Author | Lightnews

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · 1d

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-...

Why Trump Should Have Raised China’s Transnational Repression With Xi Jinping

Even amid de-escalation efforts, there is strategic value to rebuffing Beijing’s overreach.

thediplomat.com

Reposted by Sarah Cook

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · 3d

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...

Trump-Xi Meeting: Why Transnational Repression Should Be on the Agenda

Also the latest on school protests in China and PRC use of AI tools for foreign influence

underreportedchina.substack.com

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · 3d

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...

Trump-Xi Meeting: Why Transnational Repression Should Be on the Agenda

Also the latest on school protests in China and PRC use of AI tools for foreign influence

underreportedchina.substack.com

2 1

Reposted by Sarah Cook

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · 10d

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...

New Index Takes the Pulse of China’s Growing and Dynamic Foreign Influence - Power 3.0: Understanding Modern Authoritarian Influence

By Sarah Cook In just the past month, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) added to its long track record of foreign influence. New details have emerged about the PRC’s continued involvement in espionage...

www.power3point0.org

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · 10d

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...

New Index Takes the Pulse of China’s Growing and Dynamic Foreign Influence - Power 3.0: Understanding Modern Authoritarian Influence

By Sarah Cook In just the past month, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) added to its long track record of foreign influence. New details have emerged about the PRC’s continued involvement in espionage...

www.power3point0.org

2 2

Reposted by Sarah Cook

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · 23d

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/...

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Reposted by Sarah Cook

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · 24d

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...

Honoring China’s Prisoners of Conscience this Mid-Autumn Festival

Sharing the stories of a jailed Chinese youth, a father serving a long sentence, and the recently released mother of a UK graduate student

underreportedchina.substack.com

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · 23d

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/...

1 2

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · 24d

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...

Honoring China’s Prisoners of Conscience this Mid-Autumn Festival

Sharing the stories of a jailed Chinese youth, a father serving a long sentence, and the recently released mother of a UK graduate student

underreportedchina.substack.com

1 1

Reposted by Sarah Cook

Greg @jamyang.net · Sep 12

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-...

For Beijing’s Foreign Disinformation, the Era of AI-Driven Operations Has Arrived

From content generation to operational refinement, China-linked accounts are increasingly using generative AI to support influence operations.

thediplomat.com

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · May 10

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...

A Backstory of Beijing’s Repression: Three Quick Takes on Recent News

Who is Wang Xiaohong, what the ICIJ investigation missed, and what tariff wars might mean for forced labor in China

underreportedchina.substack.com

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · May 7

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

UnderReported China | Sarah Cook | Substack

News and analysis on China: human rights, technology, and foreign influence. Click to read UnderReported China, by Sarah Cook, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

underreportedchina.substack.com

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Apr 16

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...

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Apr 15

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...

How Shutting Down VOA and RFA Also Leaves U.S. Policymakers in the Dark

Foreign audiences are not the only ones being deprived of vital information on China

underreportedchina.substack.com

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Reposted by Sarah Cook

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Jan 18

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...

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Jan 25

Plays on words like this are common in Chinese. Adds a layer of dark humor to quotes like this one from the article: "Bao Li and Qing Bao have already won the hearts of our staff and volunteers."

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Jan 25

#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...

Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao debut at National Zoo: See photos

Bao Li and Qing Bao, two giant pandas, are making their public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute on Jan. 24, 2025.

abcnews.go.com

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Jan 18

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...

1

Reposted by Sarah Cook

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Jan 17

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...

What’s Next for American Users on China's RedNote? Four Scenarios

Shadows are already appearing over TikTok refugees’ honeymoon with a Chinese app

underreportedchina.substack.com

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Jan 17

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...

What’s Next for American Users on China's RedNote? Four Scenarios

Shadows are already appearing over TikTok refugees’ honeymoon with a Chinese app

underreportedchina.substack.com

1 1

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Jan 17

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

UnderReported China | Sarah Cook | Substack

News and analysis on China: human rights, technology, and foreign influence. Click to read UnderReported China, by Sarah Cook, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

underreportedchina.substack.com

Reposted by Sarah Cook

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Jan 16

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-...

US 'TikTok Refugees' migrate to another Chinese app as ban looms

Fearing loss of TikTok, some users are moving to Chinese app Xiaohongshu in protest, but analysts warn of potential security risks

www.voanews.com

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Jan 16

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-...

US 'TikTok Refugees' migrate to another Chinese app as ban looms

Fearing loss of TikTok, some users are moving to Chinese app Xiaohongshu in protest, but analysts warn of potential security risks

www.voanews.com

7 15

Reposted by Sarah Cook

Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Dec 26

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-...

PRC Agent Arrested in California: Five Key Takeaways

What the case reveals about Beijing’s tactics for influencing U.S. politics, plus a “Christmas crackdown” in Hong Kong

underreportedchina.substack.com

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · Dec 26

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-...

PRC Agent Arrested in California: Five Key Takeaways

What the case reveals about Beijing’s tactics for influencing U.S. politics, plus a “Christmas crackdown” in Hong Kong

underreportedchina.substack.com

1 1 2