Nine Dragons
@ninedragons.bsky.social
Exclusively posting here now about HK/China and global events/issues. Occasional nonsense.
Pinned
October 2025's China quarrel thread begins here, to keep track of the various arguments, incidents & threats being made by & against China. September 2025's thread below.
bsky.app/profile/nine...
bsky.app/profile/nine...
September 2025's China quarrel thread begins here, to keep track of the various arguments, incidents & threats being made by & against China. August 2025's thread below.
bsky.app/profile/nine...
bsky.app/profile/nine...
November 2025's China quarrel thread begins here, to keep track of the various arguments, incidents & threats being made by & against China. October 2025's thread below.
bsky.app/profile/nine...
bsky.app/profile/nine...
Feeling very reassured that this is just a silly conspiracy theory.
November 20, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Feeling very reassured that this is just a silly conspiracy theory.
Hope you haven't gotten too excited about the Epstein Bill.
It will compel the release of all UNCLASSIFIED information.
The President has the power to decide what is or isn't "classified". So good luck getting the important stuff.
It will compel the release of all UNCLASSIFIED information.
The President has the power to decide what is or isn't "classified". So good luck getting the important stuff.
November 19, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Hope you haven't gotten too excited about the Epstein Bill.
It will compel the release of all UNCLASSIFIED information.
The President has the power to decide what is or isn't "classified". So good luck getting the important stuff.
It will compel the release of all UNCLASSIFIED information.
The President has the power to decide what is or isn't "classified". So good luck getting the important stuff.
This AI article comes from one of Pakistan's biggest newspapers, Dawn
Let's be fair tho, MAYBE Pakistan has so few people and the people who are there are so well off, that they can't find a human to do the job at a reasonable cost?
Let's be fair tho, MAYBE Pakistan has so few people and the people who are there are so well off, that they can't find a human to do the job at a reasonable cost?
From the burgeoning genre of “great news media moments using AI”… economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-upd...
November 16, 2025 at 3:27 AM
This AI article comes from one of Pakistan's biggest newspapers, Dawn
Let's be fair tho, MAYBE Pakistan has so few people and the people who are there are so well off, that they can't find a human to do the job at a reasonable cost?
Let's be fair tho, MAYBE Pakistan has so few people and the people who are there are so well off, that they can't find a human to do the job at a reasonable cost?
Japan, one of the safest countries on Earth, says something about Taiwan.
HK govt, screaming in panic: "OH MY GOD DON'T GO TO JAPAN IT'S SO DANGEROUS YOU WILL GET ATTACKED BY THE PEOPLE AND BEARS AND PROBABLY DIE HORRIBLY!!!"
HK govt, screaming in panic: "OH MY GOD DON'T GO TO JAPAN IT'S SO DANGEROUS YOU WILL GET ATTACKED BY THE PEOPLE AND BEARS AND PROBABLY DIE HORRIBLY!!!"
November 15, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Japan, one of the safest countries on Earth, says something about Taiwan.
HK govt, screaming in panic: "OH MY GOD DON'T GO TO JAPAN IT'S SO DANGEROUS YOU WILL GET ATTACKED BY THE PEOPLE AND BEARS AND PROBABLY DIE HORRIBLY!!!"
HK govt, screaming in panic: "OH MY GOD DON'T GO TO JAPAN IT'S SO DANGEROUS YOU WILL GET ATTACKED BY THE PEOPLE AND BEARS AND PROBABLY DIE HORRIBLY!!!"
The Boys season 3, from 2022, does an amazing job of parodying the Trump admin of 2025.
November 14, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The Boys season 3, from 2022, does an amazing job of parodying the Trump admin of 2025.
Another example. This time a before/after that just gives a small hint (or reminder) about what happened.
November 14, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Another example. This time a before/after that just gives a small hint (or reminder) about what happened.
I love how quickly the Wikipedia grammar police must have swarmed this article about the Hongqi Bridge, which opened in April. And, er... has suddenly "closed".
(you can see video & photos of its "closure" here: www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-as...)
(you can see video & photos of its "closure" here: www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-as...)
November 13, 2025 at 3:24 AM
I love how quickly the Wikipedia grammar police must have swarmed this article about the Hongqi Bridge, which opened in April. And, er... has suddenly "closed".
(you can see video & photos of its "closure" here: www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-as...)
(you can see video & photos of its "closure" here: www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-as...)
Snippets of history are sometimes found in Google Street View.
November 12, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Snippets of history are sometimes found in Google Street View.
TBF, I seriously doubt he will hit the necessary targets:
Over a decade, he must deliver 20m Tesla electric vehicles to buyers, sell 10m active full self-driving subscriptions, develop & sell 1m humanoid robots & deploy 1m robotaxis in commercial service...
Over a decade, he must deliver 20m Tesla electric vehicles to buyers, sell 10m active full self-driving subscriptions, develop & sell 1m humanoid robots & deploy 1m robotaxis in commercial service...
This is the guy who has repeatedly accused the entire nation of Ukraine of being greedy for wanting less than this to defend themselves against invasion.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Tesla shareholders approve $1tn pay package for Elon Musk
Chants of ‘Elon’ erupt after compensation plan approved despite opposition from several high-profile investors
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:18 AM
TBF, I seriously doubt he will hit the necessary targets:
Over a decade, he must deliver 20m Tesla electric vehicles to buyers, sell 10m active full self-driving subscriptions, develop & sell 1m humanoid robots & deploy 1m robotaxis in commercial service...
Over a decade, he must deliver 20m Tesla electric vehicles to buyers, sell 10m active full self-driving subscriptions, develop & sell 1m humanoid robots & deploy 1m robotaxis in commercial service...
This is the guy who has repeatedly accused the entire nation of Ukraine of being greedy for wanting less than this to defend themselves against invasion.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Tesla shareholders approve $1tn pay package for Elon Musk
Chants of ‘Elon’ erupt after compensation plan approved despite opposition from several high-profile investors
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:11 PM
This is the guy who has repeatedly accused the entire nation of Ukraine of being greedy for wanting less than this to defend themselves against invasion.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Image 1: Wikipedia section on space debris from the page about China's 2007 anti-satellite missile test & how it will endanger space missions for decades to come.
Image 2: November 2026 - "Return of Chinese astronauts delayed after spacecraft struck by debris"
Image 2: November 2026 - "Return of Chinese astronauts delayed after spacecraft struck by debris"
November 5, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Image 1: Wikipedia section on space debris from the page about China's 2007 anti-satellite missile test & how it will endanger space missions for decades to come.
Image 2: November 2026 - "Return of Chinese astronauts delayed after spacecraft struck by debris"
Image 2: November 2026 - "Return of Chinese astronauts delayed after spacecraft struck by debris"
November 2025's China quarrel thread begins here, to keep track of the various arguments, incidents & threats being made by & against China. October 2025's thread below.
bsky.app/profile/nine...
bsky.app/profile/nine...
October 2025's China quarrel thread begins here, to keep track of the various arguments, incidents & threats being made by & against China. September 2025's thread below.
bsky.app/profile/nine...
bsky.app/profile/nine...
September 2025's China quarrel thread begins here, to keep track of the various arguments, incidents & threats being made by & against China. August 2025's thread below.
bsky.app/profile/nine...
bsky.app/profile/nine...
November 4, 2025 at 2:03 AM
November 2025's China quarrel thread begins here, to keep track of the various arguments, incidents & threats being made by & against China. October 2025's thread below.
bsky.app/profile/nine...
bsky.app/profile/nine...
"Yeah, it never came up. Not once. But he did assure me that he wouldn't take any action. Very firm, clear assurances. Trust me. But also, it never came up."
November 3, 2025 at 7:56 AM
"Yeah, it never came up. Not once. But he did assure me that he wouldn't take any action. Very firm, clear assurances. Trust me. But also, it never came up."
One of the really weird things about this is that the Nigerian government have been battling Islamic militants for years and would genuinely LOVE American help (weapons, training, intelligence, MAYBE even SF) in defeating them. But instead of offering any of that, he just threatens them.
November 2, 2025 at 3:27 AM
One of the really weird things about this is that the Nigerian government have been battling Islamic militants for years and would genuinely LOVE American help (weapons, training, intelligence, MAYBE even SF) in defeating them. But instead of offering any of that, he just threatens them.
When I hear Trump say that "Taiwan never came up" in his meeting with Xi, I initially think "oh good, so he hasn't sold them out" followed swiftly by "Taiwan probably did come up & he totally sold them out as he's given this exact kind of report on a meeting before where it turns out he's lying".
October 30, 2025 at 5:06 AM
When I hear Trump say that "Taiwan never came up" in his meeting with Xi, I initially think "oh good, so he hasn't sold them out" followed swiftly by "Taiwan probably did come up & he totally sold them out as he's given this exact kind of report on a meeting before where it turns out he's lying".
Reposted by Nine Dragons
2/2
Economic Affairs Commission. He did not mention an exact percentage."
Unfortunately, growing at a what they think a "reasonable" range and "significantly" raising the household consumption share of GDP are likely to be incompatible exercises.
carnegieendowment.org/posts/2024/0...
Economic Affairs Commission. He did not mention an exact percentage."
Unfortunately, growing at a what they think a "reasonable" range and "significantly" raising the household consumption share of GDP are likely to be incompatible exercises.
carnegieendowment.org/posts/2024/0...
Why Is It So Hard for China to Boost Domestic Demand?
Beijing’s unwillingness to boost the consumption share of GDP is not as bizarre as it seems.
carnegieendowment.org
October 26, 2025 at 4:04 AM
2/2
Economic Affairs Commission. He did not mention an exact percentage."
Unfortunately, growing at a what they think a "reasonable" range and "significantly" raising the household consumption share of GDP are likely to be incompatible exercises.
carnegieendowment.org/posts/2024/0...
Economic Affairs Commission. He did not mention an exact percentage."
Unfortunately, growing at a what they think a "reasonable" range and "significantly" raising the household consumption share of GDP are likely to be incompatible exercises.
carnegieendowment.org/posts/2024/0...
As China's 4th plenum ended, Han Wenxiu, a senior party official in financial and economic policy, said: "There is always opportunity in crisis and crisis can be turned into opportunity."
Here's a photo of that moment:
Here's a photo of that moment:
October 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
As China's 4th plenum ended, Han Wenxiu, a senior party official in financial and economic policy, said: "There is always opportunity in crisis and crisis can be turned into opportunity."
Here's a photo of that moment:
Here's a photo of that moment:
Because markets are dumb sometimes.
October 22, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Because markets are dumb sometimes.
I read something years ago about con artists being surprisingly easy to con, more so than the average person. The main reason was that they see themselves as the predator, not as potential prey, so they never see it coming, never expect to be the victim. Anyway...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump says China ‘doesn’t want’ to invade Taiwan and reaffirms trust in Xi
US president says ‘I want to be good to China’ after Pentagon previously warned China may attempt takeover of Taiwan
www.theguardian.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:17 AM
I read something years ago about con artists being surprisingly easy to con, more so than the average person. The main reason was that they see themselves as the predator, not as potential prey, so they never see it coming, never expect to be the victim. Anyway...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Well, that was 1 month of light relief at least.
In these dark time, I would like to thank Ange Postecoglou for providing the comedy gold, and I don't think anyone's going to stop him providing such comedy for a couple of months at least.
October 18, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Well, that was 1 month of light relief at least.
Next Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest:
Putin: "I've got a great deal for you - I'll give you nothing, and in exchange, you give them nothing. Deal?"
Trump: "Well that sounds like an equal and fair exchange. What an honorable man you are. Agreed!"
Putin: "I've got a great deal for you - I'll give you nothing, and in exchange, you give them nothing. Deal?"
Trump: "Well that sounds like an equal and fair exchange. What an honorable man you are. Agreed!"
October 17, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Next Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest:
Putin: "I've got a great deal for you - I'll give you nothing, and in exchange, you give them nothing. Deal?"
Trump: "Well that sounds like an equal and fair exchange. What an honorable man you are. Agreed!"
Putin: "I've got a great deal for you - I'll give you nothing, and in exchange, you give them nothing. Deal?"
Trump: "Well that sounds like an equal and fair exchange. What an honorable man you are. Agreed!"
Value for money!
2/5
In the first nine months of the year, TSF rose RMB 30.09 trillion. If you assume interest on the stock of debt at an average of 2.5%, this implies that it required an increase in debt in the past year equal to 17% of GDP in order to boost nominal GDP by around 4%.
In the first nine months of the year, TSF rose RMB 30.09 trillion. If you assume interest on the stock of debt at an average of 2.5%, this implies that it required an increase in debt in the past year equal to 17% of GDP in order to boost nominal GDP by around 4%.
October 16, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Value for money!
One other reason China has a population decline problem that is rarely discussed is that it has persistent negative net migration (image 1) on top of low & dropping birth rates. Japan by contrast has persistent positive net migration (image 2).
October 14, 2025 at 3:46 AM
One other reason China has a population decline problem that is rarely discussed is that it has persistent negative net migration (image 1) on top of low & dropping birth rates. Japan by contrast has persistent positive net migration (image 2).