The hottest China relations Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

Iran War Supporters Invent a New and Absurd Justification: It Is All About China

Glenn Greenwald • 2408 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. The idea that the U.S. war on Iran is really aimed at hurting China is a new, widely promoted justification that the administration itself has not presented as its main motive.
  2. The China argument is weak because China’s ties to Iran are neither unique nor decisive, and U.S. actions have often pushed Middle Eastern states toward Beijing rather than blocking it.
  3. A more plausible driver of the conflict is pro-Israel and hawkish interests, and the China narrative mainly distracts from Israel’s influence and other political motives behind the war.

America's chip export controls are working

Noahpinion • 18294 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. Export controls on advanced chips and equipment are effectively slowing China’s progress and help the U.S. keep a crucial technological edge that supports military deterrence.
  2. Allowing sales of powerful chips like Nvidia’s H200 would sharply reduce America’s AI compute advantage and let Chinese AI labs catch up faster, increasing the risk of conflict.
  3. Many touted Chinese breakthroughs (e.g., 7nm or EUV prototypes) are overstated and China still faces major technical and supply-chain hurdles, so selling chips won’t stop indigenization and may only accelerate China’s capabilities.

Chartbook 426 Greenland v. the price of lab monkeys.

Chartbook • 2017 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. Chaotic, personality-driven politics distracts from deeper, long-term global trends and makes it harder to focus on real problems. There’s a growing split between technocratic, planned modernization and idiosyncratic, destabilizing governance.
  2. The price of lab monkeys is a practical proxy for biotech activity—rising prices show a boom in testing, especially in China. Because it takes about four years to raise monkeys for trials, supply lags create big, cyclical swings in price.
  3. Pandemic shocks, policy shifts, and supply-chain disruptions have made monkey supplies unreliable and put key research—from vaccines to neuroscience—at risk. These problems are part of a wider set of interconnected crises that tie politics, geopolitics, and science together.

A War Foretold

Taipology • 74 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. The US, with Israel playing a leading role, appears to be pursuing a long-planned regime-change campaign against Iran that may rely on regional proxies rather than large numbers of American ground troops.
  2. Iran has struck back effectively with missiles, making the fight likely to be prolonged and costly; putting Tehran on "death ground" guarantees fierce resistance and raises the risk of a quagmire for the US.
  3. The strategic benefits for the United States are unclear, and the conflict may actually help China geopolitically because China’s oil supply is diversified and it can leverage other economic levers rather than being contained by a war in the Middle East.

China's Rare Earths Chokehold: A Primer

ChinaTalk • 1171 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. China now treats its rare earth dominance as a geopolitical lever and is likely to repeat export controls to extract concessions until U.S. dependence is meaningfully reduced.
  2. Economically viable rare earth deposits are scarce and global production is concentrated in just a few mines, so supply can’t be easily or quickly replaced.
  3. Heavy rare earths like dysprosium and terbium are both geologically rare and overwhelmingly controlled by China, so fixing the vulnerability will take focused, sustained investment and effort rather than broad, diffuse programs.
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TikTok is just the beginning

Noahpinion • 27118 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. TikTok is facing potential shutdown in the U.S. because of a law that requires foreign apps to be sold to American buyers. If the owner doesn't comply, the app could be removed from stores for new downloads.
  2. The Chinese government prefers to control TikTok rather than let it be sold or used freely in America. They believe it's too important to lose, even if it means shutting it down altogether.
  3. Concerns about TikTok focus on privacy issues and how it might be used to spread propaganda. Evidence suggests that the app can suppress negative content about China and promote pro-government views.

New York Times Wants The US Military Built Up For War With China

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1862 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. The New York Times editorial argues the U.S. must rebuild and expand its military to prepare to fight China (and possibly Russia), calling for more spending and for allies to shoulder more of the burden.
  2. The Times is accused of uncritically repeating unverified government claims—like an alleged order to seize Taiwan by 2027 and warnings about undersea cable sabotage—and of using alarmist imagery to push urgency.
  3. The piece frames U.S. global dominance as having harmed the global south through imperial extraction and warns that normalizing a huge military buildup risks pouring resources into preparations for catastrophic great‑power wars.

This Week in Canada: If You Believe That, I Have a Bridge Named After Gordie Howe to Sell You

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 347 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. Canada is moving to strengthen economic ties with China as part of a strategy to reduce dependence on the United States.
  2. Concrete steps include allowing a limited number of Chinese-made electric vehicles and removing tariffs on Canadian canola to boost exports.
  3. Donald Trump publicly attacked the arrangement, calling it a disaster and suggesting the U.S. views Canada’s friendlier trade posture toward China as part of the broader U.S.–China confrontation.

Natan Sharansky’s Letter to Jimmy Lai

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 783 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🌐 International China relations
  1. Keep your inner freedom no matter how long or harsh the imprisonment feels. That inner liberty can't be taken away by false charges or solitary confinement.
  2. Standing up for democracy and truth is a brave and honorable act, even when the cost is imprisonment. Such resistance inspires others and preserves human dignity.
  3. Those who use fear and repression to control others end up living as slaves themselves, bound by lies and coercion. In the long run, the moral victory belongs to those who resist.

2025 In Review: The Year The US Changed Sides

Phillips’s Newsletter • 345 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. In 2025 the US shifted from being a strong supporter of Ukraine and NATO to a policy that effectively sides with Russia, ending direct aid and reversing prior commitments.
  2. That switch had concrete military effects: cuts to weapons, ammunition, and intelligence weakened Ukraine’s air defenses and likely contributed to higher civilian casualties and Russian battlefield gains.
  3. The change reshaped global politics by weakening alliances and emboldening Russia and China, giving Putin time and diplomatic cover, so democracies must acknowledge this new reality if they want to respond.

Legislator Gao Chin vs the Kitchen Sink

Taipology • 30 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. Prosecutors sometimes use a “kitchen sink” tactic — piling on many unrelated or old grey-area charges and staging dramatic raids and media leaks so the public assumes guilt.
  2. That playbook is often used against opposition politicians, turning prosecutions into political battles that are confusing because the charges are heterogeneous.
  3. Even if legally permissible, this approach erodes trust in the rule of law and condemns defendants to years of legal limbo and public damage regardless of the final outcome.

Policy: An Early Career Guide REVISED!

ChinaTalk • 1230 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. Writing online, like on Substack, is a great way to showcase your skills and stand out in policy jobs. It's important to develop a strong writing portfolio to get hired.
  2. Learning Chinese helps you understand China better, and nothing beats living there for gaining real language skills and cultural knowledge. It can really enrich your experience as a policy analyst.
  3. Networking on platforms like Twitter can open doors for you. You can connect with experts, learn how they think, and even find job opportunities through conversations.

Trump’s China Shift Rattles Hawks in Congress

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 208 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. The president’s unpredictable shift toward China is making it harder for congressional hawks to push a unified crackdown, leaving enforcement efforts uncertain.
  2. University partnerships like the Tsinghua‑Berkeley Shenzhen Institute alarm lawmakers because they can give China access to U.S. research and collaborations with firms tied to the PLA or under U.S. sanctions.
  3. AI and other advanced technologies have become central flash points in the rivalry, with worries that academic and industry ties could help China close key strategic gaps or enable military applications.

To Catch a President

Taipology • 124 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. The US carried out a rapid, low-casualty removal of Maduro that looked like a polished PR victory and may have relied on deals or a military stand-down rather than heavy fighting.
  2. This action signals a push to reassert US dominance in Latin America — aiming to secure influence, resources, and compliant governments while European actors largely appeased it.
  3. China is unlikely to directly intervene over Venezuela, and the episode won’t by itself reshape BRICS or Taiwan policy; the bigger contest will be economic and strategic control of supply chains and resources, with Venezuela’s political future still uncertain.

What to Learn From China.

Breaking the News • 1051 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. China's history shows how important international students are for higher education. The U.S. benefits greatly from the brilliant students who come from China and other countries.
  2. Long-term planning in industrial policy can lead to success. China effectively uses consistent strategies to boost its economy, while chaotic policies in the U.S. might not work as well.
  3. Understanding China's past troubles helps provide context for current issues. The Cultural Revolution was a dark time, and it's important to learn about such events to avoid repeating mistakes.

China’s Germany watchers take stock of Berlin’s uneasy turn

Pekingnology • 98 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. Germany is facing deep domestic strains: political fragmentation, rising far‑right and new populist forces, and a government struggling to deliver policies, all of which fuel social unease.
  2. Germany is making a clear security pivot with big increases in defence spending, conscription and deployments, and a more securitised outlook that mixes tough rhetoric on China with economic pragmatism.
  3. The room for China–EU and China–Germany cooperation is narrowing as Europe increasingly frames China as a systemic rival and ties China policy to Russia and transatlantic dynamics, even though trade and two‑way investment remain substantial.

New Report: TikTok Brainwashed America’s Youth

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1168 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. TikTok may be influencing American youth significantly, leading to concerns about its impact on their views and behavior. Many worry that the platform could be promoting narratives that align with Chinese interests.
  2. Research suggests that TikTok downplays negative content about China, raising alarms about potential indoctrination among young users. This could shape how they perceive important global issues.
  3. The future of TikTok in the U.S. is uncertain as legal debates continue, with discussions about whether it should be sold or banned due to privacy and influence concerns. This situation has sparked a lot of political discussion and uncertainty.

From Dollar Dominance to the Slop Machine

Kyla’s Newsletter • 364 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. The US economy is focused on extracting value rather than creating new things. This means we're taking from what we already have instead of building for the future.
  2. China is investing in infrastructure and technology, strengthening its economy while the US is stuck in old patterns. They're creating new systems, while we're just trying to make money from what's already there.
  3. To improve, we need to treat attention and information carefully, focusing on long-term growth instead of quick engagement. It's important to build trust and invest in real solutions rather than just trying to capture attention.

US pressures Saudi Arabia to sell oil in dollars, not Chinese yuan, amid Israel negotiations

Geopolitical Economy Report • 717 implied HN points • 13 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. The US is pressuring Saudi Arabia to continue pricing its oil in dollars, not Chinese yuan, as part of negotiations involving Israel.
  2. The petrodollar system plays a key role in maintaining the hegemony of the US dollar, ensuring steady demand for the currency worldwide.
  3. Saudi Arabia's relationship with China is strengthening, leading to discussions about potentially selling oil in yuan, which could impact global economic dynamics.

Introducing the Symposium

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 7 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics China relations
  1. A weekly, open 'Symposium' will replace the strict Middle East course model, offering a new global topic each week with shorter required readings so subscribers can drop in when a topic interests them.
  2. An optional expository writing module will follow the discussion, is cumulative, and asks participants to commit to attending regularly so writing feedback can build over time.
  3. The inaugural session asks whether the liberal international order has collapsed, features Terry Glavin as guest, and comes with an extensive curated reading list, speeches, debates, and study questions to guide the conversation.

MORE Export Controls: Foundry, DRAM, and Reflections on Biden

ChinaTalk • 311 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. New export controls from the U.S. aim to stop Chinese companies, like Huawei, from accessing advanced chips made in Taiwan. This is a big move to protect U.S. technology.
  2. A change in the definition of DRAM now makes it harder for Chinese companies to find loopholes to acquire necessary chip-making equipment. This is a stricter measure to keep high-tech manufacturing under control.
  3. There's a new checklist system for companies trying to buy advanced chips. Only approved companies can buy them, which could slow things down for startups looking to get into the market.

Biden’s Legacy Is a New Cold War

Nonzero Newsletter • 338 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. Bipartisan support in Congress is now framing China as the main enemy of the U.S. This shift has led to new laws that limit American cooperation with Chinese entities.
  2. Biden has taken a strong stance against China, continuing and intensifying policies started by Trump. This has solidified a consensus that sees China as a major threat.
  3. The growing tension between the U.S. and China is often overlooked, especially compared to conflicts in Europe. However, Biden's actions are key to understanding this new cold war dynamic.

Ports and Paranoia: Commentary on CSIS’s “No Safe Harbor” Report

Pekingnology • 101 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. The CSIS report about Chinese ports suggests they might be a security risk for the U.S. because of military and economic influence. However, many of the claims are based on unlikely scenarios and lack solid evidence.
  2. The report's methods of scoring and assessing risk seem too subjective and could mislead people into thinking certain ports are much more dangerous than they actually are. They don't factor in real-world complexities and political contexts accurately.
  3. There's a clear one-sided focus on Chinese activities while ignoring similar behaviors from the U.S. This creates a biased narrative that doesn't fully consider how countries in the region balance relationships with both China and the U.S.

The Transplantation Society Medical Guild (TTS), COVID, and the CCP

Who is Robert Malone • 11 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics China relations
  1. The Transplantation Society acts like a powerful, closed medical guild that shapes global transplant science, ethics, and policy while operating with limited transparency or accountability.
  2. The Society’s close ties to pharmaceutical sponsors and Chinese health authorities led it to publicly endorse China’s claimed transplant reforms without independent audits, effectively giving the CCP reputational cover despite reported coerced organ procurement.
  3. During COVID the Society pushed vaccination as an ethical prerequisite for transplant access, producing de facto medical conditionality and reflecting a compliance-first ethic; fixing this requires radical transparency about financial and political conflicts.

1st call between Marco Rubio and Wang Yi

Pekingnology • 181 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics China relations
  1. Marco Rubio and Wang Yi had their first phone call, but the U.S. State Department mistakenly identified Wang's job title. This confusion happened even under the previous administration, showing it’s a common mix-up.
  2. In the official summary from China about their call, there was an unexpected mention of the U.S. wanting a peaceful resolution for Taiwan. This is unusual and may be a slip because it contradicts China's stance on the issue.
  3. Wang Yi gave Rubio a veiled warning to behave himself during their conversation, highlighting the tension in their relationship given Rubio's past criticisms of China.