Sinocism China Newsletter

Today’s top items: 1. China-Russia military cooperation - A joint investigation by The Insider, Der Spiegel, and Le Monde provides shocking but unsurprising revelations about China-Russia military cooperation. The reports should destroy any lingering illusions of PRC “neutrality” in the Russia-Ukraine war. They really do not like Elon Musk’s Starlink: The Der Spiegel cover:

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -1:07:42 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. This episode of Sharp China is outside the paywall. Show Notes: On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with Monday's SLBM test from the PLA Navy, including questions surrounding its timing and location, regional angst, and a reminder that the PLA continues to enhance its nuclear triad capabilities.

It is necessary to seize the window period of global talent flows and actively recruit outstanding young talent and teams from overseas. 要抓住全球人才流动窗口期，积极引进海外优秀青年人才和团队。- Xi Jinping at the July 8, 2026 National Science and Technology Award Conference Today’s top items: 1.

Today’s top items: 1. Flood disasters and Xi’s instructions - Typhoon Maysak has caused significant flooding with casualties and major damage across parts of Guangxi and Hubei.

Today’s top items: 1. Xi promotes two new generals - Xi Jinping attended a promotion ceremony at the Bayi Building in Beijing on the morning of July 3, awarding the rank of general to Zhang Shuguang and to Air Force commander Wang Gang. CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin presided and read out Xi’s order.

This monthly report is prepared for Sinocism by the excellent Sinification, an invaluable resource for understanding how domestic and international affairs are debated within the Chinese establishment.— Bill As ever, the US constitutes the main focus of China’s foreign-policy discourse in June. Yet there is a growing sense that, at least in the short term, America may no longer be Beijing’s principal source of strategic anxiety.

It is a slow day in China after the July 1 Party celebrations, so today’s newsletter is thin. Today’s top items: 1.

Today’s top items: 1. Xi’s speech at the CPC’s 105th Anniversary ceremony - I have posted a translation here. He rightfully sounds confident; the Party turning 105 is an accomplishment. Who can forget those predictions over the years, and especially after 1989, that the Party was doomed? Some excerpts: Over these 105 years, our Party has held fast to its founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation.

Today’s top items: 1. June Politburo meeting - Flood and drought risks must be especially acute right now. The June Politburo meeting had as its agenda “study and deploy flood control and drought relief work”. From the readout (translated here): The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting on June 30 to study and deploy flood control and drought relief work. CPC Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over the meeting.

We should get news of the June Politburo meeting Tuesday Today’s top items: 1. Plane flies into Beijing’s tallest building - A small plane flew into Beijing’s tallest building - the CITIC Tower aka “China Zun” - killing the pilot and injuring 13 people. The authorities released a brief statement that did not name the pilot or even the building, and then censorship went into overdrive. It looks to have been intentional.