Nine Dragons
@ninedragons.bsky.social
Exclusively posting here now about HK/China and global events/issues. Occasional nonsense.
China has broken last year's record with a month still to go in 2025. Such an extreme trade imbalance (a record in all of history) is a major disruption to the entire global economy.
December 8, 2025 at 4:11 AM
China has broken last year's record with a month still to go in 2025. Such an extreme trade imbalance (a record in all of history) is a major disruption to the entire global economy.
Yes, even bigger than the US's surpluses in the years after WW2 when adjusted for inflation, when the US dominated global manufacturing due to the utter devastation of other manufacturing centres in the war while its remained untouched.
December 5, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Yes, even bigger than the US's surpluses in the years after WW2 when adjusted for inflation, when the US dominated global manufacturing due to the utter devastation of other manufacturing centres in the war while its remained untouched.
Because OF COURSE that's how this government will respond to any request for them to actually do their job in the wake of a massive deadly event - arrest anyone who asks!
November 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Because OF COURSE that's how this government will respond to any request for them to actually do their job in the wake of a massive deadly event - arrest anyone who asks!
I was going to use a Times of India article for this story, until I noticed that this was the image that came up along with the link (and is in their article). This kind of AI slop adds nothing (at least they put a note to say it's AI generated, in case it wasn't already obvious to some).
November 28, 2025 at 5:01 AM
I was going to use a Times of India article for this story, until I noticed that this was the image that came up along with the link (and is in their article). This kind of AI slop adds nothing (at least they put a note to say it's AI generated, in case it wasn't already obvious to some).
One huge problem with HK in the "new era", is that it focuses massive resources on finding & punishing things like standing near a protest while wearing black, throwing a pair of sunglasses etc., giving years in jail for such things, while issuing only empty warnings for life-endangering practices.
November 27, 2025 at 9:51 AM
One huge problem with HK in the "new era", is that it focuses massive resources on finding & punishing things like standing near a protest while wearing black, throwing a pair of sunglasses etc., giving years in jail for such things, while issuing only empty warnings for life-endangering practices.
Feeling very reassured that this is just a silly conspiracy theory.
November 20, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Feeling very reassured that this is just a silly conspiracy theory.
Another example. This time a before/after that just gives a small hint (or reminder) about what happened.
November 14, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Another example. This time a before/after that just gives a small hint (or reminder) about what happened.
I love how quickly the Wikipedia grammar police must have swarmed this article about the Hongqi Bridge, which opened in April. And, er... has suddenly "closed".
(you can see video & photos of its "closure" here: www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-as...)
(you can see video & photos of its "closure" here: www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-as...)
November 13, 2025 at 3:24 AM
I love how quickly the Wikipedia grammar police must have swarmed this article about the Hongqi Bridge, which opened in April. And, er... has suddenly "closed".
(you can see video & photos of its "closure" here: www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-as...)
(you can see video & photos of its "closure" here: www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-as...)
Snippets of history are sometimes found in Google Street View.
November 12, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Snippets of history are sometimes found in Google Street View.
Image 1: Wikipedia section on space debris from the page about China's 2007 anti-satellite missile test & how it will endanger space missions for decades to come.
Image 2: November 2026 - "Return of Chinese astronauts delayed after spacecraft struck by debris"
Image 2: November 2026 - "Return of Chinese astronauts delayed after spacecraft struck by debris"
November 5, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Image 1: Wikipedia section on space debris from the page about China's 2007 anti-satellite missile test & how it will endanger space missions for decades to come.
Image 2: November 2026 - "Return of Chinese astronauts delayed after spacecraft struck by debris"
Image 2: November 2026 - "Return of Chinese astronauts delayed after spacecraft struck by debris"
"Yeah, it never came up. Not once. But he did assure me that he wouldn't take any action. Very firm, clear assurances. Trust me. But also, it never came up."
November 3, 2025 at 7:56 AM
"Yeah, it never came up. Not once. But he did assure me that he wouldn't take any action. Very firm, clear assurances. Trust me. But also, it never came up."
One of the really weird things about this is that the Nigerian government have been battling Islamic militants for years and would genuinely LOVE American help (weapons, training, intelligence, MAYBE even SF) in defeating them. But instead of offering any of that, he just threatens them.
November 2, 2025 at 3:27 AM
One of the really weird things about this is that the Nigerian government have been battling Islamic militants for years and would genuinely LOVE American help (weapons, training, intelligence, MAYBE even SF) in defeating them. But instead of offering any of that, he just threatens them.
As China's 4th plenum ended, Han Wenxiu, a senior party official in financial and economic policy, said: "There is always opportunity in crisis and crisis can be turned into opportunity."
Here's a photo of that moment:
Here's a photo of that moment:
October 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
As China's 4th plenum ended, Han Wenxiu, a senior party official in financial and economic policy, said: "There is always opportunity in crisis and crisis can be turned into opportunity."
Here's a photo of that moment:
Here's a photo of that moment:
Because markets are dumb sometimes.
October 22, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Because markets are dumb sometimes.
One other reason China has a population decline problem that is rarely discussed is that it has persistent negative net migration (image 1) on top of low & dropping birth rates. Japan by contrast has persistent positive net migration (image 2).
October 14, 2025 at 3:46 AM
One other reason China has a population decline problem that is rarely discussed is that it has persistent negative net migration (image 1) on top of low & dropping birth rates. Japan by contrast has persistent positive net migration (image 2).
Location of Thitu Island, for reference:
October 13, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Location of Thitu Island, for reference:
Location of Thitu Island, for reference:
October 13, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Location of Thitu Island, for reference:
Location of Thitu Island, for reference:
October 13, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Location of Thitu Island, for reference:
Location of Thitu Island, for reference:
October 13, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Location of Thitu Island, for reference:
Xi Jinping just lectured world leaders about the need to include more women in government. If only there was someone who could influence such a change in the Chinese government eh?
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
October 13, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Xi Jinping just lectured world leaders about the need to include more women in government. If only there was someone who could influence such a change in the Chinese government eh?
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
"Russia has won" "Ukrainian army has collapsed". Jan 2025.
Been seeing this since literally the opening hours of the war but it's over 3.5 years now...
Been seeing this since literally the opening hours of the war but it's over 3.5 years now...
October 9, 2025 at 9:33 AM
"Russia has won" "Ukrainian army has collapsed". Jan 2025.
Been seeing this since literally the opening hours of the war but it's over 3.5 years now...
Been seeing this since literally the opening hours of the war but it's over 3.5 years now...
The signs are everywhere, people just refuse to look at them.
October 8, 2025 at 2:18 AM
The signs are everywhere, people just refuse to look at them.