Helen Davidson
@heldavidson.bsky.social
1.3K followers 580 following 140 posts
Foreign correspondent for the Guardian in Taiwan. Via Guardian Australia covering immigration and the Pacific and three wild years as the Northern Territory corro. https://www.theguardian.com/profile/helen-davidson [email protected]
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heldavidson.bsky.social
China’s fifth-ranking official was suspect in dropped Westminster spy case. By @amyabides.bsky.social and Dan Sabbagh

Person who was thought to have received intelligence is understood to be Cai Qi, de facto chief of staff to Xi Jinping
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
China’s fifth-ranking official was suspect in dropped Westminster spy case
Person who was thought to have received intelligence is understood to be Cai Qi, de facto chief of staff to Xi Jinping
www.theguardian.com
heldavidson.bsky.social
Just trying to bring people a bit of hope and joy with this story
Reposted by Helen Davidson
pauljnadeau.bsky.social
It's worth reminding Americans that one of the things that chilled Japan Inc's involvement in China was the risk that the PRC would detain its workers, so you really can't underestimate the chilling effect the Hyundai raid will have on foreign investment
falrising.bsky.social
Following the Hyundai raid, LG Energy Solution suspended most business trips to the US and directed employees to return home immediately. It comes less than two months since South Korea committed $350B in US investments, including a $26B Hyundai steel mill in Louisiana.
heldavidson.bsky.social
A spokesperson for Taiwan’s ministry of defence, Col Chiao Fu-chun, told the Guardian the ministry could “assist our coastguard to respond when needed”.
heldavidson.bsky.social
omg I totally forgot to reply. Yes it did and I see the potential but I need to practise with it! It's very sharp and scary, but I have high hopes of never needing to buy a can opener ever again. Also the colour rules.
Reposted by Helen Davidson
heldavidson.bsky.social
People living near Tiananmen Square were even banned from cooking on Wednesday morning — on account that any smoke could haze up the sky — and instead were given breakfast packs of hard-boiled tea eggs, bread rolls and spicy Sichuan pickles. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
China’s Xi, flanked by Putin and Kim, shows off ‘new generation’ weapons
As Xi Jinping declared China as a nation “never intimidated by bullies,” President Trump urged him to acknowledge the United States’ support in winning World War II.
www.washingtonpost.com
Reposted by Helen Davidson
ericumansky.bsky.social
You know that boat the administration blew up? A former law enforcement official told the NYT the boat seemed to be carrying not drugs but *’migrants *
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/u...
In the former official’s opinion, it was more likely that the vessel was carrying migrants on a human smuggling run. It would be impossible to know for sure, however, given that any evidence of drug smuggling was destroyed in the attack.
heldavidson.bsky.social
My wrap on China's military parade today: A new photo for the history books as Xi, Putin and Kim arrive together, warnings of peace and war, a lot of big shiny military hardware, and a definitely not mad Trump
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Xi Jinping says world faces ‘peace or war’, as Putin and Kim join him for military parade
Trump criticises victory day event as China caps off week of diplomatic grandstanding seen as rebuke to west
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Helen Davidson
sensehofstede.nl
China drilling for oil and gas inside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone – The Guardian: ‘However, there is no sign of the Taiwan government having responded to it, despite frequently enforcing its EEZ elsewhere.’
China drilling for oil and gas inside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone
Exclusive: Experts say the move could be part of Beijing’s ‘greyzone’ grab for disputed territory
www.theguardian.com
heldavidson.bsky.social
Racers kidnapped with giant nets and ransomed. Others smuggled on to high-speed trains to get to the finish line faster. Performance enhancing drugs. Millions in alleged gambling.

Our story on the wild world of Taiwan's pigeon racing, with pics by An Rong Xu www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Drugs, smuggling and abductions: inside the fast and furious world of pigeon racing in Taiwan
Low regulation and high stakes mean Taiwanese pigeon racing is awash with cheating – but efforts are afoot to clean up the sport
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Helen Davidson
davidho.bsky.social
This is really significant. I've been frustrated that we have to guess how much power and water AI consumes, because these tech companies won't say (even though they know). This is the most transparent estimate from one of these companies so far. I hope others will follow suit.