Sharp China with Bill Bishop

A deep dive into the recent Supreme Court ruling on TikTok unfolds in a lively discussion. The hosts explore the app's legal challenges amid national security concerns and the potential financial fallout. Political maneuvers and strategic partnerships highlight TikTok's navigation through the U.S. system. The possibility of divestiture raises questions about future ownership and antitrust issues. Engaging listener comments reveal the app's chaotic evolution, emphasizing the complex relationship between social media and governance.

The charisma of TikTok meets the potential of Xiaohongshu as users shift platforms amid political tensions. Elon Musk's discussed role in TikTok's future raises eyebrows while Xi Jinping's latest speech reveals China's aspirations for national rejuvenation. The evolving PLA capabilities towards Taiwan signal strategic ambitions, all while the U.S. tightens AI export controls in response to China's growing tech prowess. As diplomatic nuances emerge, the podcast offers a colorful blend of serious analysis and lighthearted banter.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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