Whipling
@seanhaines.bsky.social
Ex China state media commentary writer. Interests: disinfo, comms, and cronuts.
Reposted by Whipling
This one comes with a nice interactive pulldown table of (partial) pen names used in the CCP's official People's Daily. We aim to serve!
October 13, 2025 at 1:49 AM
This one comes with a nice interactive pulldown table of (partial) pen names used in the CCP's official People's Daily. We aim to serve!
Reposted by Whipling
Been thinking about this all week. On the train to the Hague I was reading Edward Fishman's 'Chokepoints'
In 2018, when Trump cut ZTE off from US kit, a newspaper run by China’s Ministry of Science & Technology published a series of 35 articles titled “What Are Our Chokepoints?”
In 2018, when Trump cut ZTE off from US kit, a newspaper run by China’s Ministry of Science & Technology published a series of 35 articles titled “What Are Our Chokepoints?”
October 10, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Been thinking about this all week. On the train to the Hague I was reading Edward Fishman's 'Chokepoints'
In 2018, when Trump cut ZTE off from US kit, a newspaper run by China’s Ministry of Science & Technology published a series of 35 articles titled “What Are Our Chokepoints?”
In 2018, when Trump cut ZTE off from US kit, a newspaper run by China’s Ministry of Science & Technology published a series of 35 articles titled “What Are Our Chokepoints?”
In a rare tweet, former Global Times chief Hu Xijin says: “The US cannot prevent China’s reunification with Taiwan by military means.” 🧐
It’s just one month since state media bent over backwards to describe Beijing's mammoth military parade as a not a show of force, but a "show of peace”.
It’s just one month since state media bent over backwards to describe Beijing's mammoth military parade as a not a show of force, but a "show of peace”.
October 8, 2025 at 4:54 AM
In a rare tweet, former Global Times chief Hu Xijin says: “The US cannot prevent China’s reunification with Taiwan by military means.” 🧐
It’s just one month since state media bent over backwards to describe Beijing's mammoth military parade as a not a show of force, but a "show of peace”.
It’s just one month since state media bent over backwards to describe Beijing's mammoth military parade as a not a show of force, but a "show of peace”.
Trump is likely to sign the TikTok deal today, hiving off a new US company. So I thought I'd take a look..
Did you know ByteDance worked with Beijing state media to promote state influencer studios on TikTok? Exclusive.
Did you know ByteDance worked with Beijing state media to promote state influencer studios on TikTok? Exclusive.
Why China is so keen to support TikTok
The Party has regularly collaborated with ByteDance to amplify state content abroad. Those who believe it is fully independent from Beijing are lying, or naive.
open.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Trump is likely to sign the TikTok deal today, hiving off a new US company. So I thought I'd take a look..
Did you know ByteDance worked with Beijing state media to promote state influencer studios on TikTok? Exclusive.
Did you know ByteDance worked with Beijing state media to promote state influencer studios on TikTok? Exclusive.
Thunk. This is a little looksy at how Chinese state media is currently trying to get out of the way of itself to enable workers, and deliver propaganda better-suited to the 21st Century.
✨Media Studios✨ Context. And how they’re run.
✨Media Studios✨ Context. And how they’re run.
"No speed. No ability. Can't tell stories". Why China is turning to 'media studios' to revive its propaganda
These 'Light Cavalry' are designed to be small, nimble, and camouflaged — just don't ask them who they work for.
toosimple.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Thunk. This is a little looksy at how Chinese state media is currently trying to get out of the way of itself to enable workers, and deliver propaganda better-suited to the 21st Century.
✨Media Studios✨ Context. And how they’re run.
✨Media Studios✨ Context. And how they’re run.
Substack has seen a quiet proliferation of Chinese state media accounts. Many are posing as 'independent journalists' — in fact, according to bosses, they are state-backed "studios", with the aim of subtly influencing "western elites" "drip-by-drip".
Most recent investigation, now free to read~
Most recent investigation, now free to read~
How Chinese state media are quietly targeting "elites" via Substack
Journalists say they are writing "independent" newsletters. Their employers say otherwise.
open.substack.com
August 31, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Substack has seen a quiet proliferation of Chinese state media accounts. Many are posing as 'independent journalists' — in fact, according to bosses, they are state-backed "studios", with the aim of subtly influencing "western elites" "drip-by-drip".
Most recent investigation, now free to read~
Most recent investigation, now free to read~
Is he ever right..?
August 27, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Is he ever right..?
*WHO guidelines recommend annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m3 — meaning China is 6x higher.
Also. Pick your moment, guys. Today, is a "purple" day, with Beijing hitting 252 PM2.5. 😷
Also. Pick your moment, guys. Today, is a "purple" day, with Beijing hitting 252 PM2.5. 😷
August 12, 2025 at 3:02 PM
*WHO guidelines recommend annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m3 — meaning China is 6x higher.
Also. Pick your moment, guys. Today, is a "purple" day, with Beijing hitting 252 PM2.5. 😷
Also. Pick your moment, guys. Today, is a "purple" day, with Beijing hitting 252 PM2.5. 😷
Xiangyu, a pro-Beijing Taiwanese rapper released a song about the DPP 'selling out'. CGTN offered to amplify it—but only if he made "politically sensitive" changes.
Cue a hasty chorus rewrite, from:
🎶Taiwan is our home, we are Taiwanese🎶
-to-
🎶We are Chinese, our homeland is called Taiwan Province🎶
Cue a hasty chorus rewrite, from:
🎶Taiwan is our home, we are Taiwanese🎶
-to-
🎶We are Chinese, our homeland is called Taiwan Province🎶
July 26, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Xiangyu, a pro-Beijing Taiwanese rapper released a song about the DPP 'selling out'. CGTN offered to amplify it—but only if he made "politically sensitive" changes.
Cue a hasty chorus rewrite, from:
🎶Taiwan is our home, we are Taiwanese🎶
-to-
🎶We are Chinese, our homeland is called Taiwan Province🎶
Cue a hasty chorus rewrite, from:
🎶Taiwan is our home, we are Taiwanese🎶
-to-
🎶We are Chinese, our homeland is called Taiwan Province🎶
Oh dear. Luke, a Brit who moved to Xinjiang, primarily as a shot in the arm for his influencer aspirations, and be state media's go-to foreign face on Uyghur issues, writes a long thread on XUAR's subtle political differences.
Backfires.
Gets full wrath from the botfarm.
Backfires.
Gets full wrath from the botfarm.
July 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Oh dear. Luke, a Brit who moved to Xinjiang, primarily as a shot in the arm for his influencer aspirations, and be state media's go-to foreign face on Uyghur issues, writes a long thread on XUAR's subtle political differences.
Backfires.
Gets full wrath from the botfarm.
Backfires.
Gets full wrath from the botfarm.
Reposted by Whipling
Mind-blowing stats on nurseries in China: the number of births has fallen by half *since 2017*, leading to a collapse in early years provision.
The future impact on primary and secondary education is going to be seismic.
www.ft.com/content/8271...
The future impact on primary and secondary education is going to be seismic.
www.ft.com/content/8271...
July 25, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Mind-blowing stats on nurseries in China: the number of births has fallen by half *since 2017*, leading to a collapse in early years provision.
The future impact on primary and secondary education is going to be seismic.
www.ft.com/content/8271...
The future impact on primary and secondary education is going to be seismic.
www.ft.com/content/8271...
CGTN's Jason Smith is currently hosting a livestream on X. "Chinese police are so safe! We went to a rural place in Qinghai and the police met us at the station and told us we couldn't be there. They followed us. There must have been a military base or something. I've never had an escort before!" 🧐
July 25, 2025 at 1:25 PM
CGTN's Jason Smith is currently hosting a livestream on X. "Chinese police are so safe! We went to a rural place in Qinghai and the police met us at the station and told us we couldn't be there. They followed us. There must have been a military base or something. I've never had an escort before!" 🧐
Reposted by Whipling
a) I've been enjoying this newsletter a lot, you should check it out
b) I think if Xi went now he would probably be remembered half-well - basically for the 2010s successes - but if he sticks around another five, ten years or more he will be categorized like Brezhnev.
b) I think if Xi went now he would probably be remembered half-well - basically for the 2010s successes - but if he sticks around another five, ten years or more he will be categorized like Brezhnev.
President Xi is by far the most powerful leader in China's recent history. But we're 13 years in, and his tenure has been one of economic mismanagement, disastrous foreign policy, and debt. A lot of debt.
How will historians remember him? Probably not fondly.
How will historians remember him? Probably not fondly.
Will President Xi be a forgotten man..?
So far, his tenure has been one of borrowed wins, sputtering projects, and an economic ticking time-bomb. His legacy may be a rotten one.
toosimple.substack.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:46 AM
a) I've been enjoying this newsletter a lot, you should check it out
b) I think if Xi went now he would probably be remembered half-well - basically for the 2010s successes - but if he sticks around another five, ten years or more he will be categorized like Brezhnev.
b) I think if Xi went now he would probably be remembered half-well - basically for the 2010s successes - but if he sticks around another five, ten years or more he will be categorized like Brezhnev.
President Xi is by far the most powerful leader in China's recent history. But we're 13 years in, and his tenure has been one of economic mismanagement, disastrous foreign policy, and debt. A lot of debt.
How will historians remember him? Probably not fondly.
How will historians remember him? Probably not fondly.
Will President Xi be a forgotten man..?
So far, his tenure has been one of borrowed wins, sputtering projects, and an economic ticking time-bomb. His legacy may be a rotten one.
toosimple.substack.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:05 AM
President Xi is by far the most powerful leader in China's recent history. But we're 13 years in, and his tenure has been one of economic mismanagement, disastrous foreign policy, and debt. A lot of debt.
How will historians remember him? Probably not fondly.
How will historians remember him? Probably not fondly.
Reposted by Whipling
Chinese leader Xi Jinping isn’t quite the frequent flier he used to be. The most well-traveled leader in China’s history has reduced his international journeys in recent years, but he continues active diplomacy—as a host.
A @wsj.com analysis on Xi's travel patterns since he took power in late 2012.
A @wsj.com analysis on Xi's travel patterns since he took power in late 2012.
China’s Xi Gives Up Air Miles for More Time at Home
The leader has scaled back travel plans and skipped some key summits, but continues active diplomacy—as a host.
www.wsj.com
July 22, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Chinese leader Xi Jinping isn’t quite the frequent flier he used to be. The most well-traveled leader in China’s history has reduced his international journeys in recent years, but he continues active diplomacy—as a host.
A @wsj.com analysis on Xi's travel patterns since he took power in late 2012.
A @wsj.com analysis on Xi's travel patterns since he took power in late 2012.
Utterly, utterly terrifying.
At one point, a guy gets a louder round of applause for saying he's "a Nazi" than one does for saying he's a Christian.
At one point, a guy gets a louder round of applause for saying he's "a Nazi" than one does for saying he's a Christian.
1 Progressive vs 20 Far-Right Conservatives (ft. Mehdi Hasan)
YouTube video by Jubilee
youtu.be
July 21, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Utterly, utterly terrifying.
At one point, a guy gets a louder round of applause for saying he's "a Nazi" than one does for saying he's a Christian.
At one point, a guy gets a louder round of applause for saying he's "a Nazi" than one does for saying he's a Christian.
New figures from the China’s National Immigration Administration out today. A total of 38 million foreigners visited/left China in H1 2025. Up 30% year-on-year — but still down 20% compared to H1 2019. Numbers very different to state media messaging. No boom. Yet.
July 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
New figures from the China’s National Immigration Administration out today. A total of 38 million foreigners visited/left China in H1 2025. Up 30% year-on-year — but still down 20% compared to H1 2019. Numbers very different to state media messaging. No boom. Yet.
Reposted by Whipling
Interesting Pew research on global opinions on China
Negative views persist in Europe, but in 9/10 of those countries polled, China viewed more favourably than last yr
France 23-36%
Italy 35-45%
Greece 47-56%
Poland 26-35%
Germany 20-29%
UK 31-39%
Netherlands 22-30%
Hungary 44-51%
Sweden 11-18%
Negative views persist in Europe, but in 9/10 of those countries polled, China viewed more favourably than last yr
France 23-36%
Italy 35-45%
Greece 47-56%
Poland 26-35%
Germany 20-29%
UK 31-39%
Netherlands 22-30%
Hungary 44-51%
Sweden 11-18%
July 15, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Interesting Pew research on global opinions on China
Negative views persist in Europe, but in 9/10 of those countries polled, China viewed more favourably than last yr
France 23-36%
Italy 35-45%
Greece 47-56%
Poland 26-35%
Germany 20-29%
UK 31-39%
Netherlands 22-30%
Hungary 44-51%
Sweden 11-18%
Negative views persist in Europe, but in 9/10 of those countries polled, China viewed more favourably than last yr
France 23-36%
Italy 35-45%
Greece 47-56%
Poland 26-35%
Germany 20-29%
UK 31-39%
Netherlands 22-30%
Hungary 44-51%
Sweden 11-18%
Many are aghast how Princeton University Press accepted an all-expenses paid trip to Xinjiang, and were willingly used for propaganda purposes — but there are signs they didn't exactly send their brightest.
July 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Many are aghast how Princeton University Press accepted an all-expenses paid trip to Xinjiang, and were willingly used for propaganda purposes — but there are signs they didn't exactly send their brightest.
Winning tickets to see Guns N' Roses. At Villa Park. In the sun. Week is off to a great start~ ☀️🎸
June 23, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Winning tickets to see Guns N' Roses. At Villa Park. In the sun. Week is off to a great start~ ☀️🎸
An ex-China state media worker did an interesting Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' the other day. Interesting read. 🧐
Not me. But it's def legit.
Not me. But it's def legit.
From the China community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the China community
www.reddit.com
June 14, 2025 at 11:48 PM
An ex-China state media worker did an interesting Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' the other day. Interesting read. 🧐
Not me. But it's def legit.
Not me. But it's def legit.
Wow. Magic. ✨
Last article, I noted: ““Potside Chats” is China Daily’s flagship brand for its foreign presenters, yet most videos on its Wechat account have single digit likes.”
Now all those videos have increased by precisely ~100 likes. While others unchanged.
👈 Before. After. 👉
Last article, I noted: ““Potside Chats” is China Daily’s flagship brand for its foreign presenters, yet most videos on its Wechat account have single digit likes.”
Now all those videos have increased by precisely ~100 likes. While others unchanged.
👈 Before. After. 👉
June 13, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Wow. Magic. ✨
Last article, I noted: ““Potside Chats” is China Daily’s flagship brand for its foreign presenters, yet most videos on its Wechat account have single digit likes.”
Now all those videos have increased by precisely ~100 likes. While others unchanged.
👈 Before. After. 👉
Last article, I noted: ““Potside Chats” is China Daily’s flagship brand for its foreign presenters, yet most videos on its Wechat account have single digit likes.”
Now all those videos have increased by precisely ~100 likes. While others unchanged.
👈 Before. After. 👉
Reposted by Whipling
China’s factory-gate deflation worst in 22 months as economic headwinds mount – Reuters: ‘The producer price index fell 3.3% in May from a year earlier, worse than a 2.7% decline in April and the deepest contraction in 22 months, National Bureau of Statistics data showed on Monday.’
China's factory-gate deflation worst in 22 months as economic headwinds mount
China's producer deflation deepened to its worst level in almost two years in May while consumer prices extended declines, as the economy grappled with trade tensions and a prolonged housing downturn.
www.reuters.com
June 9, 2025 at 10:39 AM
China’s factory-gate deflation worst in 22 months as economic headwinds mount – Reuters: ‘The producer price index fell 3.3% in May from a year earlier, worse than a 2.7% decline in April and the deepest contraction in 22 months, National Bureau of Statistics data showed on Monday.’