The hottest China Substack posts right now

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Top World Politics Topics

Why you need to (re)read 1984 -- ASAP

Unreported Truths • 45 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics China
  1. 1984 still matters because modern tools like mass surveillance and AI-generated propaganda are recreating many of the book’s warnings about pervasive state control.
  2. Orwell imagined totalitarian regimes as economically stagnant, but recent history shows an authoritarian state can combine political repression with rapid economic and technological growth.
  3. China’s rise undermines the idea that economic engagement will automatically produce democracy and creates strategic risks for democratic countries, making vigilance about authoritarian power urgent.

Chinese Communist govt (CCP) is funding fraudulent research & science on mRNA Cancer vaccines - new CCP study (Mar.2024) called "Advances and prospects of mRNA vaccines in cancer immunotherapy"

COVID Intel - by Dr.William Makis • 2279 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics China
  1. Chinese Communist government is funding fraudulent research on mRNA cancer vaccines.
  2. New study titled 'Advances and prospects of mRNA vaccines in cancer immunotherapy' is expected to be published in March 2024.
  3. The article behind a paywall raised questions that led to an interesting investigation.
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Beijing appears to warn it could intercept Evergreen ships transporting HIMARS to Taiwan, in war or peace.

Pekingnology • 150 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics China
  1. China signaled it might intercept and seize civilian cargo ships carrying HIMARS or other military supplies, and presented such actions as lawful both in wartime and peacetime.
  2. The warning was unusually specific and was pushed through multiple official channels — coast guard and PLA posters, state media, and a foreign affairs account — making the scenario explicitly highlighted.
  3. Because that specific message may not have registered widely outside Chinese-language outlets, there is an information gap that could increase the risk of miscalculation if an interception happens.

Contra Marc Andreessen on AI

Dwarkesh Patel • 1808 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🕹 Technology China
  1. Controlling every system you build is not guaranteed, even for a tech expert.
  2. AI, even if just code, can still pose dangerous consequences if not aligned correctly.
  3. The concerns about AI risks should not be dismissed, regulation might not be the answer.

My latest #ThoughtoftheDayonChina: Taiwan's election matters but not in the way the global media has written; Sadly, Taiwan’s future is not decided by people in Taiwan, but by China and US.

Wang Xiangwei's Thought of the Day on China • 1022 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Taiwan's election outcome may not affect its future as much as China and the US's decisions do.
  2. Taiwan's pro-sovereignty ruling party's victory could escalate tensions between Taiwan, China, and the United States.
  3. Despite the election results, maintaining peace in cross-strait relations depends heavily on Washington and Beijing.

China Has The Whip-Hand In The War

Phillips’s Newsletter • 188 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Modern wars are decided by who can produce and sustain weapons at scale. The ability to adapt and mass-produce new systems like drones matters more than the forces you start with.
  2. China dominates commercial drone and component production, supplying cameras, engines, electronics, and whole airframes at mass scale. That gives China the power to sharply reduce other countries' drone output if it stops shipments.
  3. The US and many allies lag China’s production capacity, leaving countries like Ukraine and Russia vulnerable to supply cuts. Reliance on Chinese parts is a strategic risk that could change the outcome of conflicts if China uses that leverage.

China's Role in A.I. Supremacy 🀄️

AI Supremacy • 982 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology China
  1. China plays a significant role in the A.I. supremacy battle with the U.S.
  2. Substack hosts valuable insights and newsletters about China, aiding in understanding the country's A.I. capabilities.
  3. Top China newsletters like Sinocism, ChinaTalk, and Pekingnology offer deep coverage and analysis on China's technology landscape.

Taiwan Goes Its Own Way

Persuasion • 982 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. The recent election in Taiwan reflected domestic politics more than reactions to China.
  2. Criticism of the ruling party in Taiwan focused on economic performance and frustrations with issues like low wages and housing.
  3. Despite challenges, Taiwan continues to navigate its future with democratic transitions of power.

The Short Age of China’s Long Change

Pekingnology • 252 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🌐 International China
  1. China's current 'normal' life, like safe streets and weekends, is actually a recent change. These improvements happened in just a few decades, making them both special and fragile.
  2. Just like a country, people may struggle to keep up with fast changes. It takes time to really adjust and understand new ways of living and working.
  3. Many comforts we take for granted are not as old as we think. We need to appreciate these gains and be careful not to lose them.

CROSSPOST: ADRIAN MONCK [NIE HUIHUA]: How to Get a Job in the Chinese Communist Party

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 115 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics China
  1. To get ahead in the Chinese bureaucracy you mostly need political survival skills: spot who’s rising, keep secrets, run errands, write well, hide your feelings, and take the blame.
  2. China’s long meritocratic civil service built competence and stability, but exams teach the wrong signals for real jobs: promotions follow patrons not performance, so officials behave risk‑averse and avoid telling hard truths.
  3. Recent structural strains — collapsing land‑sale revenue, poor local investment incentives, and intensified central inspections — make discretion costly and squash local experimentation; without more transparency, longer tenures, accountable budgets, and permissioned risk, China will struggle to adapt.

Did you order your PLARF from Wish.com?

CDR Salamander • 904 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Military organizations can face dysfunction due to moral weaknesses and hierarchical structures.
  2. Corruption in military contracts is a longstanding issue that attracts unethical individuals.
  3. High-functioning militaries have cultures and leaders in place to address problems before they escalate.

No Winter is Insuperable - A New Year's Message

Pekingnology • 113 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Hard times can be overcome when people hold on to conviction, offer even a small light, and keep moving together.
  2. Ordinary citizens are the backbone of society and must take responsibility to seek truth, demand fairness, and push for reform.
  3. Patriotism should be constructive: love for the country includes praising progress and criticizing flaws so we can build a better future for the next generation.

Drill at the drop of a hat

Taipology • 83 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Nancy Pelosi’s 2022 visit changed the operational environment around Taiwan and led to regular PLA drills that have become a steady salami‑slicing pressure.
  2. China’s surprise “Justice Mission” drills came extremely close to the island, including inside the 12‑nautical‑mile line, creating a horrible double‑bind for Taiwan’s forces: shoot and risk escalation, or hold fire and set a precedent of tolerated intrusions.
  3. Beijing amplified the pressure with a mocking vlog while Taiwan showed logistical hiccups and international backing looked shaky, especially with U.S. leadership taking a hands‑off tone, raising the risk that any future invasion would aim to exploit surprise and limited diplomatic time.

On America's structural inability to effectively compete with China in Africa

An Africanist Perspective • 1345 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. The US faces challenges competing with China in Africa due to ineffective policy tools and institutions.
  2. America's focus on humanitarian aid and public health through USAID limits its ability to compete effectively with China in infrastructure and commercial projects in Africa.
  3. The structural and institutional biases within American foreign policy result in a lack of attention to African priorities, hindering the ability to effectively engage with the continent.

IPO: Z.ai intends to raise $560M at a valuation of $6.5 billion.

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
💼 Business China
  1. Z.ai plans to raise $560 million at about a $6.5 billion valuation while still small and deeply loss-making. Its revenues grew quickly but R&D spending and cash burn are massive, and most IPO proceeds are earmarked for more R&D and expansion.
  2. China’s AI market looks set to be enterprise- and on-premise-led, with vendors selling tailored, locally hosted models to corporations. Regulators are also tightening rules on safety, data consent, and content even as Chinese labs release competitive open models and pursue public listings.
  3. Building cutting-edge AI requires enormous capital and infrastructure, so big investors and tech firms are pouring money in, which reduces funding risk but increases execution pressure to monetize and scale. That dynamic favors well-funded players while smaller labs race to grow.

France's Historic Bond with China and De Gaulle's Grand Design

Matt Ehret's Insights • 648 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Charles de Gaulle fought against pro-NATO fascists and worked to ensure France's independence.
  2. De Gaulle recognized the importance of reaching out to Russia and China for cooperation and world development.
  3. De Gaulle's alliance with Kennedy aimed for advancements in science and technology to liberate Africa, Asia, and South America from colonial structures.

Xi Rumors

ChinaTalk • 607 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🌍 World Politics China
  1. There are ongoing rumors about Xi Jinping being replaced, similar to past rumors about other leaders. These stories often arise without solid evidence and can be misleading.
  2. Recent regulations from the politburo focus on improving decision-making within the party, rather than indicating Xi's decline in power. It’s more about refining how power is used, not a sign of losing it.
  3. Many narratives around leadership change often stem from speculation and media hype, making it important to seek reliable sources and verify claims before believing them.

A quick review Xi Jinping's speech on the development of China's financial sector

Ginger River Review • 668 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Decision-makers in China realized the importance of not blindly following the West's financial development mode after the 2008 financial crisis.
  2. China is striving to build a strong financial sector based on a combination of economic power, key financial elements, and a focus on preventing financial risks.
  3. Chinese leaders are emphasizing a combination of rule of law and virtue, fostering a unique financial culture, and prioritizing integrity, prudence, innovation, legal compliance, and openness with financial security.

BREAKING: The war in Yemen is ending

Bad News • 1061 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. The war in Yemen is ending with Saudi Arabia capitulating to reasonable Houthi demands.
  2. China played a role in brokering the peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
  3. The Saudi move to end the war in Yemen suggests a shift in focus towards protecting Saudi territory and economic development, diverging from U.S. interests.

A Crack in the Ice of Geopolitics: Greenland, Svalbard, Bornholm, Canada, the Digital Iron Curtain and Suez

Dr. Pippa's Pen & Podcast • 42 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Greenland is suddenly a high-stakes strategic prize, with the US pushing for greater control as part of bigger security bargains, while the Inuit insist on autonomy and resent being treated like a pawn.
  2. Western unity is fraying as several European countries and Canada cozy up to China or act independently, straining NATO cohesion and intelligence sharing and worrying the US about unreliable partners.
  3. Economic and tech coercion is rising — threats of tariffs and criticism of Europe’s reliance on Chinese-made tech hint at a coming 'digital iron curtain' and increased risk of trade and technology decoupling.

ChinAI #250: LLMs summarize China's 2023 in one word

ChinAI Newsletter • 589 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🕹 Technology China
  1. One of the biggest storylines in 2023 was the grim employment outlook for China’s 11.5 million college graduates.
  2. There was interesting variation between Chinese and international large language models when summing up China’s 2023.
  3. Different large language models had varied perspectives on the hot internet events of 2023 in China.

我最新专栏的中文翻译： 台湾的选举很重要，但其重要性并不像国际媒体所写的那样简单；悲哀的是，台湾的未来不是由台湾人民决定的，而是由中国和美国决定的。

Wang Xiangwei's Thought of the Day on China • 569 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Taiwan's election is significant but its future is influenced by China and the US, not just the Taiwanese people.
  2. The outcome of the election may lead to challenges with the opposition party controlling the legislature.
  3. The international media may speculate, but it's ultimately up to Beijing and Washington to determine the future of Taiwan.

Reform and Development of Global Governance; Xi meets Venezuelan President; EU to probe PRC EV subsidies; Apple and Tesla risks; No property tax on agenda

Sinocism • 904 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. China proposes reforms for global governance, highlighting global security, sustainable development, human rights, and strengthening the U.N.
  2. China upgrades relations with Venezuela to a strategic partnership, signing cooperation deals related to the Belt and Road Initiative.
  3. The EU launches an investigation into potential subsidies for Chinese electric vehicles, which could impact German interests.

The PRC's Legacy Bond Bomb

CDR Salamander • 884 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. In the past, many underestimated the threat from the People's Republic of China.
  2. It is crucial to address the economic leverage that the PRC holds through legacy bonds.
  3. There is an opportunity for the US to take a tough stance on the defaulted sovereign debt held by American bondholders.

Once Upon a Time in the Green Valley

Pekingnology • 60 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
💼 Business China
  1. Fosun Pharma is paying 1.4 billion yuan to buy control of Green Valley and try to revive GV-971, a touted Chinese Alzheimer’s drug. Many experts doubt the drug’s effectiveness and its international Phase III trial failed for poor enrollment.
  2. Green Valley has a long history of promoting anti-cancer products with false or exaggerated claims, repeatedly rebranding products and breaking advertising rules. Desperate patients were misled, spent money, and sometimes lost the chance for effective treatment.
  3. The acquisition carries legal and reputational risk because regulators have challenged Green Valley’s approvals and its Chinese license has lapsed, while the company’s past leadership and brand links keep public distrust alive. People worry that continuity could mean repeating past harms even as new confirmatory trials move forward.

Talking With Elephants.

News Items • 491 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Only a third of Americans are willing to accept the results of the 2024 US election regardless of the outcome.
  2. AI-powered fake-detection software struggles to keep up with improving AI technology.
  3. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is leading efforts to create artificial general intelligence (AGI).