(Preview) William Lai’s Inauguration; Real Estate Follow-Up; Q&A on Gold and EV Capacity; Fast Fashion on Saturday Night Live

Get all episodes of Sharp China, Sharp Tech, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk and the Dithering Podcast as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.

Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism

On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with President William Lai’s inauguration in Taiwan, including the PRC responses we've seen so far, recent activity around Kinmen island, and a Bloomberg report that ASML’s EUV machines can be shut down remotely in the event of an invasion of Taiwan. From there: Friday’s announcement of relief plans for the real estate sector, and more thoughts on the challenges facing policymakers as they look to revive consumer sentiment. Then: Questions on the People's Bank of China, a recent push into gold purchases, EV capacity, tariffs on foreign cars, and the latest Central Committee member to be investigated for corruption. At the end: Temu and Shein inspire a Saturday Night Live skit, and Rep. Mike Gallagher is formally sanctioned by the PRC.

To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm

@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube

@Stratechery Channel — YouTube

New Taiwan President; PRC reactions; Real estate; New bull market in Shanghai?; EU trade threa — Sinocism

"Pillar of shame" for Lai; Wang Yi at SCO; Gallagher sanctioned; XiAI; Guo Youcai; Ben Lim — Sinocism

Full text of President Lai Ching-te's inaugural address — Focus Taiwan

Mainland says Lai sends "dangerous signal" in speech as Taiwan's new leader — Xinhua

China has a point about Taiwan’s new leader — Financial Times

Thousands protest against contentious Taiwan parliament reforms — Reuters

Record number of Chinese ships enter Taiwan waters near Kinmen island — RFA

China's property support measures disappoint — Reuters

What China’s central bank and Costco shoppers have in common — The Economist

ASML and TSMC Can Disable Chip Machines If China Invades Taiwan — Bloomberg

How China’s EV overcapacity has come to a head after 15 years, and what’s in store for the industrial policy race with US and EU — SCMP

China Has Gotten the Trade War It Deserves — The Atlantic

China Hints at Retaliation in Trade Clash With Europe — Bloomberg

China Says Agriculture Minister Tang Renjian Is Under Investigation — Bloomberg

China sanctions former Rep. Mike Gallagher, a fierce critic of Beijing — NBC News

Hudson’s Mike Gallagher’s Statement in Response to CCP Sanctions — The Hudson Institute

Fast Fashion Ad - SNL — YouTube: Saturday Night Live