Stephen McDonell

Stephen McDonell

@stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

BBC China Correspondent based in Beijing. Previously ABC Australia China Correspondent.

8K followers203 following1.7K posts

Stephen McDonell reposted

Stephen McDonell
@stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

Replying to @stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

'A/C to Politburo in September, the plenum will adopt a decision on "several major issues persistently advancing the comprehensive strict governance of the Party", which is being read as a way to ensure obedience/effectiveness from distant party officials...' CLICK LINK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukChina's big political meeting could see Xi 'tighten discipline' in PartyThe highly secretive four-day Plenum starts Monday in Beijing.
Stephen McDonell
@stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

The thing about this discussion in #Australia is that this material from the extreme right can not accurately be described as "cartoons", certainly not "satire". It is hate propaganda. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

theguardian.comLabor condemns One Nation cartoons depicting Penny Wong being murdered as Hanson says videos ‘not going anywhere’Foreign affairs minister says party’s social media content promotes division and violence as One Nation leader claims Liberal and Labor want cartoons censored

Stephen McDonell reposted

Don Moynihan
@donmoyn.bsky.social

A 2025 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, Omar Yaghi is the son of Palestinian refugees who grew up in Jordan. He just left the US to move to China after raising concerns about rising anti-immigrant sentiment, like the kind shown here. donmoynihan.substack.com/p/china-than...

The Bulwark@thebulwark.com

RFK: "There's five hundred million Arabs in the world. And yet they don't produce science. They don't win the Nobel Prize. They don't win the Fields Prize. They don't win the Wolf Prize. They don't produce literature."

Stephen McDonell reposted

Stephen McDonell
@stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

Replying to @stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

'This is an opportunity for Xi to dictate strategy in the run up to the Congress, ensuring views are aligned/delegates loyal... it'd also be a time of nervousness for delegates as they look around the room with its "empty chairs" following the scale of recent purges...' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukChina's big political meeting could see Xi 'tighten discipline' in PartyThe highly secretive four-day Plenum starts Monday in Beijing.

Stephen McDonell reposted

Stephen McDonell
@stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

Replying to @stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

"In the Chinese capital a major political gathering is underway, with a closed-door meeting of senior figures that could shape the look of the ruling Communist Party in the years to come..." A piece from me on #China's power politics this week. Click on link: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukChina's big political meeting could see Xi 'tighten discipline' in PartyThe highly secretive four-day Plenum starts Monday in Beijing.

Stephen McDonell reposted

Sophie Richardson
@sophiedrich.bsky.social

None of those purged will have had any semblance of due process, and their political demises will put justice for those they harmed further out of reach—and give Xi breathing room. ‘Pull Out the Sick Trees’: Xi’s Constant Purges Pave Way for Next Term www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/w...

nytimes.com‘Pull Out the Sick Trees’: Xi’s Constant Purges Pave Way for Next TermThe Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who is likely preparing to secure a fourth term in power in 2027, has complained that officials cannot be trusted.
Stephen McDonell
@stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

Gazing into a crystal ball, is rugby league going to eventually swamp rugby union in the Pacific? When you look at #Tonga, #Samoa, #CookIslands and even #Fiji at the rugby league World Cup it is not hard to imagine it.

Stephen McDonell reposted

Patrick Chovanec
@prchovanec.bsky.social

He literally pulled the plug on interceptors that were saving civilian lives from Russian missiles.

Lora Kolodny@lorak.bsky.social

Musk said he restricted Starlink in Ukraine- causing fast moving drones to lose connectivity - and that he had every right to do so because of some terms of service or contract that he didn't show us. (He didn't address suddenly doing this with no warning to Kyiv.) www.cnbc.com/2026/10/24/u...

cnbc.comAfter SpaceX restores high-speed service, Musk claims Ukraine violated Starlink agreementUkraine says restrictions on Starlink and Starshield have been lifted, restoring connectivity to fast-moving military systems after disruptions.

Stephen McDonell reposted

Patrick Chovanec
@prchovanec.bsky.social

Plenum is expected to issue long-awaited official definition of what a “plenum” is.

Reuters@reuters.com

China's Communist Party opens fifth plenum reut.rs/4zT87mb

reut.rsChina's Communist Party opens fifth plenumChina's ruling Communist Party ​began its fifth plenum on ‌Monday in Beijing, aiming to deliberate ​major issues about "sustained ​advancement of full and ⁠rigorous party self-governance", ​state television CCTV ​said.

Stephen McDonell reposted

David Rothschild
@davmicrot.bsky.social

Remember when Media & Political Elite promised US that Trump was tapping into “economic anxiety” not racism?

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump: "Somalia -- 98% of the people here now from Somalia don't work. They don't have to work because they steal so much. They all have a Mercedes Benz. Low IQ and they live better than you do."

Stephen McDonell reposted

POLITICO Europe
@politico.eu

Czech President Petr Pavel says a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was “quite close” – until Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel. 🔗 vist.ly/5pjp8

Stephen McDonell reposted

Adam Schwarz
@adamjschwarz.bsky.social

Mark Carney on Elon Musk crippling Ukraine’s Starlink: “I search for the right adjective to describe whoever took this decision… against a country that is literally fighting for the lives of its citizens against naked aggression."

Stephen McDonell reposted

The China-Global South Project
@chinagsproject.bsky.social

South Africa’s exports to China have jumped nearly 25% under Beijing’s zero-tariff deal, but Chinese imports are also surging, meaning Pretoria must turn market access into factories, local jobs and industrial power, not just bigger trade figures. chinaglobalsouth.com/2026/10/22/s...

chinaglobalsouth.comSouth Africa’s Trade With China Surges After Beijing’s Zero-Tariff DealSouth Africa’s trade with China has increased since Beijing introduced a temporary zero-tariff scheme for qualifying South African exports in May, offering Pretoria an opportunity to expand sales to…

Stephen McDonell reposted

stranger
@strangerous.bsky.social

Breaking: Dr Helen Haines’ condition improves from critical to serious but stable. She’s still fighting but this is very positive progress. Thank you to the amazing medical team at the Alfred. 🕯️🩵

View full thread

Stephen McDonell reposted

The China-Global South Project
@chinagsproject.bsky.social

The U.S. military said on Friday it will ban vehicles made by Chinese EV maker BYD from an air base in Japan, saying their presence posed a security risk.

chinaglobalsouth.comU.S. Military Bans BYD Vehicles From Strategic Air Base in JapanThe U.S. military said on Friday it will ban vehicles made by Chinese EV maker BYD from an air base in Japan, saying their presence posed a security risk. The ban will begin at the Kadena Air Base on ...

Stephen McDonell reposted

darth™️
@darthbluesky.bsky.social

hmmmm...not sure one person giving half a billion dollars to one party is a great sign of a healthy political system just not quite on board with that

David Gura@davidgura.bsky.social

NEW, from Bloomberg News: “Elon Musk has now given more than $445 million in the current election cycle.”

bloomberg.comMusk Giving Tops $445 Million in Midterm Election Push for GOPWith a fresh infusion of cash to his super political action committee in the first two weeks of October, Elon Musk has now given more than $445 million in the current election cycle and become one of ...

Stephen McDonell reposted

Twang 🍉
@twangmaker.bsky.social

Joel Fitzgibbon has been lobbying for Ben Roberts-Smith since at least April. He appeared on Murdoch News 24 multiple times and called 2GB at least twice. Never once did the media tell their audience that Fitzgibbon is being paid by the weapons industry, and this is a coordinated campaign. #auspol

Twang 🍉@twangmaker.bsky.social

Labor Party guy Joel Fitzgibbon was once Australia's Minister of Defence. Now he works for lobbying firm CMAX. He lobbies for military and oil companies: • Navantia (navy ships) • Electro Optic (space/military) • Raytheon (weapons) • Stryker (weapons) • SYPAQ (drones) • Emperor (Oil & Gas) #auspol

Stephen McDonell reposted

Jay Kuo
@nycjayjay.bsky.social

A billionaire wanted a Trump pardon. His family gave Trump’s former lawyer a $50 million job while she still worked at DOJ. Weeks later, he got his pardon. Wait. Is that legal? My write-up in the link in the comments.

Stephen McDonell
@stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

#Australia and how much company tax the big boys pay there…

Dr Alex Wodak AM@alexwodak.bsky.social

Congratulations #Santos Pty Ltd reporting income $A5.1 billion last financial year & paying [drumroll] .. (checks notes) $0 #companytax! That’s $A0 but also $US0! Well done Santos! #auspol @albomp.bsky.social @jimchalmers.bsky.social @allegraspender.bsky.social @mingthemercyless.bsky.social

Stephen McDonell reposted

Shipwreck
@shipwreck75.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2026/10/21/u...

nytimes.comU.S. and Israel Draw Up Plans for Renewed Strikes on Iran After Elections (Gift Article)Renewed hostilities might not be any more successful than the war’s first phase, and President Trump has repeatedly canceled plans for a return to major combat.
Shipwreck@shipwreck75.bsky.social

The U.S. and Israeli militaries have developed specific plans for renewed strikes against Iran after the American midterm elections, according to U.S. officials and other people briefed on the deliberations.

Stephen McDonell reposted

Scott Horton
@robertscotthorton.bsky.social

The Republican speaker of the Ohio House is calling out JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy for their morally depraved closing arguments attacking the Democratic candidate for governor based on the fact that she was raped by her stepfather.

Stephen McDonell
@stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

This is so sad. #Australia

Josh Butler@joshbutler.bsky.social

Helen Haines' husband, Phil, speaks from hospital: says she has lost both legs "Both her heart and her mind are in good shape" thanks her staff, locals who responded, paramedics, hospital staff "Helen's road to recovery will be long & difficult, but we know she is a fighter"

Stephen McDonell reposted

Austin Ramzy
@austinramzy.bsky.social

WSJ: Elon Musk ordered the slowdown of a military-grade version of Starlink relied on by Ukraine, a decision that sparked panic in Kyiv and confusion inside the Trump administration, U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter said www.wsj.com/world/ukrain...

wsj.comExclusive | Musk Ordered Starlink Slowdown That Blindsided UkraineThe SpaceX founder authorized the move and has been discussing Ukraine with Trump, but the president has denied ordering the restrictions.