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Sharp China with Bill Bishop

Latest episodes

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Dec 11, 2024 • 12min

(Preview) ‘Moderately Loose’ and Cautiously Stimulating; Nvidia Under Investigation; Broadening Export Bans; A TikTok Verdict and a Trump Prayer

Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the latest messaging from Beijing on efforts to stimulate the economy in 2025 and beyond. Topics include: Politburo language that echoes 2008, muted reactions from the mainland markets, why the ultimate policy decisions may not be made until the PRC has more clarity on Trump's intentions, and more. From there: Nvidia finds itself at the center of an antitrust probe, while the PRC restrictions on critical minerals are broader than initially thought, and drone components are now also being restricted from export to the US and Europe. At the end: Reviewing last Friday's verdict from the DC Circuit in TikTok v. Garland, and charting the next steps for TikTok and the Trump administration as January 19th approaches and TikTok faces a ban in the United States. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube December Politburo meeting ahead of the Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) — Sinocism Politburo meeting and CEWC; Nvidia antitrust investigation; Trump and China; TikTok's narrowin path in US — Sinocism China’s Politburo revives crisis-era language in pledge to bolster economy — SCMP China loosens monetary policy stance for first time in 14 years — Financial Times Nvidia Probed in China Over Possible Antimonopoly Violations — Wall Street Journal Nvidia Is Now Too Powerful for Beijing to Constrain — New York Times China’s Critical Minerals Embargo Is Even Tougher Than Expected — New York Times Geopollutical Warfare — Doomberg China Tightens Its Hold on Minerals Needed to Make Computer Chips — New York Times China Is Cutting Off Drone Supplies Critical to Ukraine War Effort — Bloomberg Unidentified Drones Light Up New Jersey’s Skies, Baffling Residents — New York Times TIKTOK INC. AND BYTEDANCE LTD. V. MERRICK B. GARLAND — DC Circuit Incoming national security adviser says Trump is 'ready to take big swings and do big things’ — Fox Business Rep. Mike Waltz calls out the Biden campaign's TikTok account: 'They should be ashamed' — Fox News Inside the Strange, Strained Courtship of Donald Trump and Mega-Donor Jeff Yass — Vanity Fair Big Republican Donor Jeff Yass Owned Shares in Trump Media Merger Partner — New York Times TikTok Hires Francisco And Mooppan For High Court Fight — Law360
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Dec 4, 2024 • 1h 6min

Final Updates to the Biden Chip Controls; Peak Tough on China?; PLA and CEWC Speculation; More Trump Questions than Answers in Beijing

The podcast dives into the latest updates on Biden's semiconductor export controls and questions their effectiveness against China. Tensions within the PLA are spotlighted, with a focus on leadership challenges and corruption investigations. Speculation surrounds the upcoming Central Economic Work Conference and the unusual absence of a November Politburo meeting. Economic tension is further discussed, particularly regarding BRICS currency and recent developments in U.S.-China relations, all while examining shifts in younger generations' media consumption habits.
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Nov 20, 2024 • 12min

(Preview) The Final Biden-Xi Meeting; PRC Messaging to the World; Mass Attacks and the Party Response; Trump Transition Updates

Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today's show Andrew and Bill begin by parsing the PRC readout from this weekend's meeting between XI Jinping and President Joe Biden, including the four red lines communicated by the PRC to the US, PRC language surrounding enhanced security ties between the US and pacific allies, and a farewell to the San Francisco vision. From there: Xi Jinping's message to APEC and the charm offensive planned for a Trump administration, China's calculus amid global climate initiatives, and extended thoughts on the recent mass casualties events around China and likely party responses. At the end: An update on the Trump transition, Howard Lutnick is picked to run the Commerce Department, and Apple and Google's calculus with respect to the TikTok law. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Xi-Biden meeting; Xi at APEC and the G-20; PRC armed drones to Russia?; COP29; Another mass killing; Xi on population trends — Sinocism Xi in Peru; Xinhua reporters find shoddy HSR construction; FT on Goldman's expensive China adventure — Sinocism President Xi Jinping Meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Lima — MoFA Full Text of Chinese president's written speech at APEC CEO Summit — Xinhua US-China relations will depend on which Trump shows up — Financial Times China’s Overcapacity Can Help the World — Project Syndicate Chinese imports damage ‘dignity’ of Italian tomato, says Mutti chief — Wall Street Journal Mass Attacks in China Prompt Censorship, Clampdown on Mourning — Wall Street Journal The Sentinel State — Minxin Pei China rushes to connect with potential Trump officials — Financial Times Video SUV plowed into people outside Yong’an Primary School — X: @Byron_Wan Doctor Strangelove - Doomsday Machine — YouTube
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Nov 13, 2024 • 16min

(Preview) Stabilization Measures and Export Questions; Taiwan Considers US Arms Purchase; TSMC Halts Advanced Chip Sales to China; Trump Tea Leaves and Cabinet Picks

Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with Friday's announcement from the NPC standing committee and more incremental stabilization measures from PRC leadership. Topics include: Foreign investors (again) hoping for more, "deepening reforms" and domestic consumption, the trade surplus with the US exceeds the trillion dollar threshold, and why attempts to build an alliance with the EU are unlikely to succeed. From there: Taiwan considers a big arms purchase as Trump prepares to take office, the Philippines aims to buy intermediate range missile launchers, and TSMC halts the sale of advanced chips to China. At the end: Trump's early cabinet picks, another report on Trump's plans for TikTok, the "reverse Nixon" dream, and Elon Musk's mother is a brand ambassador in the PRC. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Fiscal stabilization package; Trade surplus; Philippines-PRC tensions; TSMC; Waltz to be National Security Advisor — Sinocism China’s Stimulus Policies Now Put Emphasis on Consumption, Expert Says — Caixin Exclusive - China presses Europe for anti-U.S. alliance on trade — Reuters (2018) Ukraine war: EU’s next top envoy says China must pay ‘higher cost’ for backing Russia — SCMP Taiwan considers big US defence purchases as overture to Donald Trump — Financial Times Philippines aims to buy US missile launcher in move likely to anger China — Financial Times TSMC to close door on producing advanced AI chips for China from Monday — Financial Times Exclusive: US ordered TSMC to halt shipments to China of chips used in AI applications — Reuters Donald Trump’s cabinet picks signal tougher stance on China — Financial Times A Trump adviser on how the international economic system should change — The Economist Beijing’s Worst Nightmare After Trump’s Win: a ‘Reverse Nixon’ — Wall Street Journal Trump expected to try to halt TikTok ban, allies say — Washington Post Maye Musk, the mother of Elon Musk, is now the global brand ambassador of AISE baobao — X: @Byron_Wan Reverse ferret — Wikipedia
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Nov 8, 2024 • 1h 5min

Questions and Expectations for Trump 2.0; Looming Trade Tensions and PRC Responses; Volatility and Intermediaries; TikTok’s Last Hope?

Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today’s show Andrew and Bill talk through a second Donald Trump presidency and what it might mean for US-China relations. Topics include: a note of congratulations from Xi Jinping Thursday morning, memories of the first Trump presidency, the calculus from both sides as tariffs loom, a larger toolkit of responses to trade policy for the PRC, potential intermediaries between Trump's administration and PRC leadership, and the strategic challenges and opportunities that China sees in a Trump administration. At the end: TikTok’s fate and whether Trump will save the app’s future in the United States, additional details on the Salt Typhoon telecommunications hack, and thoughts on the Biden administration's approach to the PRC, and the challenges facing any U.S. administration. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Trump 2.0 and the PRC — Sinocism Xi congratulates Trump; Social work and stability; "Stimulus" rumors; October exports surge; TikTok; Hack of US telecoms — Sinocism China congratulates Trump, says it respects America's choice — Reuters China Learns How to Get Trump’s Ear: Through Jared Kushner — New York Times (2017) Donald Trump’s trade remedies reflect America’s troubled reality — Financial Times Markets Are Underpricing the Possibility of a U.S.-China Economic War — Foreign Policy Chinese officials struggle to build ties with Donald Trump’s campaign — Financial Times Americans Who Want to Do Business in China Need to Meet This Man — Wall Street Journal What Trump's win means for Ukraine, Middle East and China — BBC Americans, your calls and texts can be monitored by Chinese spies — Washington Post Chinese hackers gained access to huge trove of Americans’ cell records — Politico China Hack Enabled Vast Spying on U.S. Officials, Likely Ensnaring Thousands of Contacts — Wall Street Journal Trudeau government bans TikTok from operating in Canada — but Canadians can still use it — CBC TikTok Sees Trump Victory As App’s Best Hope — The Information Spotlight: Xi-Trump meeting helps achieve much friendlier tone in China-U.S. ties: experts — Xinhua
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Oct 30, 2024 • 10min

(Preview) Myriad Holes in US Chip Controls; New Reports on TSMC and Huawei; The Latest "Stimulus" News; Mixed Signals on Private Tutoring

Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with an excellent report from Semi Analysis, and the state of the U.S. export controls on semiconductors and chipmaking equipment. Topics include: New reports of TSMC sales to Huawei-linked firms, the Commerce Department's oversight of chip controls, the various loopholes being routinely exploited by SMIC, Huawei and related entities, and enforcement questions for future administrations. From there: The NPC Standing Committee meeting is set for next week, the latest reports on what might be announced, and questions concerning the timing of the meeting, which will coincide with the US election. At the end: The PRC's crackdown on the private tutoring industry might be lifting, and reports that Chinese hackers targeted data from both Presidential campaigns. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Xi schools cadres; More stimulus talk; EU tariffs on PRC EVs go into effect; TSMC cuts of two customers over Huawei concerns — Sinocism NPCSC meeting; Politburo meeting on discipline; Politburo studies "building strong cultural nation; Huawei sanctions evasion; Pro-natal measures; Phone hacking — Sinocism Fab Whack-A-Mole: Chinese Companies are Evading U.S. Sanctions — SemiAnalysis TSMC suspended shipments to China firm after chip found on Huawei processor, sources say — Reuters TSMC cuts off at least two chip clients over potential Huawei links — Nikkei TSMC Chips Ended Up in Devices Made by China’s Huawei Despite U.S. Controls — New York Times Exclusive: China considers over $1.4 trillion in extra debt over next few years — Reuters China's private tutoring firms emerge from the shadows after crackdown — Reuters Chinese Hackers Are Said to Have Targeted Phones Used by Trump and Vance — New York Times
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Oct 23, 2024 • 12min

(Preview) Questions for BRICS and the NPC; PRC Nuclear Arsenal and Ambitions; Taiwan's Energy Security; Heightened Scrutiny on TSMC and the Biden Admin

Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with Xi Jinping's visit to the16th BRICS Summit and Russia's rumored effort to build a platform for international payments that would be immune to Western sanctions. From there: The Power of Siberia-2 pipeline that may or may not materialize, waiting for news on the next meeting of the NPC standing committee, and one theory on how the US election could impact the timing of the next fiscal announcement. Then: Xi's visit to a PLA Rocket Force brigade in Anhui, the rhetoric Xi uses surrounding the PLA and its readiness, and thoughts on the continued buildout of the PRC nuclear arsenal. At the end: A note on Taiwan's energy security, clarity on the names of the National Zoo’s new pandas, and a flurry of reports and questions surrounding Huawei, TSMC and the Commerce Department's oversight of export controls on chipmaking equipment. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Xi meets Putin; No announcement of NPC SC meeting; Rui Chenggang; Huawei and TSMC; Huawei's updated OS; VW exec deported — Sinocism Xi in Anhui, inspects nuclear missile brigade; Q3 GDP and rate cuts; BRICS; Export controls — Sinocism Xi Jinping to Attend the 16th BRICS Summit in Russia — MoFA At BRICS summit, Russia to push to end dollar dominance — Reuters Plan D — Doomberg China Moves to Support Markets After Data Showing Economy Slowed — Bloomberg Covering China’s National People’s Congress and its Standing Committee — NPC Observer Xi calls on Anhui to write its own chapter of Chinese modernization — Xinhua Adapting US strategy to account for China’s transformation into a peer nuclear power — The Atlantic Council Huawei Technologies’ Latest AI Chips Were Produced by TSMC — Bloomberg TSMC says it alerted US to potential violation of China AI chip controls — Financial Times U.S. Probes TSMC’s Dealings With Huawei — The Information Secretive Chip Startup May Help Huawei Circumvent US Sanctions — Bloomberg (2022) D.C.’s new pandas are named what, now? — Washington Post TSMC Cuts Off Client After Discovering Chips Diverted to Huawei — Bloomberg
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Oct 16, 2024 • 15min

(Preview) Operation Joint Sword 2024B; The Latest on the "Stimulus"; US Presidential Election Follow-Up; Two Pandas Fly to D.C.

Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the news that the PRC has sent two pandas to the National Zoo in Washington D.C., as Qing Bao, a 3-year-old year-old female, and Bao Li, a 3-year-old male, begin a 30-day quarantine in the Panda House. Then: Takeaways from Monday's Operation Joint Sword 2024B around Taiwan, including the strategic value of these military exercises for the PRC, and the implications of normalizing this pattern of behavior. From there: Parsing the "stimulus" news over the last several days, including the strain on local governments, why reports suggest that Xi and the central government are taking action to help them, and heightened scrutiny on overseas investments. At the end: Following up on Bill's conversation about the 2024 US Election, a Financial Times report on PRC educators ordered to surrender their passport, and an emailer provides a look at the new quality productive forces in dentistry. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Guessing about new bond issuance; Panda stimulus for US-China relations; Space plans; Tax collectors — Sinocism More special bonds for fiscal stimulus?; Stock market surge; Water-filled submarine; MSS mad at New Zealand; Raising money by detaining private entrepreneurs — Sinocism Giant pandas have returned to D.C. Meet Bao Li and Qing Bao. — Washington Post China Counts Wild Pandas. Nobody Believes Its Tally — New York Times The Panda Factories — New York Times PRC Military Drills Near Taiwan — US Department of State China ends war games around Taiwan, but leaves door open to more — Reuters China throwing a ‘temper tantrum’ with Taiwan drills, key Democrat says — Semafor (May 2024) China flags more fiscal stimulus for economy, leaves out key details on size — Reuters Exclusive: China May Add 6 Trillion Yuan in Treasury Bonds to Buttress Economy — Caixin Chinese Banks Set to Cut Deposit Rates as Soon as This Week — Bloomberg Behind Xi Jinping’s Pivot on Broad China Stimulus — Wall Street Journal China’s real intent behind its stimulus inflection — Financial Times Wealth China Moves to Tax the Ultra-Rich for Overseas Investment Gains — Bloomberg Substack Election Dialogues: China and the US election — Sinocism China tells schoolteachers to hand in their passports — Financial Times
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Oct 9, 2024 • 12min

(Preview) Market Adventures Continue; Waiting for an NPC Meeting; EU Tariffs on PRC EVs; Taiwan National Day

Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the market's reactions to the NDRC press briefing on Tuesday, as Hong Kong saw all of last week's gains erased, while the PRC markets continued to see gains. Topics include: Misplaced expectations on the NDRC press conference, a National People's Congress meeting later in October that may articulate more concrete measures, and more thoughts on the continued volatility in the market themselves as well as commentary around the world. From there: An emailer has a question about a potential ByteDance IPO, a note on the broader concerns that persist in the PRC, and the EU passes tariffs on PRC EVs. At the end: A note on Taiwan National Day and the potential for an Operation Joint Sword 2024B, and a listener notes that Xi Jinping is leaving China far less frequently than he once did. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Stock market volatility; Premier Li meetings on the economy; PRC goes after EU brandy; Wu Bangguo; Wang-Raimondo call; MSS on the "China Initiative" — Sinocism Stock market expectations; EU EV tariffs; Taiwan; Pakistan terror attack; Vietnam fishing boat attack — Sinocism China Markets Warn Xi That More Stimulus Is Needed to Fuel Rally — Bloomberg China targets brandy in EU trade tit-for-tat after EV tariff move — Reuters EU votes for tariffs on Chinese-made EVs in blockbuster trade row — SCMP ‘A very serious situation’: Volkswagen could close plants in Germany for the first time in history — CNN Communist China not the motherland, says Taiwan’s president, because our republic is older — The Guardian US concerned about Taiwan candidate — Financial Times (2011) China is using an “anaconda strategy” to squeeze Taiwan — The Economist
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Oct 2, 2024 • 51min

Animal Spirits and Xi Bull Market 2.0; Plans for the Property Sector; US-China Updates; Xi and the Succession Question

The podcast dives into the revived 'animal spirits' driving China's stock market surge, marking its biggest rally since 2008. A recent Politburo meeting hints at the government's commitment to economic stimulation. They explore challenges in the real estate sector, such as oversupply and declining consumer confidence. Diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and China are highlighted following a meeting between officials. The sinking of a nuclear submarine raises concerns about military capabilities, while uncertainties loom over Xi Jinping's potential succession.

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