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    Show Notes:

    On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building and further signs that one year after from a summer of rumors and one year out from the 21st Party Congress, Xi’s power remains entrenched as ever. Then: MOFCOM and the Ministry of Finance announced restrictions on several dozen US firms, the global memory chip shortage is an opportunity for CXMT and YMTC, what to make of the U.S. government's scrutiny of ASML, and Elon Musk's alarmism at the West’s China vulnerabilities. At the end: Takeaways from the EU Council meeting on China, Germany's push for PRC currency revaluation, structural forces that yield EU inertia, and emails on Chinese soccer, space warfare, and the JIm Cramer of weather.

    Related Readings:

    Li Qiang inspects Dalian; Response to US expansion of China military companies list; Contaminated diapers; No “Plaza Accord” to help the EU; Invest in China -- Sinocism

    Introduction to the Main Entries in Volumes One and Two of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building -- Sinocism Translation

    Xi Jinping’s Thought on Party Building and the Four Major Changes in CCP Governance -- China Thought Express

    China Tightens Rare-Earth Grip on U.S. Firms, Threatening Trade Clash -- NYT

    Why the Memory Crunch Is Almost Impossible to Solve -- WSJ

    Loosening Export Controls on China’s Memory Chip Makers -- Jimmy Goodrich

    Memory Chips and China, Microsoft and Chinese Models -- Stratechery

    US senators increase pressure on Apple over possible Chinese chipmaker deal -- FT (2022)

    US Tells ASML It’s Concerned China May Have Top Chip Tool -- Bloomberg

    Netherlands to join US-led Pax Silica AI initiative despite ASML dispute -- Reuters

    Germany backs EU’s tough China line with call for ‘Plaza Accord’ talks on yuan -- SCMP

    The world does not need a new ‘Plaza Accord’: Global Times editorial -- Global Times

    Europe’s Final Warning -- Sharp Text

    Germany is wavering on China (again) -- Watching China in Europe

    Why China is so bad at football -- The Economist

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    Show Notes:

    On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with takeaways from Xi's visit to North Korea this week, including the conspicuous silence on North Korea's nuclearization, Kim Jong Un's assistance to Russia's war in Ukraine, Beijing as Kim's top priority, U.S.-Japan dialogue on regional nuclear threats, and an email about the PRC as a communist countr…

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  • This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall.

    Show Notes:

    On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with Xi Jinping's call to seize the commanding heights of science, technology, and industry across six industries of the future, as well as the State Council's move to release a 34-article law that will implicate domestic firms, foreign businesses and potentially foreign governments, as well as PRC financial institutions and individual investors. From there: Reactions to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's remarks at the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, why an absence of Taiwan mentions in his main speech is not necessarily seen in Beijing as a shift in policy, and questions regarding U.S. partnerships elsewhere in the region. At the end: The looming trade tensions between Europe and China, the expulsion of New York Times journalist Vivian Wang, the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacres, and Steph Curry's new endorsement deal with Li-Ning.

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    Related Readings:

    New regulations on outbound investment; Qiushi on future industries; Chip export control dysfunction; Shangri-La Dialogue; EU-China -- Sinocism

    Agricultural and rural modernization; Socialist political economy; UK-PRC; PRC media in Africa -- Sinocism

    China Tightens Rules on Outbound Investment in Fight for Global Tech Edge -- WSJ

    State Council Regulations on Outbound Investment -- Sinocism Translation

    China Expands Outbound Investment Rules to Cover Individuals -- Bloomberg

    Pete Hegseth says US-China ties are ‘better than in years’ -- FT

    Hegseth’s Message to Asian Partners: Do More to Get More -- NYT

    Japan’s defence minister Koizumi rejects China accusations of ‘new militarism’ -- FT

    Brussels fires starting gun on tougher China trade policy, as Beijing vows retaliation -- SCMP

    Watching China in Europe - June 2026 -- Noah Barkin

    After China Orders a Times Reporter to Leave the Country, the U.S. Reciprocates -- NYT

    Tiananmen Tonight Trailer -- Tiananmen Tonight

    Vandals break into Tiananmen crackdown museum in US, founder says -- Hong Kong Free Press

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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 the news that Beijing moved to further ease hukou restrictions, including why this is a welcome change for millions of Chinese citizens, as well as a look at questions and challenges as the reforms are implemented. Then: A report that Chinese AI talent has been restricted from leaving China, while Beijing continues its efforts to control capital outflow and offshore investments. From there: Indications that the US has indeed paused its second tranche of arms sales to Taiwan, and more details on a US-China board of investment. Then: PRC-Japan updates, including reports of Takaichi recriminations from Xi in his meeting with Trump, heavy rare earth shipments restricted for the past four months, the cards Japan has yet to play, and Mao's strategic stalemate as a stage of protracted war, not an endgame. At the end: An American journalist for Xinhua and other state outlets is arrested and accused of acting as an unregistered agent of the CCP.

    Related Readings:

    Wang Yi at the UN; American Xinhua “journalist” arrested; Keeping AI talent at home; Recalculating carbon intensity; Another WMP blowup -- Sinocism

    Xi meets Pakistan PM and Serbian President; Coal mine explosion; Delinking basic public services from hukou; Crackdown on overseas trading; AI -- Sinocism

    China removes hukou hurdle for migrant workers in social insurance shake-up -- SCMP

    China Expands Travel Curbs to Top AI Talent at Private Firms -- Bloomberg

    DeepSeek, a National Treasure in China, is Now Being Closely Guarded -- The Information (2025)

    China Traders Hit Exit After Offshore Trading Curbs -- Bloomberg

    Iran war, China thaw complicate U.S. support for Taiwan -- WaPo

    US warns Japan of severe delays in Tomahawk deliveries due to Iran war -- FT

    Pentagon official’s Beijing visit in doubt over $14bn US arms package for Taiwan -- FT

    Xi Jinping railed against Japan’s ‘remilitarisation’ at Donald Trump summit -- FT

    China squeezes Japan over rare earths in repeat of 2010 showdown -- Reuters

    Affidavit in Support of Criminal Complaint -- DOJ

    “I would make the world’s worst spy ever” -- Too Simple, Sometimes Naive

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

    Show Notes:

    On today's show Andrew and Bill parse the messaging from both sides of last week's US-China summit in Beijing. Topics include: What the PRC means by "a constructive relationship of strategic stability," why the US side adopted the framing as well, a relative absence of tangible deliverables, and why "a calculated stalling tactic from both sides designed to manage risk" may be a more accurate rendering of the status quo. From there: Trump's various comments on Taiwan spark concern and questions, plus notes on Rubio, Ratner, an indictment of Chinese shipping magnates, and an Iran ceasefire Xi calls "imperative." At the end: Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing, questions for the EU, and more bad news for Nvidia in China.

    Related Readings:

    US-China summit outcomes; Constructive relationship of strategic stability; Taiwan; Putin to Beijing; Li and Ding on AI -- Sinocism

    Putin arrives in Beijing; US indicts PRC container firms and executives; Developing Party members; Tracking foreigners -- Sinocism

    Two Readouts, One Deal -- Sinocism Chart

    CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Raul Castro’s grandson in Havana, US and Cuban officials say -- AP

    Rubio, Once a China Hawk, Strikes Softer Tone to Align With Trump -- NYT

    U.S. probing whether Chinese companies cut production of shipping containers before COVID pandemic -- CBS News

    Xi Warns Against Resuming Iran Attacks After Meeting Putin in Beijing -- Bloomberg

    Chaos erupts behind the scenes of Trump’s China trip — including trampled White House aide -- New York Post

    Joint Statement of the PRC and the Russian Federation on Further Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Coordination and Deepening Good-Neighborly and Friendly Cooperation

    Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Advocating Global Multipolarity and a New Type of International Relations

    Xi Jinping told Donald Trump that Putin might ‘regret’ invasion of Ukraine -- FT

    China banned Nvidia’s gaming chip during Jensen Huang’s visit -- FT

  • This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall.

    Show Notes:

    On today's show Andrew and Bill talk through 360 degrees of President Trump's trip to Beijing this week. Topics include: Jensen Huang hitching a ride in Alaska, general expectations for deliverables after limited leaks and hurried advance planning, Trump's reception in Beijing, and the limits of "upper hand" analysis. From there: A coterie of billionaire CEOs make the trip with Trump, a US Chamber of Commerce/Rhodium report warning about the PRC's industrial strategy, and Trump makes overtures about "opening" China. At the end: Questions on Taiwan arm sales and AI cooperation, the expected talks on Ezra Jin and Jimmy Lai, a trillion dollar investment report that went viral eight months later, Xi's calculus before a 21st Party Congress, the Iran question looming over the week's meetings, and big, fat hug speculation.

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    Related Readings:

    Trump China visit; China’s Next Generation Industrial Policy; Standardizing and developing AI agents; No more deflation?; Ding Xuexiang visits Huawei -- Sinocism

    Jensen Huang hitching a ride -- Emily Goodin on X

    A weakened Trump arrives at Xi’s court -- FT

    Trump on Opening China -- Truth Social

    Trump is taking more than a dozen U.S. executives to China. Jensen Huang isn’t one of them -- CNBC

    China expanding its industrial dominance, warns US business group -- FT

    China’s Next-Generation Industrial Policy -- Rhodium

    Donald Trump demands Xi Jinping ‘open’ China to US business -- FT

    Xi Is Poised to Press Trump on Arms Sales to Taiwan -- NYT

    U.S. and China Pursue Guardrails to Stop AI Rivalry From Spiraling Into Crisis -- WSJ

    Families of two Americans jailed in China urge Trump to seek their release -- Reuters

    Jimmy Lai is not forgotten as Trump goes to China -- WaPo

    US-China Relations Cannot Return to the Past, But Can Have a Better Future—On the Occasion of the China-US Heads of State Meeting—— - Guo Jiping -- People’s Daily (Sinocism Translation)

    Is Trump About to Invite In the Biggest Predator in the World? -- NYT

    Team Chyyyyyna -- Lara Trump on X

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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 the news that the Meta-Manus deal will likely be unwound in its entirety in the wake of a ruling from the NDRC on Monday. Topics include: The legal grounding cited by Beijing, reports that Manus failed to seek regulatory approval prior to its relocation and acquisition, Mark Zuckerberg as the photo negative of Tim Cook, Beijing’s signal to the AI ecosystem, and why fears of chilled innovation may be slightly overstated. Then: Takeaways from April’s Politburo assessing the economy after Q1, including a nod to the Iran war, no signs of stimulus, and why cracking down on involution is easier said than done. At the end: The MSS argues that foreign forces are driving the “lying flat” campaign, while the U.S. quietly applies pressure on a variety of fronts in advance of May’s meeting between President Trump and Xi Jinping.

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

    Show Notes:

    On today's show Andrew and Bill return to discuss the PRC's posture amidst the ongoing war in Iran. Topics include: Xi's call to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, an interdicted Iranian ship that may have been carrying missile precursors from China, Trump's posture toward China three weeks before his summit in Beijing, March export numbers, and …

  • 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 the tentative ceasefire in Iran and reports that the PRC applied pressure to the Iranians to defuse the tensions. Topics include: The lack of clarity on what the PRC actually did and why, China's vote at the UN this week, why the PRC would like the war to end sooner rather than later, and relationsh…

  • 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.

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    Related Readings:

    China-Pakistan Iran peace initiative; PBoC monetary committee meeting; US-China; ZXMOTO; Taxes wanted -- Sinocism

    KMT Chairwoman to visit China; Li Qiang on Xiong’an; March Politburo meeting; Beijing bans drones; WDO, SAMR on involution -- Sinocism

    China, Pakistan Issue Joint Call for Peace, Reopening Hormuz -- Bloomberg

    A brief history of China’s X-point plans for the Middle East -- China-Mena Newsletter

    Will China be the real winner from the Iran war? -- The Economist

    A blueprint for Chinese global leadership -- Financial Times

    Secret Codes and Yuan Fees Get Ships Through Iran’s Hormuz Tollbooth -- Bloomberg

    Chinese analysis on the war in Iran -- China Mena Newsletter

    Trump plans May visit to China for talks with Xi after Iran war delay -- Reuters

    Trump-Xi summit: US trade chief casts doubt on pre-meeting Beijing visit -- SCMP

    Taiwan’s opposition leader to visit China next month, ahead of Trump -- Reuters

    Exclusive: Huawei’s new AI chip finds favour with ByteDance, Alibaba which plan to place orders, sources say -- Reuters

    China reviews $2bn Manus sale to Meta as founders barred from leaving country -- Financial Times

    Chinese startup ZXMOTO wins big at superbike championship -- China Daily

    From Repair Shop to World Podium: Chinese Biker Goes Viral After Historic Win -- Sixth Tone

    To add the Sharp China feed to your preferred podcast player:

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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 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 -- Sinocism

    Wang Yi speaks with Iranian counterpart; Japan-China; Router ban; Hong Kong bookstore owner arrested; Poyang Lake dam -- Sinocism

    Three Charged with Conspiring to Unlawfully Divert Cutting Edge U.S. Artificial Intelligence Technology to China -- DOJ

    US must suspend Nvidia AI chip exports to China, senators say -- Financial Times

    China acquired recently banned Nvidia chips in Super Micro, Dell servers, tenders show -- Reuters

    A Mystery C.E.O. and Billions in Sales: Is China Buying Banned Nvidia Chips? -- NYT

    The Big Hack: How China Used a Tiny Chip to Infiltrate U.S. Companies -- Bloomberg

    Feng 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 -- Politico

    Chinese Founder of Router-Maker TP-Link Seeks a Trump Gold Card -- Bloomberg

    FCC Bans Wireless Router Imports, Citing Security Concerns -- Bloomberg

    China Ramps Up Scrutiny of a Meta A.I. Deal -- NYT

    US-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.com

    Show 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…

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    Show 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.

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    Related Readings:

    Reactions to the US-Israel attack on Iran; Prepping for the Two Sessions; Science and technology insurance -- Sinocism

    Reactions to Iran war; US-China; Two Sessions; DeepSeek and Qwen -- Sinocism

    China Calls on All Sides to Protect Ships Transiting Hormuz -- Bloomberg

    What’s behind China’s careful response to its ally Iran after US-Israel strikes? -- SCMP

    Taiwan Arms Sale Approved by Congress Is Delayed as Trump Plans Visit to Beijing -- NYT

    Inside the plan to kill Ali Khamenei -- FT

    What to Watch at China’s Two Sessions in 2026 -- Center for China Analysis

    Alibaba AI Whiz Who Warned of US-China Tech Gap Steps Down -- Bloomberg

    DeepSeek to release long-awaited AI model in new challenge to US rivals -- FT

    Detecting and preventing distillation attacks -- Anthropic

    Exclusive: China’s DeepSeek trained AI model on Nvidia’s best chip despite US ban, official says

    Husband of Labour MP among three arrested on suspicion of spying for China -- The Guardian

    To add the Sharp China feed to your preferred podcast player:

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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 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.

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    Related Readings:

    Jimmy Lai sentenced; Xi on Sci-tech self-reliance; Japan elections; US-China; Nanjing Museum case; AI propaganda -- Sinocism

    Xi’s Beijing inspection; Li on rare earths; Hong Kong white paper; Taiwan Affairs Work Conference; PBoC report -- Sinocism

    China warns US arms sales to Taiwan could threaten Trump visit in April -- FT

    China steps up dangerous air encounters near Taiwan -- FT

    China critic and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai is sentenced to 20 years in a Hong Kong security case -- AP

    Exclusive | China rallies neighbours against Japan in rare meeting. Will it work? -- SCMP

    UK, UN and EU deplore ‘monumental injustice’ of Jimmy Lai’s 20-year jail sentence -- The Guardian

    Japan’s Leader Wins in a Landslide, Clearing Way for Hard-Line Agenda -- NYT

    How Japan’s Leader Rescued Her Party from the Abyss -- NYT

    Tokens of AI Bias -- China Media Project

    Chinese artificial intelligence distorts perceptions -- Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service

    Activist father of U.S. Olympian Alysa Liu targeted by Chinese spy ring -- AP

    Who 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.

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    Related Readings:

    Uruguay President in China; Document No. 1; Development of future industries; Building a financial power; Fighting deflation; Zhang Youxia; 2026 GDP -- Sinocism

    Xi meets Starmer; Services consumption work plan; Soccer corruption; Nvidia and China -- Sinocism

    Ruptures in China’s Leadership Could Be Due to Paranoia and Power Plays -- NYT

    China’s Xi, Now Alone Atop His Military, Is the Sole Voice in Tackling Taiwan -- WSJ

    The Unsettling Implications of Xi’s Military Purge -- Foreign Affairs

    Xi the Destroyer -- Foreign Affairs

    The Scorpion and the Frogs -- Sharp Text

    LIVE with Bill Bishop: The world order is shifting — and China is moving fast to shape it. -- Sinocism

    Been spendin’ most their lives livin’ in the free trade paradise -- China Articles

    Follow the Path of Financial Development with Chinese Characteristics and Build a Strong Financial Nation -- Quishi

    Xi 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 -- Bloomberg

    Taiwan launches firepower hub with US as Beijing steps up military pressure -- SCMP

    Trump to Launch $12 Billion Critical Mineral Stockpile to Blunt Reliance on China -- Bloomberg

    China Loses a Foothold in Panama -- WSJ

    China Warns Panama of ‘Heavy Price’ on Court Ruling on Ports -- Bloomberg

    Nvidia AI chip sales to China stalled by US security review -- FT

    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.



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    Show 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 -- Sinocism

    Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli case; National Conference on Science and Technology; Slow bull market; UK PM to China; US NDS -- Sinocism

    Xi Jinping’s purge of top general sends China’s military into uncharted waters -- FT

    Gutian Congress -- Wikipedia

    China’s Top General Accused of Giving Nuclear Secrets to U.S. -- WSJ

    Xi Seeks ‘Total Control’ of Military With Purge, Perdue Says -- Bloomberg

    The demise of Zhang Youxia hits different -- Drew Thompson

    The Zhang Youxia case - Sinocism Live with Bill Bishop and Drew Thompson

    China Approves Purchases of Nvidia’s H200 Chip, Easing Tension With U.S. -- WSJ

    China, US sign off on TikTok US spinoff -- Semafor

  • 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 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.com

    Show 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 -- Sinocism

    CCDI Plenum opens; Rare earths exports to Japan get rarer; EU-China EV progress; Canadian PM’s visit to China -- Sinocism

    Trump Risks Imploding China Trade Truce With Iran Tariff Vow -- Bloomberg

    Trump’s Venezuela Oil Grab Pushes Chinese Refiners to Canada -- Bloomberg

    Carney visit chance for Canada to repair ties: China Daily editorial -- China Daily

    Caught Between Superpowers, Canada Seeks a New Path in Beijing -- NYT

    China’s ‘Are You Dead?’ app checks in on growing cohort of people living alone -- FT

    China’s Viral Are You Dead? App to Go Global Under New Name -- Yicai Global

    US Clears Path for Nvidia to Sell H200s to China Via New Rule -- Bloomberg

    Beijing Restricts Nvidia’s H200 Purchase, Banning the Chips From Entering China -- The Information

    Exclusive: China’s customs agents told Nvidia’s H200 chips are not permitted, sources say -- Reuters

    US 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.

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    Related Readings:

    China’s Venezuela Calculations; Real Estate Market Expectations; December Politburo and Democratic Life Meetings; Museum Scandal; 2026 Propaganda Tasks -- Sinocism

    Tightening 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” -- Sinocism

    What Trump’s Ousting of Venezuela’s Maduro Means for China -- Bloomberg

    US capture of Maduro tests limits of China’s diplomatic push -- Reuters

    Trump 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 -- FT

    The U.S. Venezuela Operation Will Harden China’s Security Calculation -- Carnegie Endowment

    Trump’s Enormous C-Length Win over China -- Collapse Intelligence Agency

    Chinese refiners expected to replace Venezuelan oil with Iranian crude, traders say -- Reuters

    China’s Threat to Block Rare Earths Has Put Japan on High Alert -- NYT

    Inside China’s Six-Decade Campaign to Dominate Rare Earths -- NYT

    Exclusive: Nvidia sounds out TSMC on new H200 chip order as China demand jumps, sources say -- Reuters

    China Tells Tech Companies to Halt Nvidia H200 Chip Orders -- The Information

    China reviews Meta’s $2bn purchase of AI start-up Manus -- FT

    The Smear Campaign Against Guan Heng: A Transnational Repression Operation From the CCP’s External Propaganda Machine -- Humans Rights in China

    Breaking news: Another “#China shock” -- Chinese Embassy to the US

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