Starbucks recently announced that it's looking to sell part of its stake in its China operations, and is looking for a domestic partner to help boost the company's profile. This comes at a time when a host of foreign firms are seemingly struggling in China after years of riding the wave of the rising middle class. What are the main factors leading to these struggles? What are these brands missing? And what can they do to reverse their fortunes?

Chapters 
(00:00) Introduction - The Starbucks Story
(05:45) Changes in the Chinese consumer market
(09:00) Foreign brands history in China
(20:15) Localisation and the sinking market in China
(30:45) Chinese brands go global

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A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c  9th June. We look at how rare earth minerals may be the deciding factor in this trade war and potentially all trade wars to come. We look at an interview with Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei who states that Chinese chips are still behind the US and more 'basic research' is needed'. And we catch up with some of the latest developments in Hong Kong regarding the national security law.

Links: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-says-china-will-supply-rare-earths-us-allow-students-2025-06-11/

https://substack.com/home/post/p-165729238

https://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/pc/content/202506/10/content_30078133.html

 https://substack.com/home/post/p-165599519

https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/jun/11/hong-kong-police-taiwan-mobile-games-reversed-front

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3313909/english-lessons-hong-kong-primary-schools-cover-national-security?utm_source=rss_feed

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We take a thorough look at the nature of soft power, how it can be used, and whether or not a country truly needs it to explore China's soft power deficit and what can be done to fix it. While China does have SOME soft power, arguably its lack of the charm of its neighbours and rivals means its culture and ideology is often met with suspicion or outright rejection. This can lead to difficulties when interacting on the global stage, for example when it comes to pandemic management, border relations, or the promotion of language and culture. Do small wins like the success of the video game Black myth: Wukong present a way out for China's cultural tzars? Or is the hand of the state just too heavy to allow the organic spread of a rich cultural heritage that has the potential to bring China into a new era of prestige and attractiveness?

Chapters 
(00:00) Introduction - South Korea's soft power boom
(04:50) What is soft power?
(17:22) How soft power can be used and the failure of Confucius Institutes
(26:52) Does China need or want soft power?
(41:25) Consequences of China's lack of soft power
(47:50) Missed soft power opportunities
(52:45) Black Myth: Wukong and a potential new era of Chinese soft power

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A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 2nd June. China accuses the US of trying to reverse the temporary trade truce in place, affecting the future of Chinese students in the US. Also, China's twist on Klarna and why the UK is choosing to 

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Links: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/29/us-revoke-chinese-student-visas

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/02/china-us-trade-war-truce-donald-trump

https://www.economist.com/china/2025/05/29/chinas-crazy-reverse-credit-cards

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c071jr159p0o

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A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 12th May. Will China be the main beneficiary of the clashes between India and Pakistan? Also, we find out where all those stolen iPhones end up, and whether or not China replacing the US as a global health leader is a good thing or a bad thing. 

Links: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3311270/china-urges-trust-cooperation-pakistan-afghanistan-regional-tensions-mount

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1w3dln352vo

https://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-accuse-pakistan-of-sowing-distrust-between-afghanistan-china-/7638230.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/mobile-phone-theft-london-met-police-b2693476.html

https://www.wral.com/news/state/charlotte-woman-tracks-stolen-iphone-china-may-2025/

https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/21/many-iphones-stolen-in-the-us-and-europe-end-up-in-one-building-in-china/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/21/china-who-donation-500-million/?utm_source=reddit.com

https://chinahealthpulse.substack.com/p/no-china-wont-replace-usaid-but-here

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In January of this year, Chinese actor Wang Xing went viral after being kidnapped in Thailand having travelled for what he thought was a job opportunity, only to be rescued after his girlfriend made a post begging for the authorities to help. After a 4 day ordeal, Wang made a dramatic TV appearance alongside Thai police, with his head shaved but otherwise seemingly unscathed.

Wang’s case shed light on an issue that had been getting little coverage in the national press. To date, over 3,000 Chinese nationals are being held in scam compounds in Southeast Asian nations like Cambodia and Laos, many of them run by other Chinese nationals. What caused the rise of these scam centres? How do they target Chinese white collar workers? Why is the Chinese government not doing anything to shut these operations down?

Let's explore the world of sprawling forced labour compounds in Southeast Asia, their ties to local governments and police, and how they're getting rich in crypto scams targeting pensioners in pig-butchering schemes around the world.

Chapters 
(00:00) Introduction
(04:00) The rise of scams around the world
(06:09) SE Asian scam centres and their targets
(21:45) The rise of the scam centres and pig-butchering scams
(33:00) No justice, no peace of mind

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A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 12th May. We discuss the outcome of the China-US tariff deal and how no one in China seems to really care. Starbucks is losing out to domestic coffee brands as its lack of strategy and reliance of hollow premium branding fall flat. Also, Xi's success with Latin American and Caribbean countries, and China's role in the India-Pakistan dispute.

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Links: https://www.economist.com/china/2025/05/13/a-great-trade-victory-over-america-is-being-celebrated-in-china

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334079.shtml

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202505/15/WS682520e7a310a04af22bf58c.html

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3310407/starbucks-kicks-process-sell-stake-its-sprawling-china-business-growth-stalls?utm_source=rss_feed

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/chagee-mixue-luckin-china-chains-global-success-5086271

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202505/15/WS68252021a310a04af22bf57a.html

https://fortune.com/asia/2025/05/14/colombia-joins-beijing-belt-road-initiative-china-us-fight-control-latin-america/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/14/pakistans-use-of-j-10c-jets-and-missiles-exposes-potency-of-chinese-arms

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Apologies for the late upload for this one!

A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 5th May. We discuss the upcoming scheduled talks between US and Chinese representatives in Switzerland to move towards a resolution on the trade war, as well as Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow ahead of the Victory Day parade.

Links: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/08/xi-jinping-vladimir-putin-china-russia-kremlin

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3309454/xi-jinpings-russia-visit-balances-symbolism-and-strategy-europe-watches?utm_source=rss_feed

https://merics.org/en/china-russia-dashboard-facts-and-figures-special-relationship#:~:text=China%2DRussia%20trade%20has%20surged%20since%20Ukraine%20invasion,-Development%20of%20monthly&text=In%202024%2C%20total%20trade%20reached,the%20types%20of%20goods%20traded.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8rgrejkvmjo

https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-signals-china-initiated-planned-trade-meeting-2025-05-07/

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3309589/how-chinas-self-sufficiency-drive-dividing-global-tech-ecosystem?utm_source=rss_feed&firstTimeRegister=true

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3309569/huawei-unveils-first-laptop-running-self-developed-harmonyos-windows-licence-expires

https://www.valueadded.tech/p/industrial-policy-for-the-knowledge

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A discussion of trending China news articles published in w/c 28th April. We discuss the CIA's attempt to recuit spies in the Chinese government, China's plans for an AI dominated future, and why China is annoying South Korea once again.

#china #chinanews #AI #USChina

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This is a rant video about the 'expert' 'analysis' coverage of the China-US trade war/tariff skirmish. There is no analysis or even coherent thought process here. This is basically just my train of thought about why it's a bad idea to try and predict the future. I try and relate it to Fukuyama as well, I don't know, just listen and have your own opinions.

"The End of History?" Francis Fukuyama: https://pages.ucsd.edu/~bslantchev/courses/pdf/Fukuyama%20-%20End%20of%20History.pdf

Chapters 
(00:00) Introduction
(04:26) How is any of this relevant to tariffs?
(10:48) Pro-US and Pro-China analyses are equally bad
(21:10) All articles are the same info with a different conclusion

#china #tariffwar #chinausrelations 

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