Phelim Kine “老 康“
@PhelimKine
D.C.-based China corro @Politico; Past @hrw @DowJones @phnompenhpost; New administration: DMs open! Tips to pkine AT http://politico.com SIGNAL 212 810 0469
China Watcher signs off! But not before a dash of NSC shrinkage woes, Rubio's targeting of Chinese students, China fears in Honduras, Pete Hegseth on the road and foreign adoptions as propaganda tools. Enjoy (one last time...) politico.eu/newsletter/chi…
Some professional news: After 11 years of columnizing at WaPo, I'm taking the buyout. This is my last column. It is my advice to any other lucky pundits who land a perch like this—11 principles I've aspired to, even if I haven't always achieved them: wapo.st/3TU2fGw
While not fully comparable to the situation now, we are in the "amber" stage of the plan, with Chinese interference, growing corruption, and lack of action from the world It'll become "red" when people believe they no longer have freedom of movement (which is the case for some)
According to previously unseen highly SECRET files release today (22 Jul), in 1989, the UK Government began planning in the utmost secrecy for the mass evacuation of millions of people from Hong Kong ahead of handover to China. This was called 'The Armageddon Scenario'
"But lately, his posts are not having the desired effect. It’s possible that what observers witnessed this weekend is a tipping point of sorts. Trump’s posts, instead of influencing reality, suggest that the president is retreating from it entirely" theatlantic.com/technology/arc…
According to previously unseen highly SECRET files release today (22 Jul), in 1989, the UK Government began planning in the utmost secrecy for the mass evacuation of millions of people from Hong Kong ahead of handover to China. This was called 'The Armageddon Scenario'
The fact that the office of the director of national intelligence is putting out documents with titles like this is in itself a sign of a crisis within the American intelligence community.
Thailand is recalling its ambassador from Phnom Penh and expelling Cambodia’s envoy as an investigation into landmine explosions ratcheted up a long-running border dispute. rfa.org/english/cambod…
This is a good statement from Lutnick on China’s exit ban of a US citizen: “He went home and he was arrested, and they’re holding his passport. So…the State Department deals with that. But it is outrageous behavior. It’s just outrageous behavior.”
American consumers buying European goods will be punished because of US pharmaceutical companies tax avoidance strategies. Sad.
Europeans are being punished for the actions of American companies that have relocated to the EU (mainly Ireland) to avoid paying US corporate income tax rates. A sad commentary on the quality of thinking behind US trade policy.
“The algal bloom, first detected in March, spans an area 4,500 square kilometres in size according to environment officials.” bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-worl…
“Does this particular President care that much about the Russia-Ukraine conflict to go down that path again….while they're trying to look for this grand bargain with China? It doesn't seem like it" w/@EliStokols @drdesrochers subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/0…
A Hong Kong teenager has been arrested and charged after he allegedly wrote “seditious” messages in the toilet of a commercial building on three occasions. Authorities took action to protect China's security: hongkongfp.com/2025/07/23/hon…
Taiwan is hardly more divided than it ever was. This is nothing compared to the 2000 or 2004 elections, or 2-28 with an active rebellion, etc. The "division" here is strictly limited to people yelling at each other. Violence is now rare. We've come a long way.
Total recall? Campaigners employ quirk of Taiwan’s political system to turn on ‘pro-China’ candidates theguardian.com/world/2025/jul…
The train station for one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, in the largest economy on the planet.
Check out @bradleyhope below on Malaysia. This is the most amazing stat below of what the country has lost because of Jho Low.
1/24 The 1MDB scandal cost Malaysia an estimated ~$18 BILLION. 🤯 Yes, $18,000,000,000 – far above the ~$4.5B initially identified as stolen. New internal figures reveal how fugitive playboy financier Jho Low's mega-fraud inflicted such damage… 🧵
“Perhaps because we’ve become so adept at cooling inside spaces with air conditioning, we’ve forgotten the importance of cooling outside spaces, too. There is no technology that cools the outdoors as effectively as a tree.” theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
China behind vast global hack involving multiple US agencies ow.ly/hlkK106gyp3
China has 15,500 miles of high-speed rail under construction, enough to go back and forth between Los Angeles and Boston five times.
California high-speed rail is a project that will never be built. 16 years, $15 billion, and zero tracks laid is no record to fundraise on. Thanks to this Administration, American taxpayers will not foot the bill for this billion-dollar boondoggle.
NYT: “As Trump Courts a More Assertive Beijing, China Hawks Are Losing Out—The Trump administration has dialed back aggressive measures against China and reversed its position on technology controls” nytimes.com/2025/07/20/us/…
“My number one concern for the team is sleep deprivation.” What it’s like to be Canada’s ambassador to Kyiv while the city is under almost nightly assault from the sky - and why @NatalkaCmoc wants to extend her term. My report from Kyiv theglobeandmail.com/world/article-…
"The U.S. will charge a 15% tariff on Japanese exports to the U.S. in exchange for a $550 billion investment in the U.S. Japan, he said, will open its market to U.S.-made 'Cars and Trucks, Rice and certain other Agricultural Products, and other things.'" politico.com/news/2025/07/2…
