A New Blinken Visit?; US-China Drama in Singapore; The Post-Covid Stimulus Calculus; Travel to the PRC in 2023

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with reports that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken may visit China sometime "in the coming weeks." Topics include: The State Department's preliminary trip this past weekend, benefits of continued communication, risks of communication as a reward in itself, and why it's important that Blinken visit before others in the cabinet. Then: The Shangri-La Dialogue and the PRC's controversial tactics in the South China Sea, and reactions to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan articulating the One China Policy and why the U.S. remains committed to it. From there: Desertification and China's attempts to curb it, a question about economic stimulus, and a listener's follow-up to last week's Microsoft conversation. At the end: Traveling to China, CPC membership, and a new drilling project that caught the world's attention.We love feedback and questions for future episodes. To email the show: [email protected]. You can also submit questions and feedback in the Sinocism chat.As per our custom, this first Sharp China episode of the month is outside the paywall and free for everyone. If you would like to have access to all the podcasts, and full Sinocism newsletter, please sign up here. Links:Blinken to China?; Xi on desertification; Li Qiang to Germany and France; Economic concerns; Disappearing "Glory to Hong Kong" -- SinocismTrade data; Waiting for stimulus; EU-China; Gaokao; SOE cadre's career-ending stroll -- SinocismUS Secretary of State Blinken Set to Travel to Beijing for Talks in Coming Weeks -- BloombergU.S. and China lock horns at Asia’s top security forum -- Washington PostStatement on Unprofessional Intercept of U.S. Aircraft over South China Sea -- USINDOPACOMPopularity of China’s ‘New Security Initiative’ is inevitable: Global Times editorial -- Global TimesFareed Zakaria on Twitter -- TwitterXi urges sustained efforts to curb desertification -- XinhuaChina, Mongolia aim to stop spread of shared desert that threatens mining and agriculture on both sides -- SMCPWhat Engagement With China Has Meant for Me -- Wall Street JournalChina Is Drilling a 10,000-Meter-Deep Hole Into the Earth -- Bloomberg In a geologic triumph, scientists drill a window into Earth’s mantle -- Washington PostThe most shocking photo of Beijing air pollution I’ve ever seen -- Washington Post This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sinocism.com/subscribe