Wild. Another report of a local government fine in Fujian — this time a nearly $14,000 penalty on a farmer selling veggies for a $2 profit. H/t @xzibang

Is Beijing reaching a tipping point?

SCOOP: Senior Chinese officials are soliciting advice from business leaders and economists on how to revitalize the economy in a flurry of meetings attendees have characterized as unusually urgent in their tone. W/ @Colum_M Here’s what they discussed

A Shanghai restaurateur was fined 5000 yuan ($702) this month for serving shredded cucumber without a licence -- it's a sign of the times as China's local governments turn to controversial, often esoteric fines, fines to raise cash w/ @LucilleLiu @xzibang

Here are the questions China’s military delegates asked at the Shangri-La dialogue 👇🏽 Key themes: -Criticism of US-led alliances/containment -NATO/Quad/Aukus failures -ASEAN centrality vs US -AI security threats

China turned down a face-to-face meeting with the US at the Shangri-la Dialogue — but its delegates had plenty. Here’s a list I compiled of questions that China’s (mainly) uniformed military delegates raised at public panels 👇🏽

The Shangri-la defense forum in Singapore kicked off with a friendly handshake between Pentagon chief and Chinese Defense Minister. It ended Sunday with few other signs of optimism that the world’s biggest economies could avoid eventual collision

Ukraine's defense minister suggested China has taken on the role of big brother with Moscow. Reznikov's parting shot to China’s Cui -- "could you say to your younger brother to stop killing Ukrainians?"

ICYMI China’s former US ambassador Cui Tiankai is sitting right next to Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksii Reznikov through this discussion on peace proposals

For more on Indonesia’s new peace proposal 👇🏽 W/ @billfaries

~Ukraine’s defense chief slams Indonesia’s peace proposal saying it “sounds like a Russian plan” ~China’s Cui criticizes Europe’s mismanagement of its own security, “we don’t need an Asian NATO” Follow latest from the Shangri-la here

We’re about to kick off Asia’s premier security forum in Singapore. A US-China bilat is now off the table — here’s what to watch 👇🏽 W/ @PJHeijmans @billfaries

I chatted with @weskosova about China’s ambition to take the yuan global. How and why will Russia, sanctions and future wars ultimately determine the future of the yuan? Listen here 👉🏽