Claim OwnershipSharp China with Bill Bishop
Subscribed: 117Played: 3,561
Subscribe
© Sharp China Podcast LLC
Description
Understanding China and how China impacts the world. Hosted by Andrew Sharp and Bill Bishop.
133 Episodes
Reverse
1On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with questions surrounding the Fourth Plenum as it continues in Beijing this week. Topics include: The Party's messaging on past successes, a timeline for policy announcements in the days and weeks to come, steps the Party may take to address consumption with its next Five-Year Plan, and the full spectrum of possibilities surrounding Xi and his succession plans. From there: Reactions to the news of PLA purges that became official last week, including why some explanatory theories make more sense than others and why the upheaval is not necessarily a positive signal for Taiwan. At the end: More notes on the trade war with the U.S., the plot thickens with Nexperia and the Netherlands, a new website for Andrew's writing, and an update on Yang Hansen in Portland.
On today’s show Andrew and Bill react to the PRC’s announcement of expanded export controls on rare earths and related manufacturing equipment. Topics include: Why countries around the world were immediately concerned, clarifications offered from the PRC that may not allay those concerns, and why viewing these rules as a response to the recent BIS updates is overly simplistic. From there: The American response to the rare earth measures, including Trump's "Xi had a bad moment" comment, TACO predictions that may age poorly, why this move may have been a tactical error from Xi, and why capitulation or escalation may be a binary choice for the US. At the end: A supply chain wake-up call for the whole world, the Netherlands takes control of a Chinese-owned chipmaker, and lessons from the UK as the spy trial controversy continues to unspool.
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with a mounting scandal in the UK after prosecutors dropped charges against two men accused of spying for China. Topics include: Fingers pointed and claims that PM Keir Starmer and his Labour appointees were unwilling to present evidence of China as an "enemy,” ongoing reluctance to target PRC foreign agents under a new UK enforcement scheme, and reports of Beijing's latest play to move forward with its "mega embassy." From there: The EU Commission proposes tariff hikes to shield its steel industry from PRC overcapacity, why talk of a trillion dollar resolution to the US-China trade war is probably overblown, and a soybean bailout prompts questions about U.S. agriculture priorities generally. At the end: Reports of a "China-linked plot" to throttle communications in New York City, and the NBA's reunion with Chinese basketball fans continues in Macao and San Antonio.
On today’s Andrew and Bill begin with President Trump's executive order authorizing a proposal for a TikTok divestiture from ByteDance. Topics include: Why the proposed deal would be a win for ByteDance, China and the Trump administration, security concerns that haven't necessarily been addressed, and signals that opposition to the deal across D.C. is likely to be muted. Then: A report that the PRC will seek a shift on U.S. Taiwan policy in the course of trade talks, Secretary Bessent floats potential counter-measures for the U.S., and soybean farmers continue to twist in the wind. At the end: Thoughts on the PRC’s new K Visa program to attract foreign tech talent, dates for the fourth plenum, a very interesting rumor about Xi and a revival of the Central Advisory Commission, reactions to a Jensen Huang podcast appearance last week, and BIS closes a big export control loophole.
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with last Friday's call between Trump and Xi. Topics include: Plans for a meeting in South Korea and a Trump visit to Beijing early next year, whether summits on the horizon will lead to a period of stabilization, and why both sides may see the status quo as advantageous. From there: Parsing the latest reports concerning the TikTok sale, including unresolved questions surrounding the algorithm, sourced reporting that seems to change by the day, reactions in Washington that will shed light on next steps, and the CAC taking aim at short form video in the PRC. At the end: A note on the PRC and the Poland-Belarus border closure (which was re-opened after recording), and a look at the controversy swirling around Arcteryx after an ill-advised fireworks display spawns outrage, investigations and boycotts.
On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the news of a “framework,” a consensus, and a possible deal to divest TikTok US from its parent company, ByteDance. Topics include: The many details yet to be resolved publicly, the unknown fate of the algorithm and its legal implications, messaging from both the US and PRC delegations in Madrid, the ways in which a deal would benefit ByteDance, and the deflating path from April 2024 to this week. From there: The SAMR shares its findings in the Nvidia antitrust investigation, the PRC announces two additional responses to US chip pressure, and the US adds 23 PRC firms to the entity list. Then: Meta has its own China dependence, an AP report on US firms enabling the PRC surveillance state, and a look at the evolving methods of the CPC and its propaganda network. At the end: LeBron James' camp offers a clarification on last week's People's Daily article, and PRC pigeon racing hits the Washington Post.
On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin by looking back at last week’s Victory Day parade. Topics include: The domestic messaging from the PRC, cold war imagery from a regime that denounces cold war thinking, questions about the EU perspective, the implications of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, North Korea's relationship to the PRC, a hot mic moment between Xi and Putin, and President Trump's Truth Social post responding to the parade. From there: A flurry of US-China stories, including Nvidia in the New York Times, a Politico report on Pentagon priorities, and PRC hackers allegedly impersonating Rep. John Moolenaar. At the end: The State Council continues a push for increased sports consumption and investment, thoughts on LeBron James in the People's Daily and the NBA's return to China, and South Park tackles the Labubu craze.
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with takeaways from the SCO Summit, including Xi's announcement of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), outreach to the global south, and the PRC's warming relationship with India as Modi's first trip to China in seven years spawns anxiety in the US, and a variety of structural tensions remain. From there: Context for Beijing's recent efforts to correct the views of World War II, including efforts to recognize China's role in defeating Japan, contested accounts of the Communist Party's contributions, and contested understandings of the Potsdam Declaration. At the end: Mexico moots tariffs of their own, the US rescinds a waiver for SK Hynix and Samsung factories in China, and a few takeaways from Nvidia's earnings call last week.
On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with Li Chenggang in Washington for another round of meetings with American negotiators. Topics include: Outreach to soybean farmers and rumors of Boeing purchases, why the PRC may sense an opportunity for dealmaking, President Trump's plans to welcome 600,000 PRC students, 200% tariffs and the stakes surrounding rare earths, and more details on the EU-US trade deal. From there: Investors are all-in on Cambricon's upside, the FT reports on big chipmaking plans in China, while additional reports of a ban on Chinese H20 purchases spawn more questions about Beijing’s motivations and the state of domestic chips. At the end: Reactions to an extensive New York Times investigation of PRC interference in New York politics, and Labubu news for Tashi.
On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with a raft of news on Nvidia that came during the podcast’s vacation, including reports the company was summoned to meeting with the Cyberspace Administration of China, sources saying the same regulators have warned PRC companies against purchasing the H-20 chips, and news that the US is now granting licenses to sell H-20 chips to PRC companies in exchange for 15% of China chip revenue. Topics include: Jensen Huang’s successful lobbying, criticism of the 15% tax, questions about the motivation in Beijing, and thoughts on the near future in Washington. From there: Checking in with the real estate market and stock market as Beijing pledges more support for real estate and the SSE Index hits a 10-year high. At the end: Liu Jianchao is reportedly under investigation, Bao Fan has reportedly been released, India and China move to improve relations in the face of US tariffs, and an email about the Labubu phenomenon and PRC soft power exports
On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with July’s Politburo Meeting, including a date for the Fourth Plenum, more condemnations of “disorderly competition,” and signals that party leadership remains confident despite the tumultuous year. From there: The U.S.-China meetings in Stockholm, the latest moves from Trump to moderate on chips and possibly Taiwan, and debating a spate of reports suggesting that Trump is working toward a deal and a meeting with Xi and adopting a softer approach to China.
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with comments from Xi Jinping and renewed emphasis on building more rational marketplaces across key sectors in tech and beyond. Topics include: The implication that not every province has to participate in new growth areas, cadres parsing conflicting guidance from Beijing, and efforts to stimulate a healthy investment ecosystem for startups as U.S. venture investment recedes. From there: Thoughts on two high-profile exit-bans on American citizens traveling in China, why the two cases are different, more chatter that the Trump administration is softening on China, counterpoints to that argument, and a bit more news on "The Big Tariff," Yang Hansen.
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with reports that Nvidia will soon be allowed to again sell its H20 chips in China. Topics include: A win-win deal for Nvidia and the PRC, whether this is the beginning of more rollbacks of existing chip controls as the PRC exerts leverage with rare earth export controls, and Jensen Huang emerging as a bridge between US and PRC leaders. From there: Reports that Trump may be softening his approach to US-China issues, Xi Jinping's busy schedule of public appearances, and checking in on the real estate sector as stimulus hopes are deferred in the wake of this week's readout from the Central Urban Work Conference. At the end: A question on BRICS and the SCO, signs to look for if there is a leadership change in Beijing, and notes from Las Vegas after Yang Hansen becomes one of the biggest stories of NBA Summer League.
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with a look at tensions between the PRC and the EU ahead of the EU-China summit later this month. Topics include: Reports concerning Wang Yi's comments to EU counterparts conveying Beijing's perspective on the Ukraine war, the PRC Foreign Ministry implores the EU to "rebalance its mindset" rather than rebalancing trade, and the rare earths leverage that looms as Europe mulls its next moves. From there: Stepped up party efforts to combat overcapacity and "disorderly competition," the decades-long challenge of stimulating consumption, and extended thoughts on the spate of rumors surrounding Xi's grip on power and what can and can't be gleaned from observed behavior the past few months. At the end: A bit of TikTok news, and a welcome to the NBA for Yang Hansen.
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with PRC perspectives on the past two weeks of attacks on Iran. Topics include: Dispelling notions that U.S. involvement was welcomed by the PRC, why regional stability in the Middle East is stressed in every PRC statement, and how Iran and other PRC partners may view China's inaction over the last few weeks. From there: President William Lai delivers the first of ten speeches on national unity in Taiwan, the PRC offers a blistering response, and it may be time to brace for a rocky summer. At the end: The London agreement between the U.S. and China is under duress, EU leaders sound increasingly hawkish as the EU-China summit looms, Trump gives TikTok its third extension, and Congressional testimony brings the PRC swimming scandal back to the spotlight.
On today’s show Andrew and Bill take stock of the US-China trade framework in the wake of last week’s negotiations in London. Topics include: US escalations that brought the PRC side back to the table, PRC rare earth leverage that forced a compromise but no additional export control concessions, and variables to watch as trade tensions continue. From there: A survey of the various implications for the PRC as Israel attacks Iran and Wang Yi condemns the violations of Iran’s sovereignty. At the end: The FT reports on struggles in the PRC auto industry, the politics of factory closures, another compelling data point undermining Xi rumors, and a Wall Street Journal story about new chip workarounds for PRC firms.
On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with a call between President Trump and Xi, two days of meetings between the U.S. and China in London, and an apparent effort from both sides to de-escalate. Topics include: Retracing steps of the past few weeks, clarity for the U.S. and others on the PRC’s leverage over rare earths, the possibility of the U.S. easing tech export controls, and the lack of trust on both sides in the wake of the past few months. From there: The U.S. has concerns about a Chinese embassy in the UK, the New York Times surfaces a purported FSB document outlining various counterespionage anxieties related to the PRC, and Xi’s daughter joins a dinner with Lukashenko. At the end: People’s Daily publishes an interview with Ren Zhengfei, Xi continues his attempts to curb excess among party members, and Victor Wembanyama visits a Shaolin Monastery.
On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with a series of escalatory policies from the U.S. and talk of a call between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump later this week. Topics include: The rare earth frustration on the American side, the PRC’s use of leverage, the potential downsides for the PRC as the rest of the world grapples with shortages, and the maddening failures of the West to prepare for exactly this scenario. At the end: An update on TikTok, the death of Xu Qiliang and continued mystery at the top of the PLA, a week of rumors swirling around Xi, and two notes on the EV sector.
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with reports that next year's five-year plan will double down on the Made in China 2025 strategy. Topics include: The legacy and successes of Made in China 2025, ferocious domestic competition in industries like electric vehicles, and an aspect of self-reliance that continues to elude modern leadership. From there: A report that the EU is ready to work with the US on China policies of its own, why the EU and PRC have struggled to form an alliance, and why the detente between the US and China is looking increasingly fragile. At the end: The MSS warns of espionage, Czechia accuses the MSS of hacking its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an emailer has questions about Xi and his political rivals.
On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the Commerce Department's guidance on Ascend Chips, caustic responses to that policy on the PRC side, citations to the "Geneva Consensus," and the news the U.S. will be partnering with Saudi Arabia and the UAE on AI investments in a move that may limit PRC influence in the region. From there: Reactions to a New York Times op-ed about divergent policy trajectories for the US and China, comments from Ding Xuexiang on accelerating technological self-reliance, and questions about the US retaining and recruiting global talent. At the end: Rogue communication devices are reportedly found in Chinese solar power inverters, and a word about diamonds.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States