeted Commerce Secretary and Other U.S. Officials — New York Times
China reports second-quarter GDP miss, another record high in youth unemployment — CNBC
Looming U.S. Investment Restrictions on China Threaten Diplomatic Outreach — New York Times
Canadian Politicians Who Criticize China Become Its Targets — New York Times
The “Just Sisters” Defense: China’s Sex-Scandal Surge — The New Yorker
11 min
July 12, 2023 (Free) Hollerin’ About Yellen; Gallium and Germanium Warnings; Understanding PRC Domestic Challenges; The Barbie Movie Banned in Vietnam
Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
To email the show: [email protected]
3 Takeaways From Janet Yellen’s Trip to Beijing — New York Times
Despite Yellen, U.S.-China Decoupling Has Momentum of Its Own — Wall Street Journal
Janet Yellen awkwardly bows to CCP official during Beijing trip: 'Optics the Chinese love' — Fox News
Chinese women economists called 'traitors' online for meeting with Yellen — Reuters
Column: China flexes critical metals muscles with export curbs — Reuters
After China’s Rare Earth Embargo, a New Calculus — New York Times
Co-Director of Think Tank Indicted for Acting as Unregistered Foreign Agent, Trafficking in Arms, Violating U.S. Sanctions Against Iran, and Making False Statements to Federal Agents — Department of Justice
‘Health reasons’: Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to miss Asean meeting — SCMP
Is High-speed Rail in China a "Gray Rhino"? — reading, writing & investing
China Travel Advisory — US State Department
Studio defends Barbie movie after controversial map prompts Vietnam ban — The Guardian
How Do ‘Barbie’ and Blackpink Figure in a Dangerous Territorial Dispute? — The New York Times
1 hr 8 min
June 28, 2023 (Preview) Biden’s ‘Dictator’ Curveball; Putin’s Latest Mess Validates Xi’s PLA Purge; Huawei Questions Around the World; China and the Fentanyl Crisis
Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
To email the show: [email protected]
Weak holiday consumption; PRC-Russia; US-China; Patriotic education; Heat wave; Covid origins — Sinocism
Biden on the balloon, dictators and surprises; Fentanyl and Taiwan; Local debt survey again ; PRC-Cuba; Jack Ma — Sinocism
Biden labels China’s Xi Jinping a dictator — Politico
Biden calling China’s leader a ‘dictator’ opens new rift just after Blinken’s tensions-easing trip — Associated Press
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s Remarks on the Wagner Group Incident — MoFA
Xi Jinping vows to fight 'tigers' and 'flies' in anti-corruption drive — The Guardian
Xi cages big tiger in anti-corruption drive — BBC
Xi Jinping has more tigers, foxes and flies in his sights — Nikkei Asia
U.S. Tracked Huawei, ZTE Workers at Suspected Chinese Spy Sites in Cuba — Wall Street Journal
When a Huawei Bid Turned Into a Hunt for a Corporate Mole — Bloomberg
Who Owns Huawei? — Christopher Balding and Donald Clarke
Who Really Owns Huawei? A response to Professors Balding and Clarke — Pekingnology
Secretive Chip Startup May Help Huawei Circumvent US Sanctions — Bloomberg
U.S. files first-ever charges against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers — Nikkei Asia
China’s role in the fentanyl crisis — Brookings
What is the Indo-Pacific region and why does the US keep using this term? — SCMP
12 min
June 21, 2023 (Preview) Blinken in Beijing; Modest Progress and Unresolved Core Tensions; Too Many Tarmac Takes; More Cuba and Less Balloon
Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
To email the show: [email protected]
Blinken's Beijing meetings; Byebye spy balloon; Li Qiang in Germany; CYL Congress; Waiting for stimulus — Sinocism
Li Qiang in Germany; New report on Cuba-PRC cooperation; New old leadership at Alibaba; Rate cuts — Sinocism
Qin Gang Holds Talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken — MoFA
President Xi Jinping Meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken — MoFA
Biden’s gamble: Delaying sanctions and playing down Chinese espionage will improve relations with Beijing — NBC News
Spy balloon 'chapter should be closed’ after China talks, Blinken tells NBC News — NBC News
Remarks by President Biden Before Air Force One Departure — The White House
Beijing Plans a New Training Facility in Cuba, Raising Prospect of Chinese Troops on America’s Doorstep — Wall Street Journal
Buildup resumed at suspected Chinese military site in UAE, leak says — Washington Post
Leaked Pentagon documents give insight into China’s secret ‘Project 141’ — India Today
When a Huawei Bid Turned Into a Hunt for a Corporate Mole — Bloomberg
Messi mania: China embraces pitch-invading fan as millions line up behind ‘punished’ teen who hugged an icon and led security a merry dance — SMCP
Full Footage of Messi Reaction to a Chinese Fan Invading the Pitch to Hug Him — YouTube
Eveline Chao on Niubi! – a Chinese slang phrasebook — The Beijinger
12 min