James Griffiths
@jamestgriffiths.com
🇨🇦 Asia correspondent, @theglobeandmail.com
📚 Author, ‘The Great Firewall of China’ and ‘Speak Not’
📍 Hong Kong
🔒 jgriffiths.852
📚 Author, ‘The Great Firewall of China’ and ‘Speak Not’
📍 Hong Kong
🔒 jgriffiths.852
Pinned
James Griffiths
@jamestgriffiths.com
· Sep 9
Leaked files show a Chinese company is exporting the Great Firewall’s censorship technology
Geedge Networks is providing censorship capabilities to foreign governments, including those in Myanmar, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan
www.theglobeandmail.com
As part of a consortium of researchers and journalists, I spent the better part of a year digging into leaked documents from Chinese security company Geedge, which plays a pivotal role exporting the Great Firewall around the world: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/15c699a...
zheng he also went to the moon first www.scmp.com/news/china/s...
Could Chinese explorers have settled New Zealand before the Maori?
Mainstream academics and Maori groups voice scepticism, but researchers say acknowledging lesser-known history could alter national identity.
www.scmp.com
September 18, 2026 at 7:23 AM
zheng he also went to the moon first www.scmp.com/news/china/s...
Reposted by James Griffiths
To those who say it’s not worth building ties with Europe because it’s “on the decline”
September 17, 2026 at 1:11 PM
To those who say it’s not worth building ties with Europe because it’s “on the decline”
HKJA says Security Sec. Chris Tang's criticism around most recent leadership election may have driven 10% spike in membership renewals and major boost in merch sales. Similarly, when I was on ExCo, venues dropping out forced fundraising auction online, we ended up blowing through our target.
September 14, 2026 at 2:18 AM
HKJA says Security Sec. Chris Tang's criticism around most recent leadership election may have driven 10% spike in membership renewals and major boost in merch sales. Similarly, when I was on ExCo, venues dropping out forced fundraising auction online, we ended up blowing through our target.
Reposted by James Griffiths
He seems rather lauding of Cheng Li-wun, while being entirely unaware of how she is controversial even within her own party, and probably unelectable, to the extent that you hear a lot of chatter within the KMT about how she may cost them 2028
September 10, 2026 at 8:32 AM
He seems rather lauding of Cheng Li-wun, while being entirely unaware of how she is controversial even within her own party, and probably unelectable, to the extent that you hear a lot of chatter within the KMT about how she may cost them 2028
Reposted by James Griffiths
China is itself curiously absent from his argument. Once again, Shuster is preoccupied with the grandeur of elite political actors.
So, too, then with the KMT. Shuster never interrogates any of his KMT sources' claims, he just takes them at face value
So, too, then with the KMT. Shuster never interrogates any of his KMT sources' claims, he just takes them at face value
September 10, 2026 at 8:32 AM
China is itself curiously absent from his argument. Once again, Shuster is preoccupied with the grandeur of elite political actors.
So, too, then with the KMT. Shuster never interrogates any of his KMT sources' claims, he just takes them at face value
So, too, then with the KMT. Shuster never interrogates any of his KMT sources' claims, he just takes them at face value
Reposted by James Griffiths
To this extent, he speaks of the domestic impact from the death toll of a war scenario for the US and Taiwan, but never China. The CCP's current leadership could, after all, squander its historical legacy and face removal through a failed invasion
September 10, 2026 at 8:32 AM
To this extent, he speaks of the domestic impact from the death toll of a war scenario for the US and Taiwan, but never China. The CCP's current leadership could, after all, squander its historical legacy and face removal through a failed invasion
Reposted by James Griffiths
Not a single mention of the military purges and what they mean or embarassments like the Rocket Force found to have replaced fuel with water.
September 10, 2026 at 8:32 AM
Not a single mention of the military purges and what they mean or embarassments like the Rocket Force found to have replaced fuel with water.
Reposted by James Griffiths
In a game in which all parties–the US, Taiwan, and China–seek to cover up their weaknesses and project strength, Shuster only questions the US and Taiwan, but takes everything China tells him at face value. And so China is only discussed in terms of shock and awe
September 10, 2026 at 8:32 AM
In a game in which all parties–the US, Taiwan, and China–seek to cover up their weaknesses and project strength, Shuster only questions the US and Taiwan, but takes everything China tells him at face value. And so China is only discussed in terms of shock and awe
Reposted by James Griffiths
"When Will the American Commentariat Give Up on Asking When Taiwan Will Give Up?" by @brianhioe.bsky.social
When Will the American Commentariat Give Up on Asking When Taiwan Will Give Up? | New Bloom Magazine
“Will Taiwan Just Give Up?” by Simon Shuster in The Atlantic, is the latest article in the heady genre of articles by white men who visit Taiwan for a few days and decide that they have the final…
newbloommag.net
September 10, 2026 at 8:11 AM
"When Will the American Commentariat Give Up on Asking When Taiwan Will Give Up?" by @brianhioe.bsky.social
Chicago followers: I will be giving a talk at Northwestern later this month, details below (you can also join online if you should so please). events.humanitix.com/inside-conte...
Inside Contemporary Asia: Politics, Power, & Information | Buffett Conversation with James Griffiths
The Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs generates new knowledge about pressing global challenges and promising solutions for addressing them.
events.humanitix.com
September 4, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Chicago followers: I will be giving a talk at Northwestern later this month, details below (you can also join online if you should so please). events.humanitix.com/inside-conte...
Hi, I'm looking to hire a freelance reporter/fixer in Manila ASAP to do some work for @theglobeandmail.com. If that is you or you know of someone, please email [email protected]. Thanks!
August 28, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Hi, I'm looking to hire a freelance reporter/fixer in Manila ASAP to do some work for @theglobeandmail.com. If that is you or you know of someone, please email [email protected]. Thanks!
Reposted by James Griffiths
extremely good FOIA denial i just got
August 27, 2026 at 2:47 PM
extremely good FOIA denial i just got
Last month I went out with Father Valan, a Catholic priest who ministers to seafarers, on his regular visits to ships in Hong Kong harbour, including one ship abandoned by its owner, whose Indonesian crew are currently fighting to recover their stolen wages and go home.
August 18, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Last month I went out with Father Valan, a Catholic priest who ministers to seafarers, on his regular visits to ships in Hong Kong harbour, including one ship abandoned by its owner, whose Indonesian crew are currently fighting to recover their stolen wages and go home.
Reposted by James Griffiths
It’s also noteworthy how Tang is clearly using the phrase “mainstream media” (主流媒體) here not as it is understood internationally but as it is used in the mainland: not to describe outlets that are widely read or disseminated but those that reliably follow official thinking.
August 10, 2026 at 5:05 AM
It’s also noteworthy how Tang is clearly using the phrase “mainstream media” (主流媒體) here not as it is understood internationally but as it is used in the mainland: not to describe outlets that are widely read or disseminated but those that reliably follow official thinking.
Reposted by James Griffiths
The Hong Kong Journalists Association was started in 1968 by two Australian journalists - Jack and Margaret Spackman. To see pro-Beijing media turning to xenophobia in this cartoon - demonising ‘journalists from foreign media’ - sullies the reputation of Hong Kong as a ‘Asia’s world city’.
August 10, 2026 at 4:29 AM
The Hong Kong Journalists Association was started in 1968 by two Australian journalists - Jack and Margaret Spackman. To see pro-Beijing media turning to xenophobia in this cartoon - demonising ‘journalists from foreign media’ - sullies the reputation of Hong Kong as a ‘Asia’s world city’.
Needless to say, this isn't a "black box" election for actual members of HKJA, candidates are simply not exposed to the harassment and employer pressure that resulted in the very situation Tang claims to abhor. Tang himself instigated much of that pressure in past via repeated attacks on the JA.
August 10, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Needless to say, this isn't a "black box" election for actual members of HKJA, candidates are simply not exposed to the harassment and employer pressure that resulted in the very situation Tang claims to abhor. Tang himself instigated much of that pressure in past via repeated attacks on the JA.
Reposted by James Griffiths
We are honored to be shortlisted for the IJ4EU Impact Awards 2026 | @ecpmf.bsky.social, for The Great Firewall Export: China's Censorship Technology Goes Global.
A cross-border investigation by eight organizations.
What we found, in a thread. 🧵
#IJ4EUImpactAward
A cross-border investigation by eight organizations.
What we found, in a thread. 🧵
#IJ4EUImpactAward
August 6, 2026 at 1:40 PM
We are honored to be shortlisted for the IJ4EU Impact Awards 2026 | @ecpmf.bsky.social, for The Great Firewall Export: China's Censorship Technology Goes Global.
A cross-border investigation by eight organizations.
What we found, in a thread. 🧵
#IJ4EUImpactAward
A cross-border investigation by eight organizations.
What we found, in a thread. 🧵
#IJ4EUImpactAward
"Perhaps I just live an amazingly uncomplicated life ... but I can assure you that making reminders for myself and scheduling my calendar and like, organizing my screenshots is not the massive time suck your average AI guy on X thinks it is." www.deezlinks.com/p/the-ai-fou...
the AI founders’ utterly unimaginative use cases
Also, might you be brave enough to run The Atlantic Book Club?
www.deezlinks.com
August 5, 2026 at 3:01 AM
"Perhaps I just live an amazingly uncomplicated life ... but I can assure you that making reminders for myself and scheduling my calendar and like, organizing my screenshots is not the massive time suck your average AI guy on X thinks it is." www.deezlinks.com/p/the-ai-fou...
Great old ad I found in a 1931 edition of the New York Times:
July 29, 2026 at 3:33 AM
Great old ad I found in a 1931 edition of the New York Times:
China "is becoming more willing to be seen," by tourists who will be easily impressed and won't look too hard. At same time Beijing is introducing visa-free travel for many, it's also expelling foreign journalists and heavily restricting those that remain. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
July 20, 2026 at 12:24 PM
China "is becoming more willing to be seen," by tourists who will be easily impressed and won't look too hard. At same time Beijing is introducing visa-free travel for many, it's also expelling foreign journalists and heavily restricting those that remain. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
FCCC report points to growing pressure beyond China’s long-established political red lines. Almost half of respondents said new topics had become more sensitive over the past year, including the economy, demographics, trade tensions and emerging technologies. drive.google.com/file/d/1H9z8...
2025 FCCC Report The New Abnormal.pdf
drive.google.com
July 13, 2026 at 12:13 AM
FCCC report points to growing pressure beyond China’s long-established political red lines. Almost half of respondents said new topics had become more sensitive over the past year, including the economy, demographics, trade tensions and emerging technologies. drive.google.com/file/d/1H9z8...
Wong "has been in custody since November 2020 and was previously expected to be released as early as 2027."
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong expected to plead guilty in foreign collusion case
High Court has scheduled a plea and sentencing hearing for the 29-year-old jailed activist on September 2.
www.scmp.com
July 7, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Wong "has been in custody since November 2020 and was previously expected to be released as early as 2027."
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
If you're doing research, never underestimate how incredibly helpful and generous with their time librarians and archivists are. Basically any time I've reached out to an archive with a query about their collection (that's cost-prohibitive to go check in person) they always go beyond what I expect.
July 3, 2026 at 1:36 AM
If you're doing research, never underestimate how incredibly helpful and generous with their time librarians and archivists are. Basically any time I've reached out to an archive with a query about their collection (that's cost-prohibitive to go check in person) they always go beyond what I expect.
RIP Victor Mair, a giant of Chinese language studies. Beyond his academic writings, his blog, Language Log, became a vital source of discussion on Chinese and other languages, and he was posting right up until the end.
languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=73799
languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=73799
Language Log » Victor Mair RIP
languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu
July 2, 2026 at 5:07 AM
RIP Victor Mair, a giant of Chinese language studies. Beyond his academic writings, his blog, Language Log, became a vital source of discussion on Chinese and other languages, and he was posting right up until the end.
languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=73799
languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=73799
Die Zeit also pulls this crap. Surprised this behaviour has not been regulated out of existence in the EU, is clearly predatory, hoping people won't bother or will put off and forget and keep being charged.
June 29, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Die Zeit also pulls this crap. Surprised this behaviour has not been regulated out of existence in the EU, is clearly predatory, hoping people won't bother or will put off and forget and keep being charged.