Expectations for Blinken in Beijing; A U.S. General Predicts War by 2025; Xi to Moscow?; The Decline in Chinese Language Study

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with a variety of thoughts in advance of next week's visit to Beijing from Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Topics include: Why cooperation has proven difficult for both sides, hopes that the U.S. can avoid a repeat of Yang Jiechi in Anchorage, an editorial in the People's Daily, and extended thoughts on domestic political concerns underlying the intractable Taiwan dispute. From there: Reactions to a memo from U.S. General Mike Minihan instructing members of the Air Force to prepare for armed conflict with China, while the Russian Foreign Ministry announces that Xi Jinping will be visiting Moscow (and the Chinese demur when asked for confirmation). At the end: No updates on foreign Visa holders, a question about the dwindling numbers of Westerners studying Chinese, a clarification regarding Hua Chunying, and a call to listeners for UFO assistance.

We have decided to put the first episode of each outside the paywall, so this episode is free for everyone.

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Outbreak officially peaked; Blinken's PRC visit; War talk; Tech controls; Hu Xinyu — Sinocism

Xi to visit Russia this year?; More on possible Huawei measures; State capitalism; 狂飙 “The Knockout” — Sinocism

How arming Ukraine is stretching the US defence industry — Financial Times

2021-US, China spar in first face-to-face meeting under Biden — AP

How it happened: Transcript of the US-China opening remarks in Alaska — Nikkei Asia

China Urges Common Ground Ahead of Visit by Top US Diplomat -- Bloomberg

Air Force general predicts war with China in 2025, tells officers to prep by firing 'a clip' at a target, and 'aim for the head' — NBC News

Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia to be main event in bilateral agenda for 2023 — Tass

China Dismisses US Claims of Support for Russia as ‘Paranoia’ — Bloomberg

Why Are Fewer American Students Going to China? — Asia Society

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson sparks ridicule online with Taiwan restaurant tweet — Hong Kong Free Press

China Publishes, Then Deletes Report of Potential Alien Signals — Gizmodo

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