Let the birds fly

Give me liberty, or give me death.

[RAV Español @RAVEspanol]

🇪🇸‼️ | El gobierno de España tomó el control del puerto de Ceuta para instalar refugios destinados a cientos de migrantes que permanecen en calles y playas más de un mes después de la entrada masiva desde Marruecos. Madrid busca alojar a más de 1,000 personas, mientras la crisis migratoria desborda la capacidad de la ciudad y eleva la tensión entre el gobierno central y las autoridades locales.

[The Telegraph @Telegraph]

Russia’s foreign minister has warned his country is at “the beginning of a real war” with the West after Berlin accused it of attacking Leipzig airport with an explosive drone.

Sergei Lavrov cited a string of German actions as evidence of escalating tensions, claiming that some of them echoed events leading up to the Second World War ⤵️

https://t.co/IlEZ9sIdFf

[Rick Scott @SenRickScott]

Communist China is our enemy, and nothing they make can be trusted.

We need every American to buy American-made products to keep our country and, most importantly, our families safe! 🇺🇸

[UHN Plus @UHN_Plus]

🇩🇰‼️ | Una multitud de ciudadanos daneses se manifestó para exigir la deportación masiva de los inmigrantes musulmanes que han ingresado al país en los últimos años.

[The Epoch Times - China Insider @EpochTimesChina]

Screenshots on Chinese social media showing a schedule for high school students are fueling concerns about the reach of CCP propaganda in education. https://t.co/d9CZbERfDC

[The Epoch Times - China Insider @EpochTimesChina]

A Chinese high school's schedule requiring students to watch state-run news daily triggered backlash over mandatory political propaganda and indoctrination in education.
Link in thread.

[The Epoch Times - China Insider @EpochTimesChina]

Taiwanese travelers risk being barred from leaving China or facing detention at Beijing’s overseas ‘police stations’ abroad, an expert warns. https://t.co/P5fQtNG9Yl

[The Epoch Times - China Insider @EpochTimesChina]

Beijing’s expanding legal frameworks and overseas police networks increasingly expose Taiwanese citizens to arbitrary detention, exit bans, and foreign extradition, analysts warn.
Link in thread.

[Victims of Communism @VoCommunism]

We condemn socialism, communism, and all the evil ideas of Marx.

Will you stand with us for freedom?

https://t.co/KiZlBCharU

[The Epoch Times - China Insider @EpochTimesChina]

New Zealand's security agency explicitly named Beijing as its primary foreign intelligence threat, citing large-scale espionage, space tracking intrusions, and insider recruitment.
Link in thread.

[The Epoch Times - China Insider @EpochTimesChina]

China experts say the agency’s report reflects a hardening in New Zealand’s posture toward Beijing. https://t.co/HYBwtTEwO1

[Reuters @Reuters]

China's car sales extend slide as shift accelerates to overseas markets https://t.co/YssxUnYdvP https://t.co/YssxUnYdvP

[The Telegraph @Telegraph]

Royal Navy spy drones used by Britain’s elite special forces secretly sent data to China, The Telegraph can reveal.

The cameras on the K3 Scout surveillance drones had components made in China which were secretly transmitting information to a device in the country.

The Royal Marines have been using the £12m fleet since March and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was forced to remove all internet connectivity from the cameras after discovering the breach.

🔗 https://t.co/8LqRAttB6Y

[Natalie Winters @nataliegwinters]

Beijing paid for the access. American journalists supplied the bylines.

The documents, photos, names and coverage that followed are all in my full investigation:

https://t.co/2T989LUxJb

[Natalie Winters @nataliegwinters]

The Foundation even celebrated changing Fortune’s narrative.

After Fortune declared “The Death of Hong Kong,” Foundation representatives briefed journalist Sheridan Prasso.

Her subsequent headline:

“Oops! Hong Kong Is Hardly Dead.”

The Foundation touted the reversal as a success.

[Natalie Winters @nataliegwinters]

Barron’s Asia editor Leslie Norton attended the same sponsored trip.

Within weeks, Barron’s published:

“China’s Sure Bet.”

Later:

“China Will Be on Top of the New World Order.”

[Natalie Winters @nataliegwinters]

Los Angeles Times columnist Doyle McManus attended the 2010 trip.

During and immediately after it, he published columns portraying Beijing’s conduct through Chinese officials’ perspective:

“Simply defending their self-interest as they see it.”

“They’re just as scared of the future as we are.”

[Natalie Winters @nataliegwinters]

Then came the coverage.

Joshua Keating attended the 2013 trip as a Slate writer.

WHILE THE SPONSORED TRIP WAS UNDERWAY, he published:

“China’s City of the Future.”

He praised the government-selected city’s “immense changes” and “optimistic spirit.”

[Natalie Winters @nataliegwinters]

Better Hong Kong Foundation CEO George Yuen was even more explicit about the influence strategy.

He described one of the Foundation’s overseas outreach efforts as a:

“United front.”

“We deliver one strong message.”

[Natalie Winters @nataliegwinters]

The objective was not simply to show reporters China.

The journalists were brought together with Chinese counterparts to discuss:

“How media coverage of each country can be improved.”

The Foundation later called for:

“Positive stories of Hong Kong and mainland China.”