China’s Venezuela Calculations; Japan’s Rare Earth Access; A Reported Pause on Nvidia Purchases; The Meta-Manus Deal Under Review

The Sharp China podcast kicks off 2026 by analyzing the implications of the US capture of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, particularly regarding China's response and potential impact on its foreign policy. The discussion covers China's official condemnation of the US action as a violation of international law and a destabilizing force, while also noting the limited economic impact on China due to diversified oil sources and manageable loan exposure. The hosts debate whether this event will embolden China's actions towards Taiwan, considering factors like international reactions, US strategic focus, and recent Chinese military exercises near Taiwan. The conversation shifts to China's economic pressure on Japan, including export controls and anti-dumping investigations, and concludes with an analysis of the AI sector, including Meta's acquisition of Manus and China's evolving propaganda strategies.