iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

For those who celebrate the freedom of press (and to read), this week is the banned books week in America.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Beautiful Former Ministry of Justice Building of Manchukuo in Changchun, Jilin Province. Now a medical school.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Well that friendship soured quickly.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Toyota, the silent giant of the military industrial complex.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Haneda airport. Apparently how many view AI these days.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Tokyo. According Wayve folks, commercial launch here in October.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Google Map today as seen in Japan without VPN.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Paleoton, at the Franklin Institute, Philly.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Manufacturing is roaring back to the Midwest. ‘Murica f* yeah.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

America and China battle it out at beautiful Iceland.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

1/ As part of the celebration of the Semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence at The Economic Club of New York, I sat down as a law student again, to listen to Professor Laurence Tribe, a first-generation immigrant who was born in Shanghai in 1941. Here are my notes:

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Daily essential Chinese words that came from Japan circa 20th century.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

“You have no cards.”

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

The Economist got the headline right.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Photos of June 6 ‘19 popped up on my phone. Here thousands of lawyers gathered outside Hong Kong Court of Final Appeals for the silent march to govt HQ to request a pause of the extradition (of suspects to Mainland China) bill, which was being rammed through the legislature. Crackdowns followed.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

At the start of the hottest Japanese show on Netflix right now, the young protagonist, suffering the aftermath of the Pacific War, complained about older men who “couldn’t win a war they started, and didn’t know how to finish it”.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Coming from a country that tolerates no private guns, I’ve certainly heard more violent gunshots than all those who see this post have, combined. I was living half mile from Tian’anmen Square this day 37 years ago.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

The Chinese real estate market has a long way to fall.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

The joint China-US working group on women's rights.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

America just dodged a bullet.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Time for the U.S. folks to read up on the Hongmen Banquet (鸿门宴) btw the two competitors eyeing the Qin Dynasty throne (206 BC). Liu Bang made strategic concessions to flatter his opponent, Xiang Yu, who repeatedly gave up his strategic advantages, leading to defeat by Liu, who founded Han Dynasty.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Will corporate America tolerate the precedent of China vetoing US acquisition of a Singaporean company?

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

‘Murica. Land of… well, just land

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Spot the difference between airports in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

If America closes its door on China originated AI researchers or students, perhaps other than those that have settled in the US and demonstrated loyalty, it would have no choice but integrating those from third countries. China is winning the AI talent race economist.com/interactive/...

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

A key component of “reform & open” under Deng was the freedom to travel (来去自由). That era is over. Exit bans are not new, but they typically involved politically exposed persons, or companies entangled w strategic interests in natural resources, healthcare, etc. Tech talent is state interest now.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

As predicted, rumors circling in China that Manus executives might be subject to exit ban. The same or worse should be expected re their relatives.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Solution for the new oil shock.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

China is among the least exposed to the LNG shock.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

For those who celebrate, Stalin died today in 1953. My grandfather was a translator during Korean War (China’s side). The sole reason he and colleagues couldn’t go home during the stalemate, as China stalled the negotiations, was Stalin. Thereafter, the negotiations hurried and concluded in July.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

The WH chickened on appeal in its fight with law firms that refused to kowtow. 👏 Shame on the nine large firms that appeased Trump. They deserve to see permanent reputational damage. Worse — any of their lawyers could still be asked now to pro bono for right-wing causes based on earlier agreement. 🤦

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Looking at the quick extermination of Iran’s generals, by purging the PLA ranks, Xi might have saved lives.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

As Trump delivered his SOTU address, China snubbed him. While the WH already announced Trump will travel to China from 3/31 to 4/2, Beijing has refused to confirm the same. Just now MOFA spokesperson said there’s no info to provide on the date. POTUS invited himself to party with Xi?

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Four years ago today, I told child-laborer no.1 (then a cost center) that WWIII probably just started. Not quite yet, thanks to the brave Ukrainians. Slava Ukraini!

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