Show Notes: On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with the news that the US and PRC are sending representatives to Switzerland to discuss trade talks this weekend. Topics include: Why expectations should be set low, the week of signs that the PRC was willing to engage, questions about cooperating on fentanyl, and the latest measures to loosen monetary policy in Beijing. From there: An email about Chinese data spawns a conversation about increasing data opacity, and challenges for Westerners and the party alike. At the end: Thoughts on the PRC’s relationship to Russia as Xi Jinping heads to Moscow, the consequences (or lack thereof) for the PRC’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, and reactions to a pair of CIA videos recruiting disaffected party members.
A small correction on the EU sanctions question. It was not ‘the EU’ that decided to talk with Beijing on lifting the sanctions on MEPs. It was Beijing and the European Parliament.
The EP-Beijing thing did not concern other European targets of the Chinese sanctions, despite previous chatter about mutual lifting suggestions from China. To me it seems Beijing took the chance to work with the EP to present the reluctant European Commission with the suggestion of momentum.
A small correction on the EU sanctions question. It was not ‘the EU’ that decided to talk with Beijing on lifting the sanctions on MEPs. It was Beijing and the European Parliament.
The EP-Beijing thing did not concern other European targets of the Chinese sanctions, despite previous chatter about mutual lifting suggestions from China. To me it seems Beijing took the chance to work with the EP to present the reluctant European Commission with the suggestion of momentum.