The hottest China Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

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.

How exit bans are harming China’s push to welcome foreign business

Wang Xiangwei's Thought of the Day on China • 353 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Human Rights China U.S. Relations
  1. China's exit bans are worrying foreign executives considering travel to the mainland.
  2. Exit bans can be arbitrarily applied and can violate international laws and human rights.
  3. The expansive use of exit bans may deter overseas business deals and harm China's reputation for foreign investment.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

TL;DRussia Weekend Roundup

TL;DRussia • 353 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Russia China Propaganda Economics Conflict
  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.

Top Links 386 China's investment shifts gear, Sudan's refugee crisis spills over, southern African drought & America's history crisis

Chartbook • 314 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics China Sudan America Refugee Crisis
  1. Adam Tooze's Chartbook Newsletter covers a range of topics like China's changing economy, Sudan's refugee crisis, Southern Africa's drought, and America's history crisis.
  2. Paid subscribers get access to in-depth content and analysis on important global issues.
  3. The newsletter provides great images, links, and reading recommendations for those interested in understanding complex global developments.

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.

What’s up with…? - Part 3: Cotti Coffee

Tech Buzz China Insider • 199 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
💼 Business Coffee E-commerce Market Trends China Subscription
  1. The update on Cotti Coffee discusses slowing store openings, partnerships, and ongoing price wars in the coffee industry.
  2. Tech Buzz China is shifting to shorter weekly publications for a few weeks to focus on updates of significant topics they wrote in 2023.
  3. There is an opportunity to join Tech Buzz China on an Exclusive Electric Vehicle Trip to China to gain insights into China's electric vehicle ecosystem.

Decouple or de-risk? The United States and Europe are converging on China

Inside-Out, political commentary from Philip Stephens • 334 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics China United States Europe Alliances Geopolitics
  1. The United States and Europe are aligning on their approach towards China.
  2. Both regions are moving towards a stance that balances economic interests with strategic concerns.
  3. There is a growing recognition that American and European interests are interconnected and mutually dependent.

05/01/30 - FAQ Answered!

Moly’s Substack • 334 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🌍 World Politics China Communism Healthcare Technology
  1. China's urban areas vary from fancy to drab, without much in between due to rapid development and lack of government oversight.
  2. Chinese humor leans towards sarcasm and can be hard to translate, often involving puns and cultural references.
  3. Chinese beauty standards emphasize extreme slimness, reflecting societal norms but also influenced by body types.

From Fetish To Fetter: China's Model Of Investment-Led Growth

Japan Economy Watch • 299 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics China Economy Growth Investment Consumption
  1. China's investment-led growth model is facing challenges, with excessive investment and unproductive spending impacting the economy.
  2. China needs to transition from more investment to smarter investment to sustain economic growth and improve living standards.
  3. The country's focus on high investment levels has led to weakening consumer demand, limited household income, and a growing debt burden.

China May Stay Permanently Behind the US in Generative AI

Interconnected • 447 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.

China Crumbles

The Dollar Endgame • 199 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics China Economy Debt Real Estate Banks
  1. China's real estate market is facing significant challenges, with existing home prices dropping and outstanding property loans declining.
  2. Major developers like Evergrande and Country Garden are struggling with debt obligations and bankruptcy proceedings.
  3. Moody's downgrade of China's credit outlook indicates that the turmoil in the real estate sector is starting to impact the broader economy and banks.

China’s Growth Prospects, Part I

Japan Economy Watch • 279 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics China Economy Growth Political
  1. China's growth prospects face uncertainty, with possibilities of a financial crash leading to years of slow growth, or a gradual deceleration of growth rates over time.
  2. China's growth rate has been slowing down as the country becomes more affluent, and the government's economic strategies may worsen the natural slowdown.
  3. Experts project China's growth rate to be around 4% for the next few years, and achieving even 4% growth would be considered significant given China's level of development.

Humanoid Hype? Tell that to President Xi Jinping!

Robots & Startups • 39 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Robots China
  1. President Xi Jinping is actively engaged with humanoid robots, showcasing China's strong interest in this technology
  2. China's focus on humanoid robots is driving rapid technological advancements, with robot update cycles as short as three months
  3. The 2024 China Humanoid Robot Developers Conference highlighted the significant progress and investments in humanoid robotics in the country

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.

Antisemitism permeates China’s internet after conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas

Wenhao’s news blog • 255 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Antisemitism China Israel Palestine Conspiracy Theories
  1. In the wake of conflict between Israel and Hamas, antisemitism has been spreading on China's internet.
  2. Despite Beijing's call for ending violence, Chinese netizens strongly support Palestine and express dislike towards Jews.
  3. Conspiracy theories about Jews controlling politics and wealth have perpetuated antisemitism on China's internet for years.

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.

Russia dropping US dollar for Chinese yuan - and fast

Geopolitical Economy Report • 338 implied HN points • 31 Dec 22
🌍 World Politics Russia China De-dollarization
  1. Russia's central bank is shifting from the US dollar to Chinese yuan to counter Western sanctions, with yuan's share of trading in Moscow rapidly increasing.
  2. Geopolitical tensions and economic conflicts are prompting countries like Russia, China, and Iran to de-dollarize and diversify their foreign reserves from the US dollar.
  3. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns of a decline in US dollar dominance, as the use of Chinese yuan in global central bank reserves rises and Western sanctions spur shifts to alternative currencies.

31. Good Talk #6: Kathleen McLaughlin

The Truth Does Not Change According to Our Ability to Stomach It • 235 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🌍 World Politics China US Governance Globalization Society
  1. Kathleen McLaughlin discussed her journalism career in Montana and China, emphasizing the importance of uncovering unique stories.
  2. She highlighted the societal issues surrounding the blood plasma industry, revealing how economic struggles drive people to donate blood for money.
  3. McLaughlin's book sheds light on the systemic problems in America, showcasing the exploitation of the poor and the lack of care for vulnerable individuals.

Ruili: The most locked-down city in China

Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones • 235 implied HN points • 21 May 23
🌐 International China Pandemic Lockdowns Recovery Culture
  1. Ruili, China's most locked-down city, faced extensive lockdowns due to border cases from Myanmar.
  2. Ruili's economy heavily relies on the jade industry, but the extensive lockdowns impacted businesses and caused many to leave.
  3. Despite challenges, some locals like Xu show resilience and adaptability, with hopes for Ruili's recovery post-pandemic.

An impending war in Taiwan Strait? Beijing and Washington must take full advantage of their return to high-level talks to snuff out the dangerous speculation

Wang Xiangwei's Thought of the Day on China • 235 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics China Taiwan US-China Relations
  1. War over Taiwan is unlikely if the self-ruled island does not declare independence.
  2. Fears and speculation about impending war between China and the US are fueled by rising tensions and misunderstandings.
  3. Preventing war over Taiwan requires Beijing and Washington to engage in high-level talks and find a new understanding.