The hottest China Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

Taiwan Election Results: How Lai won, what China thinks, and what’s at stake for the DPP

ChinaTalk • 415 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Elections China Taiwan Cross-strait relations
  1. Current VP William Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party won the Taiwan presidential election with over 40% of the vote.
  2. The DPP lost control of the legislature in Taiwan's election, falling from 61 to 51 seats.
  3. The Taiwan election was a referendum on DPP governance and internal issues like population crisis, high real estate prices, and military conscription.

Chartbook: Whither China? Part II - Posen v. Pettis or "authoritarian impasse" v. "structural dead-end"

Chartbook • 1859 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics China Global Trade Economic Analysis
  1. Different interpretations exist regarding China's economic problems, with one side emphasizing authoritarian impasse and the other focusing on structural issues.
  2. The authoritarian impasse view highlights an inevitable downfall of authoritarian regimes, while the structural analysis points to socio-economic inequality as the root cause of China's economic challenges.
  3. The solutions proposed by each side differ, with one advocating for regime change and the other suggesting a shift towards a more inclusive growth model.
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Leaks Expose Chinese, Russian and German Security Fears

Natto Thoughts • 79 implied HN points • 20 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Russia China Germany Security
  1. China has been implementing a policy to replace foreign software with domestic alternatives since at least 2013 due to security concerns.
  2. Leaked Russian military files revealed discussions on potential use of nuclear weapons in response to threats, highlighting concerns about China's intentions and escalation approaches.
  3. A leaked plan from the German military raised questions about cybersecurity and military communication deficiencies, emphasizing vulnerabilities and potential disinformation tactics in conflicts.

Xi on financial development; Premier Li's Davos speech; MSS on Taiwan; Spring Festival travel

Sinocism • 334 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China Taiwan Economy International relations
  1. Xi Jinping emphasizes strong financial development based on solid economic foundation and key core financial elements.
  2. Annual seminar for provincial and ministerial-level cadres focuses on promoting high-quality financial development.
  3. Efforts to accelerate the construction of a modern financial system with Chinese characteristics are crucial for building a strong financial nation.

China via social media

Austrian China • 314 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China Social media Narratives Government Criticism
  1. Making sense of the world through social media can be challenging, especially when lacking first-hand experience.
  2. Western observers often encounter four main narratives about China on social media, but these may not reflect reality.
  3. Different narratives exist about China, from portraying it as a socialist success to predicting its collapse, but the reality is more nuanced and complex.

Citizen Trump.

News Items • 196 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China Economy Growth Trade Authoritarianism
  1. China's economy is struggling with a trade surplus and other challenges like a property market downturn.
  2. Investors and officials fear that China lacks a reliable source of growth.
  3. Boosting the spending of China's vast population is seen as a key factor for economic growth in the country.

i-SOON Operations: A View from Kazakhstan

Natto Thoughts • 79 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Cybersecurity China Government Response Espionage
  1. The leaked materials from Chinese information security company i-SOON exposed cyber-vulnerabilities in Kazakhstan and highlighted the country's strategic importance to China in terms of economy and politics.
  2. Kazakh non-governmental cybersecurity experts criticize the government's cybersecurity efforts, pointing out weaknesses in infrastructure and the need for a separate, independent agency responsible for cybersecurity.
  3. Official responses from Kazakhstan avoid directly naming China in connection to the cyber-attacks, opting for diplomatic language and acknowledging foreign hacker activity without outright accusing a specific country.

Trump or Biden: Who is Best for China?

Sinification • 176 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China US Foreign Policy Diplomacy Alliances
  1. A second term for Biden may mean a more stable relationship with China, but also potential challenges like increased competition and pressure on Chinese scientific innovation.
  2. A second term for Trump could ease external strategic pressure faced by China, but it might lead to a tougher stance on China and increased complexity in economic and security rivalry.
  3. The Trump administration's policies might reduce some external strategic pressure on China, create more space for international alliances, and exert less pressure on China in the ideological field compared to the Democrats.

A Momentous Shift.

News Items • 176 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💰 Finance Global Markets Investors Economy India China
  1. Investors are pulling billions of dollars from China and shifting focus to India
  2. Wall Street giants like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are endorsing India as a prime investment destination
  3. India is becoming a popular choice for various global investment firms and even conservative investors

Stocks; Xi Thought; Nukes

Sinocism • 176 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China Leadership Military
  1. Stock market in China dropped sharply but recovered after regulatory intervention and state buying.
  2. Xi Jinping Thought campaign has ended, but uncertainty remains about its impact on cadres.
  3. Ousted PLA officials faced removal for 'serious violations of discipline and law', with more detentions occurring.

My latest column: Why does China’s most secretive spy agency no longer wish to remain clandestine?

Wang Xiangwei's Thought of the Day on China • 176 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China National Security Espionage Xi Jinping Global relations
  1. China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) is becoming more open and public under President Xi Jinping, shifting focus to national security since 2018.
  2. New spy chief Chen Yixin is pushing for MSS to take a high-profile role, being close to Xi Jinping and advocating for the agency's visibility.
  3. China's party leadership is considering adding Xi Jinping Thought on National Security as a new pillar, with MSS potentially aiming to support this initiative.

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 Global Governance China Europe United States Venezuela
  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.

Corporations Offended By Free Speech Are Happy to Invest In Places Without It

Public • 303 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Corporations Advertising China Dictatorship
  1. Corporations withdrew advertising from platforms that embraced free speech due to concerns over associating with offensive content
  2. Some companies offended by free speech have no problem investing in countries with repressive speech environments
  3. The trend of corporations prioritizing 'brand safety' over free expression raises questions about their commitment to democratic values

I Was Trafficked to Myanmar to Work as a Phone Scammer

Chinarrative • 235 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. The victim was lured under a false job advertisement to Myanmar and was forced to work in a phone scamming operation.
  2. The victim tried to contact his family for help, but faced severe consequences when caught, including being physically harmed.
  3. The victim's family had to pay a high ransom of 450,000 yuan to secure his release, showcasing the harsh reality and financial burden of human trafficking.

The Average Chinese City

ChinaTalk • 652 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🌐 International China Small Town Economy Education Culture
  1. Some of the top headlines from China reveal struggling economic situations post-zero-covid.
  2. Small cities like Baoji reflect challenges in China's economy with falling home prices and limited job prospects.
  3. Education in small-town China can be marketized, with families fighting for opportunities in local high schools.

China May Stay Permanently Behind the US in Generative AI

Interconnected • 446 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Data Regulations China US
  1. China may be permanently behind the US in Generative AI due to factors like blocking quality datasets.
  2. Unique attributes of Chinese Internet data, like linguistic challenges, present additional hurdles for AI developers in China.
  3. New regulatory burdens in China around AI development may hinder progress and keep the country behind the US in generative AI.

Why Science Dominates China’s Political Culture

ChinaTalk • 429 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics China Political culture Nationalism Ideology
  1. Science is a national quest in China, driven by nationalism, with a focus on achieving technological advancement and international prestige.
  2. China's modernization history saw the concept of science elevated from a mere tool to a grand narrative that influences the evaluation of national power.
  3. The CCP's focus on science and technology as a central value raises questions about the impact of scientism on China's future progress and international relations.

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

An Africanist Perspective • 1345 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Africa USA China Foreign Aid Diplomacy
  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.

Jia Qingguo calls on Beijing to relax control to encourage non-govt efforts to tell China's story

Pekingnology • 56 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics China International relations Foreign Policy Communication
  1. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes the importance of telling China's story well to enhance international communication; there's a need for improvement as some countries show a decline in positive views toward China.
  2. Challenges in telling China's story abroad include misconceptions that it's solely the government's responsibility, restrictions on non-govt interactions, and lack of incentives for leaders in foreign affairs.
  3. Recommendations to address these challenges include raising awareness about public participation, reducing restrictions on exchanges, and encouraging retired officials to engage in foreign activities.

RRR cut; Talking up stock market; Liu Jianchao; Teslas and security; Red Sea

Sinocism • 137 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Economy Central Bank Policy Government China
  1. PBoC announced a surprise reduction in the reserve ratio requirement to stabilize the economy and markets.
  2. PBoC is establishing a credit market department to focus on key tasks outlined by Xi last year.
  3. The timing and method of delivering the message about the RRR cut may be more important than the actual cut itself.