iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m2wjlkzplo 🇨🇳🇬🇧 China’s influence in the UK under scrutiny once again. See @methorley.bsky.social's 'All That Glistens: Chinese Party-State Influence in Britain' & @urbanmorph.bsky.social's ‘Uneasy Streets: How Chinese Money Is Remaking Urban Britain’ 👉 tinyurl.com/y5nxb5cs

bbc.co.uk

UK immigration officer among two men guilty of working for Chinese intelligence

Chi Leung

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Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️ @chenchenzhang.net · 27/04/2026

I'm looking for a part-time research assistant to support an externally funded, international project on the instrumentalization of anticolonial discourse in Asia and beyond. remote work OK but needs to be UK based. durham.taleo.net/careersectio...

durham.taleo.net

Research Assistant/Associate

Click the link provided to see the complete job description.

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Mareike Ohlberg @mareikeohlberg.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

I wrote about China’s expanding social media monitoring and manipulation industry: the firms building and deploying bot networks for party-state actors and expanding into Western platforms. You can read the piece here: www.gmfus.org/news/outsour... A few points about the industry🧵

gmfus.org

Outsourcing Influence

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Many thanks to Charles Parton OBE for the mention on Sky News this morning - discussing the Mandelson case and China. The revolving door, political donations, All-party parliamentary groups - we don't know it yet but these are the frontline in a significant geopolitical battle.

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The Wire China @thewirechina.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

"In the UK at this time, the so-called ‘money men’ seem to have outmaneuvered those responsible for issues closer to security and sovereignty." Read our Q&A with @methorley.bsky.social on the UK-China "golden era:" buff.ly/364ywAI

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Published today: I sat down with The Wire China for an interview - we discussed my new book, engagement with authoritarian states, the UK's 'golden era' with China, and the financialisation of liberal democracy. www.thewirechina.com/2026/04/12/m...

thewirechina.com

Martin Thorley on How The UK-China Golden Era Lost Its Shine - The Wire China

The writer discusses what led the British government to cozy up to China in the mid-2010s and the lingering lessons from that time.

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Reposted by Martin Thorley

Turquoise Roof @turquoiseroof.org · 13/04/2026

In a Q&A with @methorley.bsky.social, the UK-China “Golden Era” is revisited: how financial interests and pro-engagement elites drove closer ties with Beijing in the 2010s, sidelining security concerns until a later political backlash. www.thewirechina.com/2026/04/12/m...

thewirechina.com

Martin Thorley on How The UK-China Golden Era Lost Its Shine - The Wire China

The writer discusses what led the British government to cozy up to China in the mid-2010s and the lingering lessons from that time.

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Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️ @chenchenzhang.net · 28/01/2026

for no reason at all Youtube sent me the Beijing Olympics song "Beijing welcomes you". 78 celebrities from China, HK, TW, Singapore sang the song in 2008. and the comment section, wow, it's all nostalgia. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6gs...

youtube.com

北京欢迎你[完整版MV]

YouTube video by shirley3w

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利大英 @gblee.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

#China #1980s In case you are not aware of it, you can find my podcasts and historical, China films (8mm) on The G.B. Lee Archive on Youtube. www.youtube.com/@theg.b.leea...

youtube.com

The G. B. Lee Archive

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Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

With news of the Chinese 'mega' embassy approval in London, time to re-up @edwardlucas.bsky.social's review of @methorley.bsky.social's new book, 'All That Glistens' in @thetimes.com Order your copy at 25% off w/code GLISTENS25 ➡️ tinyurl.com/34wdtpp2 tinyurl.com/2fekbznm

tinyurl.com

Beware! Britain is selling out to China

Martin Thorley, in All That Glistens, reveals that in Westminster and Whitehall, the City and our universities, Beijing has acquired a ‘critical mass’ of influence

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Yesterday evening I joined @yaldahakim.bsky.social to discuss her colleagues’ report on unrest in China as well as transnational repression. One eye on an expected UK PM visit to China later this month.

Yalda Hakim and I discussing things on her show.

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

A photo sent over by a friend - taken at Piccadilly Waterstones in London. First time seeing All That Glistens out in the wild… @hurstpublishers.bsky.social

A selection of books in a bookstore, including ‘All That Glistens’.

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Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

🎙️'As with Russia, an authoritarian state of this nature will push until it encounters resistance.' @methorley.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk discussing the latest Chinese hacking scandal and his book All That Glistens: Chinese Party-State Influence in Britain👇 www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/...

globalplayer.com

Matt Frei on LBC UK - Catch Up | Global Player

Catch up on the last 7 days of shows from Matt Frei on LBC UK

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Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

📚🎄 LAST CHANCE: UK customers who order by midnight 17 December can guarantee delivery before Christmas. Our latest December releases & advance stock on January titles included! 👉 hurstpublishers.com @methorley.bsky.social @irgarner.bsky.social @vmallet.bsky.social

A Christmas background of red ornaments shows the book covers of 7 new titles: The New Byzantines, Far-Right France, Shine Your Eye, Z Generation, The Indian Caliphate, All That Glistens, and The Arab Bureau.

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Reposted by Martin Thorley

Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

🎄Our latest December releases are available in time for the holidays. Order by midnight December 15th to guarantee UK Christmas delivery. 👉 hurstpublishers.com @methorley.bsky.social @irgarner.bsky.social

'New in December' banner with red holiday ornaments featuring the book covers of All That Glistens, The New Byzantines, The Indian Caliphate, and The Z Generation.

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Reposted by Martin Thorley

Laurence Westwood @lwestwoodauthor.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

#histbookchat #China New arrival! All That Glistens: China Party-State Influence in Britain by Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social from @hurstpublishers.bsky.social as supplied by Aunty Lesley of Bridge Books @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social the shiniest bookseller on the Emerald Isle!!

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Received a special delivery: ‘All That Glistens: Chinese Party-State Influence in Britain’ with @hurstpublishers.bsky.social Expect to see some reviews and interviews next week. www.hurstpublishers.com/book/all-tha...

A box containing newly printed copies of “All That Glistens”.

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

One month today, my book 'All That Glistens: Chinese Party-State Influence in Britain' is published with @hurstpublishers.bsky.social. I’m including some of the quotes from the back cover. More info available via the link. www.hurstpublishers.com/book/all-tha...

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Jeff Wasserstrom @jwassers.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

A 2 day mini book tour to promote my new @columbiagr.bsky.social slim volume, Tuesday talk at the Hoover (video already up here www.hoover.org/events/milk-... ) & then Wednesday at @cwclub.bsky.social (event co sponsored by @dissentmag.bsky.social (podcast to come)

hoover.org

The Milk Tea Alliance: Inside Asia's Struggle Against Autocracy And Beijing

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

1/3 Today is the final day you can get 25% off All That Glistens: Chinese Party-State Influence in Britain with @waterstones.bsky.social @newchinabooks.bsky.social We’ve started to receive early feedback: “One of the most important books to have been published on the UK-China relationship”

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

1/3 @waterstones.bsky.social are offering 25% off my book if pre-ordered by Thursday: All That Glistens: Chinese Party-State influence in Britain. With @hurstpublishers.bsky.social

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

1/3 @waterstones.bsky.social are offering 25% off my book if pre-ordered by Thursday: All That Glistens: Chinese Party-State influence in Britain. With @hurstpublishers.bsky.social

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

The GI-TOC is hiring in Asia. Field Coordinators in: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand Vietnam; Legal Consultant in Malaysia. Further details about the positions are available via the link. globalinitiative.net/about-us/jobs/

globalinitiative.net

Job opportunities | Careers with the Global Initiative

We always welcome expressions of interest from experts in different forms of transnational organized crime or with a geographic speciality, for limited-time cooperation.

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

A reminder that GI-TOC is running a special issue of our LSE Press academic journal JIED on the topic of geocriminality We’ll need a short letter of intent by Monday 21 April if you’d like to contribute to the debate on state use of criminality abroad. globalinitiative.net/announcement...

globalinitiative.net

JIED Special Issue: Geocriminality – state instrumentalization of criminality abroad

This special issue will explore the concept and its wide-ranging ramifications for crime and crime prevention. While state instrumentalization of crime in general is as old as statehood itself, the fo...

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

1/6 Introducing geocriminality. In my latest short article, I highlight a change we’re witnessing in state instrumentalization of criminality. While states have used criminal networks in various forms since their genesis, this relationship is transforming. globalinitiative.net/analysis/the...

globalinitiative.net

Of kingdoms and crooks: The rise of geocriminality

Globalization, state–crime collaboration and tense geopolitical conditions have given rise to a troubling new phenomenon. More needs to be done to better understand this emerging threat and its implic...

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

globalinitiative.net

Of kingdoms and crooks: The rise of geocriminality

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Jeff Wasserstrom @jwassers.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

👇 Publishing June 10, with a few additions in the form of at least three bits of advance praise, deeply gratifying blurbs by @eosnos.bsky.social Emma Larkin & Thongchai Winichakul

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Josh Chin @joshchin.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Not an exaggeration to say this was pound-for-pound the most effective piece of US public diplomacy in China. Twitter was blocked, but U.S. embassy pollution tweets forced Beijing to start publishing its own pollution data, which fed public outrage. Result: millions breathing vastly less toxic air

nytimes.com

U.S. Embassies Halt Air Quality Monitoring Abroad

Since 2008, embassies and other diplomatic posts had been publishing data about local air quality. In many countries, it was the only reliable source of such information.

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Abigail MacBain @aimacbain.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Sheffield has a truly excellent East Asian Studies school that is in danger of downsizing and redundancies. Please sign and share!

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Emily Feng @emilyzfeng.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

HTS anti-narcotics officers say they found several tons of the drug captagon made by Assad-linked factories and other precursors today. They burned it all while we tried not to breath and recorded tape for @npr.org

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

1/21 After days of speculation about #PrinceAndrew, Pitch@Palace, and links to China, Chris Yang's (Yang Tengbo/ 杨腾波) identity is now public knowledge. As ever, there is more to the story than meets the eye...

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Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️ @chenchenzhang.net · 10/12/2024

an incident that resembles the "chained woman" scandal emerged recently in China; outrage online seems to have made local govt change their approach a woman with mental illness was lost 13 years ago. she was recently found and the police initially said she was "taken in" 收留 by a villager. apparently

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

1/3 Good work from the @nytimes here. This is in fact, one case of many - the use of criminal channels by states may be ancient but it has evolved and become a far wider phenomenon relatively recently. This is not simply sporadic use of criminality but.. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/n...

nytimes.com

How a Criminal With Close Ties to China Became a New York Power Broker

John Chan was a Chinatown gangster before remaking himself into a powerful force in New York politics — one closely aligned with the Chinese Communist Party.

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Nadège Rolland @rollandnadege.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Xi presided yesterday over the 4th symposium on the construction of the #BeltandRoad, calling for coordinating hard and soft connectivity. The Health Silk Road is an exemplar of this approach. As I explain in my latest report, it illustrates BRI's systematic structure: www.nbr.org/publication/...

nbr.org

The Health Silk Road: A Branch of China’s Belt and Road Initiative | The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR)

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Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

"I declare martial law to protect the Republic of Korea from the threats of North Korean communist forces, to immediately eradicate the unscrupulous pro-Pyonygang antistate forces that pillage the freedom and happiness of our people and to protect free constitutional order"

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

Korean President Yoon declares emergency martial law

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law against "antistate forces" Tuesday night in an unannounced press conference.

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Christian Göbel @christiangoebel.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

In the 🧵 below, you will find all China-related starter packs that I know of, reverse sorted by number of people today. I occasionally search for new ones, but won't find them if the post (!) which introduces them doesn't contain certain keywords. Adding #Chinastarterpack facilitates search.

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Sarah Cook @sarahgcook.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Hi everyone, I too just joined Blue Sky. Am excited to see so many China hands here. For those who hadn't seen, after leaving Freedom House for the world of freelancing, I started a newsletter project called UnderReported China. You can find my latest writings there. underreportedchina.substack.com

underreportedchina.substack.com

UnderReported China | Sarah Cook | Substack

News and analysis on China: human rights, technology, and foreign influence. Click to read UnderReported China, by Sarah Cook, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

This looks like some good hunting by @bloomberg.com Dark fleet vessels “come here daily to transfer cargo away from prying eyes. It’s how billions of dollars of sanctioned Iranian oil finds its way to China annually". www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

bloomberg.com

The Clandestine Oil Shipping Hub Funneling Iranian Crude to China

A burgeoning group of dark fleet vessels operating with impunity on the edge of a major maritime thoroughfare is moving hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned oil — and risking an environmental...

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

A starter pack of GI-TOC researchers - working on transnational organised crime and connected themes - geopolitics, state threats, narcotics, illicit finance, etc.

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China Digital Times @chinadigitaltimes.net · 15/11/2024

Welcome new followers! China Digital Times has been publishing news and translations focused on human rights and freedom of expression in China for more than 20 years. For those new to our work, get started with our Translations...  (1/9) #china

chinadigitaltimes.net

Translation Archives

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Martin Thorley @methorley.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

The GI-TOC’s new report on the future of organized crime is out. It's a sobering read, identifying some unwelcome trends: "By 2040, organized crime may thrive like never before, exploiting climate crises, geopolitical conflicts, and technological advancements”. globalinitiative.net/analysis/org...

globalinitiative.net

The Fifth Wave: Organized Crime in 2040

By 2040, organized crime may thrive like never before, exploiting climate crises, geopolitical conflicts, and technological advancements. Our latest report reveals a chilling forecast where criminal n...

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