Stephen McDonell
@stephenmcdonell.bsky.social
BBC China Correspondent based in Beijing. Previously ABC Australia China Correspondent.
Who does #China's government expect will believe this? Chinese travelers should be worried about the danger of assault in, ahem... #Japan???
They want to punish Tokyo by reducing the significant tourism take there from Chinese travelers but this is deliberate deception
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
They want to punish Tokyo by reducing the significant tourism take there from Chinese travelers but this is deliberate deception
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
China warns against Japan travel citing ‘significant’ surge in assaults
Embassy security alert instructs travellers to put plans on hold as diplomatic crisis worsens.
www.scmp.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Who does #China's government expect will believe this? Chinese travelers should be worried about the danger of assault in, ahem... #Japan???
They want to punish Tokyo by reducing the significant tourism take there from Chinese travelers but this is deliberate deception
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
They want to punish Tokyo by reducing the significant tourism take there from Chinese travelers but this is deliberate deception
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
As a principle, how do members of parliament - who were voted in representing a party platform - think it's ethical/appropriate for them to quit a party & remain in parliament as an "independent"? The electorate didn't vote for an independent. Want out? Leave parliament, then stand as an independent
November 27, 2025 at 9:21 AM
As a principle, how do members of parliament - who were voted in representing a party platform - think it's ethical/appropriate for them to quit a party & remain in parliament as an "independent"? The electorate didn't vote for an independent. Want out? Leave parliament, then stand as an independent
Given that #HongKong's ICAC did nothing to investigate the multiple accusations of police corruption during the city's 2019 upheaval (I can list a some if needed) do people there still trust this institution? Such a fall from grace for a body which started with such international fanfare. #China
“In view of the immense public interest involved, the ICAC today (November 27) set up a task force to launch a full investigation into possible corruption in the grand renovation project of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.”
www.icac.org.hk/en/p/press/i...
www.icac.org.hk/en/p/press/i...
ICAC, HKSAR - Press Releases - ICAC Statement: ICAC launches investigation into suspected corruption in grand renovation project of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po
Press Releases - ICAC Statement: ICAC launches investigation into suspected corruption in grand renovation project of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po
www.icac.org.hk
November 27, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Given that #HongKong's ICAC did nothing to investigate the multiple accusations of police corruption during the city's 2019 upheaval (I can list a some if needed) do people there still trust this institution? Such a fall from grace for a body which started with such international fanfare. #China
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
The UN has changed the way it calculates the population of the cities - it now ranks Jakarta as the world's most populous city with 42mn inhabitants, Dhaka second and Tokyo now third www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
Jakarta Shoots to No. 1 in World Population Ranking From No. 33. How?
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:53 AM
The UN has changed the way it calculates the population of the cities - it now ranks Jakarta as the world's most populous city with 42mn inhabitants, Dhaka second and Tokyo now third www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker admits "there's some truth" to the criticism that Putin hasn't made a single concession during negotiations
November 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker admits "there's some truth" to the criticism that Putin hasn't made a single concession during negotiations
So we had all that analysis earlier today of the significance of the #China side requesting the call between #Trump and #Xi. Now the Chinese government has said it was the #US side which actually requested it. This is the problem jumping the gun with analysis before confirmation.
November 25, 2025 at 9:36 AM
#China's 3 astronauts aboard the Tiangong Space Station will, no doubt, be relieved that the rocket carrying their new ride home has successfully taken off. They'd been potentially stranded, in event of an emergency, following damage to another return capsule, following a suspected space debris hit.
November 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
#China's 3 astronauts aboard the Tiangong Space Station will, no doubt, be relieved that the rocket carrying their new ride home has successfully taken off. They'd been potentially stranded, in event of an emergency, following damage to another return capsule, following a suspected space debris hit.
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
China’s property market has been in a downward spiral for four years with no signs of abating. Real estate values continue to plummet, households in financial distress are being forced to sell properties www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Why China Can’t Sort Out Its Property Market Mess
Once one of the country’s biggest growth drivers, China’s property market has been in a downward spiral for four years with no signs of abating. Real estate values continue to plummet, households in f...
www.bloomberg.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:59 AM
China’s property market has been in a downward spiral for four years with no signs of abating. Real estate values continue to plummet, households in financial distress are being forced to sell properties www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
A toy making factory in Shanghai run by the Commercial Press (primarily a printer and bookstore operator), c.1925, by Paul Hutchinson. Many of these toys were for export.
November 24, 2025 at 8:06 AM
A toy making factory in Shanghai run by the Commercial Press (primarily a printer and bookstore operator), c.1925, by Paul Hutchinson. Many of these toys were for export.
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Carny (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
m.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You (Official Video)
YouTube video by Edwyn Collins
m.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Xylophone, electric guitar and keyboards combining for this eerie sound…
m.youtube.com/watch?v=LGD9...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=LGD9...
The Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way (Official Video)
YouTube video by PsychedelicFursVEVO
m.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Xylophone, electric guitar and keyboards combining for this eerie sound…
m.youtube.com/watch?v=LGD9...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=LGD9...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Two photographs by Sha Fei (沙飞, 1912–1950), one of China’s first photojournalists.
📷 Eighth Route Army recapturing Pingxingguan Pass, Shanxi, 1937 — University of Bristol, Historical Photographs of China, ref. ML02-d145
📷 Eighth Route Army fighting on the Futuyu Great Wall, Laiyuan, Hebei, 1938
📷 Eighth Route Army recapturing Pingxingguan Pass, Shanxi, 1937 — University of Bristol, Historical Photographs of China, ref. ML02-d145
📷 Eighth Route Army fighting on the Futuyu Great Wall, Laiyuan, Hebei, 1938
November 9, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Two photographs by Sha Fei (沙飞, 1912–1950), one of China’s first photojournalists.
📷 Eighth Route Army recapturing Pingxingguan Pass, Shanxi, 1937 — University of Bristol, Historical Photographs of China, ref. ML02-d145
📷 Eighth Route Army fighting on the Futuyu Great Wall, Laiyuan, Hebei, 1938
📷 Eighth Route Army recapturing Pingxingguan Pass, Shanxi, 1937 — University of Bristol, Historical Photographs of China, ref. ML02-d145
📷 Eighth Route Army fighting on the Futuyu Great Wall, Laiyuan, Hebei, 1938
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Photos by Xu Xiaobing (1916–2009), a key photographer for the Chinese Communist Party from the 1930s–1960s.
Xu documented Red Army and PLA soldiers during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War; the third image here is of Peng Dehuai, PRC defence minister (1954–1959).
Xu documented Red Army and PLA soldiers during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War; the third image here is of Peng Dehuai, PRC defence minister (1954–1959).
October 30, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Photos by Xu Xiaobing (1916–2009), a key photographer for the Chinese Communist Party from the 1930s–1960s.
Xu documented Red Army and PLA soldiers during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War; the third image here is of Peng Dehuai, PRC defence minister (1954–1959).
Xu documented Red Army and PLA soldiers during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War; the third image here is of Peng Dehuai, PRC defence minister (1954–1959).
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Join the Cambridge University China Forum for a Fireside Chat and Q&A session with Paul French on Nov 25th The event is free & open to all. Please sign up via the QR code or the link below
🗓️ Tuesday 25th November
🕕 18:00-19:00
📌 Blue Boar Common Room, Trinity College
🔗 fixr.co/event/firesi...
🗓️ Tuesday 25th November
🕕 18:00-19:00
📌 Blue Boar Common Room, Trinity College
🔗 fixr.co/event/firesi...
November 22, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Join the Cambridge University China Forum for a Fireside Chat and Q&A session with Paul French on Nov 25th The event is free & open to all. Please sign up via the QR code or the link below
🗓️ Tuesday 25th November
🕕 18:00-19:00
📌 Blue Boar Common Room, Trinity College
🔗 fixr.co/event/firesi...
🗓️ Tuesday 25th November
🕕 18:00-19:00
📌 Blue Boar Common Room, Trinity College
🔗 fixr.co/event/firesi...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Siouxsie And The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden (Official Video)
YouTube video by Jaheim Hines
m.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Friday music this week we’re going tracks with a xylophone! Starting with maybe the best ever…
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oHMJ...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oHMJ...
Violent Femmes - Gone Daddy Gone
YouTube video by ViolentFemmesVEVO
m.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Friday music this week we’re going tracks with a xylophone! Starting with maybe the best ever…
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oHMJ...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oHMJ...
Friday music this week we’re going tracks with a xylophone! Starting with maybe the best ever…
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oHMJ...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oHMJ...
Violent Femmes - Gone Daddy Gone
YouTube video by ViolentFemmesVEVO
m.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Friday music this week we’re going tracks with a xylophone! Starting with maybe the best ever…
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oHMJ...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oHMJ...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Senior Service Cigarettes ad, 'Loch Class Frigate at anchor in Hong Kong Harbour', by John S. Smith, c.1950 (art school graduate who served in the Royal Navy in WW2).
November 20, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Senior Service Cigarettes ad, 'Loch Class Frigate at anchor in Hong Kong Harbour', by John S. Smith, c.1950 (art school graduate who served in the Royal Navy in WW2).
Trump describes the Saudi government brutally murdering a journalist as “things happen”…
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Trump describes the Saudi government brutally murdering a journalist as “things happen”…
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Reporter: Is it appropriate for your family to do business with Saudi Arabia while you’re president? The us intelligence concluded you orchestrated the murder of a journalist…
Trump: Who are you with?
Reporter: ABC News
Trump: Who are you with?
Reporter: ABC News
November 18, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Reporter: Is it appropriate for your family to do business with Saudi Arabia while you’re president? The us intelligence concluded you orchestrated the murder of a journalist…
Trump: Who are you with?
Reporter: ABC News
Trump: Who are you with?
Reporter: ABC News
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
China and Germany strive to reset trade ties in Beijing: ‘we need stability’ – SCMP: ‘Klingbeil said he had received assurances from his Chinese counterpart that Berlin’s concerns over export restrictions would be taken seriously’
‘We need stability’: China and Germany strive to reset trade ties in Beijing
German finance minister’s trip follows a tense period for China-Europe relations, with Berlin gripped by supply chain anxieties.
www.scmp.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:34 AM
China and Germany strive to reset trade ties in Beijing: ‘we need stability’ – SCMP: ‘Klingbeil said he had received assurances from his Chinese counterpart that Berlin’s concerns over export restrictions would be taken seriously’
#Australia's coal exports to #SouthKorea to take a hit after Seoul announces it is preparing to wean itself off coal.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Rude shock for Australia as South Korea unshackles from coal reliance
In a move that has been welcomed by climate campaigners, South Korea has vowed to phase out coal, sparking a warning for Australian exporters.
www.abc.net.au
November 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
#Australia's coal exports to #SouthKorea to take a hit after Seoul announces it is preparing to wean itself off coal.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...