Thomas Batchelor
@tobbinatorscw.bsky.social
Linguistics PhD, Sydney > Köln > 台北
Linguistics (Creoles, Australia, Asia-Pacific, morphosyntax, policy, endangerment), politics (Syria, Taiwan, Australia in particular ig), history and other ramblings
Anarchist at heart
@tobbinatorscw in most places
Linguistics (Creoles, Australia, Asia-Pacific, morphosyntax, policy, endangerment), politics (Syria, Taiwan, Australia in particular ig), history and other ramblings
Anarchist at heart
@tobbinatorscw in most places
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
Many are pressured or incentivised to vote, particularly if they work for Chinese SOEs.
While it’s illegal to encourage others to cast spoilt ballots, doing so yourself is OK and ballots are anonymous. If this number goes up it suggests people feel pressure to vote but don’t believe in the process.
While it’s illegal to encourage others to cast spoilt ballots, doing so yourself is OK and ballots are anonymous. If this number goes up it suggests people feel pressure to vote but don’t believe in the process.
December 8, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Many are pressured or incentivised to vote, particularly if they work for Chinese SOEs.
While it’s illegal to encourage others to cast spoilt ballots, doing so yourself is OK and ballots are anonymous. If this number goes up it suggests people feel pressure to vote but don’t believe in the process.
While it’s illegal to encourage others to cast spoilt ballots, doing so yourself is OK and ballots are anonymous. If this number goes up it suggests people feel pressure to vote but don’t believe in the process.
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
The HK & Macao Affairs Office has lauded yesterday’s Legislative Council election turnout for “greatly surpassing” that of 2021.
31.9% of registered voters cast ballots yesterday. That’s 1.7% up from 2021 but still the 2nd-lowest on record — and with registered voters down 32,998 fewer HKers voted.
31.9% of registered voters cast ballots yesterday. That’s 1.7% up from 2021 but still the 2nd-lowest on record — and with registered voters down 32,998 fewer HKers voted.
立法會選舉｜港澳辦：投票率「大幅超越上屆」 反映香港社會重視、認同和支持選舉 (08:55) - 20251208 - 港聞
第八屆立法會選舉結束，點票工作亦已結束，當選人悉數出爐。港澳辦形容選舉過程安全、順利、圓滿，又指「選舉委員會界別、功能界別和地方選區的投票率均大幅超越上屆」，充分代表香港民意，也充分反映香港社會對選舉的高度重視、積極認同和熱烈支持，「充分展現香港堅定邁向由治及興的強大決心意志」，對此熱烈祝賀。
news.mingpao.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:12 AM
The HK & Macao Affairs Office has lauded yesterday’s Legislative Council election turnout for “greatly surpassing” that of 2021.
31.9% of registered voters cast ballots yesterday. That’s 1.7% up from 2021 but still the 2nd-lowest on record — and with registered voters down 32,998 fewer HKers voted.
31.9% of registered voters cast ballots yesterday. That’s 1.7% up from 2021 but still the 2nd-lowest on record — and with registered voters down 32,998 fewer HKers voted.
please someone drag me away from fb marketplace i need intervention to not buy a second hand election ballot box, maybe a signed portrait of chiang ching-kuo and a box of live crabs
December 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
please someone drag me away from fb marketplace i need intervention to not buy a second hand election ballot box, maybe a signed portrait of chiang ching-kuo and a box of live crabs
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
I'm sure there are Chinese scholars doing important critical work on the very real history of Japanese imperialism in the East China Sea and it just sucks that their work must be corralled into justifying Chinese imperialism in the East China Sea www.globaltimes.cn/page/202512/...
December 7, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I'm sure there are Chinese scholars doing important critical work on the very real history of Japanese imperialism in the East China Sea and it just sucks that their work must be corralled into justifying Chinese imperialism in the East China Sea www.globaltimes.cn/page/202512/...
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
In a back channeled "offer" to the International Criminal Court, the United States proposed dropping sanctions on ICC officials if the Court
•Dropped charges on Israeli officials and pledged not to indict anymore
•Stopped investigating crimes in Afghanistan
•Amended the ICC treaty
the ICC said: no
•Dropped charges on Israeli officials and pledged not to indict anymore
•Stopped investigating crimes in Afghanistan
•Amended the ICC treaty
the ICC said: no
Exclusive: ICC shuns US demands to drop Israel war crimes probe and amend treaty
Washington also called for end to Afghanistan investigation and change to Rome Statute in return for lifting sanctions
www.middleeasteye.net
December 6, 2025 at 11:26 PM
In a back channeled "offer" to the International Criminal Court, the United States proposed dropping sanctions on ICC officials if the Court
•Dropped charges on Israeli officials and pledged not to indict anymore
•Stopped investigating crimes in Afghanistan
•Amended the ICC treaty
the ICC said: no
•Dropped charges on Israeli officials and pledged not to indict anymore
•Stopped investigating crimes in Afghanistan
•Amended the ICC treaty
the ICC said: no
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
What a story this chart tells
As of 1:30pm:
Turnout percentage: 15.18% (2025*) vs 14.39% (2021)
Votes: 627,139 (2025*) vs 643,603 (2021)
* 2025 election started 1 hour earlier and ends 1 hour later
Turnout percentage: 15.18% (2025*) vs 14.39% (2021)
Votes: 627,139 (2025*) vs 643,603 (2021)
* 2025 election started 1 hour earlier and ends 1 hour later
December 7, 2025 at 7:02 AM
What a story this chart tells
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
Read this: www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...
December 7, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Read this: www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
People need to be keeping eyes on Tunisia. A range of frail & elderly political prisoners—including famous politicians like Rached Ghannouchi—are hunger striking & could die any day now, god forbid.
Meanwhile, Saied is undertaking yet another crackdown & discontent is growing.
Meanwhile, Saied is undertaking yet another crackdown & discontent is growing.
www.reuters.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:01 PM
People need to be keeping eyes on Tunisia. A range of frail & elderly political prisoners—including famous politicians like Rached Ghannouchi—are hunger striking & could die any day now, god forbid.
Meanwhile, Saied is undertaking yet another crackdown & discontent is growing.
Meanwhile, Saied is undertaking yet another crackdown & discontent is growing.
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
More reports of teachers' salaries going unpaid, this time in Wuhan
【李老师不是你老师】官方电报
12月2日，湖北武汉黄陂区，一名临聘教授吐槽自己三个月没发过工资了，评论区体制内网友纷纷表示自己也遇到了类似的情况。
查看原文
t.me
December 6, 2025 at 4:27 PM
More reports of teachers' salaries going unpaid, this time in Wuhan
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
"An official at the meeting, which included journalists from Bloomberg News, used a Chinese phrase equivalent to “do not say you have not been warned.”"
December 6, 2025 at 10:53 AM
"An official at the meeting, which included journalists from Bloomberg News, used a Chinese phrase equivalent to “do not say you have not been warned.”"
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
The colossal failure of regulatory oversight across governmental departments is clear – and Hong Kong has quashed the civilian watchdogs that used to close the gaps.
Hong Kong’s Tragic Fire Shows the Consequences of a Hollowed-out Civil Society
The colossal failure of regulatory oversight across governmental departments is clear – and Hong Kong has quashed the civilian watchdogs that used to close the gaps.
buff.ly
December 6, 2025 at 2:35 AM
The colossal failure of regulatory oversight across governmental departments is clear – and Hong Kong has quashed the civilian watchdogs that used to close the gaps.
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
This makes it sound like the fire was somehow a result of the residents’ revolt but just want to make it clear that in fact the ‘revolt’ was the residents questioning the contractor’s behaviour
Hong Kong fire came after contractor safety breaches and a residents' revolt reut.rs/48CQHhY
Hong Kong fire came after contractor safety breaches and a residents' revolt
Homeowners at the complex destroyed in one of Hong Kong's deadliest fires were incorrectly told the contractor that authorities blame for the blaze had a clean safety record, documents viewed by Reuters show.
reut.rs
December 6, 2025 at 7:36 AM
This makes it sound like the fire was somehow a result of the residents’ revolt but just want to make it clear that in fact the ‘revolt’ was the residents questioning the contractor’s behaviour
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
World Cup and Eurovision neck and neck over what event is going to be the bigger disaster
December 5, 2025 at 7:52 PM
World Cup and Eurovision neck and neck over what event is going to be the bigger disaster
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
Yet another Biden administration official admits, after the fact, that the Biden administration's and more broadly America's policy of supporting Israel unconditionally does not work and needs to change.
The End of the Israel Exception
A new paradigm for American policy.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Yet another Biden administration official admits, after the fact, that the Biden administration's and more broadly America's policy of supporting Israel unconditionally does not work and needs to change.
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
The comments section on The Conversation's article on how Australians don't understand Taiwan (or China) is absolutely packed with Australians who clearly know fuck all about Taiwan (and China)
December 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The comments section on The Conversation's article on how Australians don't understand Taiwan (or China) is absolutely packed with Australians who clearly know fuck all about Taiwan (and China)
I know it's a dying genre but I am going to do some travelogue writing
December 5, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I know it's a dying genre but I am going to do some travelogue writing
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
This is fascist bollocks and we need to stop it.
December 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
This is fascist bollocks and we need to stop it.
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
The New Cold War is against nationalist authoritarianism, and the US is on their side.
December 5, 2025 at 10:43 AM
The New Cold War is against nationalist authoritarianism, and the US is on their side.
An entire union dissolved because someone expressed some condolences and mild calls for justice.
Are the people who were admiring Hong Kong's "swift justice" a week ago still paying attention?
Are the people who were admiring Hong Kong's "swift justice" a week ago still paying attention?
Hong Kong Baptist University has axed its student union after a message was posted on campus expressing condolences and urging justice for the victims of a major fire, according to a letter publicly shared on Dec 5.
Hong Kong Baptist University axes student union after calls for fire justice
The school cited reasons such as a lack of representation and poor financial management. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
www.straitstimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:23 PM
An entire union dissolved because someone expressed some condolences and mild calls for justice.
Are the people who were admiring Hong Kong's "swift justice" a week ago still paying attention?
Are the people who were admiring Hong Kong's "swift justice" a week ago still paying attention?
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
In an even semi open society a tragedy like the one in Hong Kong should bring down the municipal government
Hong Kong Baptist University has axed its student union after a message was posted on campus expressing condolences and urging justice for the victims of a major fire, according to a letter publicly shared on Dec 5.
Hong Kong Baptist University axes student union after calls for fire justice
The school cited reasons such as a lack of representation and poor financial management. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
www.straitstimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:38 AM
In an even semi open society a tragedy like the one in Hong Kong should bring down the municipal government
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
Looking back at this: HKSARG is acting as dissidents expected when they first announced NSL in 2020
Legitimate concerns about Hong Kong issues (aka fire safety & building codes) are politicized into a threat of national security. HKSARG is creating new red lines w the recent crackdowns.
Legitimate concerns about Hong Kong issues (aka fire safety & building codes) are politicized into a threat of national security. HKSARG is creating new red lines w the recent crackdowns.
3) Politically correct accountability mechanisms: under NSL in Hong Kong, everything must be politically correct. Don't ask me what that means tho, I don't think HKSARG knows what that means either.
What an opportunity to sacrifice Hongkongers involved in this fire to be replaced by Patriots.
What an opportunity to sacrifice Hongkongers involved in this fire to be replaced by Patriots.
December 4, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Looking back at this: HKSARG is acting as dissidents expected when they first announced NSL in 2020
Legitimate concerns about Hong Kong issues (aka fire safety & building codes) are politicized into a threat of national security. HKSARG is creating new red lines w the recent crackdowns.
Legitimate concerns about Hong Kong issues (aka fire safety & building codes) are politicized into a threat of national security. HKSARG is creating new red lines w the recent crackdowns.
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
This aspect is being discussed in Taiwan, but I wish it would be even more, and that pro-unification political parties would be challenged over the consequences of giving up rule of law and democracy.
‘This fire was not an accident—it was a man-made tragedy caused by governance failings and the corner-cutting corporations behind the project. Moreover, the government’s response so far has shown just how much the city’s freedoms have been eroded’.
HK fire disaster a tragedy on many levels - Asia Times
Since the fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on November 26, Hong Kong has been shaken by what is considered one of the most serious fire
asiatimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:34 AM
This aspect is being discussed in Taiwan, but I wish it would be even more, and that pro-unification political parties would be challenged over the consequences of giving up rule of law and democracy.
Reposted by Thomas Batchelor
Calling all freelancers—and anyone hiring freelancers in Taipei! Join us at @newbloommag.net our first #CNNtaipei. Everyone gets 3 min. to talk about yourself, your projects, and your ideal collaborators. Cover is $300 NTD for all, $500 if playing slides/media (upload at bit.ly/cnntaipei) #Taiwan
December 4, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Calling all freelancers—and anyone hiring freelancers in Taipei! Join us at @newbloommag.net our first #CNNtaipei. Everyone gets 3 min. to talk about yourself, your projects, and your ideal collaborators. Cover is $300 NTD for all, $500 if playing slides/media (upload at bit.ly/cnntaipei) #Taiwan