Sharp China with Bill Bishop Tariffs and the Escalatory Cycle; China and the Fentanyl Crisis; TSMC Plans and Nvidia Scrutiny; Hard Times for Moutai
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Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with Trump raising tariffs on the PRC by 10%, the PRC's response, and the phone call Xi-Trump phone call that was rumored a month ago but still hasn't happened. Then: What to watch for during Two Sessions week, Xi has always supported private enterprises, a response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on fentanyl, and why the U.S. focusing on domestic enforcement only goes far. From there: A roundup of news on chips, including an investigation in Singapore, TSMC's investment in the United States, a Wall Street Journal report on Nvidia, and questions facing the Trump team as new policy takes shape. At the end: The New York Times reports on "plea leniency," FIFA won't play ball with the PRC, and a variety of Moutai thoughts as Kweichow Moutai struggles to find demand.
To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm
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US Tariffs; Two Sessions; Xi has always supported private enterprises; Peaceful China Initiative; Chips — Sinocism
Response to US tariffs; Two Sessions begin; DeepSeek — Sinocism
FURTHER AMENDMENT TO DUTIES ADDRESSING THE SYNTHETIC OPIOID SUPPLY CHAIN IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA — The White House
Xi Leaves Door Open for Talks With Measured Response to Trump — Bloomberg
Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — MoFA on Twitter
BlackRock to buy Panama Canal ports after pressure from Donald Trump — Financial Times
Canadian Police Say They Dismantled Country’s Largest Drug Lab — New York Times
How Dirty Money From Fentanyl Sales Is Flowing Through China — Wall Street Journal
Chinese Buyers Are Ordering Nvidia’s Newest AI Chips, Defying U.S. Curbs — Wall Street Journal
Singapore Probes Potential Fraud in Nvidia AI Chip Shipments — Bloomberg
Cover Story: DeepSeek Sets Up Race for Chinese Dominance in AI — Caixin
Trump, Chip Maker TSMC Announce $100 Billion Investment in U.S. — Wall Street Journal
The ‘Leniency’ Trap: How China’s Plea System Gives Prosecutors More Power — New York Times
China’s tech minister removed from office — Financial Times
Ebbing demand for China's favourite firewater adds to debt concerns — Reuters
The Patrón of Xinghuacun - a modest proposal for Fenjiu — Moatless Musings
Xi Jiu, A Baijiu Bet on Xi Jinping — Sinocism