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Austin Ramzy

@austinramzy

Wall Street Journal reporter in Hong Kong covering China and the world. email: austin.ramzy@wsj.com signal: austinramzy.99

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31.08.2023
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Latest posts by Austin Ramzy @austinramzy

Preview
The PLA has stopped flying aircraft close to Taiwan - I can't figure out why and that worries me I never expected to be worried by the lack of Chinese military coercion.

Unsettling to see Drew Thompson worried about the sudden stop in PLA flights near Taiwan chinadrew.substack.com/p/the-pla-ha...

06.03.2026 04:05 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Hong Kong ex-media mogul Jimmy Lai will not appeal national security conviction, legal team says The legal team for Hong Kong pro-democracy ex-publisher Jimmy Lai says he will not appeal the national security conviction for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Jimmy Lai will not appeal his 20-year sentence for national security crimes, say his lawyers

apnews.com/article/hong...

06.03.2026 03:18 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Exclusive: US investigation points to likely US responsibility in Iran school strike, sources say U.S. military investigators believe it is likely that U.S. forces were responsible for an apparent strike on an Iranian girls' school that killed scores of children on Saturday but have not yet reache...

β€œIf a U.S. role were to be confirmed, the strike would rank among the worst cases of civilian casualties in decades of U.S. conflicts in the ​Middle East.” www.reuters.com/world/middle...

06.03.2026 02:38 πŸ‘ 83 πŸ” 44 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 5
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Analysis Suggests School Was Hit Amid U.S. Strikes on Iranian Naval Base

New NY Times ’visual investigation’ strongly suggests that the US fired the missile that hit the Minab school Saturday. (Though is very careful with its language to not say it conclusively.)

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/w...

05.03.2026 21:12 πŸ‘ 290 πŸ” 107 πŸ’¬ 6 πŸ“Œ 12
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South Korean Stocks Dive on Mideast Conflict Concerns South Korea’s benchmark Kospi stock index plunged 12%, its steepest-ever daily percentage drop, taking losses over the past two days to 18% on concerns over the fallout of the Iran war. The decline wa...

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi stock index plunged 12%, its steepest-ever daily percentage drop, taking losses over the past two days to 18% on concerns over the fallout of the Iran war.

www.wsj.com/livecoverage...

04.03.2026 08:22 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Kuwaiti Fighter Jet Mistakenly Shot Down American F-15s, Initial Reports Say A Kuwaiti F/A-18 fighter jet was the cause of the accidental shootdown of three American F-15s on Sunday, according to three people familiar with initial reports of the incident. One F/A-18 pilot laun...

A Kuwaiti F/A-18 fighter jet was the cause of the accidental shootdown of three American F-15s on Sunday, according to three people familiar with initial reports of the incident.

All three U.S. aircraft went down, but their pilots ejected safely.

www.wsj.com/livecoverage...

04.03.2026 01:17 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

"How long is it since we unleashed Chiang Kai-shek?" (June 1, 1954)

04.03.2026 00:54 πŸ‘ 40 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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China Building Subs That Can Strike U.S. From Closer to Home, U.S. Navy Warns Beijing’s accelerating production of submarines is set to challenge U.S. undersea dominance.

China’s undersea advances, including the expected deployment of submarines equipped with longer-range and more accurate ballistic missiles, will allow it to assert its interests farther from its shores, senior U.S. naval commanders said in congressional testimony Monday.

www.wsj.com/world/china/...

04.03.2026 00:37 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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NEW

The White House has submitted its War Powers report to Congress for the attack on Iran.

The justification for military action rests on 1) Iran's supposed continued quest for nuclear weapons and 2) the threat Iran's missiles pose to US forces, vessels, civilians and those of partners. 1/n

02.03.2026 23:15 πŸ‘ 299 πŸ” 149 πŸ’¬ 27 πŸ“Œ 15
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Why China Is Doing So Little to Help a Friend Under Fire Beijing sees risks in offering more than rhetorical support despite its longstanding friendship with the regime in Iran.

As the U.S. and Israel have pummeled China’s closest partner in the Middle East, killing Iran’s leader and calling for its people to overthrow the government, Beijing has responded with sharp denunciations, but little more.

www.wsj.com/world/iran-c...

03.03.2026 12:10 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Wang Yi to Lavrov on the Iran war:

"It is unacceptable for the U.S. and Israel to launch attacks against Iran in the midst of their ongoing negotiations, still less to blatantly assassinate a leader of a sovereign country and instigate regime change."

www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/syst...

02.03.2026 07:29 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
Breaking featured image 2025

Breaking featured image 2025

A Hong Kong appeals court has overturned pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai's fraud conviction relating to an alleged lease violation at the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper headquarters. πŸ”— buff.ly/oowqFoc

26.02.2026 02:29 πŸ‘ 37 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 3

This is the worst case scenario occurring at almost all turns.

- Tased and struck over misunderstanding
- Stays in jail for a year because of slow wheel of justice and ICE fears
- PD screws up in releasing him
- Border Patrol release catastrophically screwed up
- PD blows off missing persons report

26.02.2026 03:42 πŸ‘ 792 πŸ” 256 πŸ’¬ 11 πŸ“Œ 6
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AIs can’t stop recommending nuclear strikes in war game simulations Leading AIs from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google opted to use nuclear weapons in simulated war games in 95 per cent of cases

AIs can’t stop recommending nuclear strikes in war game simulations

Leading AIs from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google opted to use nuclear weapons in simulated war games in 95 per cent of cases

www.newscientist.com/article/2516...

25.02.2026 12:27 πŸ‘ 3050 πŸ” 1297 πŸ’¬ 392 πŸ“Œ 1480
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Judge Rejects Government Request to Search Washington Post Reporter’s Devices The court will conduct a review of the reporter’s devices instead of the government following the FBI’s raid of her home.

A judge rejected a Justice Department request to search devices seized from a Washington Post reporter as part of a probe of alleged mishandling of classified information by a government contractor.

25.02.2026 03:38 πŸ‘ 53 πŸ” 14 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
The Trump administration is sending all pregnant unaccompanied minors apprehended by immigration enforcement to a single group shelter in South Texas. The decision was made over urgent objections from the administration's own health and child welfare officials, who say both the facility and the region lack the specialized care the girls need.

That's according to seven sources who work at the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, which handles the custody and care of children who cross the border without a parent or legal guardian, or are separated from family by immigration authorities. All of the sources declined to be named for fear of retaliation.

Since late July, more than a dozen pregnant minors have been placed at the Texas facility, which is located in the small border city of San Benito. Some were as young as 13, and at least half of those taken in so far became pregnant as a result of rape, sources said. Their pregnancies are considered high risk by definition, particularly for the youngest girls.

The Trump administration is sending all pregnant unaccompanied minors apprehended by immigration enforcement to a single group shelter in South Texas. The decision was made over urgent objections from the administration's own health and child welfare officials, who say both the facility and the region lack the specialized care the girls need. That's according to seven sources who work at the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which handles the custody and care of children who cross the border without a parent or legal guardian, or are separated from family by immigration authorities. All of the sources declined to be named for fear of retaliation. Since late July, more than a dozen pregnant minors have been placed at the Texas facility, which is located in the small border city of San Benito. Some were as young as 13, and at least half of those taken in so far became pregnant as a result of rape, sources said. Their pregnancies are considered high risk by definition, particularly for the youngest girls.

β€œThe Trump administration is sending all pregnant unaccompanied minors apprehended by immigration enforcement to a single group shelter in South Texas”

Some are as young as 13.

"This is 100% and exclusively about abortion”—former head of unaccompanied minor program

www.tpr.org/news/2026-02...

23.02.2026 05:54 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Exclusive | U.S. Arms Sale to Taiwan in Limbo Amid Pressure Campaign From China The development follows pressure from Chinese leader Xi Jinping and concerns that the sale would derail President Trump’s coming visit to Beijing.

WSJ: A major U.S. arms-sales package for Taiwan is in limbo following pressure from Chinese leader Xi and concerns among some in the Trump administration that greenlighting the deal would derail President Trump’s coming visit to Beijing, according to U.S. officials.

www.wsj.com/world/china/...

18.02.2026 23:27 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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A Maker of Bikes Now Makes a Point of Riding Them (Published 2013)

Sad to learn of the death of King Liu, the founder of Giant Bicycles. I met him in 2014, when I moved to Taiwan. He had an incredible savvy for business but only in old age to he truly get into bicycles as something to ride instead of merely a product to sell

www.nytimes.com/2013/08/31/w...

18.02.2026 13:08 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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China’s Yangtze River shows signs of remarkable recovery after fishing ban Doubling of fish biomass and rebounding of endangered species shows government measures starting to work, biologists say

Guardian: The Yangtze River in China, which has been in ecological decline for 70 years, is showing signs of recovery due to a sweeping fishing ban.

One biologist said it was the most positive freshwater conservation story seen anywhere in the world in 20 years.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

16.02.2026 04:15 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Japan Seizes Chinese Fishing Boat and Arrests Its Skipper The incident comes amid strained relations between Tokyo and Beijing.

Japanese authorities said they seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its captain after he refused to stop for an inspection while sailing in Japan’s maritime zone, an incident that risks adding to tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.

www.wsj.com/world/asia/j...

13.02.2026 09:38 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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CIA Seeks to Recruit Spies Out of China’s Military Turmoil The Central Intelligence Agency posted a YouTube video depicting a Chinese officer’s lament about high-level purges.

The Central Intelligence Agency released a new video on Thursday seeking to capitalize on upheaval at the top of China’s armed forces to recruit potential spies.

www.wsj.com/world/china/...

13.02.2026 06:04 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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A Pilot Fired Over Kristi Noem’s Missing Blanket and the Constant Chaos Inside DHS Secretary faces fire for confrontational immigration crackdown and self-promotional style; White House to wind down Minnesota operations.

What a story:

β€œLewandowski and Noem, both married, have denied the reports of the affair, but people said they do little to hide their relationship.

β€œThe pair have been using a luxury 737 MAX jet, with a private cabin in back, for their travel around the country”

1/

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

13.02.2026 03:16 πŸ‘ 1527 πŸ” 677 πŸ’¬ 96 πŸ“Œ 111
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Chinese sea captain pleads not guilty in Hong Kong court to damaging Baltic Sea cables A Chinese sea captain of a Hong Kong-flagged vessel has pleaded not guilty to damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea in 2023.

"A Chinese sea captain of a Hong Kong-flagged vessel accused of damaging undersea cables and a gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea in 2023 pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a Hong Kong court. Around 18 witnesses could be called to testify, the court heard Wednesday." apnews.com/article/balt...

12.02.2026 07:05 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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We have received numerous credible reports of torture, killing, and inhumane treatment of detained individuals at the Camp East Montana migrant detention facility, located within Fort Bliss. #txlege

10.02.2026 18:46 πŸ‘ 5498 πŸ” 2925 πŸ’¬ 101 πŸ“Œ 292
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Father of wanted HK activist convicted over funds linked to 'absconder' The father of HK democrat Anna Kwok has been found guilty of handling funds linked to an "absconder" - the first family member of a wanted activist to be convicted of a national security offence.

The father of HK democrat Anna Kwok has been found guilty of handling funds linked to an "absconder" - the first family member of a wanted activist to be convicted of a national security offence. In full: buff.ly/Bf7KIGh

11.02.2026 04:00 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 14 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 5
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Grand Jury Rebuffs Justice Dept. Attempt to Indict 6 Democrats in Congress

NYT: Federal prosecutors failed to secure an indictment against six Democratic lawmakers who enraged President Trump by reminding active-duty members of the military and intelligence community that they were obligated to refuse illegal orders

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...

11.02.2026 02:22 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Japan Election Shows Beijing’s Pressure Tactics Can Backfire China has sought to punish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for remarks she made about Taiwan, but that strategy has largely backfired.

After Takaichi said Japan could get drawn into conflict if China tried to seize Taiwan by force, Beijing lashed out.

But that strategy has largely backfired. Takaichi has declined to retract her comments and was resoundingly rewarded for her show of strength by voters.

www.wsj.com/world/asia/j...

10.02.2026 23:31 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 4

1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.

Hundreds of kids are still detained.

We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧡

09.02.2026 12:25 πŸ‘ 11564 πŸ” 7424 πŸ’¬ 197 πŸ“Œ 827
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Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai Given 20-Year Sentence, Adding Friction to U.S.-China Ties World leaders have called for the release of the 78-year-old who became the face of the democracy movement.

A Hong Kong court sentenced former tycoon Jimmy Lai, an outspoken 78-year-old critic of China’s Communist Party, to 20 years in prison, a ruling that adds further friction in U.S. relations with China.

Gift link: www.wsj.com/world/china/...

09.02.2026 02:27 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai Given 20-Year Sentence, Adding Friction to U.S.-China Ties World leaders have called for the release of the 78-year-old who became the face of the democracy movement.

Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison. That is double the previous longest sentence for a national security law conviction. Our story here:

www.wsj.com/world/china/...

09.02.2026 02:14 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1