On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with PRC perspectives on the past two weeks of attacks on Iran. Topics include: Dispelling notions that U.S. involvement was welcomed by the PRC, why regional stability in the Middle East is stressed in every PRC statement, and how Iran and other PRC partners may view China's inaction over the last few weeks. From there: President William Lai delivers the first of ten speeches on national unity in Taiwan, the PRC offers a blistering response, and it may be time to brace for a rocky summer. At the end: The London agreement between the U.S. and China is under duress, EU leaders sound increasingly hawkish as the EU-China summit looms, Trump gives TikTok its third extension, and Congressional testimony brings the PRC swimming scandal back to the spotlight.
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Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm
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China and the Iran-Israel conflict; Lai: "Taiwan is of course a country"; Rickety "London Framework"; Curbing “involution-style” competition — Sinocism
Xi-Putin call; Rare earths and the EU; Opening exit paths for tech firms; TikTaco — Sinocism
China’s influence tested by US air strikes on Iran but direct role unlikely: analysts — SCMP
Lai begins 10-stop tour with speech on ‘nation’ — Taipei Times
No Chinese diplomats remain in Lithuania — LRT
How Sarunas Marciulionis Opened Pandora's Box — Sports Illustrated (2018)
Chinese ambassador sparks European outrage over suggestion former Soviet states don’t exist — CNN (2023)
Trump Pledge of Quick China Magnet Flows Has Yet to Materialize — Bloomberg
US may target Samsung, Hynix, TSMC operations in China, sources say — Reuters
EU foreign policy chief calls for ‘dose of realism’ in China relations — SCMP
Statement by President von der Leyen at Session II - working lunch of the G7, 'Economic growth, security and resilience' — EU Commission
Trump to extend TikTok sale deadline for third time, White House says — Reuters
Trump’s Continuing Illegal Refusal to Enforce the TikTok Ban — Executive Function
Had a belly full. Could Chinese swimmers have eaten 5 kilos of food en route to failed doping test? — AP