Podcast
Sharp China with Bill Bishop
Hosted by Andrew Sharp and Sinocism’s Bill Bishop · EN
Understanding China and how China impacts the world. Hosted by Andrew Sharp and Bill Bishop.
40episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The PLA Purges One Week Later; World Leaders Flock to Beijing; A Trump-Xi Phone Call; Panama Canal Resolution?
Feb 501:02:30Summary readyOn today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with follow-up thoughts on the purges at the top of the PLA, including reactions to a New York Times piece on Xi’s “paranoia,” answers that have yet to materialize, He Weidong suicide rumors, and various theories on what any of this might signal. From there: Keir Starmer’s trip to Beijing, caution before drawing too many conclusions from the recent steps from Canada and the U.K., and a flurry of stories about Xi’s ambitions for the RMB as a global reserve currency. At the end: Parsing the readouts from a surprise Trump-Xi call Wednesday, why Taiwan arms sales may have been at issue, the U.S. gets serious about critical minerals, Panama deals a blow to China, and Nvidia’s H200 adventures head to the State Department. Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Uruguay President in China; Document No. 1; Development of future industries; Building a financial power; Fighting deflation; Zhang Youxia; 2026 GDP — Sinocism Xi meets Starmer; Services consumption work plan; Soccer corruption; Nvidia and China — Sinocism Ruptures in China’s Leadership Could Be Due to Paranoia and Power Plays — New York Times China’s Xi, Now Alone Atop His Military, Is the Sole Voice in Tackling Taiwan — Wall Street Journal The Unsettling Implications of Xi’s Military Purge — Foreign Affairs Xi the Destroyer — Foreign Affairs The Scorpion and the Frogs — Sharp Text LIVE with Bill Bishop: The world order is shifting — and China is moving fast to shape it. — Sinocism Been spendin’ most their lives livin’ in the free trade paradise — China Articles Follow the Path of Financial Development with Chinese Characteristics and Build a Strong Financial Nation — Quishi Trump, Xi Hold Call as China Warns on Taiwan Arms Sales — Bloomberg Taiwan launches firepower hub with US as Beijing steps up military pressure — SCMP Trump to Launch $12 Billion Critical Mineral Stockpile to Blunt Reliance on China — Bloomberg China Loses a Foothold in Panama — WSJ China Warns Panama of ‘Heavy Price’ on Court Ruling on Ports — Bloomberg Nvidia AI chip sales to China stalled by US security review — FT
Summary(Preview) 10 Questions on the Detention of Zhang Youxia, Corruption in the PLA, Rumors, Messaging, and Taiwan
Jan 2900:11:09Summary readyOn today’s show Andrew and Bill react to the news that the rumors were true, and CMC members Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are under investigation for corruption. Topics include: The timing of the announcement from the Defense Ministry, why this weekend’s news inspired such a volume of reactions around the world, a history of Xi’s crackdowns on the PLA, questions about rumors of a coup against Xi, reports that Zhang Youxia was working with the U.S., the PLA corruption heyday and its implications for what might come next, and various ways to think about the implications for Taiwan. At the end: The first batch of H-200s is approved for purchase, and the TikTok sale is approved as users lash out with censorship claims. Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube PLA purges intensify: Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli under investigation — Sinocism Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli case; National Conference on Science and Technology; Slow bull market; UK PM to China; US NDS — Sinocism Xi Jinping’s purge of top general sends China’s military into uncharted waters — Financial Times Gutian Congress — Wikipedia China’s Top General Accused of Giving Nuclear Secrets to U.S. — Wall Street Journal Xi Seeks ‘Total Control’ of Military With Purge, Perdue Says — Bloomberg The demise of Zhang Youxia hits different — Drew Thompson The Zhang Youxia case — Sinocism Live China Approves Purchases of Nvidia’s H200 Chip, Easing Tension With U.S. — Wall Street Journal China, US sign off on TikTok US spinoff — Semafor
Summary(Preview) Canada and the New World Order; Second Order Questions for the US and EU; More Big Names Purged from the PLA?
Jan 2200:13:19Summary readyOn today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with reactions to a new “strategic partnership” between China and Canada, including thoughts on fissures in the West that are a win for China, Prime Minister Carney’s “new world order” comments, U.S. rhetoric that created the conditions for a thaw, and why this direction could be a decision Canadians come to regret. From there: The UK and countries in the EU consider a thaw of their own, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer headed to Beijing, the “mega embassy” approved in London, and America pushing for concessions on Greenland. At the end: Thoughts on the latest rumors surrounding Zhang Youxia and the stunning scale of PLA purges to date, a congressman accuses Nvidia of astroturfing opposition to chip legislation, and the CBA becomes embroiled in the latest gambling indictment from the FBI. Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Meeting for senior officials on Fourth Plenum spirit; More PLA purges?; He Lifeng at Davos; Officials talk up fiscal and financial “stimulus” — Sinocism 2025 GDP growth on target; Births keep declining; China-Canada new strategic partnership; Davos; Premier Li meets MiniMax CEO — Sinocism Canada Breaks With U.S. to Slash Tariffs on Some Chinese Electric Vehicles — NYT US says Canada will regret decision to allow Chinese EVs into their market — Reuters Canada will regret cozying up with China to troll Trump — Washington Post Bullied by Trump, US allies turn to China — Noah Barkin Exclusive: Britain, China to revive ‘Golden Era’ business dialogue during Starmer visit, sources say — Reuters Britain approves ‘mega’ Chinese embassy in London despite national security fears — CNN The new Chinese embassy in perspective — Observing China Sinocism Live: The UK-China spy scandal and UK-China relations with Charles Parton — Sinocism House Republican squares off against Nvidia, Sacks over AI chip bill — The Hill Post by the Midas Project — X: @TheMidasProj More than a dozen NCAA basketball players charged over rigged games, prosecutors say — CNN
Summary(Preview) What’s at Stake for China in Iran; Canada’s PM in Beijing; Notes on Chips, Apps, and Drones
Jan 1500:08:33Summary readyOn today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the instability in Iran, including thoughts on Trump’s Truth Social post threatening 25% tariffs on Iran trade partners, why that threat is unlikely to materialize as additional US tariffs on Chinese goods, and the PRC’s concerns about oil access, investments, and regional stability as the situation continues to evolve in Tehran. From there: Chinese refiners eye Canadian crude oil, Prime Minister Mark Carney visits Beijing and seeks Canadian export markets beyond the US, and a China Daily editorial celebrates the opportunity and urges the Canadians to the root causes of previous setbacks in bilateral relations. At the end: The “Are You Dead?” app dominates Apple’s App Store in China, new regulations and new reporting on the H200 saga, the US updates its Chinese drone policy, and the CCDI highlights another possible area of US-China convergence. Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube CCDI; H200s; US-China; Zhong Caiwen; Short newsletter today — Sinocism CCDI Plenum opens; Rare earths exports to Japan get rarer; EU-China EV progress; Canadian PM’s visit to China — Sinocism Trump Risks Imploding China Trade Truce With Iran Tariff Vow — Bloomberg Trump’s Venezuela Oil Grab Pushes Chinese Refiners to Canada — Bloomberg Carney visit chance for Canada to repair ties: China Daily editorial — China Daily Caught Between Superpowers, Canada Seeks a New Path in Beijing — NYT China’s ‘Are You Dead?’ app checks in on growing cohort of people living alone — FT China’s Viral Are You Dead? App to Go Global Under New Name — Yicai Global US Clears Path for Nvidia to Sell H200s to China Via New Rule — Bloomberg Beijing Restricts Nvidia’s H200 Purchase, Banning the Chips From Entering China — The Information Exclusive: China’s customs agents told Nvidia’s H200 chips are not permitted, sources say — Reuters US government abandons plan to blacklist Chinese-made drones — SCMP
SummaryChina’s Venezuela Calculations; Japan’s Rare Earth Access; A Reported Pause on Nvidia Purchases; The Meta-Manus Deal Under Review
Jan 801:03:31Summary readyOn today’s show Andrew and Bill return from the holidays and begin with the PRC’s reaction to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. Topics include: PRC outrage and embarrassment, the propaganda value of the U.S. disregard for international law, oil questions, why most of the Taiwan takes were misplaced, looming tension at the Panama Canal, and Iran as a wildcard. From there: A Ministry of Commerce directive on rare earths for Japan, and questions about how this standoff might end. At the end: A report that PRC companies have been asked to pause purchases of the H200 chips, thoughts on the Manus-Meta deal and a review in Beijing, and a recorded recruiting call offers a window into how CCP propaganda works in the modern era. Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube China’s Venezuela Calculations; Real Estate Market Expectations; December Politburo and Democratic Life Meetings; Museum Scandal; 2026 Propaganda Tasks — Sinocism Tightening export controls on dual-use items to Japan and threatening rare earths export licenses; Stock market on a roll; Influencers to help improve “international communication” — Sinocism What Trump’s Ousting of Venezuela’s Maduro Means for China — Bloomberg US capture of Maduro tests limits of China’s diplomatic push — Reuters Trump demands Venezuela kick out China and Russia, partner only with US on oil: Exclusive — ABC ‘China is not Cuba’s sugar daddy’: ties between communist nations weaken — Financial Times The U.S. Venezuela Operation Will Harden China’s Security Calculation — Carnegie Endowment Trump’s Enormous C-Length Win over China — Collapse Intelligence Agency Chinese refiners expected to replace Venezuelan oil with Iranian crude, traders say — Reuters China’s Threat to Block Rare Earths Has Put Japan on High Alert — New York Times Inside China’s Six-Decade Campaign to Dominate Rare Earths — New York Times Exclusive: Nvidia sounds out TSMC on new H200 chip order as China demand jumps, sources say — Reuters China Tells Tech Companies to Halt Nvidia H200 Chip Orders — The Information China reviews Meta’s $2bn purchase of AI start-up Manus — Financial Times The Smear Campaign Against Guan Heng: A Transnational Repression Operation From the CCP’s External Propaganda Machine — Human Rights in China Breaking news: Another “#China shock” — Chinese Embassy to the US
Summary(Preview) Xi Jinping Thought on Domestic Demand; Political Economy vs. the Actual Economy; The Stories of the Year and Questions for 2026
Dec 1700:13:34Summary readyOn today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with takeaways from the Central Economic Work Conference, including the latest push to stimulate domestic demand, why consumption is intertwined with security, speculation surrounding Politburo member Ma Xingrui, and a reminder that many of the economic challenges facing China remain intertwined with politics. From there: More thoughts on the sale of H-200s to China, and a look back on the stories that dominated the podcast this year, including a TikTok saga that still hasn’t been resolved, the world tour of US-China negotiations, the PRC weathering the storm from the U.S., China’s ongoing economic struggles, omnipresent EU questions, the Xi rumor mill, and Xi succession plans. Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Expanding Domestic Demand is a Strategic Move; Weak November economic data; Jimmy Lai; Meta and China scam ads — Sinocism Central Economic Work Conference concludes; Five Musts and Eight Key Tasks; US-Japan-China; H200s — Sinocism Xi Warns Officials Against Chasing ‘Reckless’ GDP Expansion — Bloomberg No “Out-of-Pocket Expenses” for Childbirth in China From 2026 — Reuters China Is ‘Rejecting’ Nvidia’s H200 Chips, Outfoxing US Strategy, Sacks Says — Bloomberg US Lawmakers Question Basis for Allowing Sale of Nvidia H200 Chips to China — Financial Times Trump Allows H200 Sales to China, The Sliding Scale, A Good Decision — Stratechery Nvidia AI Chips to Undergo Unusual U.S. Security Review Before Export to China — Wall Street Journal Nvidia Builds Location Verification Tech That Could Help Fight Chip Smuggling — Reuters What’s Next for TikTok in the US as Deal Prospects Remain Uncertain? — BBC China’s Economy Is Deteriorating on Several Fronts — Wall Street Journal
Summary(Preview) Trump’s Plan to Sell Advanced Chips to China; U.S. Concessions Piling Up Amid a Push for ‘Stability’; Macron and the EU Conundrum
Dec 1000:11:52Summary readyOn today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the news that the US is greenlighting the sale of Nvidia’s H200 chips to the PRC market. Topics include: Dubious claims in Trump’s Truth Social post announcing the news, searching for arguments in support of this policy change, the 25% of China revenue Nvidia will pay to the U.S. government, and waiting for Beijing’s response, including how many U.S. chips Chinese companies will be allowed to buy. From there: The U.S. halts plans to sanction the MSS and its contractors, Japan seeks more support from the U.S., and the dynamics of “stability” come into focus. At the end: The December Politburo meeting, Emmanuel Macron’s visit to China, an email about the West’s willingness to build, and ‘Zootopia 2’ becomes a sensation in China. Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Central Economic Work Conference; Nvidia’s H200 chips for China; PRC-Japan fighter radar locks; Chen Yixin — Sinocism Trump Says U.S. Will Allow Nvidia H200 Chip Sales to China, Get 25% Cut — Wall Street Journal Nvidia AI Chips to Undergo Unusual U.S. Security Review Before Export to China — Wall Street Journal US halts plans to sanction Chinese spy agency — Financial Times Japan frustrated at Trump administration’s silence over row with China — Financial Times U.S. Authorities Shut Down Major China-Linked AI Tech Smuggling Network — Department of Justice December Politburo meeting and the imminent Central Economic Work Conference — Sinocism Wang Yi Holds Talks with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul — MoFA France’s Macron threatens China with tariffs over trade surplus — Les Echos Zootopia 2 bucks trend for Hollywood releases in China as it breaks records for foreign animation — The Guardian
SummaryTrump, Takaichi and a Game of Telephone; Japan Jawboning Continues; An Internet Governance Study Session; China Making Trade ‘Impossible’
Dec 301:03:11Summary readyOn today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the call between Trump and Xi last week, a subsequent call between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and the PRC’s ongoing tensions with Japan. Topics include: Conflicting reports surrounding both calls last week, PRC rhetoric that continues to escalate, contested history surrounding Okinawa, and PRC behavior that may be clarifying for the rest of the world. From there: Various points of emphasis at the Politburo study session on strengthening internet governance, DeepSeek’s new AI model, and a recent Crowdstrike investigation that appears to highlight the risks of building on Chinese models. At the end: More bad news in the real estate sector as Vanke struggles make international news, waiting for the Central Economic Work Conference later this month, an FT op-ed makes Europe’s trade problems clear while solutions remain elusive, and a note from a NASA employee adds context to a previous discussion on space rescues. Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Hong Kong fire; Politburo study session on strengthening Internet governance; Japan-China; Cloud loophole for advanced AI chips; Xu Qinxian — Sinocism Who initiated the Trump-Xi call?; PRC-Japan; Loosening loan standards; CrowdStrike questions DeepSeek coding security — Sinocism Trump, After Call With China’s Xi, Told Tokyo to Lower the Volume on Taiwan — Wall Street Journal Japan Denies Report That Trump Asked PM Not to Provoke China — Bloomberg China, Evoking World War II, Urges Europe to Take Its Side Against Japan — New York Times The PRC’s Diplomatic Offensive Against Japan Over Taiwan — Global Taiwan China’s AI is built for control — and it’s going global — Red Packet CrowdStrike Research: Security Flaws in DeepSeek-Generated Code Linked to Political Triggers — CrowdStrike China Tells Stats Providers to Halt Home Sales Data Publication — Bloomberg China Vanke Jolts Bondholders Again With Plan for One-Year Delay — Bloomberg Beijing orders China’s banks to lend to debt-burdened state-owned entities — China Banking News China is making trade impossible — Financial Times China’s growing trade surplus: why exports are surging as imports stall — European Central Bank Three Futures — Watching China in Europe Weeks from homecoming, Boeing Starliner astronauts want to set the record straight — CNN
Summary(Preview) A Maximalist Response to Japan's PM; More Bad Real Estate News; Leaked Warnings on Alibaba; Hasan Piker Touring China
Nov 1900:18:08Summary readyOn today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with a week of escalating rhetoric in response to Japanese Prime Minister Sane Takaichi’s comments about a Taiwan contingency. Topics include: Memories of Senkakku Islands tensions in 2012, why protests in the streets are unlikely this time, possibilities to escalate and de-escalate from here, and possible PRC motivations for reacting so forcefully. From there: A new round of disappointing real estate data while Lou Jiwei predicts prolonged contraction, “phantom loans” at banks, and a rescue mission for the Shenzhou 21 crew at Tiangong space station. At the end: A leaked White House memo alleges Alibaba is cooperating with the PLA, Hasan Piker’s viral travels spawn thoughts on Western influencers touring China, and a BBC journalist is reportedly under investigation for espionage in Brussels. Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, Asianometry and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube PRC-Japan crisis; October government spending drops; Real estate prices continue to decline; Shenzhou 20 crew returns — Sinocism Weak October credit data; CSRC head to resign?; No letup in PRC attacks over Japanese PM’s Taiwan comments; New Model of Global Leadership; Nexperia — Sinocism Saber-rattling about militarily intervening in the Taiwan Strait situation will only lead Japan down a road of no return — PLA Daily How Japan’s new prime minister has brought China’s ‘wolf warriors’ back out — CNN Japan senior diplomat visits Beijing to ease spat over Taiwan — Nikkei Asia China Secondhand Home Prices Fall in All Major Cities for Second Month — Caixin China Sees Worst Credit Growth in a Year as Demand Dries Up — Bloomberg China Banks Issue Phantom Loans to Hit Targets in Slow Economy — Bloomberg Exclusive: GM wants parts makers to pull supply chains from China — Reuters White House memo claims Alibaba is helping Chinese military target US — Financial Times Tesla Wants Its American Cars to Be Built Without Any Chinese Parts — Wall Street Journal US influencer Hasan Piker’s China tour draws fire after viral Tiananmen police encounter — SCMP america against china against america — Jasmine Sun Sinocism Live: Dispatches from China with Afra Wang and Jasmine Sun — Sinocism BBC journalist probed by secret services over China spying allegations — Daily Mail
SummaryBonus Episode: TikTok Gets a Hearing at the Supreme Court
Dec 18, 202400:16:56Summary readyGet 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
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