The hottest China Substack posts right now

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Top World Politics Topics

Hidden Chinese Hackers Lie in Wait

SHERO • 412 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Chinese hackers have infiltrated US infrastructure to prepare for the possibility of war.
  2. The US government has launched counter operations against the Volt Typhoon hacking group.
  3. Chinese hackers use botnets to remain invisible and gain access to US systems.

What's Art Got to Do with It?

System Change • 491 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
💰 Finance China
  1. The art market is experiencing deflation as buyers prioritize debt repayment over new purchases.
  2. Debt deflation and low wages worldwide are driving the fall in prices of goods, services, and assets.
  3. China's economy, as the world's second largest, plays a significant role in global deflationary pressures and may require a drastic shift in economic policy to avoid a crash.

Striking Distance.

News Items • 452 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Births in China dropped by more than 500,000 last year to just over 9 million in total.
  2. The number of newborns in China has significantly decreased in recent years.
  3. China's fertility rate is close to 1.0, considered 'ultralow' by demographers.

World roundup: October 25 2023

Foreign Exchanges • 707 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Israeli government delays ground operation in Gaza at US request for military preparations
  2. Pentagon moving additional air defense units to the Middle East by the end of the week
  3. US provides air defenses to Israel to protect military personnel, potentially aiding Israeli defense

February 1, 2024: Russian Digest

Unmasking Russia • 353 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Ukraine claims to have sunk a Russian warship and launched missile attacks on Crimea.
  2. China warns Ukraine about the consequences of labeling Chinese companies as 'international sponsors of war'.
  3. Russia's intelligence services are impersonating Western researchers in a hacking campaign to access email accounts.
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Debunked: Media falsely claims China is building spy base in Cuba

Geopolitical Economy Report • 677 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. The Pentagon confirmed that the media story of China building a spy base in Cuba is false, debunking claims made by anonymous US intelligence officials.
  2. China and Cuba denounced the false reports of a spy base as part of US spy agency information warfare to sabotage diplomacy and demonize them.
  3. The Pentagon's concern about the US losing a potential war with China, highlighted in recent war games, adds complexity to the information war waged on China by US intelligence agencies.

China Isn't Going to Bail Out Biden

Eunomia • 353 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. China is not going to bail out Biden.
  2. The U.S. is asking China for something they couldn't deliver even if they wanted to try.
  3. The administration turning to China for help shows an odd decision considering their stance on Chinese power.

What's Next for ChinaTalk

ChinaTalk • 756 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🕹 Technology China
  1. ChinaTalk started as a small project and has grown to have 50,000 subscribers by focusing on tech developments in China.
  2. They aim to provide deep analysis on China's tech landscape, especially regarding AI, to help people understand its global impact.
  3. In 2025, ChinaTalk plans to expand into a think tank, hiring more staff to enhance their research and outreach efforts.

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
  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.

January 31, 2024: Russian Digest

Unmasking Russia • 294 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Ukrainian forces conducted successful attacks against Russian-occupied territories, hitting airbases and command posts.
  2. Moldovan companies sold aircraft spare parts to Russia, potentially violating EU sanctions.
  3. Russian hackers are causing disruptions in European GPS systems, indicating potential cyber warfare activities.

The Tragedy of Good Intentions

Austrian China • 314 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. In China, practical results are valued over noble intentions.
  2. Government actions can have unintended consequences, like job loss and economic upheaval.
  3. Education policies that do not align with cultural values may face resistance and lead to societal challenges.

US ambassador arrogantly lectures China ‘threat’: ‘We’re the leader in this region (Asia)’!

Geopolitical Economy Report • 578 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. US Ambassador Nicholas Burns showcased an arrogant and aggressive attitude towards China, declaring the US as the leader in the Indo-Pacific region.
  2. The US is focusing on competing with China in military power, economy, technology, and human rights, reflecting a rising tension between the two nations.
  3. There is a close relationship between US corporations and the State Department, with US diplomats highlighting the importance of collaboration with the private sector.

Countries worldwide are dropping the US dollar: De-dollarization in China, Russia, Brazil, ASEAN

Geopolitical Economy Report • 538 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Countries like China, Russia, and Brazil are moving away from using the US dollar in trade deals.
  2. Southeast Asian nations are also shifting towards local currency payments in trade, reducing dependence on the US Dollar.
  3. Global financial newspapers are recognizing the trend towards a more diverse, multipolar currency world as an alternative to the dominance of the US dollar.

China via social media

Austrian China • 314 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China
  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.

Spy Balloon(s): Chinese Experts React

Sinification • 491 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Recent tensions between Washington and Beijing due to suspected Chinese spy balloon incursion.
  2. Chinese think-tank analysts and scholars have provided reactions to the spy balloon incident.
  3. Format of providing short summaries instead of translations for covering such events.

i-SOON: Kicking off the Year of the Dragon with Good Luck … or Not

Natto Thoughts • 199 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China
  1. The leaked documents provide valuable insights into the business culture and practices of China's hacker-for-hire industry, showing the importance of connections and relationships in the pursuit of profits.
  2. The relationship between i-SOON and Chengdu 404 is complex, involving not just business partnerships but also competition, bid rigging, and sharing of tools and vulnerabilities.
  3. i-SOON's business struggles illustrate that the commercial hacking industry in China is profit-driven and reliant on navigating relationships and government policies to secure contracts and business opportunities.

An Unnecessary Containment Policy

Eunomia • 471 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. A containment policy against China may be unnecessary and dangerous if China is not truly expansionist and a threat to global freedom.
  2. Critics of China's expansionism may lack substantial evidence to support their claims.
  3. Making deals with oppressive regimes to counter a perceived threat may not always be justified or morally defensible.

France's Macron opposes US cold war on China, wants independent Europe - but is it just rhetoric?

Geopolitical Economy Report • 458 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. France's Macron advocates for Europe's independence from the US to avoid being mere followers, emphasizing the need for strategic autonomy.
  2. Macron's warnings about not becoming vassals to the US are influenced by the economic importance of China as the EU's top trading partner.
  3. The failure of previous efforts, like the INSTEX mechanism, to challenge US dominance highlights the challenges Macron faces in altering Europe's foreign policy towards China.

How To Understand the Provinces, Prefectures, Counties and Towns of China (Part 1)

Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones • 412 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🌐 International China
  1. China's administrative structure includes province-level, prefecture-level, and county-level units.
  2. Prefecture-level units in China include prefecture-level cities, autonomous prefectures, and traditional prefectures.
  3. County-level units encompass districts, county-level cities, and counties, with varying urbanization levels.

Citizen Trump.

News Items • 196 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China
  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.

China and 'Our African Friends'

Eunomia • 393 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Mixture of self-righteousness, arrogance, and patronizing attitude alienates other governments.
  2. Claiming African leaders are realizing China is not their friend is condescending.
  3. U.S. needs to stop insulting African governments, show respect, and provide viable alternatives.

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.

4 Nov Weekly Wrap

Syncretica • 334 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. China's growth model faces challenges with overproduction and protectionism.
  2. Support for climate action strong, but transmission infrastructure remains a concern.
  3. Oil markets affected by China's stockpiling limits and weak imports.

Biden Needs a Foreign Policy Reset

Policy Tensor • 373 implied HN points • 11 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Biden's foreign policy needs a reset, especially concerning Sino-American relations
  2. The US must consider the implications of confrontational relations with China and Russia
  3. A more reasonable approach to China is needed to avoid a costly and dangerous cold war

China's Power Grid

Syncretica • 373 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. China's power grid is undergoing significant changes with a focus on renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
  2. There is a shift towards energy storage solutions like battery storage and pumped hydro in China.
  3. Proper grid modeling is crucial to understand how renewable energy capacity is being deployed and connected across the country.

Trump or Biden: Who is Best for China?

Sinification • 176 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China
  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 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
  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
  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.

TL;DRussia Weekend Roundup

TL;DRussia • 353 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics China
  1. The author uses their newsletter as a form of therapy to deal with anxiety and discomfort.
  2. The author reflects on the positive response to their Twitter threads and news analysis, while also considering potential biases in their thinking.
  3. The author recommends reading investigative reports on Russian propaganda, military-industrial control, and Western companies' involvement in Russia to understand the political landscape better.

From street strategists to establishment pundits

Pekingnology • 33 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics China
  1. Both lowbrow "street strategists" and polished establishment pundits sell the same simplified, conspiratorial view of geopolitics—one shouts for mass audiences while the other dresses the same instincts in elite language.
  2. Attention-driven platforms, limited public access to deep knowledge, and selective moderation create a self-reinforcing feedback loop that rewards sensational, easy-to-digest narratives and builds closed communities.
  3. Banning a single influencer won’t fix the problem: demand and the ecosystem produce replacements, and over time these simplified narratives can reshape mainstream opinion and nudge policy.