Simon and Whiton Rockies Aria

Could the Philippines and the South China Sea could be a more likely flashpoint for war with China than Taiwan? How China could be set back 20 years in a conflict. Does the CIA’s old SMICE criteria (sex, money, ideology, compromise, ego) apply to U.S. executives who still bend the knee in Beijing? How demographics paint a grim picture for China, a mediocre one for Vietnam, but a good one for the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. 

The liquidation of Evergrande by a Hong Kong court accelerates China's real estate and economic crisis to a new speed, but how does it really affect Chinese individuals and banks? And will the effects impact political stability? But why is no one in the White House seeking to exploit this reality, and would officials in a second Biden term broach a bailout of China and the country's best and brightest make plans to leave? Mark Simon reports from Taipei in a discussion with Christian Whiton in the USA. 

Hong Kong outsources torture, Taiwan’s looming election, China’s economy sputters In the trial of Jimmy Lai, is Hong Kong outsourcing witness torture to mainland China? Why are Chinese fleeing to the U.S. border—a fifth column or to reach a land of opportunity? Despite likely victory, why is Taiwan’s DPP sputtering? Why China’s economy is still stagnant and why Beijing packs little punch globally despite top billing.

Taiwan’s ruling DPP party is poor on economics and lacks vision. Taiwan’s economy is stagnant. Its financial system is third rate. The last US bank (Citi) just departed. Can the ruling party salvage the situation? Meanwhile the U.S. presidential election and China’s economic malaise keep getting more interesting and U.S.  businesses embarrassed themselves fawning over Xi Jinping in San Francisco. 

What Hong Kong’s hysterical and deranged response to a media freedom discussion in Geneva tells us. Can Xi and the CCP escape the demographic and real estate doom loop? Filipino fisherman beat China at sea. Is Jakarta’s carbon exchange for real or just for fun? 

Congressional hawks try to sweeten unpopular Ukraine aid with funds for Taiwan, but Taiwan’s history of self-funding is an asset it should preserve. DeSantis over Trump. The semiconductor industry has friends in high (soft-on-China) places. Hunter might not be smoking crack the right way. China’s economic problems mount. Disney’s new management just as woke as the old.