Robin Brant

Advising on reputation and crisis. Was @bbcnews correspondent in China, Westminster, presenter. @TimesRadio @SpeakersTrust @Monocle

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

STORY The firms looking to sell snow sports in #Xinjiang off the back of @Beijing2022 and whether you can ‘divorce’ yourself from the genocide claims. That’s what @burtonsnowboard #china boss Craig Smith told me.

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

@Steven_Swinford @oliver_wright Interesting take on #brexit in this brief piece from her NYC stint https://t.co/xJ7x7ENNVh

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

Some vacancies just get harder and harder to fill… @10DowningStreet PMOS anyone? https://t.co/0x5mKSh3NU

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

This reminds me of #china eternal push to usurp Japan in its production of ballpoint pens but failing to harness the capability around making the hard ball bit.

[Jonathan Cheng @JChengWSJ]

China’s pens—which look like the real thing but sell for just a few bucks—force consumers to ask what they’re getting from the entrenched brands, said Willy Shih, a professor at Harvard Business School specializing in manufacturing and supply chains.
https://t.co/1jUaJZPJ43

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

@alexwickham He told @FT Lunch today he thinks a compromise will emerge. Amidst the Turkish food.

[Patrick Maguire @patrickkmaguire]

I'm now on Substack, explaining a little more about what I've written in The Times and the reading that informs it.

Today: why Keir Starmer needs some fat men, the No 10 adviser who's actually doing a good job, and the best books on Brownism.

https://t.co/TA6CzLKuBt

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

Mixed messaging and confusion on #china from @patrickkmaguire in @thetimes today... or maybe it's meant to be that way? I wrote about this a few months ago https://t.co/GvhG8HRoEw

[Global Times @globaltimesnews]

When asked to comment on #UK government Wednesday adding Chinese refiner Shandong Yulong Petrochemical, three port operators from Shandong, and as well as #Chinese Beihai LNG terminal to its sanctions list, and claiming that these entities are added in the sanctions list for supporting #Russia's #energy sector, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at the press conference on Thursday that China consistently opposes unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law and are not authorized by the UN Security Council. Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction with the UK's relevant actions and has already made solemn representations to the British side, Lin said.

[Global Times @globaltimesnews]

On Thursday, responding to media inquiries about reports that some former British security officials claimed Chinese state actors had systematically hacked into UK government’s classified computer systems over the past decade, accessing confidential documents, private communications and diplomatic cables related to policymaking, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said such allegations are purely slander and smears. “We urge relevant individuals in the UK to stop making unreasonable hype and cease such political manipulation,” Lin said.

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

@thetimes @Steven_Swinford see Tim Weiner's excellent book earlier this year 'The Mission' for details on how he says #china hacked US govt OPM database a decade before and cross ref to find details of @cia officers and agents. It's a very, very good read.

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

@kateferguson4 wonder how those meetings between @FCDOGovUK perm sec Olly Robbins and conterparts are going in #china

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

Driverless taxis are coming to London in a Europe-wide first next year. See what it’s like being in one here. In my old job, in China, way back in 2020… https://t.co/w7CFqy861Q

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

That new embassy thing - in both London and Beijing - not looking good as the days, and briefings, go by. To be fair though Xi is a little more focused on rare earth supply chain dominance at time of writing #china (v liberal use of ‘cabinet ministers’ here by @thetimes)

[Steven Swinford @Steven_Swinford]

Exclusive from @Geri_E_L_Scott

Cabinet ministers believe Sir Keir Starmer’s national security adviser is too close to China and his position is increasingly unsustainable

Jonathan Powell faces mounting scrutiny over his relationship with Beijing after a China spy trial collapsed last month

Before entering No 10, Powell made several visits to China, including one in which he met the most senior diplomat, and said that Britain wanted to “enhance” its relationship with Beijing in pursuit of a “stable, practical and long-term partnership”

One cabinet minister said that Powell was too soft on China and risked undermining Britain’s security interests. “I am concerned that a narrative builds up that we are not strong enough on China,” they said. “Our strategic approach to China [under Powell] is a little bit fuzzy.

“He has become almost like a cabinet minister in that the focus is on him and his policy positions, which is never really a great situation to be in as a non-elected official.”

Another said he had become a lightning rod for criticism, while a third said Powell was from a 'different era'. 'He thinks you can ride both horses,' they said, 'That you can have the economic benefits of the relationship with China while managing the security risk. You can’t and he’s wrong. They are completely entwined because China takes a whole state approach. It isn’t sustainable.'

https://t.co/6sBAK0lvj3

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

@williamnee Hard soft power doesn't work.

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

@Gabriel_Pogrund As my @CNN hoodie says…

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

@hzeffman He has a week or so to read up on #china before that long planned trip Reynolds was due to make. Important precursor to expected @10DowningStreet visit before years end.

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

.@SteveReedMP now has the weekend to read up on #china embassy app and decide by Tuesday. Beijing will be very, very keenly watching.

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

Somewhere in the #china London embassy an official is trying to calculate then craft a cable to Beijing on implications of @AngelaRayner travails for 9th Sept decision she was due to make about their contentious new embassy. And do a runners n riders on new Housing Sec.

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

@DannyShawNews @YvetteCooperMP @FCDOGovUK And what about @realDonaldTrump ? Much was made of Lammy connections with Vance et al. State visit in under a fortnight.

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

Levy out, Lammy in. It's a mixed week for Spurs #reshuffle

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

update on this from yesterday - big, and imminent, #china decision awaits for incoming Housing Sec

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

Don’t forget the big decision for ⁦@AngelaRayner⁩ over the next few days… that new #china embassy https://t.co/gNzR8DKDm3

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

update on this from yesterday - #china views of the incoming Housing Sec in play now

[Robin Brant @robindbrant]

Somewhere in the #china London embassy an official is trying to calculate then craft a cable to Beijing on implications of @AngelaRayner travails for 9th Sept decision she was due to make about their contentious new embassy. And do a runners n riders on new Housing Sec.