Recent articles
October 15, 2026
Fifth Plenum approaching; EU signaling car deal just the start; Li Qiang going to Russia; The Great Expedition 伟大远征
The key to properly implementing the major decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee lies in people, and we must be alert to “two-faced people” who harbor divided loyalties and whose words a...
sinocism.com
October 14, 2026
September trade, prices and credit data; Li Qiang at the Canton Fair; EU-China
When some people discuss China’s trade today, they often see only import and export figures and overlook the real effects behind them. China is both a “super seller” and a “super buyer.” As a “supe...
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October 13, 2026
National Health and Wellness Conference; Xi meets with leaders from Botswana and Togo; EU-China deal; Visa’s long wait; Huang Qifan
1. National Health and Wellness Conference
2. Xi meets with leaders from Botswana and Togo
3. Cold water on the EU-China trade outcomes?
4. Visa finally gets approval for a bank card clearing in...
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October 13, 2026
Sharp China: Brussels and Beijing Make a Deal; Weak Holiday Spending Data; Xi's Reported Rest Breaks; Peak Dove?
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October 12, 2026
Guidelines for developing new quality productive forces; EU-China trade talks; Combating auto involution; Food safety crackdown
In this issue:
1. Guidelines for developing new quality productive forces
2. Outcomes from EU-China trade talks
3. Improving new car design safety and quality
4. Cracking down on food safety vi...
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October 8, 2026
EU-China talks; PBoC on RMB; Measures for protecting the rights and interests of gig workers; Holiday spending; AI safety
The People’s Bank of China on Thursday published a statement of its policy position on the Renminbi. It is a defense of the existing policy and a rebuttal to pressure for RMB appreciation, and nice...
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October 7, 2026
EU-China trade talks; Reality after the Xi-Trump meeting; US-China AI/SI
The PRC gets back to work Thursday after the long vacation for National Day. For those of you who got the week off, I hope you had a nice holiday. Today’s newsletter is a bit of a catch-up ahead of...
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October 1, 2026
The Strategic Stalemate Era for the US and China; Xi Welcomes American Young People; Domestic Crackdowns and Economic Concerns
Listen now (61 mins) | This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall.
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September 29, 2026
Incremental policy support; Wang Yi’s message to Japan; Document sensitivities during Xi’s DC visit; Trump on China and AI/SI
Incremental policies to support the economy - Just a day after the State Council Executive Meeting readout said that “practical additional policies should be introduced”, the People’s Bank of China...
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September 28, 2026
US-China strategic stalemate; Premier Li signals Q4 economic support; More Nvidia chips for China?; PRC-Philippine tensions
Lots of pomp, limited substance in the Xi-Trump meetings. But before we get to a discussion of the Trump-Xi bonhomie, it is worth highlighting the signals from the Monday State Council Executive Me...
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September 23, 2026
Xi arrives in DC; PLA Daily editorial on Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli; ODI; Nuclear weapons
We do not have much more visibility today than we did yesterday about possible outcomes from Xi’s visit.
Treasury Secretary Bessent met again with He Lifeng today, and in brief comments held out ...
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September 23, 2026
Sharp China: Xi Jinping Comes to Washington; US-China Agenda, Questions and Expectations; The September Politburo Meeting
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September 22, 2026
Premier Li on advanced manufacturing; Xi’s US visit; AI; “Enemy state” clauses
Xi Jinping should land in DC in about 24 hours. We still have little visibility on what the outcomes may be, beyond a reaffirmation of the US and PRC versions of the “constructive relationship of ...
sinocism.com
September 21, 2026
Fifth Plenum date set; Xi’s US visit confirmed as negotiators meet in New York; Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli expelled from Party and PLA
The Politburo held its September meeting Monday and announced that the Fifth Plenum will convene October 26-29.
The PRC officially confirmed that Xi will travel to the US to meet with Trump from S...
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September 17, 2026
National Advanced Manufacturing Conference; China pushing Iran to rein in the Houthis?; Xi’s visit to DC and US-China AI Dialogue
Xi visit to DC - More details are coming about the plans for Xi’s visit to DC next week, with the most interesting report today coming from Politico, which says that Trump will personally greet Xi ...
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September 16, 2026
Xi rumors; Iran FM in Beijing; PBoC head on lending; US-China meeting; AI; EU-China
There is a new round of rumors about Xi’s health. I think it is BS but since I have been getting lots of pings about it, it makes sense to address them
sinocism.com
September 16, 2026
Sharp China: The Limited Potential for a Pacing Deal; MSS on PRC AI Risks; Distillation and Data Security; The Party's Approach to Social Media
Show Notes:
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September 15, 2026
More weak August data; Advance work for Xi-Trump meeting; ICBC documents leak; New exit-entry rules go into effect
In this issue:
1. More weak August data
2. Advance work for Xi-Trump meeting
3. ICBC documents leak
4. New exit-entry rules go into effect
sinocism.com
September 15, 2026
US-China Strategic AI Dialogue (SAID) Proposal
A structured U.S.-PRC government dialogue on strategic artificial intelligence risk reduction - The US and China should be talking about AI safety and governance, and while I am skeptical this can ...
sinocism.com
September 14, 2026
Xi’s India trip; US-China and AI; MSS head on AI; Weak August credit data; “Dynamic zero 动态清零” for payment arrears
Today has been a whirlwind of news about calls to pace AI development, triggered by Anthropic CEO’s “We Must Pace the Frontier” essay over the weekend. The reaction from the Trump Administration, a...
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September 10, 2026
Xi going to India; Plan for Building a Financial Powerhouse; Anthropic drops bombs in PRC AI firms; “Enemy-state clauses”; US-China
Anthropic’s September report is not just about China but includes multiple examples of what it says is problematic behavior by Chinese firms and individuals.
The report documents clear violations...
sinocism.com
September 9, 2026
Deflation over for now; MOFCOM responds to US distillation advisory; DeepSeek IPO and new model; Xi-Trump summit
Expectations should be low for US-China AI discussions around Xi’s upcoming visit, not only because of this advisory and the response but also because the US side is far from having any sort of coh...
sinocism.com
September 8, 2026
August trade data; Capital boost for state financial firms; Xi’s DC visit and US-China AI
The PRC has still not confirmed that Xi Jinping will travel to India for the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi this weekend, but the expectation is that he will attend. In this issue:
August trade da...
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September 4, 2026
Sharp China: China's Global Strategy; Tragedy on the Nepal-Tibet Border; A 19-1 Vote at the G-20; TikTok Dodges Congress
Listen now | This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall.
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September 3, 2026
PRC explanation of why there was no G20 communiqué; Accelerating “six networks” projects; EU-China; Oil consumption; AI
PRC explanation of why there was no G20 communiqué
NDRC wants to accelerate “Six Networks” projects
EU-China
Q2 carbon emissions fall
China and AI
The Memory Museum
sinocism.com
September 2, 2026
Xi’s Egypt visit; G20 meeting; Bond issuance for rest of the year; EU-China trade
In this issue:
Xi’s Egypt visit
G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting
Bond issuance for rest of the year
EU-China trade
sinocism.com
September 1, 2026
Xi at the SCO; China’s global strategy; Li Qiang meets US business leaders; Taxing foreigners; Overseas guidelines for PRC automakers
In this issue:
Xi at the SCO
China’s global strategy
Li Qiang meets US business delegation
Tax changes for foreigners
Auto industry overseas conduct guidelines
Latest issue of Q...
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August 31, 2026
The disaster in Nepal and Tibet; Xi at the SCO; Supporting consumption; National Defense Mobilization Law; Signals for PRC-US AI dialogue; New era for real estate
In this issue: The disaster in Nepal and Tibet
Xi at the SCO
State Council Executive meeting
Measures to expand and upgrade consumer goods consumption
Revised National Defense Mobilization Law
...
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August 27, 2026
Sharp China: Five US-China (and Russia) Questions; Cabbage with Formaldehyde; The Continuing Tax Crackdown; Unitree Stock Down 45%
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August 26, 2026
Disaster at Tibet-Nepal border; Xi to attend SCO Summit and visit Egypt; PRC-India; Food safety; New Z.ai model
Xi to attend SCO Summit and visit Egypt - Xi will travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to attend the SCO summit and pay a state visit there. He will then go on to Egypt for a state visit. He leaves August...
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