Sharp China with Bill Bishop

By Andrew Sharp and Sinocism’s Bill BishopNews

Sharp China with Bill Bishop episodes

January 30, 2025 (Preview) Happy Lunar New Year and A Few Thoughts on DeepSeek
Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
On today’s show Andrew and Bill wish a Happy Lunar New Year to the audience and interrupt the holiday week in the PRC to share various reactions to a week of DeepSeek discussion in the U.S. Topics include: The DeepSeek origin story, OpenAI and distillation questions, DeepSeek’s future in China after Liang Wenfeng’s meeting with Li Qiang, how the U.S. government might process these developments, and a dizzying spectrum of reactions from all around the Internet.
To email the show: [email protected]
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
Microsoft Probing If DeepSeek-Linked Group Improperly Obtained OpenAI Data — Bloomberg
America First Trade Policy — White House
DeepSeek part 1: How new labor practices propelled an unknown AI firm to the top — Value Added
DeepSeek part 2: An Outlier in China’s AI Innovation Ecosystem — Value Added
On DeepSeek and Export Controls — Dario Amodei
DeepSeek FAQ — Stratechery
Trump Officials Discuss Tighter Curbs on Nvidia China Sales — Bloomberg
11 min
January 24, 2025 (Preview) The TikTok Fiasco Continues; Breathing Room on Tariffs; The RMB Calculus; Notes on Taiwan and Hollywood
Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
To email the show: [email protected]
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
Xi visits Shenyang; Regulators discuss measures to help capital markets; A TikTok deal “short of divestiture”?; “Anesthetics Not anesthetizing and laxatives not laxating” — Sinocism
Xi in Liaoning; New plan to get long-term capital into the markets; Trump threatens 10% tariffs; TikTok; Dear Li Hua; Fukushima — Sinocism
APPLICATION OF PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM FOREIGN ADVERSARY CONTROLLED APPLICATIONS ACT TO TIKTOK — White House
Trump says he’s open to TikTok sale to Elon Musk or Larry Ellison — CNBC
Donald Trump says China tariffs could hinge on TikTok deal — FT
Trump says he’s considering a 10% tariff on China beginning as soon as Feb. 1 — CNBC
US lawmakers seek to end China's special trade status, import duty exemption — Reuters
One Weapon China Is Reluctant to Deploy Against Tariffs: A Weaker Currency — WSJ
Taiwan reports unprecedented undersea cable damage this year — Nikkei Asia
Taiwan lawmakers risk alienating Donald Trump with defence funds freeze — FT
Wars and Rumors of Wars — N.Y. Times
China Welcomes Back Hollywood Movies in Bid to Boost Spending — Bloomberg
Shanghai’s old cinemas tell of a power reversal between China and Hollywood — L.A. Times
16 min
January 17, 2025 Bonus Episode: A TikTok Verdict and Lots of Questions on Substack Live
Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
Andrew and Bill take to Substack Live on Sinocism to discuss the SCOTUS decision about TikTok and what may be next for the app in the US.
To email the show: [email protected]
To watch the video of this conversation, click here.
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
35 min
January 15, 2025 TikTok and Musk and Xiaohongshu; Xi’s Speech To Top Leaders; New PLA Capabilities for Taiwan; Proposed AI Controls and Continued Hacking Concerns
Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
On today’s show Bill and Andrew begin with multiple reports that Chinese officials have considered working with Elon Musk to find a resolution for TikTok in the U.S., while TikTok‘s users have flocked to Xiaohongshu and inspired a few more questions for the future. Then: Parsing Xi Jinping’s speech in the first 2025 issue of Qiushi, why both the substance of his message and his audience heighten concerns, and reactions to a new fleet of barges in Guangzhou that could factor into the PRC’s plans for Taiwan. At the end: U.S.-China updates, including a final rule from the U.S. on connected vehicles, proposed rules on AI chips, more alarms being sounded on PRC hacking, looming tech bro fissures, and the emissary from the PRC who may attend next week’s presidential inauguration.
To email the show: [email protected]
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
RMB signaling; Trade surplus; New US AI export rules; TikTok to become XTok? — Sinocism
Xi chats with European Council President Antonio Costa; US rule on connected vehicles; RMB talk; Supply chain binding; TikTok — Sinocism
China Weighs Sale of TikTok US to Musk as a Possible Option — Bloomberg
China discussing using Elon Musk as broker in TikTok deal — Financial Times
China Officials Discuss Option of TikTok Sale to Elon Musk — Wall Street Journal
US netizens calling themselves ‘TikTok refugees’ migrate to Chinese social media app ahead of US Supreme Court ruling — Global Times
TikTok crisis builds unlikely ‘cyberspace bridge’ between US and China — Semafor
Xi in Qiushi - Comprehensively Advancing the Building of a Strong Country and the Great Cause of National Rejuvenation Through Chinese Modernization — Sinocism
China’s Trade Surplus Reaches a Record of Nearly $1 Trillion — New York Times
China Suddenly Building Fleet Of Special Barges Suitable For Taiwan Landings — Naval News
Post by John Culver — John Culver on X
Commerce Finalizes Rule to Secure Connected Vehicle Supply Chains from Foreign Adversary Threats — BIS
U.S. Targets China With New AI Curbs, Overriding Nvidia’s Objections — Wall Street Journal
Former FBI Director Chris Way on 60 Minutes — Face the Nation on X
How Chinese Hackers Graduated From Clumsy Corporate Thieves to Military Weapons — WSJ
Jan. 6, 2025: Giant Pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao Play In The Snow — YouTube
1 hr 3 min
December 18, 2024 Bonus Episode: TikTok Gets a Hearing at the Supreme Court
Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
On a bonus episode following up on Wednesday morning's show, Andrew and Bill react to the news—which broke later Wednesday morning—that the Supreme Court has granted cert to TikTok in its appeal of the D.C. Circuit's decision earlier this month upholding the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. Topics include: A bit more hope for TikTok, revisiting the D.C. Circuit’s answer to the First Amendment question that’s now before the Supreme Court, various Trump unknowns, and a busy holiday season for Jones Day associates.
To email the show: [email protected]
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
Supreme Court Fast-Tracks TikTok Case in Face of Jan. 19 Deadline — New York Times
TIKTOK INC. AND BYTEDANCE LTD v. MERRICK GARLAND — D.C. Circuit
17 min
December 18, 2024 (Preview) CEWC and Bleak Economic Data; Naval Exercises Around Taiwan; New Reporting on Chip Controls; Trump’s Standing Invitation to Xi
Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with a few updates on the Central Economic Work Conference, economic headwinds facing the PRC economy, including weaker-than-expected retail data, mixed data from the real estate market, and concerns from an economist assessing the conditions on the ground. From there: Reactions to last week's PLA exercises around Taiwan, divergent reactions from policymakers in Taipei and Washington, and a new report on the process behind the Biden Administration's latest round of updates to the semiconductor export controls. At the end: President-elect Trump on his relationship with Xi Jinping, TikTok takes its case to the Supreme Court, and the NBA (sort of) announces plans for a series of preseason games in Macau.
To email the show: [email protected]
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
China Consumer Slowdown Shows Urgent Need to Encourage Spending — Bloomberg
Prices Won’t Stop Falling in China, and Beijing Is Grasping for Solutions — Wall Street Journal
China's 2024 property sales on course to reach just half the peak — Nikkei
A top Chinese economist just said what many people suspected: China's official GDP numbers may not be accurate — Business Insider
Big Chinese naval exercise leaves Taiwan and US struggling for response — Financial Times
How U.S. Firms Battled a Government Crackdown to Keep Tech Sales to China — New York Times
An Interview with Gregory Allen About the State of China Chip Export Controls — Stratechery Interview
President-elect Donald Trump delivers remarks — CNBC YouTube
TikTok Asks Supreme Court to Block Law Banning Its U.S. Operations — New York Times
New trade hawk on the block — Politico
Real Estate: Bret Baier Home Listed for a Record $32 Million — The Georgetowner
NBA to return to China with multiyear deal in Macau — Reuters
15 min
December 11, 2024 (Preview) ‘Moderately Loose’ and Cautiously Stimulating; Nvidia Under Investigation; Broadening Export Bans; A TikTok Verdict and a Trump Prayer
Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the latest messaging from Beijing on efforts to stimulate the economy in 2025 and beyond. Topics include: Politburo language that echoes 2008, muted reactions from the mainland markets, why the ultimate policy decisions may not be made until the PRC has more clarity on Trump's intentions, and more. From there: Nvidia finds itself at the center of an antitrust probe, while the PRC restrictions on critical minerals are broader than initially thought, and drone components are now also being restricted from export to the US and Europe. At the end: Reviewing last Friday's verdict from the DC Circuit in TikTok v. Garland, and charting the next steps for TikTok and the Trump administration as January 19th approaches and TikTok faces a ban in the United States.
To email the show: [email protected]
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
December Politburo meeting ahead of the Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) — Sinocism
Politburo meeting and CEWC; Nvidia antitrust investigation; Trump and China; TikTok's narrowin path in US — Sinocism
China’s Politburo revives crisis-era language in pledge to bolster economy — SCMP
China loosens monetary policy stance for first time in 14 years — Financial Times
Nvidia Probed in China Over Possible Antimonopoly Violations — Wall Street Journal
Nvidia Is Now Too Powerful for Beijing to Constrain — New York Times
China’s Critical Minerals Embargo Is Even Tougher Than Expected — New York Times
Geopollutical Warfare — Doomberg
China Tightens Its Hold on Minerals Needed to Make Computer Chips — New York Times
China Is Cutting Off Drone Supplies Critical to Ukraine War Effort — Bloomberg
Unidentified Drones Light Up New Jersey’s Skies, Baffling Residents — New York Times
TIKTOK INC. AND BYTEDANCE LTD. V. MERRICK B. GARLAND — DC Circuit
Incoming national security adviser says Trump is 'ready to take big swings and do big things’ — Fox Business
Rep. Mike Waltz calls out the Biden campaign's TikTok account: 'They should be ashamed' — Fox News
Inside the Strange, Strained Courtship of Donald Trump and Mega-Donor Jeff Yass — Vanity Fair
Big Republican Donor Jeff Yass Owned Shares in Trump Media Merger Partner — New York Times
TikTok Hires Francisco And Mooppan For High Court Fight — Law360
13 min
December 04, 2024 Final Updates to the Biden Chip Controls; Peak Tough on China?; PLA and CEWC Speculation; More Trump Questions than Answers in Beijing
Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
On today’s show Andrew and Bill return from the holiday break with reactions to the latest round updates to the US export controls on semiconductors. Topics include: Why some think the updates are weaker than they should’ve been, takeaways from the past two years of chip controls, TikTok’s new hopes, and whether the U.S. has now passed the peak of tough-on-China policies. From there: The suspension of Admiral Miao Hua, member of the Central Military Commission and director of the Political Work Department of the PLA, reports (and denials) that Defense Minister Dong Jun is under investigation, and thoughts on the way into the CEWC after November comes and goes without a public announcement of a Politburo meeting. At the end: Trump threatens 100% tariffs over a BRICS currency that does not yet exist, Beijing continues to guess at Trump’s objectives with tariff policy, the latest on the US telecommunications hack, and good news for unfairly maligned grandmothers in the PRC.
To email the show: [email protected]
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
No mention of November Politburo meeting; US updates chip controls; Xi on the BRI; Lai in Hawaii; Miao Hua; US-China prisoner swap — Sinocism
CEWC; Reactions to chip controls; Studying Xi Thought on Culture — Sinocism
Commerce Strengthens Export Controls to Restrict China’s Capability to Produce Advanced Semiconductors for Military Applications — Bureau of Industry and Security
Biden tightens tech controls on China as clock ticks down — Washington Post
Biden’s Final Export Control Salvo Misfires — China Talk
The True Impact of Allied Export Controls on the U.S. and Chinese Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Industries — CSIS
How TikTok’s Trump Whisperer Changed Minds in Washington — Wall Street Journal
High-ranking military official in China suspended and placed under investigation — AP
China’s defence minister placed under investigation for corruption — Financial Times
China probes top officer discipline ‘violations’ — Financial Times
China's Top Leaders to Meet to Discuss Stimulus Plans, Economic Targets for 2025 — Bloomberg
Trump threatens 100% tariff on Brics nations if they try to replace dollar — BBC
Faced with Trump’s Tariff Outburst, Beijing is Looking For a Way In — Wall Street Journal
Emerging Details of Chinese Hack Leave U.S. Officials Increasingly Concerned — New York Times
China Tells Drama Creators: No More Evil Grandmothers — Sixth Tone
1 hr 6 min
November 20, 2024 (Preview) The Final Biden-Xi Meeting; PRC Messaging to the World; Mass Attacks and the Party Response; Trump Transition Updates
Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin by parsing the PRC readout from this weekend's meeting between XI Jinping and President Joe Biden, including the four red lines communicated by the PRC to the US, PRC language surrounding enhanced security ties between the US and pacific allies, and a farewell to the San Francisco vision. From there: Xi Jinping's message to APEC and the charm offensive planned for a Trump administration, China's calculus amid global climate initiatives, and extended thoughts on the recent mass casualties events around China and likely party responses. At the end: An update on the Trump transition, Howard Lutnick is picked to run the Commerce Department, and Apple and Google's calculus with respect to the TikTok law.
To email the show: [email protected]
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
Xi-Biden meeting; Xi at APEC and the G-20; PRC armed drones to Russia?; COP29; Another mass killing; Xi on population trends — Sinocism
Xi in Peru; Xinhua reporters find shoddy HSR construction; FT on Goldman's expensive China adventure — Sinocism
President Xi Jinping Meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Lima — MoFA
Full Text of Chinese president's written speech at APEC CEO Summit — Xinhua
US-China relations will depend on which Trump shows up — Financial Times
China’s Overcapacity Can Help the World — Project Syndicate
Chinese imports damage ‘dignity’ of Italian tomato, says Mutti chief — Wall Street Journal
Mass Attacks in China Prompt Censorship, Clampdown on Mourning — Wall Street Journal
The Sentinel State — Minxin Pei
China rushes to connect with potential Trump officials — Financial Times
Video SUV plowed into people outside Yong’an Primary School — X: @Byron_Wan
Doctor Strangelove - Doomsday Machine — YouTube
13 min
November 13, 2024 (Preview) Stabilization Measures and Export Questions; Taiwan Considers US Arms Purchase; TSMC Halts Advanced Chip Sales to China; Trump Tea Leaves and Cabinet Picks
Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.
Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with Friday's announcement from the NPC standing committee and more incremental stabilization measures from PRC leadership. Topics include: Foreign investors (again) hoping for more, "deepening reforms" and domestic consumption, the trade surplus with the US exceeds the trillion dollar threshold, and why attempts to build an alliance with the EU are unlikely to succeed. From there: Taiwan considers a big arms purchase as Trump prepares to take office, the Philippines aims to buy intermediate range missile launchers, and TSMC halts the sale of advanced chips to China. At the end: Trump's early cabinet picks, another report on Trump's plans for TikTok, the "reverse Nixon" dream, and Elon Musk's mother is a brand ambassador in the PRC.
To email the show: [email protected]
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
Fiscal stabilization package; Trade surplus; Philippines-PRC tensions; TSMC; Waltz to be National Security Advisor — Sinocism
China’s Stimulus Policies Now Put Emphasis on Consumption, Expert Says — Caixin
Exclusive - China presses Europe for anti-U.S. alliance on trade — Reuters (2018)
Ukraine war: EU’s next top envoy says China must pay ‘higher cost’ for backing Russia — SCMP
Taiwan considers big US defence purchases as overture to Donald Trump — Financial Times
Philippines aims to buy US missile launcher in move likely to anger China — Financial Times
TSMC to close door on producing advanced AI chips for China from Monday — Financial Times
Exclusive: US ordered TSMC to halt shipments to China of chips used in AI applications — Reuters
Donald Trump’s cabinet picks signal tougher stance on China — Financial Times
A Trump adviser on how the international economic system should change — The Economist
Beijing’s Worst Nightmare After Trump’s Win: a ‘Reverse Nixon’ — Wall Street Journal
Trump expected to try to halt TikTok ban, allies say — Washington Post
Maye Musk, the mother of Elon Musk, is now the global brand ambassador of AISE baobao — X: @Byron_Wan
Reverse ferret — Wikipedia
16 min