Sharp China: Qin Gang Disappears; Kissinger Makes a Surprise Trip to Beijing; Chip Lobbying and Email Hacking in DC; More Worrisome Economic Data

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sinocism.com

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the mystery surrounding foreign minister Qin Gang, who has not been seen in public since June 25th. As the foreign ministry stays silent, what might explain his retreat from public view, and how does this situation reflect on Xi Jinping and the party? Then: Henry Kissinger makes a surprise visit to Beijing, meets first with Defense Minister Li Shangfu, while John Kerry meets with Li Qiang and Wang Yi to talk common ground on climate issues. Will either of them get an audience with Xi? From there: U.S. chip firms lobby the executive branch, Chinese hackers access the emails of Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and the optics get trickier for Biden's China policy. At the end: Weak economic data for Q2 and a window into who's actually driving the changes to China's relationships with the West.

Related readings:

National conference on ecological and environmental protection; Kerry and Henry Kissinger in Beijing; Qin Gang; Tang poems -- Sinocism 

Weak GDP data; National security "covert front 隐蔽战线"; US export controls; Covid excess deaths -- Sinocism 

 Xi Jinping’s foreign minister has vanished from public view. His prolonged absence is driving intense speculation  -- CNN 

Where Is China’s Foreign Minister? Beijing Won’t Clear Up the Mystery. -- N.Y. Times 

China Blocked Jack Ma’s Ant IPO After Investigation Revealed Likely Beneficiaries -- WSJ

Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang made first throw at an NBA game. -- YouTube 

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang sends New Year greetings at NBA game -- YouTube 

Kissinger Meets China Defense Chief in Pursuing Closer Ties -- Bloomberg 

China’s envoy to US Xie Feng congratulates Henry Kissinger on 100th birthday -- SCMP 

Chip companies, top US officials discuss China policy -- Reuters 

Chinese Hackers Targeted Commerce Secretary and Other U.S. Officials -- N.Y. Times 

China reports second-quarter GDP miss, another record high in youth unemployment -- CNBC 

Looming U.S. Investment Restrictions on China Threaten Diplomatic Outreach -- N.Y. Times 

Canadian Politicians Who Criticize China Become Its Targets -- N.Y. Times 

2012 - The “Just Sisters” Defense: China’s Sex-Scandal Surge | The New Yorker

To add the Sharp China feed to your preferred podcast player:

Click on the "listen on" button and you will see a dropdown with several options. Make sure you are logged into your account when you do it so you get the correct private RSS feed for subscribers. If you have not logged in for a while you can enter your email and then we will send you a link login link.

The “email link” in the pulldown shown above will send you an email that also makes it easy to set it up in your preferred podcast app on your phone.

If you use the Substack app it has a built- in podcast player.

Thanks for listening.