(Preview) Philippines Tensions Near a Tipping Point; PLA Corruption Crackdown; Xi’s Message to the EU; A Pentagon Propaganda Campaign

Sharp China with Bill Bishop

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Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism

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On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the latest incident at Second Thomas Shoal, where the Chinese Coast Guard blocked an attempted resupply of the Sierra Madre in a standoff that caused damage to Philippine Naval vessels and several injuries to members of the Navy. Topics include: Another escalation in a devolving relationship, whether the U.S. will intervene, why China has ignored Vietnam’s buildup elsewhere in the Spratly Islands, and more. Then: Reports that Beijing has no preference between Biden or Trump in the upcoming U.S. election, the significance of the CMC Political Work Conference after a year of speculation about corruption throughout the PRC military, a report that Xi told EU leadership the U.S. wants China to invade Taiwan, reactions to a disturbing account of a Pentagon-backed propaganda campaign in the Philippines, and an email about Mount Everest.

To email the show: [e-mail]

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@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube

@Stratechery Channel — YouTube

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Second Thomas Shoal; PLA rectification and political training; Tax; Moutai; Stock market; Ecuador — Sinocism

CMC Political Work Conference; Xi inspects Qinghai; Video from Second Thomas Shoal incident; Policy support for hard tech and venture capital — Sinocism

Video of Philippine Navy Confrontation with the Chinese Coast Guard on June 17, 2024 — X: @gmanews

US’ support for the Philippines is just psychological comfort — Global Times

Philippines secretly reinforces ship at centre of South China Sea dispute — Financial Times

Philippines secretly reinforces ship at centre of South China Sea dispute — Financial Times

China Has No Favorite in Biden-Trump Race, US Intelligence Finds — Bloomberg

Xi stresses PLA's political loyalty at crucial meeting held in old revolutionary base — Xinhua

How the Red Sun Rose — Columbia University Press

The Return of Peace Through Strength — Foreign Affairs

Xi Jinping claimed US wants China to attack Taiwan — Financial Times

Pentagon ran secret anti-vax campaign to undermine China during pandemic — Reuters

Myth of Mallory preserved in Everest's ice and snow — The Guardian