In 2025, Beijing's foreign information influence grew more sophisticated and insidious, leveraging AI, influencers, and transnational repression to spread CCP narratives and silence critics. See my latest in UnderReported China for five key trends underreportedchina.substack.com/p/2025-recap...

Last month, OpenAI published its latest threat intelligence report. Two #China findings: PRC-linked accounts were using ChatGPT to design monitoring tools and also for disinformation campaigns, including for a video later found on TikTok. Details: underreportedchina.substack.com/i/177486526/...

My latest via the Diplomat: Why Trump Should Have Raised China's Transnational Repression in the US with Xi. Spoiler: One reason is cause Xi is personally driving some TNR campaigns. thediplomat.com/2025/10/why-...

New issue of UnderReported China, with analysis on why Trump should raise transnational repression with Xi when they meet tomorrow, the latest use of AI tools by CCP for disinformation operations, and how protests like this one are rising in China. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/trump-xi-m...

New issue of UnderReported China, with analysis on why Trump should raise transnational repression with Xi when they meet tomorrow, the latest use of AI tools by CCP for disinformation operations, and how protests like this one are rising in China. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/trump-xi-m...

An updated version of my recent piece on the China Index findings on CCP foreign influence around the world is up at the Power 3.0 blog. Thanks to the NED for improving and publishing it! www.power3point0.org/2025/10/21/n...

An updated version of my recent piece on the China Index findings on CCP foreign influence around the world is up at the Power 3.0 blog. Thanks to the NED for improving and publishing it! www.power3point0.org/2025/10/21/n...

Many Chinese were separated from their loved ones this Mid-Autumn Festival, but there are also good news stories. Ms. Liu Pintong, a Falun Gong believer, escaped China after surviving a prison in Liaoning. She's now in the UK, reunited with her son. underreportedchina.substack.com/i/175463235/...

Millions in #China and around the world celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival this week. But countless families are separated because of the CCP's repression. I wrote about their plight and three key prisoners in the latest issue of UnderReported China. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/honoring-c...

Many Chinese were separated from their loved ones this Mid-Autumn Festival, but there are also good news stories. Ms. Liu Pintong, a Falun Gong believer, escaped China after surviving a prison in Liaoning. She's now in the UK, reunited with her son. underreportedchina.substack.com/i/175463235/...

Millions in #China and around the world celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival this week. But countless families are separated because of the CCP's repression. I wrote about their plight and three key prisoners in the latest issue of UnderReported China. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/honoring-c...

From content generation to operational refinement, China-linked accounts are increasingly using generative AI to support influence operations, explains @sarahgcook.bsky.social thediplomat.com/2025/09/for-...

My latest from UnderReported China: A short piece with insights on recent news stories re tariff talks in Switzerland, the ICIJ's transnational repression investigation, and forced labor. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/a-backstor...

Good morning! I just realized that my UnderReported China Substack is just 3 subscribers shy of 1,000…. If you’ve enjoyed my analysis and are feeling generous this morning, please help spread the word (or subscribe if you haven't already). Thanks for your support! underreportedchina.substack.com

Li Yanhe grew up in China but moved to Taiwan in 2009, where he started Gusa Press, publishing Chinese books and translations, incl. ones critical of the CCP. He returned home to see family. On March 26, he was sentenced to 3 yrs in prison. Details: underreportedchina.substack.com/p/how-shutti...

New issue of UnderReported China! With my reflections on how the effective shuttering of Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Voice of America (VOA)—exactly one month ago today—leaves an info gap not only for global audiences, but also for U.S. policymakers. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/how-shutti...

This month Safeguard Defenders (SD) published a report with a staggering finding: over one million Chinese have sought asylum abroad since Xi Jinping took over the CCP in 2012. More details on this and other new research via UnderReported China underreportedchina.substack.com/p/whats-next...

#China may be trying to get a laugh at America's expense via panda diplomacy. Latest additions to the DC Zoo are Bao Li and Qing Bao. Character used for Bao means "precious" but the names in pinyin also mean "violence" and "intelligence" (as in spying). abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/g...

This month Safeguard Defenders (SD) published a report with a staggering finding: over one million Chinese have sought asylum abroad since Xi Jinping took over the CCP in 2012. More details on this and other new research via UnderReported China underreportedchina.substack.com/p/whats-next...

New issue of UnderReported China! Featuring four scenarios for how the influx of U.S. TikTok users to Chinese app RedNote could play out. Also, new data on asylum-seekers fleeing China, a book on China-Latin America, and a Chinese activist's release. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/whats-next...

New issue of UnderReported China! Featuring four scenarios for how the influx of U.S. TikTok users to Chinese app RedNote could play out. Also, new data on asylum-seekers fleeing China, a book on China-Latin America, and a Chinese activist's release. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/whats-next...

A new issue of UnderReported China coming out this morning - mostly my analysis on what might happen next with American users on Xiaohongshu (Red Note) but also recommended readings and a prisoner update. Subscribe here for free to receive it: underreportedchina.substack.com

Great report by VOA's William Yang on the Tiktok user migration to Xiaohongshu, w/ my thoughts at the end on how this may not last so long as the Chinese government gets spooked by such unfettered interaction between Chinese and American users. www.voanews.com/a/us-tiktok-...

Great report by VOA's William Yang on the Tiktok user migration to Xiaohongshu, w/ my thoughts at the end on how this may not last so long as the Chinese government gets spooked by such unfettered interaction between Chinese and American users. www.voanews.com/a/us-tiktok-...

Just published! A new issue of UnderReported China--a deep dive into a case of Chinese Communist Party influence targeting the United States, per a criminal complaint in California. Plus this year's "Christmas crackdown" hits Hong Kongers. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/prc-agent-...

Just published! A new issue of UnderReported China--a deep dive into a case of Chinese Communist Party influence targeting the United States, per a criminal complaint in California. Plus this year's "Christmas crackdown" hits Hong Kongers. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/prc-agent-...

Bluesky could become target of foreign disinformation, experts warn. By @wenhao.bsky.social for #VOA With quotes from @joeabodnar.bsky.social @jvscurrell.bsky.social @euben.bsky.social @seanhaines.bsky.social @sarahgcook.bsky.social www.voanews.com/a/bluesky-co...

What’s even more incredible is that one media outlet published an entire article on Trump’s invitations to foreign leaders without ever mentioning the one to Xi. baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1818326...

✨Guess who's back...? ✨ "After a review of our decision, we've decided to restore your account/posts.". Thank you @support.bsky.team. And those who made a little fuss. Me these last two days 👇 Thread reinstated. Article here, and doing well: toosimple.substack.com/p/peter-dukes

Bluesky has exploded in popularity. But among those who have joined are Chinese and Russian state media and some suspicious looking accounts. For this story I explored whether the hot new platform is equipped to protect itself against foreign influence. www.voanews.com/a/bluesky-co...

As the holiday season arrives (and Lunar New Year in early 2025) there is one more Chinese journalist who will still be separated from his family - Dong Yuyu, sentenced in November to 7 years in prison for meeting with Japanese diplomats. Details here: underreportedchina.substack.com/publish/post...

As the holiday season arrives (and Lunar New Year in early 2025) there is one more Chinese journalist who will still be separated from his family - Dong Yuyu, sentenced in November to 7 years in prison for meeting with Japanese diplomats. Details here: underreportedchina.substack.com/publish/post...

A recent report does a deep dive into Chinese Communist Party influence and interference targeting media in the Netherlands. The researchers insights on the psychological dimensions are especially interesting. Details here: underreportedchina.substack.com/p/advice-to-...

As more users open accounts on BlueSky (including at least some Chinese state media outlets) - how should the app prepare for disinformation and influence operations? Strategic foresight and transparency are key. More details in my latest post. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/advice-to-...

A recent report does a deep dive into Chinese Communist Party influence and interference targeting media in the Netherlands. The researchers insights on the psychological dimensions are especially interesting. Details here: underreportedchina.substack.com/p/advice-to-...

FYI - @bsky.app @safety.bsky.app

As more users open accounts on BlueSky (including at least some Chinese state media outlets) - how should the app prepare for disinformation and influence operations? Strategic foresight and transparency are key. More details in my latest post. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/advice-to-...

@sarahgcook.bsky.social warns for China influence operations on BlueSky if its popularity keeps rising:

Hot off the presses! A new edition of UnderReported China, covering risks BlueSky might face from #China influence operations if its popularity keeps rising, new research on CCP influence in Europe and Canada, and another jailed Chinese journalist. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/advice-to-...

Hot off the presses! A new edition of UnderReported China, covering risks BlueSky might face from #China influence operations if its popularity keeps rising, new research on CCP influence in Europe and Canada, and another jailed Chinese journalist. underreportedchina.substack.com/p/advice-to-...

A new issue of UnderReported China is coming out later today. If you haven't subscribed yet, make sure to (it's free!). underreportedchina.substack.com

This is a fairly typical apology but Cathay Pacific is not the only one to issue one like it. And it's far from the worst one. That award goes to Kodak: “We will continue to respect the Chinese government and the Chinese law...We will keep ourselves in check and correct ourselves"

It's lovely to see so many friends and familiar faces here! If you just found NüVoices, our directory of experts, podcast, online magazine amplifies and celebrates the creative and academic works of brilliant women and other marginalized voices focused on China, its diaspora and sphere of influence.

Left: Tank Man, 1989 Right: Seoul, 2024 The comparison comes straight from Weibo, where resistance to the declaration of martial law elicited oblique comparisons to the highly censored events of June, 1989 in Beijing.

A pro-democracy protester in Georgia just messaged: “Hi David. Sorry to bother you. Our so called government has begun mass arrests…These might be the last minutes of our freedom or even worse. If that’s so, tell the world we fought till the end.” www.economist.com/internationa... from The Economist

Not unexpected but still heartbreaking to see the long sentences meted out to the "Hong Kong 47" - professors, journalists, lawmakers, and activists - for essentially holding a primary. I don't see how anyone can continue "business as usual" after this, but they will. www.cnn.com/2024/11/18/w...

Hi everyone, I too just joined Blue Sky. Am excited to see so many China hands here. For those who hadn't seen, after leaving Freedom House for the world of freelancing, I started a newsletter project called UnderReported China. You can find my latest writings there. underreportedchina.substack.com

Congrats to Lynette and DPS on this new report. The proportion of Chinese, Uyghur, Tibetan diaspora respondents who experienced or knew personally someone who faced harassment, intimidation from the CCP is striking. Hope this galvanizes more Canadian gov't response.

From Robin Tutenges. Kazakhstan survivors of the Chinese camps in Xinjiang Saliman Yesbolat lived in the Kazakh autonomous prefecture of Ili. She was forced to take part in flag-raising ceremonies and attend Chinese lessons twice a week. Here is her exercise book. www.mediapart.fr/studio/portf...

Xu's current situation is deeply worrying. For those who hadn't seen it, Rory Truex wrote a great post about him recently: rorytruex.substack.com/p/november-1...