On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with comments from Xi Jinping and renewed emphasis on building more rational marketplaces across key sectors in tech and beyond. Topics include: The implication that not every province has to participate in new growth areas, cadres parsing conflicting guidance from Beijing, and efforts to stimulate a healthy investment ecosystem for startups as U.S. venture investment recedes. From there: Thoughts on two high-profile exit-bans on American citizens traveling in China, why the two cases are different, more chatter that the Trump administration is softening on China, counterpoints to that argument, and a bit more news on "The Big Tariff," Yang Hansen.

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Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism

To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm

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PLA to try again to eliminate "toxic influences"; Tibet dam project; Involution; Trump’s softening approach to China; More Americans exit banned — Sinocism

PLA Daily on political cadres; EU-China summit expectations; US-China talks next week; Lab-grown diamonds — Sinocism

Life Atop China’s Car Market Starting to Look Shaky for BYD — Bloomberg

Cover Story: A New Gold Rush Begins in China’s Hard Tech Sector — Caixin

China VC Funds Tap Global Investors for $2 Billion in Comeback — Bloomberg

U.S.-Based Wells Fargo Banker Blocked From Leaving China — Wall Street Journal

U.S. citizen who works for Commerce Dept. ensnared in Chinese exit ban — Washington Post

Chinese Officers Questioned U.S. Government Employee About His Army Service — New York Times

China says Wells Fargo banker under exit ban is involved in criminal case — Reuters

Post by Desmond Shum — X: @DesmondShum

As Trump Courts a More Assertive Beijing, China Hawks Are Losing Out — New York Times

Navigating the President’s Policy Whiplash on China — Wall Street Journal

No joke: Chinese rookie Yang Hansen is the NBA’s biggest summer star — Washington Post