Democracy dies where now?

People who don’t work in these areas may not realize how much knowledge we’re losing

Important break with past practice, especially as the Holy See is one of only 12 States to recognize Taiwan (and the only European power to do so).

12 UC Berkeley students' visas restored by ICE in nationwide reversal At UC Berkeley, 12 students have had their status restored today after 23 were terminated since April 4.

One of the happiest updates I’ve written since I started following this story. 12 students back in status and maybe more to come. Across the country, students are saying their SEVIS is back.

www.dailycal.org/news/campus/...

China has returned two Boeing jets, each valued at $55 million. With $69 million in tariffs applied, the cost per plane increased to $124 million. Orders for an additional 130 jets have been indefinitely suspended.

Xi Is Ratcheting Up China’s Pain Threshold for a Long Fight With Trump President Trump is facing an adversary who has armed his country to play a long and potentially painful game in its contest with the U.S.

Trump negotiates with himself over China tariffs in public as Beijing sits and watches. One reason we're seeing this unfold: Trump picked a fight with a regime that's improving an already immense tolerance for pain

My latest (gift link): www.wsj.com/world/china/...

Early reports of terrible destruction inside #Myanmar following a powerful earthquake. Official state of emergency in 6 rejoins, apparently injured being treated with makeshift facilities in the streets.

Sorry I missed it this year; will be cheering from the gallows.

Women = nearly 60% of China's documented prisoners of conscience.

Watching China in Europe—March 2025

A sharp deterioration in transatlantic relations is beginning to infect the European debate on China. EU officials say unity on China is at its most fragile point in years. They are particularly worried about Spain & Italy. Read more in my latest WCIE for GMF

www.gmfus.org/news/watchin...

‘America is going down’: China can capitalise on damage caused by Trump, former PLA colonel says Exclusive: Zhou Bo says harm done to US image may make Taiwanese reconsider their attitude towards Beijing but says he sees Trump as overall being ‘rather friendly’

💀 The damage caused by Donald Trump to the United States’ reputation is creating opportunities for China, particularly with regards to Taiwan, according to a retired senior colonel from China’s People’s Liberation Army. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Freedom and democracy are always worth fighting for. Slava Ukraini.

DoD terminates Minerva grants and State Dept eliminates Title VIII summer language institutes on the same day. Coming on the heels of COVID, there’s going to be gaping holes in international expertise in the US for a generation.
/slow clap

Taiwan holds its breath as Trump turns on Ukraine and upends US foreign policy The mood in Taipei is one of wariness as the new US president takes a blowtorch to diplomatic norms and assurances

“The Trump administration has already demonstrated that it is willing to suddenly and without warning break from decades of bipartisan US policy on China,” says Bethany Allen, head of China investigations and analysis at @aspi-org.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

Via AFP:

US drops website wording on not supporting Taiwan independence The U.S. State Department has removed a statement on its website that it does not support Taiwan independence, among changes that the island's government praised on Sunday as supporting Taiwan.

"But as well as dropping the phrase "we do not support Taiwan independence", the page has added a reference to Taiwan's cooperation with a Pentagon technology and semiconductor development project and says the U.S. will support Taiwan's membership in int'l orgs..."

www.reuters.com/world/us-dro...

Battle for Tibet FRONTLINE investigates China’s rule over Tibet.

PBS FRONTLINE investigates China’s rule over Tibet. With footage from inside the region, the documentary examines how the Communist regime controls Tibet’s Buddhist population, and the battle over the succession of its spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontli...

Make your calls. Go to your town halls. Ask your state and local officials what they are doing under state and local law. Rest. Hydrate. Make soup for the hungry. Don’t let people tell you that you’re doing it wrong. Not a sprint. Not a marathon. A relay. Find your team. Thank you.

Takeaways: Tesla has sued Chinese customers and journalists — and won almost every time Tesla has sued its own customers and journalists in China for defamation and won just about every time.

apnews.com/article/tesl...

#Tesla #Musk #China

‘Ne Zha 2’: A 3-Year-Old Demon Just Crushed Every Movie in China Now China’s highest-grossing film, “Ne Zha 2,” the sequel to the 2019 hit, is redefining the future of Chinese animation.

Update: As of Thursday, “Ne Zha 2” has grossed over 10 billion yuan ($1.3 billion), becoming China’s highest-grossing film and setting the biggest single-market box office record in history.

Honduras opposition candidates back restoring Taiwan diplomatic ties | Taiwan News | Feb. 10, 2025 13:30 Candidate says China dumping destroyed local firms, aid failed to deliver | Feb. 10, 2025 13:30

Several Honduran opposition candidates vying for the country's November elections support resuming diplomatic relations with Taiwan. www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6033468

DeepSeeking Truth - China Media Project When it comes to assessing the risks of DeepSeek as propaganda, are we asking the wrong questions? Governments, journalists, and coders need to know that it’s a much more sophisticated propaganda tool...

When it comes to assessing the risks of DeepSeek, are we asking the wrong questions? Governments, journalists, and coders need to know that it’s a much more sophisticated propaganda tool than we all thought.

China imposes retaliatory tariffs on $14bn worth of US goods Beijing may be better prepared this time for renewed trade conflict with Trump, analysts say

China imposes retaliatory tariffs on $14bn worth of US goods

www.ft.com/content/5260a94a-df1e-4c...

Kansas' Moran, Davids sound alarm on delay of USAID food aid to starving people worldwide • Kansas Reflector Kansas' congressional delegation — Moran, Davids, Marshall — share diverse views on potential demolition of U.S. Agency for International Development.

Republican Senator Jerry Moran of farm-state Kansas sounds the alarm on dismantling #USAID.

Impending global implications as well as domestic implications for U.S. farmers.

kansasreflector.com/2025/02/07/k...

WUSTEPS announcement flyer. Deadline March 7 2025. Find more information and apply at: sites.wustl.edu/wusteps/

WashU PoliSci is hosting its third annual summer research program for undergraduates! Applications are due March 7. If you know students who might be thinking of grad school and want to get hands-on research experience, encourage them to apply at: sites.wustl.edu/wusteps/

February kicks off #BlackHistoryMonth, a time to honor and celebrate Black resilience, contribution and triumph.

Black history is central to our nation’s story. This month and always we celebrate the diversity and creativity of Black Americans that is essential to the U.S.'s foundation.

統計處 統計處

Number of Americans studying in Mandarin in Taiwan at Mandarin Training Centers in 2024-2025 academic year: 3,458.

In 2023, it was 3,431.

There were 800 Americans studying Mandarin in China as of June 2024.
depart.moe.edu.tw/ed4500/News_...