Good evening. There is a surprisingly long tradition of physicist dissidents, especially from China. Why is this? And what does it mean for the current moment of science and technology competition between the U.S. and China? Our cover story this week is a profile of Yangyang Cheng, a physicist-turned-prolific writer and political thinker who is attempting to carve out a new role for herself as well as for scientists in both countries. Elsewhere, we have infographics on China’s solar flood; an interview with Sam Hogg on what to expect from Britain on China; a reported piece on China’s quest for the next generation of battery technology; and an op-ed about why Mexico is not a backdoor for Chinese carmakers. If you’re not already a paid subscriber to The Wire, please sign up here.
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Physicist in Exile
Yangyang Cheng came to the U.S. to study the mysteries of the universe. She ended up staying in order to study the role of science in geopolitics. Katrina Northrop reports.
The Big Picture: The Solar Flood
Chinese companies dominate the global solar industry, yet rising capacity has sent prices plummeting. This week’s infographics by Aaron Mc Nicholas show how China’s share of solar capacity in each stage of the supply chain has increased since 2010 — and is set to expand further.
A Q&A with Sam Hogg
Sam Hogg was the founder of “Beijing to Britain,” a weekly briefing newsletter that, until its recent closure, closely monitored how British politics and business thinks about China. A graduate of Leeds University, Hogg grew up between Australia, Scotland and Hong Kong, and has worked in both the private sector and the British Parliament. In this week’s Q&A with Andrew Peaple, which took place three weeks before British people vote in a general election on July 4th, he talks about how a new government in the UK might approach China and why the country has to date lacked a coherent strategy towards dealing with Beijing.
Sam Hogg
Illustration by Lauren Crow
Chinese Battery Makers Get Solid Support
Beijing is plowing more money into the next generation of electric vehicle battery technology amid concerns China’s industry leadership could slip. Rachel Cheung reports.
Mexico Is No Backdoor For Chinese Carmakers
A recent trip to Mexico suggests talk of widespread Chinese tariff evasion has been overdone, argues Tom Miller, a senior analyst at Gavekal Research and author of China’s Asian Dream.
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