Kingsley Edney

As promised, this story has now come out from behind the paywall. Cheapskates, fill your boots. www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...

I remember being shocked by the scene in a Mad Men episode where they have a picnic and Don just biffs his rubbish into the distance like he’s throwing a football.

I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.

They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

The dark fleet hiding in our own backyard: How the Cook Islands sold its flag to Moscow and Tehran SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: How shadow fleets made the Cook Islands flag inconvienent.

The Cook Islands allowed over a hundred shadow fleet tankers trafficking sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil. A Big Read from me looking at the curious case of Maritime Cook Islands with an investigation employing big data analysis and fieldwork in Raro. www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...

We know that China ran a domestic propaganda campaign supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—but did it work? This article explores how effective the campaign was in persuading the Chinese public and which segments of the population were more vulnerable to its influence.

The New Soft-Power Imbalance China’s cautious response to America’s retreat.

My new piece @foreignaffairs.com on whether #China is stepping into the #SoftPower gap left by the US withdrawal. I argue that it is doing so reluctantly, both in terms of material and ideological diplomacy. Take a look here: www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

About time. Well past time, in fact.

Events

INCCS provides a platform for knowledge exchange and impact by hosting research based workshop events.

sites.google.com/sheffield.ac...

AidData | Chasing China: Learning to Play by Beijing's Global Lending Rules Nov 18, 2025 |

An important new resource for anyone following China’s role in global development, and a big surprise - the vast majority of China’s FDI is going to middle and high income countries - not the developing world www.aiddata.org/publications...

a notable thing here is that Jin is about as powerful and privileged as you can be - first-tier Chinese aristocracy, basically, super-connected - and that still didn't prevent her from being harassed by Summers

Transnational Pressure Campaign Forces Closure of IndieChina Film Festival in New York City The inaugural IndieChina Film Festival (IndieChina电影节, IndieChina Diànyǐngjié), which was set to run from November 8-15 in New York City, has been forced to close due to what appears to be a coordinat...

Transnational Pressure Campaign Forces Closure of IndieChina Film Festival in New York City

"I did think it might be better here … It turns out I was wrong."

Evergreen post

Why threats to academic freedom are growing – and how universities can respond to intimidation When scholarship is politically steered, the public loses access to evidence and the means to hold power to account.

Why threats to academic freedom are growing – and how universities can respond to intimidation - Kirsten Roberts Lyer on the link between academic freedom violations, human rights, and transnational repression (TNR) theconversation.com/why-threats-...

Britain Is Having the World’s Most Extreme Immigration Debate The British discourse makes even the Trump administration look moderate.

Imagine a country where hundreds of thousands of legal permanent residents find stripped of their status and forced to reapply for their right to remain. Many no longer meet the criteria, plunged into illegality, subject to deportation.
@emile-chabal.bsky.social

foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/05/b...

In case you missed it, Kerry Brown wrote a book that plagiarized Shelley Rigger’s classic book title.

I, along with others who were asked to review Kerry’s manuscript, said verbatim to change the title.

In the most tacky and unprofessional fashion, he stole her title anyway.

Now reversed, but only after eight months of disruption, cancellation of some work, and threats of legal action. Appalling.

My former colleague @arthurkaufman.bsky.social interviewed @lauratmurphy.bsky.social about her work in 2022:

China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show Sheffield Hallam University apologises to Professor Laura Murphy for restricting her academic freedom.

This is a concerning situation with a lot to unpack. I note it's being dealt with primarily in terms of academic freedom, but what stood out for me is the additional issue of safety both for researchers AND wider communities/participants.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"Sources at Parliament, who wouldn’t speak on the record for fear of retribution, said the letter ...revealed how China’s government monitors New Zealanders ...they believe China is sending people to spy on events organised by Kiwi supporters of Taiwan."

China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show Sheffield Hallam University apologises to Professor Laura Murphy for restricting her academic freedom.

China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show www.bbc.com/news/article...

Surreal seeing something this candid.

Tory deportation plan would upend Britain Proposing such a radical bill with little public support is a gift to Nigel Farage

If you're not aware of the details of what the Tory deportation plans would actually mean, @stephenkb.bsky.social lays it out clearly here.

Ashley Tellis. This will come as a shock to many in this area.

In 1916 the BMJ published an article about the work done by James Shearer, an American physician working in the British Army as a sergeant (because he had no British qualification). He had described a "delineator" which was better than x rays for portraying gunshot wounds. This caused a sensation and a lot of interest — but on investigation the work was found to have been invented. The BMJ published a retraction, but Shearer was tried by court martial and sentenced to death by firing squad.

Next time an institution tells you how seriously it takes research misconduct, ask them if it's *this* seriously. www.bmj.com/content/297/...

‘New reality’ as world reaches first climate tipping point Researchers in Leeds have joined experts from across the world in warning that Earth is reaching the first of many climate tipping points that will cause catastrophic harm without urgent action.

The second Global Tipping Points Report has been launched today. Please see our press release here: www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...
Find the full report here: global-tipping-points.org @gsiexeter.bsky.social #TippingPoints #COP30

What’s the global narrative on China? Is its rise seen as positive? Is China-skepticism in the U.S. & Europe part of a broader global backlash?

In a new paper, @zhubochubo.bsky.social analyzes 25 years of survey data from 159 countries to track global opinion trends. Key findings below🧵⬇️

Put this by @franceshisgen.bsky.social on my list awhile back, and being the scatterbrain I am it took a bit to get around to it. It's worth a few minutes of your time, if for nothing else than to acknowledge the bravery it takes to stand up and say this right now. nuvoices.com/2025/07/01/i...

Delighted that Joseph Torigian (@josephtorigian.bsky.social) will be joining us in Glasgow for
our Scottish Centre for China Research seminar series.

Join us! Wed 8 Oct 4pm UK time

To join online register via link at:
www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...

Ok as of now, if you really rely on LLMs for close reading of government regulations, the interpretation will be mediocre to poor. I think Gemini is pretty good for Chinese material but even it misses many things which would be obvious to a trained human analyst

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Jerome A. Cohen, the eminent scholar of Chinese law. Our condolences to his family and all those who loved him.

He authored many books, most recently the memoir, "Eastward, Westward: A Life in Law."

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