Sharp China with Bill Bishop

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 Ministry of State Security providing its interpretation of the Cybersecurity Law. Topics include: The odd timing of this message as debate roils over TikTok, the legal and regulatory framework that’s emerged under Xi, and the lack of anonymity on the PRC internet. From there: The Hong Kong legislature passes Article 23 faster than expected, and an update on the state of the TikTok legislation as the Senate prepares for an intel briefing on Wednesday. Then: Lessons from the solar industry as domestic suppliers in the EU and US struggle to compete with the PRC, Liu Jianchao offers clarifying commentary on China's approach to the Global South, Rahm Emanuel talks to Semafor, and Zach Edey takes center stage in the NCAA Tournament. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube MSS on cybersecurity law; Wang Yi; Handan murder; CSRC; Liu Jianchao on the Global South — Sinocism Article 23, Xi in Hunan; Action plan to encourage foreigners to "invest in China"; 400B RMB spent on stock market rescue?; AI dialogue — Sinocism MSS’ interpretation on Cybersecurity Law highlights prioritization of critical information infrastructure — Global Times Hong Kong Article 23; No Plenum and Another Market Setback; Trump and Taiwan; TikTok in Congress — Sharp China Why is Hong Kong fast-tracking its Article 23 domestic national security law? Catching enemies off guard among key reasons, sources say — SCMP After TikTok bill sails through House, senators pump the brakes — Washington Post TikTok Deal Is Complicated by New Rules From China Over Tech Exports (2020) — New York Times TikTok Struggles to Protect U.S. Data From Its China Parent — Wall Street Journal EU snubs dying solar manufacturers as China poised to swallow market — Politico US solar manufacturers in ‘dire situation’ as imports soar — Financial Times Solar Zugzwang — Doomberg Dirty Secret — Doomberg ‘Have I stopped saying anything?’ Rahm Emanuel on China, Japan, and sitting out a historic U.S. election — Semafor Zach Edey Is Just Different — The Ringer

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 week of surprising progress for the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. With the House set to vote Wednesday, they discuss the origins of the bill and months of work behind the scenes, TikTok’s now-infamous in-app alert, and why Beijing is likely to oppose any divestment plan if the bill eventually becomes law. From there: The factions in Washington that are opposing this bill, regulatory obstacles for American Internet companies in China, alignment or lack thereof between US business interests and Beijing, and what the next few months for TikTok and Congress could signify. At the end: A report that Li Qiang won’t attend this year’s China Development Forum, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius lobbies for lower tariffs in the EU, and a few final notes from the Two Sessions. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Bytedance/TikTok should be panicking; Two Sessions; Houses are for living in; Debt; Online nationalist frenzies — Sinocism Xinhua says Xi a reformer like Deng; TikTok; PRC-Philippine discussions leaked; Vanke; Premier Li — Sinocism TikTok Crackdown Shifts Into Overdrive, With Sale or Shutdown on Table — Wall Street Journal How TikTok Was Blindsided by U.S. Bill That Could Ban It — Wall Street Journal Annual Threat Assment of the U.S. Intelligence Community — ODNI House's bipartisan bid to rein in TikTok looks set to stall in the Senate — Politico Post by Brendan Carr on X — @BrendanCarrFCC Donald Trump Opposes TikTok Ban Because It Would Boost Business for Facebook and ‘Zuckerschmuck,’ a ‘True Enemy of the People’ — Variety TikTok Struggles to Protect U.S. Data From Its China Parent — Wall Street Journal Chinese president snubs Mark Zuckerberg’s request for baby name — The Telegraph How Microsoft’s Bing Helps Maintain Beijing’s Great Firewall — Bloomberg Mercedes-Benz boss urges Brussels to cut tariffs on Chinese EVs — Financial Times Exclusive: Chinese Premier Li to skip meeting with global CEOs at key business summit — Reuters Post by China in Pictures on X — @taongbingxue

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 takeaways from the Two Sessions, including the work report from Premier Li Qiang, what to make of the 5% GDP growth target for 2024, the cancellation of Li's press conference, Xi Jinping’s visit to the Jiangsu breakout session and his message on new productive forces and economic development, and the evolution of the Two Sessions in recent years. From there: The latest exchange between the Philippines and the PRC in the South China Sea, the Biden White House announces an investigation into Chinese Connected Vehicles, and there’s a bipartisan bill in the House that will renew the TikTok conversation in D.C. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm No big surprises in the NPC work report; Xi talks new productive forces with Jiangsu delegation; Second Thomas Shoal; TikTok — Sinocism Two sessions; Talking up the economy’s bright prospects; US-China; "Pseudo-middle class trap" — Sinocism China’s Premier Steps Deeper Into Xi’s Shadow — Wall Street Journal Xi’s One-Man Rule Over China’s Economy Is Spurring Unrest — Bloomberg Philippines says crew hurt, vessels damaged by China Coast Guard — ABS-CBN News Video from Armed Forces of the Philippines — @barnabychuck Statement from President Biden on Addressing National Security Risks to the U.S. Auto Industry — The White House US Probes Security Risks in Chinese Cars, Mulls Curbs — Bloomberg China's global auto strength: Why cost advantage is key for Chinese automakers — CNBC Television YouTube Lawmakers introduce bill that would punish app stores for hosting TikTok — The Verge TikTok Policy Response to Legislation — @TikTok Policy Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act Draft Bill — Punchbowl News

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 an overview of the CPPCC, the NPC and what to expect as the Two Sessions begin this weekend. Topics include: Xi’s recent absence from public view, the resignation of Qin Gang as an NPC delegate, Li Shangfu’s removal from the party CMC’s official website, Li Qiang’s first work report as premier, and why Xi Jinping’s is unlikely to echo last year’s comments on the US. From there: Reactions to the I-SOON leaks as evidence of PRC hacking continues to circulate around the world, while Congress has questions for Elon Musk about SpaceX in Taiwan and whether the company is fulfilling its obligations to the US government. At the end: News on the Village Basketball Association, Joe Tsai’s Brooklyn Nets celebrate Lunar New Year, and Pandas are coming back to San Diego and (probably) Washington D.C. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm Qin Gang; State secrets law; New Productive Forces 新质生产力; Consumption stimulus; Cyber power — Sinocism Taiwan; WTO; Li Shangfu; US-China; E-Bikes — Sinocism Covering China’s National People’s Congress and its Standing Committee — NPC Observer China’s former foreign minister Qin Gang resigns from legislature after long absence from public view — SCMP Ousted Defense Minister Li Shangfu Removed from Top Military Body — Caixin Global China’s ‘two sessions’ 2023: Xi Jinping directly accuses US of leading Western suppression of China — SCMP Leaked Files Show the Secret World of China’s Hackers for Hire — New York Times i-SOON Data Leak — Malcore House China committee demands Elon Musk open SpaceX Starshield internet to U.S. troops in Taiwan — CNBC Tesla's Shanghai Factory: The Golden Goose that Became a Geopolitical Bargaining Chip — Motorhead China military must be able to destroy Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites if they threaten national security: scientists — SCMP Inaugural Village BA national championship to tip off in March — Global Times Brooklyn Nets hold Chinese New Year celebration at Barclays Center during game — Yahoo! News Black and white and adored all over. China pledges pair of pandas for San Diego Zoo — AP Happy Year of the Dragon from the Brooklyn Nets! — @BrooklynNets

US-China tensions at Munich and Vienna meetings; criticism of CIA by MSS on WeChat; FBI warning on Chinese malware; America's struggles countering PRC info warfare; debate over lobbying blacklist; Rep. Gallagher's decision not to seek reelection; China protests treatment of its students at US entry points

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 another week of volatility in and around the PRC markets, including a crash on Monday, stabilization as the week unfolded, reports of a meeting between Xi and regulators, and changes at the CSRC. Then: For the first time in 17 years Mexico has supplanted China as the biggest U.S. trade partner, which raises questions about the future of the bilateral trade relationship and volume of PRC goods that have been diverted through countries like Mexico and Vietnam. At the end: The future of green energy manufacturing in the EU and China, a look at the sad and absurd week of controversy surrounding Lionel Messi, and a Happy Lunar New Year to all Sharp China listeners. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm CSRC head replaced; Government wants more EV exports; Wei Fenghe absence; Messi’s groin good enough for Japan — Sinocism Stocks; Xi Thought; Nukes — Sinocism Xi Can’t Use 2015 Playbook to Calm China Markets, Investors Say — Bloomberg Xi to Discuss China Stocks With Regulators as Rescue Bets Build — Bloomberg China’s Economy Is in Serious Trouble — New York Times Hitting China's Wall — New York Times China’s well-to-do are under assault from every side — The Economist How a U.S. Embassy post about giraffes became an outlet for despair about China’s tumbling stock markets — NBC News China dethroned as top source of US imports after 17 years, replaced by Mexico: census data — SCMP A China-U.S. Decoupling? You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet — Wall Street Journal EU mum as solar industry time bomb ticks — Politico With solar industry in crisis, Europe in a bind over Chinese imports — Reuters Messi is playing in a match that concerns integrity: Global Times editorial — Global Times China says Messi's absence in Hong Kong match beyond 'realm of sports' as fury builds — Reuters Josh Ye — @ByJoshYe The 2024 CMG Spring Festival Gala — CCTV YouTube Channel

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 reactions to the revival of Article 23 and thoughts on the landscape in Hong Kong as its laws continue to converge with the mainland. Then: A step back for the stock markets after last week’s stabilization efforts, another politburo meeting comes and goes without any announcement of a plenum, and a question about buying real estate in China. At the end: A listener has a question about President Trump and Taiwan, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is grilled by Senator Tom Cotton, Secretary Raimondo has concerns about EV data collection, and it’s the one-year anniversary of the spy balloon. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm Article 23 for Hong Kong; Real estate; Economic policy; Bill Burns on China — Sinocism Stock Market; China Evergrande liquidation; US-China; Another missile cadre goes down — Sinocism Hong Kong unveils new security law in further repeal of liberties — Nikkei Asia Hong Kong activist publisher Jimmy Lai pleads not guilty to sedition and collusion charges — AP Hong Kong announces plans to ‘trawl the world for talents’ — CNBC China Stocks Sink to Five-Year Low as Traders Unwind Rescue Bets — Bloomberg China Politburo Avoids Setting Date for Key Economic Meeting — Bloomberg China Says Trump Could Abandon Taiwan If He Wins US Election — Bloomberg Trump says Taiwan 'took our business away' — MSNBC YouTube Channel Tom Cotton Unflinchingly Grills TikTok's CEO At Senate Hearing On Child Online Safety — Forbes YouTube Channel Cotton defends pressing TikTok CEO on ties to Chinese Communist Party — The Hill TikTok Struggles to Protect U.S. Data From Its China Parent — Wall Street Journal Jake Sullivan on the Future of US-China Relations — CFR Raimondo Says Chinese EVs Are a National Security Risk For US, EU — Asia Financial Spy Balloon Memories — Politico EU

Bill Bishop, author of Sinocism, and Andrew discuss the challenges faced by Tesla in China, the security risks associated with Tesla vehicles, and the potential impact of Chinese EVs flooding foreign markets. They also touch on Beijing's response to weak investor sentiment, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, and the latest adventures on WeChat from the Ministry of State Security.

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 last weekend’s election in Taiwan, where William Lai and the DPP retained their hold on the presidency but lost a majority in legislature. Topics include: The reactions from China and around the world, continued questions about a timeline for reunification, Hong Kong as a cautionary tale for the Taiwanese, Nauru and the United Nations, and sparring between the Foreign Ministry and the Philippines. From there: Li Qiang delivers good news to Davos, investors in China and Hong Kong remain wary, and one year after China announced to the world it was open for business, several factors have left confidence among the foreign investment community at an all-time low. At the end: The world waits for to China to take action in the Red Sea, a question about cannabis crackdowns in Hong Kong, and a documentary heralds a new crackdown on soccer corruption. To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm Taiwan election; Wang Yi on the Red Sea; Li does Davos; Baidu buying opportunity? — Sinocism Xi on financial development; Premier Li's Davos speech; MSS on Taiwan; Spring Festival travel — Sinocism Election result can't change fact that Taiwan is part of China, says Chinese FM — CCTV Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Andrew Sorkin of CNBC — U.S. Department of Statee Hong Kong a cautionary tale as China looms over Taiwan's election — NBC News Taiwan loses diplomatic recognition of Nauru in wake of election — Financial Times The Distortion of UN Resolution 2758 and Limits on Taiwan’s Access to the United Nations — German Marshall Fund China warns Philippines not to ‘play with fire’ over president’s Taiwan remarks — Reuters Philippines defence minister calls out China official for “gutter-level talk” — Reuters A big Chinese delegation unnerves U.S. diplomats in Davos — Politico China Stock Rout Deepens as Data Stoke Recovery Concerns — Bloomberg Did China’s Economy Really Grow 5.2% in 2023? Not All Agree — Bloomberg Beijing tells some investors not to sell as Chinese stock rout resumes — Financial Times Charts This Week #1 & Publishing Update — Real China Chahrts US escalates Red Sea tensions, while China voices fairness — Global Times Why maritime ships are signaling their Chinese identity in the Red Sea — Semafor How Chinese Marijuana Operations Cropped Up in Small-Town America — Wall Street Journal Why Does China Remain Terrible at Soccer? Xi Jinping Has One Answer — Wall Street Journal

Bill Bishop, author of Sinocism, discusses topics such as US intelligence assessment on China, PLA corruption, China's nuclear ambitions, foreign affairs work conference, Liu Jianchao's visit to the US, and Xi's connection with old friends in Iowa.