Alice Han

Can you speak to that a bit?

One last cheeky question to end on, if I can, Chris, what is your prediction in any area of chips or AI for next year that you think we should be tracking?

Great.

Thanks so much, Chris.

I know you're a very busy man.

On top of being an AI chip expert, you're also a Russia expert.

So really appreciate your insights.

We'll leave things here for now.

Thank you so much.

And thanks for joining me today on China Decode.

Okay, we'll be back with more after a quick break.

So stay with us.

Welcome back.

China is trying to reverse its baby bust, and its latest move has people doing a double take.

Starting January 1st next year, the government is putting a 13% tax on condoms and other contraceptives, ending an exemption that's been in place since the one-child policy era.

Officials say it's just a technical tax change, but many Chinese citizens see it as another attempt to nudge people into having kids.

Critics argue it won't boost birth rates, which are continuing to decline, and could actually make things worse, especially for young Chinese people already squeezed by high costs, long work hours, and an increasingly shaky economy.

James, what's your hard take on this?

Do you think this is actually going to work?

Well, first I want to take it in a personal direction and then take it in a structural direction.