Sharp China: The Central Economic Work Conference; More Friction with the Philippines; Hawks and Doves and Kissinger

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

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with thoughts on the readout from the Central Economic Work Conference, including the emphasis on "progress" alongside stability, high-quality development and high-level security, PRC attempts at brand management,  and where infrastructure investment might be going. From there: More water cannons, more controversy, and the same concerns as problems persist between the Chinese Coast Guard and the Philippines in the South China Sea. At the end: Frustrations with the hawk-dove spectrum, Henry Kissinger's complicated legacy, and questions about flights to China, academic engagement, and good Chinese TV dramas.

Related readings:

Central Economic Work Conference; Xi in Vietnam; Short video crackdown -- Sinocism

Central Economic Work Conference; Progress vs stability; PRC-Philippines standoffs; Fentanyl -- Sinocism

CEWC 2024 readout -- Translation by Sinocism

Rise in Chinese steel output drives sharp rally in iron ore -- FT

U.S. Support for the Philippines in the South China Sea -- State Department 

Philippine festive flotilla turns back after Chinese interception -- The Guardian 

China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis -- MoFA 

What It Feels Like To Be the Target of China’s Water Cannons - NYT

China uses water cannons anew vs Filipino ships in West Philippine Sea -- YouTube:

What Henry Kissinger wrought -- Vox 

What the Henry Kissinger Obituaries Got Wrong - POLITICO - James Mann

Ambassador Xie Feng met with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger -- MoFA

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 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.