Sharp China Podcast

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 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 -- SinocismIntroduction to the Main Entries in Volumes One and Two of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building -- Sinocism TranslationXi Jinping’s Thought on Party Building and the Four Major Changes in CCP Governance -- China Thought ExpressChina Tightens Rare-Earth Grip on U.S. Firms, Threatening Trade Clash -- NYTWhy the Memory Crunch Is Almost Impossible to Solve -- WSJLoosening Export Controls on China’s Memory Chip Makers -- Jimmy GoodrichMemory Chips and China, Microsoft and Chinese Models -- StratecheryUS senators increase pressure on Apple over possible Chinese chipmaker deal -- FT (2022)US Tells ASML It’s Concerned China May Have Top Chip Tool -- BloombergNetherlands to join US-led Pax Silica AI initiative despite ASML dispute -- ReutersGermany backs EU’s tough China line with call for ‘Plaza Accord’ talks on yuan -- SCMPThe world does not need a new ‘Plaza Accord’: Global Times editorial -- Global TimesEurope’s Final Warning -- Sharp TextGermany is wavering on China (again) -- Watching China in EuropeWhy China is so bad at football -- The Economist

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 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…

This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall. Show Notes: On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the call between Trump and Xi last week, a subsequent call between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and the PRC’s ongoing tensions with Japan. Topics include: Conflicting reports surrounding both calls last week, PRC rhetoric that continues to escalate, contested history surrounding Okinawa, and PRC behavior that may be clarifying for the rest of the world. From there: Various points of emphasis at the Politburo study session on strengthening internet governance, DeepSeek’s new AI model, and a recent Crowdstrike investigation that appears to highlight the risks of building on Chinese models. At the end: More bad news in the real estate sector as Vanke’s struggles make international news, waiting for the Central Economic Work Conference later this month, an FT op-ed makes Europe’s trade problems clear while solutions remain elusive, and a note from a NASA employee adds context to a previous discussion on space rescues.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:Hong Kong fire; Politburo study session on strengthening Internet governance; Japan-China; Cloud loophole for advanced AI chips; Xu Qinxian -- SinocismWho initiated the Trump-Xi call?; PRC-Japan; Loosening loan standards; CrowdStrike questions DeepSeek coding security -- SinocismTrump, After Call With China’s Xi, Told Tokyo to Lower the Volume on Taiwan -- WSJJapan Denies Report That Trump Asked PM Not to Provoke China -- BloombergChina, Evoking World War II, Urges Europe to Take Its Side Against Japan -- N.Y.T.The PRC’s Diplomatic Offensive Against Japan Over Taiwan -- Global TaiwanChina’s AI is built for control — and it’s going global -- Red PacketCrowdStrike Research: Security Flaws in DeepSeek-Generated Code Linked to Political Triggers -- CrowdstrikeChina Tells Stats Providers to Halt Home Sales Data Publication -- BloombergChina Vanke Jolts Bondholders Again With Plan for One-Year Delay -- BloombergBeijing orders China’s banks to lend to debt-burdened state-owned entities -- China Banking NewsChina is making trade impossible -- FTChina’s growing trade surplus: why exports are surging as imports stall -- European Central BankThree Futures -- Watching China in EuropeWeeks from homecoming, Boeing Starliner astronauts want to set the record straight -- CNNTo 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 implementation of this month’s deal between the US and China, including a variety of early indications that both sides intend to follow through with commitments made in South Korea, the PRC’s clarification on its December 2024 export controls, and a report on the PRC implementing a VEU system for…