(Preview) Big Picture Questions for 2024; Taiwan and the Philippines and Tentative Stability; Our Favorite Memories from 2023

Sharp China with Bill Bishop

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Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism

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On today’s show Andrew and Bill talk through questions and key areas to watch during the year to come in China. First: A look at the economy a year after the end of dynamic zero covid, including a Bloomberg report on real estate market and household wealth, MSS warnings about discourse traps, and a corruption crackdown that's likely to continue. Then: Foreign policy questions include ongoing tensions with the Philippines and Taiwan, an ODNI report on election interference in the US, and a tactical stabilization with the Americans that may be tested as early as January. At the end: Andrew runs through various memories from the past year, including 72 hours of unmanned airship sightings, a Barbie controversy, the God of Money menu, Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Gina Raimondo’s trip to Beijing, Gavin Newsom, and an emailer’s submission for a new Sharp China logo.

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China’s Weibo Asks Bloggers to Avoid Badmouthing the Economy — Bloomberg

China’s Real Estate Meltdown Is Battering Middle Class Wealth — Bloomberg

China curtails ‘dangerous’ fighter jet manoeuvres after Xi-Biden summit — Financial Times

CCP-tied group is quietly fueling US-based climate initiatives: tax filings — Fox News

ODNI and DHS/DOJ Release Reports on Foreign Interference in 2022 Elections — Lawfare

Blinken postpones trip to Beijing after Chinese spy balloon spotted over US — CNN

Why 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson over 1-seed Purdue is the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history — CBS Sports

James Harden Calls Daryl Morey A Liar — SPORTSNET YouTube

‘Barbie’ Map Controversy: Warner Bros. Explains the Drawing That Got the Film Banned in Vietnam (EXCLUSIVE) — Variety

Everything on Janet Yellen's "God of Money" restaurant menu in Beijing — QZ

China hits back after Biden calls Xi a 'dictator' — Reuters

Chinese Hackers Targeted Commerce Secretary and Other U.S. Officials — New York Times

Chinese memes make U.S. envoy unwitting brand ambassador for new Huawei phone — Washington Post

Chinese TV presenter linked to missing foreign minister had surrogate child in US — Financial Times

California Gov. Gavin Newsom plows into child while playing basketball in China — KTLA 5 YouTube

D.C.’s pandas leave for China, ending an era for animal lovers — Washington Post

What China Saw in Kissinger — Sinocism