Tomorrow afternoon (July 10) the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club will organize a panel discussion with I-Chen Liu of @article19.bsky.social, @matejsimalcik.bsky.social of @ceias-eu.bsky.social and @athenaktong.bsky.social as our panellists

GoLaxy documents offer a rare look at PRC influence operations and how they are evolving with AI. Thanks to @athenaktong.bsky.social and DI Team for sharing insights during a webinar on how these AI-enabled systems work, why they matter, and who is affected. Key takeaways 🧵👇

US$55 million a day — that’s how much Taiwan could lose if all its undersea cable connections are cut, whether due to natural damage or deliberate sabotage. Japan is in a stronger position, though vulnerabilities remain. Watch: youtu.be/vJTjHuEvjP8 Featuring: Athena Tong / @athenaktong.bsky.social

Tomorrow we’re hosting a webinar on AI in PRC influence operations. @athenaktong.bsky.social and Jasper Hewitt will explore how AI is driving a shift from large-scale bot farms to more sophisticated systems that can map audiences, identify targets & tailor influence. 👉 dtl.tw/golaxy-webin...

💰 ‘Until systemic diversification reduces 🇨🇳 market power meaningfully, and #G7 members are prepared to absorb short‑term economic costs on each other’s behalf, economic coercion will remain an attractive tool for Beijing,’ says @athenaktong.bsky.social, University of Tokyo #ObservingChina

Japan’s response to Chinese economic coercion

Lessons from Tokyo’s resilience against Beijing’s economic pressure

observingchina.org.uk

Event Update! 📆6th Dec 🕐1pm Eastern @chercywong.bsky.social will be joined by Athena Tong for the 3rd webinar "政策制定流程 / Policy Development Process" in the Political Engagement 101 series. Series has been informative so far. Held in Cantonese / Konglish Details: konggirlsocialist.ghost.io/123/

Important read by @athenaktong.bsky.social outlining how the tragedy in Hong Kong, a manmade one, was made all the more likely to take place because of the crackdown on watchdog orgs and institutional actors that push for transparency and oversight asia.nikkei.com/opinion/the-...

Athena Tong (@athenaktong.bsky.social)

Hongkonger in Tokyo with cats 🗼🇯🇵🐱🐱 UTokyo | CSRI | Researcher Fighting for freedoms 🌏 Researching info ops, geopolitics & economic security

athenaktong.bsky.social

Today @athenaktong.bsky.social published an excellent analysis of China’s “gray zone” campaign of reshaping the strategic landscape around Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. Insightful and timely read - get the updates on what’s happening in Asian waters. asia.nikkei.com/opinion/the-...

The rules of engagement in East Asian waters have changed

China is conducting gray zone political warfare on Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines

asia.nikkei.com

State Goals, Private Tools My latest piece for the Jamestown Foundation's China Brief with Team T5 reveals how 🇨🇳 contractors systematically undermine partner nations’ digital sovereignty for "high-quality development." 🧵

Happy New Year from Tokyo 🎍 How is everyone’s goal-setting going?

🚨 What happens in Hong Kong doesn't stay in Hong Kong. At the China in the World conference hosted by Doublethink Lab in Johannesburg last month, I presented on how Hong Kong's digital transformation is a cautionary tale for global internet freedom. Here's how it connects to you. 🧵

The panel hosted by the Asia Freedom Institute was an opportunity to dive deep with fellow female activists and experts ( @joeysiu.bsky.social @carmenlau.bsky.social and Amy Siu) into the escalating repression of Hong Kong. Sharing some of the critical points we addressed during our discussion. 🧵

Great discussion hosted by the Asia Freedom Insitute with @carmenlau.bsky.social, Amy Siu, @joeysiu.bsky.social and @athenaktong.bsky.social on "China's Repression and the Future of Hong Kong." www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7aZ... #HongKong #TNR

CHINA’S REPRESSION AND THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

YouTube video by Asia Freedom Institute

youtube.com

🗓️ Dec 27 | 🕘 08:30 AM DC | 01:30 PM London | 07:00 PM Delhi I’m honored to join Freedom Hour by the Asia Freedom Institute as a speaker this Friday. We’ll discuss China’s repression and the future of Hong Kong, focusing on democracy, freedoms, and the diaspora’s role.

Executive summary: Beijing gave us something we didn't ask for, upon which GovHK asked the public for input on one minor aspect that wouldn't change the overall outcome, then basically ignored that input for unexplained reasons and did what it was going to do anyway. Metaphor intensity level: 10/10

Aaron Busch@tripperhead.bsky.social · 2y ago

🇭🇰 🐼 Hong Kong Government receive pandas, HK government organises naming competition, Hong Kong public enter the competition, Hong Kong Government decides to scrap the competition. The naming competition in October received over 22,600 suggestions. All were rejected.

“Authoritarianism is not a regime, it’s in our minds. The absence of authoritarianism is not democracy is freedom” - Lokman Tsui #GVSummit2024

Reuters: Many Americans’ cellphone data being hacked by #China's #SaltTyphoon,’ targeting ‘at least’ 8 major US telecom & telecom infrastructure firms "We do not believe it's every cell phone in the country, but ...it's potentially a large number of individuals." www.reuters.com/technology/c...

'Large number' of Americans' metadata stolen by Chinese hackers, senior official says

A large number of Americans' metadata has been stolen in the sweeping cyberespionage campaign carried out by a Chinese hacking group dubbed "Salt Typhoon," a senior U.S. official told journalists on Wednesday.

reuters.com

In all the craziness of the week, just wanted to share with you how pretty our UTokyo campus is this week Happy Autumn 🍁🍂

New @doublethinklab.bsky.social report from my colleagues @jasperhewitt.bsky.social and Elena Yi-Ching Ho! In collaboration with @voanews.bsky.social, they examined into PRC information operations during the US elections and observed 315 Spamouflage accounts on X. Read the full report below.

Doublethink Lab and Voice of America: US Election Joint Observation Mission Final Report

This report provides an overview of Chinese information operations during the US elections.

medium.com

Thank you for having me for the 12th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy Such a pleasure to be part of the conversation on democracy, human rights and freedom as a Hongkonger with friends from around the world.