Sharp China Podcast

This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall. Show Notes: On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with thoughts on China's response to the war in Iran, including a peace plan co-authored with Pakistan, why the PRC is not necessarily interested in global leadership, how China sees a deepening U.S. rift with NATO countries, and President Trump's visit to Beijing rescheduled for May 14th. From there: Context for the KMT Chair's visit to China later this month, reactions to a Reuters report on Huawei's latest AI chips, while the Financial Times reports that both Manus co-founders have been banned from leaving China. At the end: ZXMOTO steals the show at the World Superbike Championship and Zhang Xue introduces himself to the world.You can listen to the podcast in the app:Or click here for instructions to add the podcast to your preferred player. To subscribe to Sinocism, click here.To subscribe to Stratechery, click here.And if you enjoy this podcast please share it far and wide:Related Readings:China-Pakistan Iran peace initiative; PBoC monetary committee meeting; US-China; ZXMOTO; Taxes wanted -- SinocismKMT Chairwoman to visit China; Li Qiang on Xiong’an; March Politburo meeting; Beijing bans drones; WDO, SAMR on involution -- SinocismChina, Pakistan Issue Joint Call for Peace, Reopening Hormuz -- BloombergA brief history of China’s X-point plans for the Middle East -- China-Mena NewsletterWill China be the real winner from the Iran war? -- The EconomistA blueprint for Chinese global leadership -- Financial TimesSecret Codes and Yuan Fees Get Ships Through Iran’s Hormuz Tollbooth -- BloombergChinese analysis on the war in Iran -- China Mena NewsletterTrump plans May visit to China for talks with Xi after Iran war delay -- ReutersTrump-Xi summit: US trade chief casts doubt on pre-meeting Beijing visit -- SCMPTaiwan’s opposition leader to visit China next month, ahead of Trump -- ReutersExclusive: Huawei’s new AI chip finds favour with ByteDance, Alibaba which plan to place orders, sources say -- ReutersChina reviews $2bn Manus sale to Meta as founders barred from leaving country -- Financial TimesChinese startup ZXMOTO wins big at superbike championship -- China DailyFrom Repair Shop to World Podium: Chinese Biker Goes Viral After Historic Win -- Sixth ToneTo 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.comShow Notes:On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with last week's indictment of Wally Liaw, the co-founder of Super Micro, and its implications for US chip policy. Topics include: Incredible details from the indictment, US enforcement options, and bipartisan calls for government action on Nvidia exports to China and Southeast Asia. Then: Xi takes three Standing Committee members and three other Politburo members to inspect the progress at Xiong'an, signaling continued commitment to the "new area" 60 miles south of Beijing. At the end: Reports that the US visit to China is delayed indefinitely, the PRC's delicate diplomatic calculus as the Iran war continues, and tech news on Manus, Apple, OpenClaw, and an FCC ban on routers.Related Readings:Xi inspects Xiong’an; China Development Forum; Iran; Nvidia chip smuggling; SOE rules; Sleeping fish -- SinocismWang Yi speaks with Iranian counterpart; Japan-China; Router ban; Hong Kong bookstore owner arrested; Poyang Lake dam -- SinocismThree Charged with Conspiring to Unlawfully Divert Cutting Edge U.S. Artificial Intelligence Technology to China -- DOJUS must suspend Nvidia AI chip exports to China, senators say -- Financial TimesChina acquired recently banned Nvidia chips in Super Micro, Dell servers, tenders show -- ReutersA Mystery C.E.O. and Billions in Sales: Is China Buying Banned Nvidia Chips? -- NYTThe Big Hack: How China Used a Tiny Chip to Infiltrate U.S. Companies -- BloombergFeng Shui: between spirituality and state legitimation -- Sinocities从风水角度看雄安新区背后玄机，关乎千年国运！- 新浪财经重磅！雄安新区“风水格局”首次曝光，中轴线竟然对着……Trump-Xi summit on hold until Iran conflict ends, people briefed say -- PoliticoChinese Founder of Router-Maker TP-Link Seeks a Trump Gold Card -- BloombergFCC Bans Wireless Router Imports, Citing Security Concerns -- BloombergChina Ramps Up Scrutiny of a Meta A.I. Deal -- NYTUS-China; PRC-Vietnam; H200s; China cuts the “Apple tax”; Chinese Modernization and 15th Five-Year Plan -- Sinocism

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.comShow Notes: On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the news that President Trump has postponed his visit to Beijing amid the war in Iran, including why a delay made sense for both sides, a “Board of Trade” proposal amid signs of stability in Paris, and the uncertainty that pervades on both sides as the war in Iran continues. From there: Reactions to…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.comShow Notes: On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the frenzy surrounding OpenClaw in China, including Beijing's response, security concerns, liability questions, an object lesson in the Chinese market, and why Tencent looks like a potential winner as regulatory issues are sorted in the months to come. From there: Reports that Beijing is unhappy wit…

This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall. Show Notes: On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the war in Iran and its implications for the PRC. Topics include: Upsides and downsides for China, why US strategy was likely related to Iran and not the PRC, questions about the Strait of Hormuz, the Iran partnership and PRC global leadership, implications for Taiwan, why a Beijing visit from Donald Trump remains likely, and yet another US war in the Middle East… From there: What to watch for at the Two Sessions this week, an exodus at Alibaba, waiting for a new DeepSeek model, and distillation alarm at American AI labs. At the end: Another spy scandal engulfs Labour in the UK, and fun facts about Spider-Man: No Way Home and its failure to clear $2 billion worldwide.You can listen to the podcast in the app:Or click here for instructions to add the podcast to your preferred player. To subscribe to Sinocism, click here.To subscribe to Stratechery, click here.And if you enjoy this podcast please share it far and wide:Related Readings:Reactions to the US-Israel attack on Iran; Prepping for the Two Sessions; Science and technology insurance -- SinocismReactions to Iran war; US-China; Two Sessions; DeepSeek and Qwen -- Sinocism China Calls on All Sides to Protect Ships Transiting Hormuz -- BloombergWhat’s behind China’s careful response to its ally Iran after US-Israel strikes? -- SCMPTaiwan Arms Sale Approved by Congress Is Delayed as Trump Plans Visit to Beijing -- NYTInside the plan to kill Ali Khamenei -- FTWhat to Watch at China’s Two Sessions in 2026 -- Center for China AnalysisAlibaba AI Whiz Who Warned of US-China Tech Gap Steps Down -- BloombergDeepSeek to release long-awaited AI model in new challenge to US rivals -- FTDetecting and preventing distillation attacks -- AnthropicExclusive: China’s DeepSeek trained AI model on Nvidia’s best chip despite US ban, official saysHusband of Labour MP among three arrested on suspicion of spying for China -- The GuardianTo 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.comShow Notes:On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the reports that the PRC is threatening to scuttle Trump’s visit to Beijing over a second arms package from the U.S. to Taiwan, including thoughts on next moves from the U.S., how this arms shipment happened, and the PLA’s dangerous aerial maneuvers around Taiwan. From there: Reactions to the news that Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in Hong Kong prison, a State Council white paper on “One Country Two Systems,” and Sanae Takaichi’s party secures a supermajority in Japan three months after the PRC’s pressure campaign over her Taiwan comments. At the end: The propaganda value of AI models, and a word about hockey and the Winter Olympics.Click here for instructions to add the podcast to your preferred player. Or listen to it in the appGet more from Bill Bishop in the Substack appAvailable for iOS and AndroidGet the appRelated Readings:Jimmy Lai sentenced; Xi on Sci-tech self-reliance; Japan elections; US-China; Nanjing Museum case; AI propaganda -- SinocismXi’s Beijing inspection; Li on rare earths; Hong Kong white paper; Taiwan Affairs Work Conference; PBoC report -- SinocismChina warns US arms sales to Taiwan could threaten Trump visit in April -- FTChina steps up dangerous air encounters near Taiwan -- FTChina critic and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai is sentenced to 20 years in a Hong Kong security case -- APExclusive | China rallies neighbours against Japan in rare meeting. Will it work? -- SCMPUK, UN and EU deplore ‘monumental injustice’ of Jimmy Lai’s 20-year jail sentence -- The GuardianJapan’s Leader Wins in a Landslide, Clearing Way for Hard-Line Agenda -- NYTHow Japan’s Leader Rescued Her Party from the Abyss -- NYTTokens of AI Bias -- China Media ProjectChinese artificial intelligence distorts perceptions -- Estonian Foreign Intelligence ServiceActivist father of U.S. Olympian Alysa Liu targeted by Chinese spy ring -- APWho is Alysa Liu, Team USA’s alt-girl figure skater who just won an Olympic gold medal? -- Yahoo! Sports

This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall. Show Notes: On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with follow-up thoughts on the purges at the top of the PLA, including reactions to a New York Times piece on Xi’s “paranoia,” answers that have yet to materialize, He Weidong suicide rumors, and various theories on what any of this might signal. From there: Keir Starmer’s trip to Beijing, caution before drawing too many conclusions from the recent steps from Canada and the U.K., and a flurry of stories about Xi's ambitions for the RMB as a global reserve currency. At the end: Parsing the readouts from a surprise Trump-Xi call Wednesday, why Taiwan arms sales may have been at issue, the U.S. gets serious about critical minerals, Panama deals a blow to China, and Nvidia’s H200 adventures head to the State Department.You can listen to the podcast in the app:Or click here for instructions to add the podcast to your preferred player. To subscribe to Sinocism, click here.To subscribe to Stratechery, click here.And if you enjoy this podcast please share it far and wide:Related Readings:Uruguay President in China; Document No. 1; Development of future industries; Building a financial power; Fighting deflation; Zhang Youxia; 2026 GDP -- SinocismXi meets Starmer; Services consumption work plan; Soccer corruption; Nvidia and China -- SinocismRuptures in China’s Leadership Could Be Due to Paranoia and Power Plays -- NYTChina’s Xi, Now Alone Atop His Military, Is the Sole Voice in Tackling Taiwan -- WSJThe Unsettling Implications of Xi’s Military Purge -- Foreign AffairsXi the Destroyer -- Foreign AffairsThe Scorpion and the Frogs -- Sharp TextLIVE with Bill Bishop: The world order is shifting — and China is moving fast to shape it. -- SinocismBeen spendin’ most their lives livin’ in the free trade paradise -- China ArticlesFollow the Path of Financial Development with Chinese Characteristics and Build a Strong Financial Nation -- QuishiXi speaks with Putin and then Trump; Us convenes critical minerals meeting; H200 sales in limbo; Document No.1 explained - Sinocism Trump, Xi Hold Call as China Warns on Taiwan Arms Sales -- BloombergTaiwan launches firepower hub with US as Beijing steps up military pressure -- SCMPTrump to Launch $12 Billion Critical Mineral Stockpile to Blunt Reliance on China -- BloombergChina Loses a Foothold in Panama -- WSJChina Warns Panama of ‘Heavy Price’ on Court Ruling on Ports -- BloombergNvidia AI chip sales to China stalled by US security review -- FTTo 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.comShow Notes:On today’s show Andrew and Bill react to the news that the rumors were true, and CMC members Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are under investigation for corruption. Topics include: The timing of the announcement from the Defense Ministry, why this weekend’s news inspired such a volume of reactions around the world, a history of Xi’s crackdowns on the PLA, questions about rumors of a coup against Xi, reports that Zhang Youxia was working with the U.S., the PLA corruption heyday and its implications for what might come next, and various ways to think about the implications for Taiwan. At the end: The first batch of H-200s is approved for purchase, and the TikTok sale is approved as users lash out with censorship claims.Related Readings:PLA purges intensify: Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli under investigation -- SinocismZhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli case; National Conference on Science and Technology; Slow bull market; UK PM to China; US NDS -- SinocismXi Jinping’s purge of top general sends China’s military into uncharted waters -- FTGutian Congress -- WikipediaChina’s Top General Accused of Giving Nuclear Secrets to U.S. -- WSJXi Seeks ‘Total Control’ of Military With Purge, Perdue Says -- BloombergThe demise of Zhang Youxia hits different -- Drew ThompsonThe Zhang Youxia case - Sinocism Live with Bill Bishop and Drew ThompsonChina Approves Purchases of Nvidia’s H200 Chip, Easing Tension With U.S. -- WSJChina, US sign off on TikTok US spinoff -- Semafor

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.comShow Notes:On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with reactions to a new “strategic partnership” between China and Canada, including thoughts on fissures in the West that are a win for China, Prime Minister Carney’s “new world order” comments, U.S. rhetoric that created the conditions for a thaw and why this direction could be a decision Canadians come …

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.comShow Notes:On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the instability in Iran, including thoughts on Trump's Truth Social post threatening 25% tariffs on Iran trade partners, why that threat is unlikely to materialize as additional US tariffs on Chinese goods, and the PRC's concerns about oil access, investments, and regional stability as the situation continues to evolve in Tehran. From there: Chinese refiners eye Canadian crude oil, Prime Minister Mark Carney visits Beijing and seeks Canadian export markets beyond the US, and a China Daily editorial celebrates the opportunity and urges the Canadians to the root causes of previous setbacks in bilateral relations. At the end: The "Are You Dead?" app dominates Apple's App Store in China, new regulations and new reporting on the H200 saga, the US updates its Chinese drone policy, and the CCDI highlights another possible area of US-China convergence.Related Readings:CCDI; H200s; US-China; Zhong Caiwen; Short newsletter today -- SinocismCCDI Plenum opens; Rare earths exports to Japan get rarer; EU-China EV progress; Canadian PM’s visit to China -- SinocismTrump Risks Imploding China Trade Truce With Iran Tariff Vow -- BloombergTrump’s Venezuela Oil Grab Pushes Chinese Refiners to Canada -- BloombergCarney visit chance for Canada to repair ties: China Daily editorial -- China DailyCaught Between Superpowers, Canada Seeks a New Path in Beijing -- NYTChina’s ‘Are You Dead?’ app checks in on growing cohort of people living alone -- FTChina’s Viral Are You Dead? App to Go Global Under New Name -- Yicai GlobalUS Clears Path for Nvidia to Sell H200s to China Via New Rule -- BloombergBeijing Restricts Nvidia’s H200 Purchase, Banning the Chips From Entering China -- The InformationExclusive: China’s customs agents told Nvidia’s H200 chips are not permitted, sources say -- ReutersUS government abandons plan to blacklist Chinese-made drones -- SCMP

This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall. Show Notes: On today’s show Andrew and Bill return from the holidays and begin with the PRC’s reaction to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. Topics include: PRC outrage and embarrassment, the propaganda value of the U.S. disregard for international law, oil questions, why most of the Taiwan takes were misplaced, looming tension at the Panama Canal, and Iran as a wildcard. From there: A Ministry of Commerce directive on rare earths for Japan, and questions about how this standoff might end. At the end: A report that PRC companies have been asked pause purchases of the H200 chips, thoughts on the Manus-Meta deal and a review in Beijing, and a recorded recruiting call offers a window into how CCP propaganda works in the modern era.You can listen to the podcast in the app:Or click here for instructions to add the podcast to your preferred player. To subscribe to Sinocism, click here.To subscribe to Stratechery, click here.And if you enjoy this podcast please share it far and wide:Related Readings:China’s Venezuela Calculations; Real Estate Market Expectations; December Politburo and Democratic Life Meetings; Museum Scandal; 2026 Propaganda Tasks -- SinocismTightening export controls on dual-use items to Japan and threatening rare earths export licenses; Stock market on a roll; Influencers to help improve “international communication” -- SinocismWhat Trump’s Ousting of Venezuela’s Maduro Means for China -- BloombergUS capture of Maduro tests limits of China’s diplomatic push -- ReutersTrump demands Venezuela kick out China and Russia, partner only with US on oil: Exclusive -- ABC‘China is not Cuba’s sugar daddy’: ties between communist nations weaken -- FTThe U.S. Venezuela Operation Will Harden China’s Security Calculation -- Carnegie EndowmentTrump’s Enormous C-Length Win over China -- Collapse Intelligence AgencyChinese refiners expected to replace Venezuelan oil with Iranian crude, traders say -- ReutersChina’s Threat to Block Rare Earths Has Put Japan on High Alert -- NYTInside China’s Six-Decade Campaign to Dominate Rare Earths -- NYTExclusive: Nvidia sounds out TSMC on new H200 chip order as China demand jumps, sources say -- ReutersChina Tells Tech Companies to Halt Nvidia H200 Chip Orders -- The InformationChina reviews Meta’s $2bn purchase of AI start-up Manus -- FTThe Smear Campaign Against Guan Heng: A Transnational Repression Operation From the CCP’s External Propaganda Machine -- Humans Rights in ChinaBreaking news: Another “#China shock” -- Chinese Embassy to the USTo 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.comShow Notes:On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with takeaways from the Central Economic Work Conference, including the latest push to stimulate domestic demand, why consumption is intertwined with security, speculation surrounding Politburo member Ma Xingrui, and a reminder that many of the economic challenges facing China remain intertwined with poli…