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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Sep 1

Shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, I was asked to write an essay on Russia's relations with China. I did and I argued that this would happen. The essay was subsequently withdrawn by the publisher on the grounds that it was "off topic".

edition.cnn.com/2025/09/01/c...

Xi and Putin stand shoulder to shoulder as China casts itself as an alternative global leader | CNN

Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a veiled swipe at the United States on Monday as he criticized “bullying practices” and cast his country as a new leader of world governance, at a time when President Do...

edition.cnn.com

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 20

Happy to recommend people who would likely be interested.

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 15

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

Chinese university students told to spy on classmates, report says

Lecturers are also being harassed, the report finds, as ministers say threats will not be tolerated.

www.bbc.co.uk

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 15

www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

China: Overseas students face harassment and surveillance in campaign of transnational repression

Chinese and Hong Kong students studying abroad are living in fear of intimidation, harassment and surveillance as Chinese authorities seek to prevent them from engaging with ‘sensitive’ or political i...

www.amnesty.org

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 15

Obviously British universities are underfunded but political interference by China's party-state is also very real.

www.scmp.com/opinion/worl...

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 12

The report was discussed in detail at the Preventing Transnational Repression workshop and group recommendations are also available here:

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

Events

sites.google.com

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 12

🚨 New research report 🚨

“Preventing Transnational Repression: the case of the Uyghur diaspora”

By David Tobin and @nyrolaelima.bsky.social

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

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Reposted by David Tobin

David Stroup @davidstroup.bsky.social · Aug 11

21 years later and this reads almost like prophecy.

David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 11

2004. "The dynamics of penetration and resistance between the centre and what still remains an indigenous periphery can be expected to generate at the same time both increased sinicization and increased ethno-national unrest."

www.jstor.org/stable/20192...

Staged Development in Xinjiang on JSTOR

Nicolas Becquelin, Staged Development in Xinjiang, The China Quarterly, No. 178, China's Campaign to "Open Up the West": National, Provincial and Local Perspectives (Jun., 2004), pp. 358-378

www.jstor.org

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 11

2004. "The dynamics of penetration and resistance between the centre and what still remains an indigenous periphery can be expected to generate at the same time both increased sinicization and increased ethno-national unrest."

www.jstor.org/stable/20192...

Staged Development in Xinjiang on JSTOR

Nicolas Becquelin, Staged Development in Xinjiang, The China Quarterly, No. 178, China's Campaign to "Open Up the West": National, Provincial and Local Perspectives (Jun., 2004), pp. 358-378

www.jstor.org

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 11

The problem is that there is no practical solidarity but there is a lot of hostility.

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 9

The discussion on Chinese political interference in British academia is long overdue. But it will all be hot air if practical resources, support, and legal protections are not provided to those who are actually doing the work.

www.spectator.co.uk/article/can-...

Can 'China Studies' still be trusted?

It is generally agreed that Britain needs to improve its China capabilities. But what happens when institutions responsible for building those capabilities are compromised by the Chinese Communist Par...

www.spectator.co.uk

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 9

Following the illegal deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China, artists are being censored in Thailand to avoid telling their stories of persecution and survival.

www.reuters.com/world/china/...

Exclusive: Thai gallery removes China-focused artworks after 'pressure' from Beijing

In what artists called the latest attempt by Beijing to silence critics overseas, the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre changed multiple works by artists in exile in the exhibit on authoritarian governments collaborating across borders.

www.reuters.com

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 5

The survey demonstrates that there are sharply differentiated experiences in Chinese Studies depending what you research and how. I would like to hear more answers about how to enable those who do have those experiences to speak safely and less from those who have not engaged with those experiences.

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Aug 5

I would like to know what you do propose to address the issue, particularly given there is zero support for those who face these pressures. Stating that "no one denies some China scholars face serious pressures" is simply not true and that is a serious part of the problem.

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Reposted by David Tobin

Gregory Lee 利大英 @gblee.bsky.social · Aug 4

#China #UK
ukctransparency.org/wp-content/u...

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Reposted by David Tobin

Niao Collective @niaocollective.bsky.social · Aug 4

lol

A Chinese embassy spokesperson said: “The relevant report is completely groundless and absurd. China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and respects freedom of speech and academic freedom in the UK and other countries. China consistently requires its citizens, including overseas students, to abide by local laws and regulations.

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Jul 31

It is tragic that the Joint Committee on Human Rights did not mention Uyghurs. They are a key target for transnational repression and receive almost no support.

news.sky.com/story/author...

Authoritarian states operating with impunity to silence dissidents in UK, report finds

China, Russia and Iran were the biggest perpetrators of transnational repression but several other countries are trying to silence dissidents.

news.sky.com

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Jul 29

@nateschenkkan.bsky.social @davidstroup.bsky.social @htheaker.bsky.social @zhubochubo.bsky.social @dos3ab.bsky.social @nyrolaelima.bsky.social @saipirafurstenberg.bsky.social @timothyagrose.bsky.social @rachelaharris.bsky.social @carmenlau.bsky.social @juliemillsap.bsky.social

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Jul 29

In June 2025, academics and civil society organisations met in London for an International Network for Critical China Studies workshop to analyse how to prevent transnational repression. Governments & NGOs have not paid enough attention to TNR and need to do much more to protect people's rights.

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Jul 26

In my undergraduate classes, you have to do the reading before commenting. You also have to analyse evidence by asking, why is this person saying this? Who is their intended audience? What verifiable evidence do they have for their statements? Repeating what people say is not analysis.

Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · Jul 26

Can’t comment on the tel article as I’ve not read it. But the “tinder box” thing (also “powder keg”) has been said to me by so many MPs, charities and council people over the last week I don’t think it can be dismissed as some kind of alt right/McSweeney/Faragist fever dream

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Reposted by David Tobin

Xinjiang Victims Database @shahit.biz · Nov 7

We've added a fundamental new feature/direction today, in which we'll be sharing, translating, and automatically validating various internal documents: shahit.biz/eng/#internal

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Jul 21

Princeton University Press has yet to apologise for using politicised language and state narratives (e.g., 多元一体) that justify the elimination of group identities that the CCP does not approve.

thediplomat.com/2025/07/prin...

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Jul 21

A generous interpretation is that the CCP/CPC 'debate' used to be a squabble over whether to emphasise socialism in one country or an international movement. Now it's a manufactured distraction to attract people who can't read Chinese.

Niao Collective @niaocollective.bsky.social · Jul 21

There's also something exceptionally funny when western shills for Beijing insist it's "CPC" when "Chinese Communist Party" is the literal translation of 中国共产党... you know, what it's called in Chinese

Gabriel Corsetti @gabrielcorsetti.bsky.social · Jul 21

The professional apologists are still banging on about whether to use CPC or CCP. The best part is that in China absolutely no one cares. But it's a great distraction from more important issues, as well as a loyalty test.

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David Tobin @drdavidtobin.bsky.social · Jul 19

Xi Jinping's "people's war on terror" differed significantly. CCP docs outline how it uses mass mobilisation, more intense surveillance, and detention for pre-crimes 👇

sheffield.ac.uk/las/research...

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Reposted by David Tobin

Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · Jul 2

CDT is hands-down one of the most important public resources available for trying to understand China

China Digital Times @chinadigitaltimes.net · Jul 1

In recent months, we have lost a significant portion of our funding. Yet we remain committed to helping the world better understand China at this critical juncture in global politics. We are asking for your help to keep our websites up and running.
giving.chinadigitaltimes.net/page/serverc...

Keep CDT Online: Donate for Server Expenses

China Digital Times (CDT) is a non-profit organization that relies on institutional and individual donations to sustain our operations. In recent months, we have lost a significant portion of our inst...

giving.chinadigitaltimes.net

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