Christian Göbel
@christiangoebel.bsky.social
Prof of China Studies, Uni Vienna. Political scientist working on state-society relations, protest, government responsiveness in China. Data hoarder, computational methods.
Pinned
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.
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.
天朝物產豐盈，無所不有，原不藉外夷貨物以通有無
China is making trade impossible – Robin Harding in FT: ‘There is nothing that China wants to import, nothing it does not believe it can make better and cheaper, nothing for which it wants to rely on foreigners a single day longer than it has to.’ www.ft.com/content/f294...
www.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:56 PM
天朝物產豐盈，無所不有，原不藉外夷貨物以通有無
Reposted by Christian Göbel
📊 In this blog post, I use my visits database to look at Xi Jinping’s changing dominance seen through diplomatic patterns in MFA data: the third term really is different. sensehofstede.nl/xi-jinpings-...
Xi Jinping’s changing dominance seen through diplomatic patterns
Since Xi Jinping has begun his third term, much has been written about him delegating more responsibilities to a new crop of trusted subordinates, both domestically and abroad. This is an important de...
sensehofstede.nl
November 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
📊 In this blog post, I use my visits database to look at Xi Jinping’s changing dominance seen through diplomatic patterns in MFA data: the third term really is different. sensehofstede.nl/xi-jinpings-...
Reposted by Christian Göbel
I lied. Put your clothes back on. We’re going to talk about how there are actually female scholars within Confucianism who contributed significantly to Chinese literature, philosophy, and history, and their accomplishments are worthy of note and should be studied just as much as the men
November 23, 2025 at 3:38 AM
I lied. Put your clothes back on. We’re going to talk about how there are actually female scholars within Confucianism who contributed significantly to Chinese literature, philosophy, and history, and their accomplishments are worthy of note and should be studied just as much as the men
Stellar, important and painstaking work tracing China's external investments worldwide on a project-by-project level, more than 33k in total. The dataset and very good visualisations available on china.aiddata.org. Can't believe this isn't getting more attention here.
November 22, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Stellar, important and painstaking work tracing China's external investments worldwide on a project-by-project level, more than 33k in total. The dataset and very good visualisations available on china.aiddata.org. Can't believe this isn't getting more attention here.
Reposted by Christian Göbel
Interesting conversation on China's lending and investments in the US, UK, and EU. With AidData's Brad Parks, David Culver, and Sailor Miao (all @wm.edu alums). Foreign aid nerds, see Brad's comments on U.S. now emulating China: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ZL...
Tracking China's Global Influence: A Conversation with CNN and W&M's AidData
YouTube video by William & Mary
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Interesting conversation on China's lending and investments in the US, UK, and EU. With AidData's Brad Parks, David Culver, and Sailor Miao (all @wm.edu alums). Foreign aid nerds, see Brad's comments on U.S. now emulating China: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ZL...
Reposted by Christian Göbel
Delighted to share a new @carnegieendowment.org report on China’s Foreign Police Training: A Global Footprint. Over 50 entities in China have provided training to at least 138 countries, forming a major pillar of Beijing’s drive to reshape global security:
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
China’s Foreign Police Training: A Global Footprint
New data reveal how China’s foreign police training programs have become an integral part of Beijing’s strategy to remake global security.
carnegieendowment.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Delighted to share a new @carnegieendowment.org report on China’s Foreign Police Training: A Global Footprint. Over 50 entities in China have provided training to at least 138 countries, forming a major pillar of Beijing’s drive to reshape global security:
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
Reposted by Christian Göbel
Leib Littman at CloudResearch notes that acquiescence bias is often exacerbated on some opt-in online panels typically used for consumer research, where fraudulent respondents have an incentive to say "yes" and route themselves into more surveys.
November 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Leib Littman at CloudResearch notes that acquiescence bias is often exacerbated on some opt-in online panels typically used for consumer research, where fraudulent respondents have an incentive to say "yes" and route themselves into more surveys.
Reposted by Christian Göbel
New edited volume just dropped! Quantitative History of China: State Capacity, Institutions, and Development edited by Chen Zhiwu, myself, and Ma Debin is now able as a free PDF/ePub download. 1/2
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Quantitative History of China
This Open Access book showcases a collection of new findings concerning China's political, social, and economic history based on large historical datasets.
link.springer.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
New edited volume just dropped! Quantitative History of China: State Capacity, Institutions, and Development edited by Chen Zhiwu, myself, and Ma Debin is now able as a free PDF/ePub download. 1/2
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Reposted by Christian Göbel
Independent Chinese-language film festival in US canceled after pressure campaign – Nikkei Asia: ‘said that he did not feel he was in physical danger but that the relentless messages forced him to shut down the event.’
Indie Chinese film festival in US canceled after pressure campaign
Organizer's reports of harassment echo other allegations of transnational repression
asia.nikkei.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Independent Chinese-language film festival in US canceled after pressure campaign – Nikkei Asia: ‘said that he did not feel he was in physical danger but that the relentless messages forced him to shut down the event.’
Reposted by Christian Göbel
In case you missed it, Kerry Brown wrote a book that plagiarized Shelley Rigger’s classic book title.
I, along with others who were asked to review Kerry’s manuscript, said verbatim to change the title.
In the most tacky and unprofessional fashion, he stole her title anyway.
I, along with others who were asked to review Kerry’s manuscript, said verbatim to change the title.
In the most tacky and unprofessional fashion, he stole her title anyway.
November 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
In case you missed it, Kerry Brown wrote a book that plagiarized Shelley Rigger’s classic book title.
I, along with others who were asked to review Kerry’s manuscript, said verbatim to change the title.
In the most tacky and unprofessional fashion, he stole her title anyway.
I, along with others who were asked to review Kerry’s manuscript, said verbatim to change the title.
In the most tacky and unprofessional fashion, he stole her title anyway.
Reposted by Christian Göbel
Includes a photo timeline of other "warrior" protests, which shows how they inspire each other: echoed slogans, repeated strategies like remotely activated projectors …. but the man behind the famous Sitong Bridge protest was reportedly sentenced to 9 years, and still most do this in person.
Beijing Banner Protester: "Establish a New China That is Free, Humane, and Governed by Rule of Law"
"CDT Chinese editors noted censorship of the following combinations: 'Sanlitun + lift ban on political parties', 'Sanlitun + protest', 'Sanlitun + warrior', 'Sitong Bridge + Sanlitun' …"
"CDT Chinese editors noted censorship of the following combinations: 'Sanlitun + lift ban on political parties', 'Sanlitun + protest', 'Sanlitun + warrior', 'Sitong Bridge + Sanlitun' …"
Beijing Banner Protester: "Establish a New China That is Free, Humane, and Governed by Rule of Law"
The image above shows a one-man protest that reportedly took place at the high-end Taikoo Li Sanlitun mall (formerly Sanlitun Village) in Beijing on October 25, shortly after the end of the Party’s Fo...
chinadigitaltimes.net
November 4, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Includes a photo timeline of other "warrior" protests, which shows how they inspire each other: echoed slogans, repeated strategies like remotely activated projectors …. but the man behind the famous Sitong Bridge protest was reportedly sentenced to 9 years, and still most do this in person.
Reposted by Christian Göbel
"a decision by the university not to publish a final phase of the research... was communicated to the National Security Service..." "China is not believed to have an organisation named National Security Service, so it is not clear who the individuals were".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
China academic intimidation claim referred to counter-terrorism police
Sensitive research into alleged human rights abuses is alleged to have been shut down by Chinese agents.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 7:36 AM
"a decision by the university not to publish a final phase of the research... was communicated to the National Security Service..." "China is not believed to have an organisation named National Security Service, so it is not clear who the individuals were".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Local LLM just translated 王文涛 as "Wang Textao" 😂
November 3, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Local LLM just translated 王文涛 as "Wang Textao" 😂
Reposted by Christian Göbel
A British university complied with a demand from Beijing to halt research about human rights abuses in China, leading to a major project being dropped, the Guardian can reveal.
UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China
Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:25 AM
A British university complied with a demand from Beijing to halt research about human rights abuses in China, leading to a major project being dropped, the Guardian can reveal.
Reposted by Christian Göbel
I'm excited to share my piece in Los Angeles Review of Books @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social, which examines OpenAI's claims about ChatGPT's creative writing skills, Big Tech's weaponisation of grief and nostalgia, and the collapse of the academic humanities. lareviewofbooks.org/article/lite...
Literature Is Not a Vibe: On ChatGPT and the Humanities | Los Angeles Review of Books
Rachele Dini discusses OpenAI’s “A Machine-Shaped Hand” and an academic sector in crisis.
lareviewofbooks.org
October 31, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I'm excited to share my piece in Los Angeles Review of Books @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social, which examines OpenAI's claims about ChatGPT's creative writing skills, Big Tech's weaponisation of grief and nostalgia, and the collapse of the academic humanities. lareviewofbooks.org/article/lite...
Very solid and entertaining introduction to Labubu mania. Wondered why my visitors from China went into the Vienna Labubu store and straight out again last summer. Now I have an explanation. The Labubu store probably had no Labubus.
In college, I'd always walk past an unremarkable store in Beijing that sold a variety of trendy, but tacky, toys. That store has turned into Pop Mart, the $45-billion Chinese toy empire behind Labubu, the biggest global fad of 2025.
This is my big story/pilgrimage trip to explain how they got here
This is my big story/pilgrimage trip to explain how they got here
A Journey Into the Heart of Labubu
I made an epic trek across four countries to answer one question: Why is the world going mad for a plushie monster?
www.wired.com
October 2, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Very solid and entertaining introduction to Labubu mania. Wondered why my visitors from China went into the Vienna Labubu store and straight out again last summer. Now I have an explanation. The Labubu store probably had no Labubus.
Genuinely delighted to have received a postcard from @polbehavior.bsky.social today. This is a very nice gesture that truly made my day.
September 30, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Genuinely delighted to have received a postcard from @polbehavior.bsky.social today. This is a very nice gesture that truly made my day.
Reposted by Christian Göbel
Here's my epic failure against Trump's tariffs: I placed an order from a Ukrainian woodworking shop on Aug 17, but it's still stuck at the customs. It turns out, big platforms like Temu ends up getting an advantage over indie sellers because they can better handle the post-de minimis tariff regime.
The Unexpected Winners of Trump’s Trade War
Americans are now hit with tariffs when they shop from overseas sellers on eBay and Etsy. Shein and Temu had months to get ahead of the curve.
www.wired.com
September 4, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Here's my epic failure against Trump's tariffs: I placed an order from a Ukrainian woodworking shop on Aug 17, but it's still stuck at the customs. It turns out, big platforms like Temu ends up getting an advantage over indie sellers because they can better handle the post-de minimis tariff regime.
A very moving and informative essay with insights on how and why individuals (in China) consult LLMs for medical advice, and how Chinese companies employ LLMs in healthcare already now.
Not long after DeepSeek R1 launched, I discovered that my mother had started using the chatbot as her virtual doctor.
I worried about her reliance on AI. But over time, I realized Dr. DeepSeek was offering something no human in her life could.
restofworld.org/2025/ai-chat...
I worried about her reliance on AI. But over time, I realized Dr. DeepSeek was offering something no human in her life could.
restofworld.org/2025/ai-chat...
My mom and Dr. DeepSeek
In China and around the world, the sick and lonely turn to AI.
restofworld.org
September 4, 2025 at 5:51 PM
A very moving and informative essay with insights on how and why individuals (in China) consult LLMs for medical advice, and how Chinese companies employ LLMs in healthcare already now.
This will be one of the few things I’m looking forward to having in my inbox. Wired’s (China) reporting has been stellar, so I’m looking forward to more of it. I just signed up.
One of the highlights of my career has been reporting on China & working closely with @zeyiyang.bsky.social. So I’m really excited to share that we’re launching a new newsletter together for @wired.com. It's called "Made in China."
You can sign up for it here: www.wired.com/newsletter/e...
You can sign up for it here: www.wired.com/newsletter/e...
July 23, 2025 at 5:06 PM
This will be one of the few things I’m looking forward to having in my inbox. Wired’s (China) reporting has been stellar, so I’m looking forward to more of it. I just signed up.
Oh, wow. I just know this will be good.
One of the highlights of my career has been reporting on China & working closely with @zeyiyang.bsky.social. So I’m really excited to share that we’re launching a new newsletter together for @wired.com. It's called "Made in China."
You can sign up for it here: www.wired.com/newsletter/e...
You can sign up for it here: www.wired.com/newsletter/e...
July 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Oh, wow. I just know this will be good.
Reposted by Christian Göbel
‘Containing Xi’, or refining party rule? – Holly Snape for Observing China: ‘These planned regulations are part of Xi’s longstanding pet project to govern the CCP and the PRC by rules’
‘Xi has used rules not only to maximise his concentration of power, but also to facilitate its use.’
‘Xi has used rules not only to maximise his concentration of power, but also to facilitate its use.’
‘Containing Xi’, or refining party rule?
What does the latest politburo meeting reveal about Chinese politics?
www.observingchina.org.uk
July 9, 2025 at 11:14 AM
‘Containing Xi’, or refining party rule? – Holly Snape for Observing China: ‘These planned regulations are part of Xi’s longstanding pet project to govern the CCP and the PRC by rules’
‘Xi has used rules not only to maximise his concentration of power, but also to facilitate its use.’
‘Xi has used rules not only to maximise his concentration of power, but also to facilitate its use.’
Reposted by Christian Göbel
Hey, if you support CDT but can't give cash- give a retweet.
Maybe someone with more funds will see it.
They are almost at their modest goal of $10,000, but there's no reason 10,000 RTs shouldn't have been reached ages ago.
Maybe someone with more funds will see it.
They are almost at their modest goal of $10,000, but there's no reason 10,000 RTs shouldn't have been reached ages ago.
In recent months, we have lost a significant portion of our funding. Yet we remain committed to helping the world better understand China at this critical juncture in global politics. We are asking for your help to keep our websites up and running.
giving.chinadigitaltimes.net/page/serverc...
giving.chinadigitaltimes.net/page/serverc...
Keep CDT Online: Donate for Server Expenses
China Digital Times (CDT) is a non-profit organization that relies on institutional and individual donations to sustain our operations. In recent months, we have lost a significant portion of our inst...
giving.chinadigitaltimes.net
July 8, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Hey, if you support CDT but can't give cash- give a retweet.
Maybe someone with more funds will see it.
They are almost at their modest goal of $10,000, but there's no reason 10,000 RTs shouldn't have been reached ages ago.
Maybe someone with more funds will see it.
They are almost at their modest goal of $10,000, but there's no reason 10,000 RTs shouldn't have been reached ages ago.