ChinaTalk

Jon Czin, former CIA analyst and NSC staffer, returns with concise China-military analysis. They dig into surprise PLA purges and what Zhang Gioxia's fall means for the Central Military Commission. Conversations cover public smear tactics, links to Taiwan readiness, succession risks, morale effects, and how investigations reshape incentives across the party and military.

Nathan Lambert, AI researcher at Interconnects.ai, sketches how agents and Claude Code reshape engineering workflows. Jasmine Sun, journalist at Jasmi.news, shares hands-on experiments with AI tooling and mainstream adoption stories. They riff on vibe-coding, agent orchestration, local models, automating research tasks, and playful prompts imagining apps for public figures.

Bryan Clark, a former U.S. Navy submariner turned naval force design and tech analyst. He breaks down the push for a Trump‑class battleship and why carriers eclipsed battleships. He examines the ambitious Golden Dome missile program and its execution risks. He discusses Greenland, alliance strains, Five Eyes tensions, and how political shifts reshape defense choices.

Dan Kim, former Chief Economist for the CHIPS Program, and Chris Miller, historian and author of Chip War, dive into the intricate world of economic security and industrial policy. They discuss the limitations of the CHIPS Act and explore what success truly means amid a complex geopolitical landscape. The duo contrasts invention with fast-following models, emphasizing the importance of resilience over self-sufficiency. They also address the need for robust metrics in industrial strategy and the implications of managed dependence in global supply chains.

Jon Czin, a former senior China analyst and current Brookings Institution fellow, dives into the evolving dynamics of U.S.-China relations. He explores the surprising calm between the two nations amid global upheaval and the potential triggers for chaos in 2026. Czin discusses Trump's resurgence and its implications on China’s strategy, contrasting past trade wars with a more prepared Beijing. He also examines how the U.S. has misread China's leverage, and provides insights into Taiwan tensions and broader geopolitical stakes.

Richard Danzig, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy and a national security expert, dives deep into the complexities of AI and cybersecurity. He highlights AI's existential threats to military systems and the urgent need for immediate action by the Department of Defense. Danzig warns against complacency and argues that the U.S. must invest in AI capabilities while balancing operational demands. He also discusses the vital role of collaboration between government and private sectors in ensuring national security and the pressing human costs as decision-making increasingly relies on AI.

Mike Kuiken, a former congressional staffer focused on national security, and Leland Miller, the CEO of China Beige Book, dive deep into the latest U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission report. They discuss the importance of supply chains, spotlighting rare earths and pharmaceuticals as key chokepoints. The duo also advocates for a unified economic statecraft agency to enhance policy coordination. Furthermore, they explore the implications of China’s military-tech focus over consumer concerns and the competitive landscape in quantum and synthetic biology.

In a fascinating discussion, Ben Buchanan, a Professor at SAIS and former White House AI advisor, dives into how AI is revolutionizing U.S. national security. He highlights the vast implications of AI in cyber operations, from automating vulnerability discovery to its impact on offensive strategies. Ben warns that while America may lead in AI technology, failing to integrate it into defense operations could mean losing strategic advantages. He also emphasizes the need for an innovative leader to bridge private sectors with government workflows.

Bryan Clark, a defense analyst known for his work on naval strategy and defense adaptations, joins the discussion about pressing geopolitical issues. He delves into the complexities of Iran's internal struggles, linking them to economic instability and regime challenges. Clark also warns against the risks of relying on outdated weaponry amidst proposals for a massive $500 billion defense budget. The conversation covers the importance of modernizing supply chains and the implications of corporate behavior in the defense sector.

A lively discussion kicks off with insights on SemiAnalysis's plans for China-focused research and the challenges of building a team in Singapore. The hosts dive into the intricacies of Chinese AI IPOs, while Doug shares his love for Claude Code and how it automates his workflow. They touch on industry news regarding chip shortages and Oracle's moves, plus the playful intersection of AI researchers and gaming with Age of Empires. The humor flows as they joke about global hiring opportunities and underused turbines in Venezuela.