Seizing The Commanding Heights; Decoding Shangri-La Dialogue; Europe Moots Trade Policy; The PRC Expels a New York Times Journalist

On today’s show Andrew and Bill begin with Xi Jinping’s call to seize the commanding heights of science, technology, and industry across six industries of the future, as well as the State Council’s move to release a 34-article law that will implicate domestic firms, foreign businesses and potentially foreign governments, as well as PRC financial institutions and individual investors. From there: Reactions to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s remarks at the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, why an absence of Taiwan mentions in his main speech is not necessarily seen in Beijing as a shift in policy, and questions regarding U.S. partnerships elsewhere in the region. At the end: The looming trade tensions between Europe and China, the expulsion of New York Times journalist Vivian Wang, the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacres, and Steph Curry’s new endorsement deal with Li-Ning.

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

Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism

To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm

@SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube

@Stratechery Channel — YouTube

New regulations on outbound investment; Qiushi on future industries; Chip export control dysfunction; Shangri-La Dialogue; EU-China — Sinocism

Agricultural and rural modernization; Socialist political economy; UK-PRC; PRC media in Africa — Sinocism

China Tightens Rules on Outbound Investment in Fight for Global Tech Edge — Wall Street Journal

State Council Regulations on Outbound Investment — Sinocism Translation

China Expands Outbound Investment Rules to Cover Individuals — Bloomberg

Pete Hegseth says US-China ties are ‘better than in years’ — Financial Times

Hegseth’s Message to Asian Partners: Do More to Get More — New York Times

Japan’s defence minister Koizumi rejects China accusations of ‘new militarism’ — Financial Times

Brussels fires starting gun on tougher China trade policy, as Beijing vows retaliation — SCMP

Watching China in Europe - June 2026 — Noah Barkin

After China Orders a Times Reporter to Leave the Country, the U.S. Reciprocates — New York Times

Tiananmen Tonight Trailer — Tiananmen Tonight

Vandals break into Tiananmen crackdown museum in US, founder says — Hong Kong Free Press