

Sharp China with Bill Bishop
Andrew Sharp and Sinocism’s Bill Bishop
Understanding China and how China impacts the world. Hosted by Andrew Sharp and Bill Bishop.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 18, 2024 • 17min
Bonus Episode: TikTok Gets a Hearing at the Supreme Court
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 a bonus episode following up on Wednesday morning's show, Andrew and Bill react to the news—which broke later Wednesday morning—that the Supreme Court has granted cert to TikTok in its appeal of the D.C. Circuit's decision earlier this month upholding the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. Topics include: A bit more hope for TikTok, revisiting the D.C. Circuit’s answer to the First Amendment question that’s now before the Supreme Court, various Trump unknowns, and a busy holiday season for Jones Day associates.
To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
Supreme Court Fast-Tracks TikTok Case in Face of Jan. 19 Deadline — New York Times
TIKTOK INC. AND BYTEDANCE LTD v. MERRICK GARLAND — D.C. Circuit

Dec 18, 2024 • 14min
(Preview) CEWC and Bleak Economic Data; Naval Exercises Around Taiwan; New Reporting on Chip Controls; Trump’s Standing Invitation to Xi
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 a few updates on the Central Economic Work Conference, economic headwinds facing the PRC economy, including weaker-than-expected retail data, mixed data from the real estate market, and concerns from an economist assessing the conditions on the ground. From there: Reactions to last week's PLA exercises around Taiwan, divergent reactions from policymakers in Taipei and Washington, and a new report on the process behind the Biden Administration's latest round of updates to the semiconductor export controls. At the end: President-elect Trump on his relationship with Xi Jinping, TikTok takes its case to the Supreme Court, and the NBA (sort of) announces plans for a series of preseason games in Macau.
To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm
@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube
@Stratechery Channel — YouTube
China Consumer Slowdown Shows Urgent Need to Encourage Spending — Bloomberg
Prices Won’t Stop Falling in China, and Beijing Is Grasping for Solutions — Wall Street Journal
China's 2024 property sales on course to reach just half the peak — Nikkei
A top Chinese economist just said what many people suspected: China's official GDP numbers may not be accurate — Business Insider
Big Chinese naval exercise leaves Taiwan and US struggling for response — Financial Times
How U.S. Firms Battled a Government Crackdown to Keep Tech Sales to China — New York Times
An Interview with Gregory Allen About the State of China Chip Export Controls — Stratechery Interview
President-elect Donald Trump delivers remarks — CNBC YouTube
TikTok Asks Supreme Court to Block Law Banning Its U.S. Operations — New York Times
New trade hawk on the block — Politico
Real Estate: Bret Baier Home Listed for a Record $32 Million — The Georgetowner
NBA to return to China with multiyear deal in Macau — Reuters

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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