Sharp China with Bill Bishop (Preview) Five Questions After the 9.3 Parade; A Flurry of US-China Updates; Sports Consumption and the NBA’s Return to China
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Sep 10, 2025 The recent military parade in Beijing grabs attention, featuring powerful leaders like Putin and Kim Jong-un. The hosts analyze China's provocative messaging and its implications for international relations. They delve into the quirky Labubu collectibles, noting its pop culture ties and authenticity concerns. Additionally, the podcast discusses the West's skepticism of China's neutrality in the Ukraine conflict and potential EU responses. Finally, they touch on the NBA's return to China and LeBron James’s presence in the People's Daily, reflecting on sports in China.
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Labubu Toy Arrival And Tashi's Reaction
- Bill Bishop received a Labubu toy and joked Tashi the dog has eyed but not eaten it because it's likely toxic.
- He compared the real Labubu to the South Park parody and noted it's surprisingly ugly and possibly faked by copycats.
Parade Was A Domestic Power Play
- The Victory Day parade was primarily aimed at a domestic audience to showcase China's military and Xi's leadership.
- The parade also demonstrated a nuclear triad and advanced weapons to signal deterrence regionally and to the US.
Parade Removed Ambiguity On China's Partners
- International audiences interpreted the parade as a statement of China’s global posture and who it sides with.
- The event clarified long-standing ties with Russia and North Korea and removed ambiguity about Beijing's direction.
