Kevin Sheives

Now: NED's @ThinkDemocracy. Priors: @StateDept @USTradeRep @DeptofDefense, House. Authoritarianism, China in the World. My views = mine. It sounds ≈ "Chives”

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

I argue in @Diplomat_APAC that democracy issues and the need for shoring up civil society’s role in resilience get short shrift in the “de-risking” debates dominating China policy right now. Democracies need civil society protections and support.

[The Diplomat @Diplomat_APAC]

Any de-risking strategy that does not include a focus on protecting civil society from CCP interference will fall short. https://t.co/wbn53YtHg6

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

37 years ago, hundreds of students in China at Tiananmen gave their lives - not in defense of authoritarianism - but for democracy and freedom.

Let’s honor their sacrifice, remember it, and recommit to the mission of defending our own democracy and others around the world.

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

Solid analysis here by @alvincamba and @AtlanticCouncil. "Documentation as deterrence" is a great space for civic organizations like PCIJ to be in when it comes to foreign pressure on democratic practices. https://t.co/GHdXJBf07x

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

Every parent can relate.

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

Interesting part about the CCP outlawing petitions during Two Sessions: "In truth, it's precisely because the authorities 'care about face' that petitioners gain extra leverage to negotiate resolutions. Yes, it can work, just not as a normal rule-of-law mechanism."

[李老师不是你老师 @whyyoutouzhele]

北京两会又胜利召开了，人民大会堂内虽是一片伟大光荣，但只需往南走四公里，那永定门西街则是另一番中国真实人间。
每年两会期间都有数千访民进京上访，顶着寒冬风雪，昼夜排队递交材料。
经常有推友问，为什么他们在两会期间进京？上访有没有用？去年网上流传的一份截访指示能提供一些答案。
内容显示，地方层面已将“进京零上访”升级为“数字孪生 + 责任到人”的立体防控工程。
在传统“清仓—盯人—断链—劝返—销号—问责”六步基础上，叠加三项技术升级与两项考核加码，形成“6+3+2”模式。目标只有一个：会议召开前后各10天内，国家信访局登记系统不出任何本地籍来访记录。通过“算法 + 责任制”双轮驱动，从传统人海战术截访彻底升级为数字化精准打击。
一、6个传统环节（压缩时限、提高定量）
1、清仓（会前45天）：完成“红黄绿”台账二次过滤，红色人员实体化解率必须≥92%（比2025年提高2个百分点）。化解结论需县级政法委书记 + 公安局局长“双签字”背书。
2、盯人：重点人员全部录入“公安部涉访人员实战平台”，与国铁12306、民航离港、高速收费、北京地铁“四网”实时比对，购票信息2分钟内推送属地。
3、断链（会前10天启动“护城河”三道闸）：（1）远端：本省所有高铁站、机场刷证即报警；（2）中端：环京6省市（冀鲁豫晋辽蒙）设32个“异地检查站”，公安+信访+交通“三方联勤”；（3）近端：北京外围“小进京”路口全装车牌抓拍+人脸补光，发现重点车辆自动拦截。
4、劝返（驻京前方指挥部提前40天进京，实行“片长制”）：
把北京划分成12个片区，每县（市、区）认领1片。出现本地籍访民，30分钟内到场、2小时内带离。
5、销号（会议期间）：继续“日调度+零报告”，新增“视频点名”系统——每天15:00、22:00两次，乡镇书记必须手持当日报纸在摄像头前“打卡”，缺一次扣平安建设年度考评分1分。
6、问责：国家信访局对各省实行“进京访一票否决+双倍计分”。出现1例进京登记即扣10分，集体访（5人及以上）扣20分，并冻结该省下一年度中央财政信访补助。
二、3项技术升级（首次写进省级方案）
1、无人机 + 铁塔视频巡查：环京高速公路服务区、长途客运站布设18套“机动哨”，高空云台对“背包客”“大巴车”进行AI人脸比对，识别率≥95%。
2、电子围栏 + 手机信令：对红色人员开通“漫入提示”2.0版。只要手机信号出现在北京域内，系统10秒内推送经纬度、基站编号、手机号至前方指挥部。
3、区块链“息诉协议”上链：对已签息诉罢访协议的重点人员，将协议文本、指纹、人脸、音频同时写入司法区块链。防止事后反悔，一旦倒流可作为“拒不履行协议”证据直接行政拘留。
三、3项考核再加码（实际文件体现2项核心硬约束 + 总体目标）
1、领导仕途挂钩：县（市、区）委书记、县长每人基础分100分，出现1例进京登记扣10分，扣完即启动组织调整程序；积分排名后三位的地市，政法委书记年内不得提拔。
2、经费倒扣：省级财政对出现进京登记的县（市、区）按“1人扣10万元”标准扣减当年均衡性转移支付，用于补偿北京接济服务中心额外支出。
尽管近年来AI虚假信息泛滥，这些文字溢出屏幕的冷血恐怖，真实得只有人能写出来；其与我们了解的信访运行机制与现实访民体验也大致吻合。实际上也正是因为两会期间当局有“要脸”的需求，访民才能博得更多解决他们案情的谈判筹码－－的确有可能有用，只是并非正常法治国家的社会运行机制。在中国，几十年来访民们的存在都被大众所忽视，我们创建 #赛博信访局 ，就是期待人民不用躲避天罗地网也能反映诉求、曝光黑恶。 我们将持续记录，希望大家给予他们一些应有的关注。

[The Future of Free Speech @SpeechFuture]

The Kremlin has attempted to co-opt the language of "freedom" and "human rights" to justify its expansive censorship regime.

In a new guest essay, Beth Kerley calls on democracies to offer an "unapologetic embrace and defense" of free expression to fight back.

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

Op-ed in the @dcexaminer by former Republican senator Mel Martinez and former Republican House member @PeterRoskam

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

"This is Reagan’s 'infrastructure of democracy' in action, adapted to modern threats: modest investments in local initiatives that produce durable tools, networks, and norms of accountability that strengthen democratic resilience where it begins and stop authoritarian influence🧵

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

before it reaches America’s shores. The tools of repression have changed. But the human drive for dignity and self-rule has not. Reagan bet on freedom, backed by civic infrastructure, as the most reliable force in history. At NED, we carry that belief forward every day."

[Ryan Fedasiuk @RyanFedasiuk]

It’s finally here — the world’s most advanced, realtime China intelligence dashboard. A side project 2 years in the making.

I’m calling it “Digital Embassy.”

Now it’s yours, for free.

Here’s how it works:

🧵 1/10

https://t.co/uPMOdFxGmr

[Afshine Emrani MD FACC @afshineemrani]

🇺🇸 THE ULTIMATE AMERICAN REVENGE STORY 🇺🇸
​The script couldn't have written it better. In 1989, Arthur Liu fled China as a political refugee after the Tiananmen Square massacre. He came to America with nothing but a dream for a free life.
​Decades later, his daughter Alysa Liu became the face of Team USA.
​But the CCP didn’t forget. Before the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the FBI uncovered a "brazen" spying operation. The target? Alysa and her father. The Chinese government tried to:
​Stalk them on U.S. soil.
​Intimidate her into silence.
​Pressure her to turn her back on the country that gave her family refuge.
​The FBI had to give them 24/7 security just so she could compete. 🛡️
​She faced the intimidation. She refused to be a pawn. She walked away from the sport for two years to find her soul again—and then she came back with a vengeance.
​TODAY, THE STORY IS COMPLETE. In a flawless performance to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park,” Alysa Liu just did the impossible.
​🥇 OLYMPIC GOLD. 🥇 The first American woman to win individual gold in 24 years.
​She didn’t just skate for a medal. She skated for the freedom her father risked everything for. She didn’t just win for herself; she won for the flag that protected her family when the world felt small.
​This is what a Patriot looks like. 🇺🇸✨
​#AlysaLiu #TeamUSA #OlympicGold #MilanoCortina2026 #AmericanDream #FigureSkating #USA #Inspiration

[Forum @ NED @ThinkDemocracy]

At this year’s Lipset Lecture @LeopoldoLopez challenged the democracy assistance & freedom tech community to build support for decentralized technology platforms allowing activists in autocratic settings to communicate effectively & move resources rapidly. https://t.co/ML3WFKTUMC

[Forum @ NED @ThinkDemocracy]

Authoritarians are adapting—and so are democracy's defenders. In 2026, the International Forum for Democratic Studies at NED is tracking new patterns of authoritarian reach, accelerating democratic innovation, & helping civic actors stay ahead of fast-moving challenges like tech.

[NEDemocracy @NEDemocracy]

This week, @SecRubio convened leaders to chart the future of America’s critical mineral supply chains.

In @TheNatlInterest, @DamonMacWilson, explains how NED partners help create conditions for resilient supply chains that strengthen the U.S. economy.🔗https://t.co/E9Z761UuvK

[Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) @CIPEglobal]

CIPE joins @NEDemocracy in securing America’s future - which starts with transparent governance. 🛡️🇺🇸

Authoritarian regimes often exploit weak governance in mineral-rich nations through opaque contracts and bribery. CIPE’s partnership with local experts in Bolivia exposed non-transparent deals, helping ensure that Bolivia’s lithium reserves—a critical component of the global energy transition—remain outside the influence of malign actors.

By fostering economic freedom, we’re building a more resilient and secure 21st-century supply chain. Read more from NED President and CEO @DamonMacWilson: ➡️ https://t.co/8qjddgtdTI

#NationalSecurity

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

Sharp start to this new podcast with @MiraRappHooper. The initial question about "where are we" and "what comes next (or what SHOULD come next)" is the exact right one.

[The Asia Group @TheAsiaGroup]

The global order that shaped the last few decades is changing fast.

Today, we're launching a new podcast from The Asia Group: What Comes Next with @MiraRappHooper.

In each episode, Mira talks with policymakers, economists, and business leaders about the forces reshaping geopolitics, markets, and technology, and what those shifts mean for business.

We're kicking things off with two conversations:
🟣 Kurt Campbell on Power, Markets, and the Next Global Order
🟣 @JasonFurman on the Fed, Tariffs, and the AI-Fueled Gamble Shaping 2026

Listen now on your platform of choice via our website https://t.co/mF5d47slpm.

[Ilan Berman @ilanberman]

As America recedes in the information space, adversaries like China, Russia and Iran are advancing - and expanding their influence. The consequences for Washington are potentially ruinous. I explain the problem, in today’s @washingtonpost

https://t.co/6egBmS2wnu

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

@ilanberman @washingtonpost This was excellent. We need to remain on the battlefield and compete. Much is at stake.

[Mary Kissel @marykissel]

Super creepy. And sad.

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

China illegally mines for gold around the world, destroying labor, environmental, and safety standards - all to make themselves less reliant on the U.S. dollar. Civic groups and governments need to step up.

This ends poorly for everyone except China. https://t.co/pXEaaozavO

[Kevin Sheives @KSheives]

This is another victory for democracy, and shows the power of civic action keeping the government in check - even for one of the world’s leading democracy success stories. Democracy at work. https://t.co/jXNpILg7Tq