ChinaTalk What Does US-China Corruption Really Look Like? Also, iFlyTek
Oct 22, 2020
Mara Hvistendahl, a staff writer at The Intercept and author of "The Scientist and the Spy," dives into the intricate web of US-China relations. She uncovers the political dilemmas surrounding a prominent American governor's ties with Xi Jinping. The conversation shifts to iFlyTek, China's AI leader, revealing its innovations in voice recognition and its troubling partnerships with the state for surveillance. Challenges arise with its inclusion on the U.S. entity list, raising eyebrows about the future of tech collaborations in a tense geopolitical landscape.
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Branstad and Xi's History
- Terry Branstad, former US Ambassador to China, served during Trump's presidency.
- Branstad's long-standing relationship with Xi Jinping began in the 80s during an agricultural delegation.
ZTE Confusion
- Trump's decision to save ZTE, despite sanctions violations, baffled many Chinese.
- This contradicted his campaign promise to bring jobs back from China.
Branstad's Son's Lobbying
- Eric Branstad, son of the ambassador, lobbied for ZTE after they were sanctioned.
- While potentially not illegal, the optics are questionable given his father's position.