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Sharp China with Bill Bishop

Latest episodes

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Oct 19, 2023 • 11min

(Preview) Commerce Closes Some Chip Loopholes; What About TikTok?; Putin and Xi in Beijing; The Beginning of Sinocism

Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the long-awaited updates to the Biden Administration’s export controls on chips. Topics include: Bad news for Nvidia and good news for PRC semi companies, initial responses from PRC leadership, and follow-up thoughts on the strategic calculus of the U.S. From there: Impromptu TikTok discussion in light of the export controls underscoring the importance of strategic considerations. Then: Xi welcomes Vladimir Putin back to Beijing, the state of the Russia-China partnership, and why Xi and Putin may see opportunity as war erupts in the Middle East. At the end: Brief thoughts on the Belt and Road Initiative, and Bill shares an abridged version of the Sinocism origin story to celebrate the site's six-year anniversary as a paid newsletter. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm Belt and Road Forum concludes; Xi meets Putin; Q3 GDP; Reactions to updated semiconductor controls — Sinocism Belt and Road Forum; US updates semiconductor controls; Cheng Lei speaks; Relief for local governments; US-PLA close encounters -- Sinocism — Sinocism Commerce Department moves to cut key supply lines to China’s AI industry — Washington Post U.S. curbs export of more AI chips, including Nvidia H800, to China — CNBC Commentary: Belt and Road cooperation to hasten demise of "neocolonialism" — People’s Daily Online China Chips and Moore’s Law — Stratechery College Students and Chips, The Future of Computing (and the Limits of Physics), Formula 1 and Apple — Sharp Tech Will Xi Jinping’s Gamble on Vladimir Putin Pay Off? — Bloomberg How the Israel-Hamas War Is Tilting the Global Power Balance in Favor of Russia, China — Wall Street Journal Rush by west to back Israel erodes developing countries’ support for Ukraine — Financial Times China Got a Big Contract. Nepal Got Debt and a Pricey Airport. — New York Times
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Oct 11, 2023 • 1h 3min

Xi-Biden Momentum; Calls to Condemn Hamas; The Chip Lobby Fights the Export Controls; Apple and Kyrie Irving

Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with a meeting between Xi Jinping and a congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the latest indication that Xi and the PRC are working toward a trip to APEC in November and a likely meeting with President Biden. From there: Reports of updates to the semiconductor export controls in advance of a Xi visit, Senator Schumer asks Xi and Wang Yi for a swift condemnation of Hamas terror attacks, and whether PRC messaging in the Middle East will deviate from the playbook we saw Russia and Ukraine. Then: The introduction of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, an analyst's look at the evolution of semiconductor export controls, and why Nvidia reportedly sought to have the aforementioned analyst "sidelined" as policymakers continue to calibrate new restrictions for U.S. exports. At the end: Tim Cook's takes on manufacturing expertise in China, a competing theory as to how that expertise was honed, and Kyrie Irving becomes a global ambassador for ANTA apparel. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm To subscribe to Sinocism, click here. To subscribe to Stratechery, click here BRI white paper; More stimulus talk; Country Garden; Improving legal environment for private business; Huawei — Sinocism Xi Jinping Thought on Culture 习近平文化思想; Xi meets Schumer; Semiconductor controls; Disappointing holiday data; Xizang — Sinocism China, US need not go head to head, President Xi Jinping tells senators, in strongest sign he may head to Apec summit — SCMP Thucydides Trap — Wikipedia U.S., China Both Try to Gain Upper Hand Ahead of Biden-Xi Summit — Wall Street Journal US senators seek Xi’s help to pressure Iran on Middle East conflict — Financial Times Xi Focus: Xi Jinping Thought on Culture highlighted at key meeting — Xinhua In Chip Race, China Gives Huawei the Steering Wheel: Huawei’s New Smartphone and the Future of Semiconductor Export Controls — Center for Strategic & International Studies An Interview with Gregory C. Allen About China’s Chip Ban Response — Stratechery Interview How the Big Chip Makers Are Pushing Back on Biden’s China Agenda — New York Times Apple’s Latest China Challenge: A Crackdown That Could Shrink Its App Store — Wall Street Journal Post by S.L. Kanthan — @Kanthan2030 Post by Jonathan P. Sine — @JonathonPSine How Apple tied its fortunes to China — Financial Times Kyrie Irving Is Now an Exec at Chinese Firm Tied to Human Rights Abuses — Rolling Stone Post by Kyrie Irving — @KyrieIrving
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Sep 27, 2023 • 12min

(Preview) Ongoing Tension with the Philippines; Xi Welcomes Assad; Ambassador Emanuel Continues His Posting; Panda Diplomacy and the National Zoo

Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm A Global Community of Shared Future: China's Proposals and Actions; MSS head on national security in digital era; Qin Gang and Fu Xiaotian; US-China — Sinocism Xi in Zhejiang; Asian Games; Xi meets Assad; Huawei; US-China on road back to Bali — Sinocism Chinese TV presenter linked to missing foreign minister had surrogate child in US — Financial Times Blasting Bullhorns and Water Cannons, Chinese Ships Wall Off the Sea — New York Times The South China Sea Tribunal — Law of the Sea Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative — AMTI Philippines vows not to back down as China warns against 'trouble' at disputed shoal — Reuters Philippines and US accuse China of illegally targeting supply ships — Financial Times U.S. Support for the Philippines in the South China Sea — US State Department White House told U.S. ambassador to Japan to stop taunting China on social media — NBC News Senior Nomura banker barred from leaving mainland China — Financial Times Rahm Emanuel — @USAmbJapan How China’s Language Shifted After Landmark Xi-Biden Meeting — Bloomberg Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell — Smithsonian The Panda Party’s Almost Over — Foreign Policy Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji celebrating 3rd birthday at National Zoo — YouTube The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995) Official Trailer — YouTube
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Sep 21, 2023 • 9min

(Preview) Unanswered Qin Gang Questions; Three Wins for Xi Jinping Economic Thought; US Sources Float New Balloon Details; Huawei Intrigue Continues

Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm Qin Gang; Grim reports from chambers of commerce; Wang Yi in Russia; Huawei phone; Zhang Youxia — Sinocism US-China meetings; Spy balloon that was not spying?; Wang Yi to Russia; PRC diplomacy; PLA rumors — Sinocism China’s Former Foreign Minister Ousted After Alleged Affair, Senior Officials Told — Wall Street Journal Post by US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel — @USAmbJapan Chinese defence minister under investigation by Beijing, US believes — Financial Times AmCham Shanghai Releases Report on Business Climate in China — AmCham Shanghai China’s Worst Capital Outflow in Years Spells More Yuan Pressure — Bloomberg Europe’s Wind Industry Calls for Support Amid Mounting Struggles, China Competition — Wall Street Journal EV makers’ use of Chinese suppliers raises concerns about forced labor — Washington Post The bizarre secret behind China's spy balloon — CBS News In Risky Hunt for Secrets, U.S. and China Expand Global Spy Operations — New York Times Thread on US Export Controls and the Mate 60 Pro — Sinocism Chat No Evidence That China Can Make Advanced Chips ‘at Scale,’ US Says — Bloomberg Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Deliveries Slip to November in Sign of Demand — Bloomberg Xiaotian Fu Garden — Churchill College Cambridge
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Sep 13, 2023 • 12min

(Preview) Biden and Xi Updates; Lies, Spies and Agatha Christie; Interference Allegations in the UK and Canada; Apple’s Latest Marketing Challenge

Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with Xi Jinping's visit to Heilongjiang during the G-20 Summit, President Biden's comments on containment and the likelihood of a Taiwan invasion, and why news that Wang Yi will skip the UN General Assembly next week does not necessarily tell us anything about Xi's plans for APEC in November. From there: Rahm Emanuel highlights a disinformation campaign centered on the Maui Wildfires and the disappearance of Defense Minister Li Shangfu, rumors continue to swirl about investigations of party leadership and members of the PLA, and there are reasons to be skeptical of a report that Xi was reprimanded by party elders at Beidaihe. At the end: Espionage arrests in the UK and an interference inquiry in Canada, Apple tries to avoid getting caught in the middle of the US-China rivalry, big decisions loom at the BIS, and a word about pronunciation. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm Xi in Heilongjiang; G-20; Biden on China; MSS on another US spy; UK arrests; Warning to RMB shorts; Rumors — Sinocism Circular on Taiwan-Fujian; Real estate; More on UK spy/influence mess; House Committee goes to Wall Street; Semiconductor controls — Sinocism China’s Top Diplomat to Skip U.N. Assembly, Raising Doubts About Possible Xi Visit to U.S. — Wall Street Journal Remarks by President Biden in a Press Conference — The White House @USAmbJapan — X @USAmbJapan — X And Then There Were None — Agatha Christie China Sows Disinformation About Hawaii Fires Using New Techniques — New York Times China's defense minister not seen for two weeks — Nikkei Xi reprimanded by elders at Beidaihe over direction of nation — Nikkei Canada Appoints Judge to Probe Allegations of Foreign Interference in Elections — Wall Street Journal U.K. Arrests Parliamentary Researcher in China Spy Probe — Wall Street Journal Apple Risks Chinese Users Souring on iPhones Ahead of Launch — Bloomberg @CGMeifangZhang — X China AI & Semiconductors Rise: US Sanctions Have Failed — SemiAnalysis The Huawei Mate 60 Pro, 7nm Background, Implications and Reactions — Stratechery Update Charter Wins and Does Disney a Favor, Charter and the Broadband Market, SMIC Gets the US Government’s Attention — Sharp Tech Michigan Man Sentenced 48 Months for Attempting to Spy for the People’s Republic of China — US DoJ Game of Pawns — FBI YouTube Channel Mandarin Chinese Pinyin Chart — Dig Mandarin
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Sep 6, 2023 • 1h 12min

(Free) Xi Skips the G-20 as the MSS Puts APEC in Question; More Fallout from the Huawei FU; Rahm Emmanuel Has Takes; Apple Needs VR Help

Bill Bishop, author of Sinocism, discusses Xi Jinping's absence from international summits, MSS encouraging spying, Huawei's defiance of US export controls, Apple's shift to Chinese suppliers, unauthorized access to US military installations by Chinese nationals, and understanding Chinese perspectives through various sources including Kaishin.
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Aug 30, 2023 • 12min

(Preview) Fukushima Outrage Continues; Secretary Raimondo in China; Perfect Timing for a Huawei Launch; TikTok Lobbyists Take a Bow

Bill Bishop, author of Sinocism, discusses the controversy surrounding the release of contaminated water from Fukushima. They explore Chinese sentiment towards Japan, safety concerns with aquatic products, and the potential boycott of Japanese goods. The chapter also delves into the implications for Japanese businesses in China and the rise of virtual protests.
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Aug 23, 2023 • 10min

(Preview) The World Gets Bearish on China; MSS and CIA Spies; US-Japan-South Korea; Complications for Intel and ARM

Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm Xi skips BRICS Business Forum; Fukushima waste water; Philippines resupplies grounded ship; Arm IPO; Raimondo trip — Sinocism Xi to South Africa; Disappointing rate cut; Another CIA spy; Central Science and Technology Commission meets — Sinocism Xi Skips Speech Defending China Economy at BRICS Business Forum — Bloomberg China’s Hidden Financial Dangers Erupt With Shadow Bank Crisis — Bloomberg China’s 40-Year Boom Is Over. What Comes Next? — Wall Street Journal Biden calls China a ‘ticking time bomb’ over economic problems — NBC News China Suspends Report on Youth Unemployment, Which Was at a Record High — New York Times China’s ‘whack-a-mole’ economic playbook leads to confusion — Financial Times How Will a Chinese Financial Crisis Impact the World? — New York Times China unveils second CIA espionage case within 15 days — Global Times U.S., China Try to Draw Nations to Their Side as Divisions Harden — Wall Street Journal China Scuttles a $5.4 Billion Microchip Deal Led by U.S. Giant Intel — New York Times Arm Needed 3,500 Words to Explain Its China Risks Before IPO — Bloomberg Arm’s F-1, Arm’s Risks, Arm’s Price — Stratechery In Depth: How SoftBank Wrestled Back Control of Arm China — Caixin Global Arm set to regain control of renegade China unit after near 2-year battle — Financial Times Even Jimmy Butler Had to Witness the Hottest Village Basketball League in China — Wall Street Journal This Viral Mountain Village Hosts China’s Rural Version of NBA — YouTube: WSJ NBA’s James Harden stunned as Chinese fans buy 10,000 bottles of his wine in 10 seconds – after a ‘great move’ criticising Daryl Morey — SCMP J-Harden Wines
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Aug 4, 2023 • 1h 1min

(Free) Flooding Hits Beijing and Hebei Province; The PLA's Rocket Force Shakeup; US-China Updates; Unpacking the Beidaihe Mystique

Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm Awful flooding in and around Beijing; MSS on counter-espionage; More signals of real estate support; Wang Yi invited to visit US — Sinocism Beijing records heaviest rainfall in at least 140 years, causing severe flooding and 21 deaths — Associated Press China floods: Dramatic rescue in Hebei, Beijing neighbourhoods submerged — YouTube Collage: Floods in Beijing and Hebei — Sixth Tone China Official’s Call to Save Xi’s City Angers Flood Victims — Bloomberg New PLA Rocket force leadership; Consumption measures; Hopes for real estate policy support; US-China — Sinocism China ousts top generals from nuclear Rocket Force — Financial Times China names General Wang Houbin as new PLA Rocket Force chief after former commanders snared in corruption scandal — South China Morning Post The Week of LK-99 Intrigue, China and Trailing Edges Chips, Intel Goes to Washington — Sharp Tech U.S. Hunts Chinese Malware That Could Disrupt American Military Operations — New York Times China Doesn’t Want to Compete. It Wants to Win. — The Atlantic US seeks to deepen Tokyo-Seoul security links to boost Pacific deterrence — Financial Times China hints leaders started annual seaside vacation in flood-hit province — Reuters At Mao’s Beach, China’s Leaders Still Make History as Lifeguards Hide From the Sun — New York Times
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Jul 27, 2023 • 10min

(Preview) Qin Gang ‘replaced and erased’; July Politburo Meeting; Semiconductor CEOs and the Biden Administration

Subscribe to Stratechery Plus to get full episodes of Sharp China, plus Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Sharp Tech, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm Wang Yi replaces Qin Gang; Is Qin under investigation?; Korean War 70th anniversary; Xi'an protests — Sinocism Politburo meeting on the economy; Qin Gang; Measures to encourage private investment; RIP Gen. Wang Shaojun — Sinocism Replaced, Then Erased: Mystery Deepens Around China’s Former Foreign Minister — Wall Street Journal China’s missing foreign minister loses his job — Economist Elon Musk and the Disappearing Man — @ThisIsWenhao China signals more support for real estate with a ‘big change’ in tone — NBC News Exclusive: Beijing pushes for toning down of China risks in IPO prospectuses — Reuters Sample Letter to Companies Regarding China-Specific Disclosures [1] — Securities and Exchange Commission Chip CEOs Urge US to Study Impact of China Curbs and Take Pause — Bloomberg Kyle Anderson obtains Chinese citizenship — China News Service Mavericks' Kyrie Irving partners with ANTA on new shoe deal — ESPN

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