Martin Thorley 马丁

1/20 The news about "Chinese agent" Christine Lee broke today. I've been following her case for some time & in fact she featured in my PhD thesis on UK-China hidden relations. She's appeared in stories by @thetimes & @GuidoFawkes before. Yet there's still a lot more to this case.

5/5 The article explains the background of geocriminality, how it differs from existing state use of criminal elements, and introduces specific forms – episodic geocriminality and systemic geocriminality. It includes examples from Russia, China, Iran and beyond.

4/5 The article has received positive academic feedback from those working in the field and the concept itself has been welcomed privately and publicly by partners working in security, intelligence and law enforcement.

1/5 I’m delighted to present an open access academic article introducing ‘Geocriminality’, published in @GI_TOC journal JIED with London School of Economics @LSEPress The way states instrumentalize criminal elements has evolved. jied.lse.ac.uk/articles/10.31…

With all the news, the ABSOLUTELY STAGGERING details of the #HKETO foreign interference trial are going unnoticed. Here's a 🧵 of some of the jaw-dropping details from the prosecution: 1. Defendants pour water under the door of the victim, then force entry (📽️ below) bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… 2. Defendants allegedly surveil victims' flat with an endoscopic camera. instagram.com/reels/DVicSKTj… 3. Defendant repeatedly knocked on the victim's door while claiming to be building maintenance in order to gain entry. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… 4. Defendants deliver package to the victim at their address while filming the encounter. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… 5. Defendant uses access to the Home Office ‘Atlas’ immigration database in order to obtain personal information. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… 6. Defendant attends anti-china protests using a fake police ID card. news.sky.com/story/city-of-… 7. Defendant sent a list of names back to handler in Hong Kong naming several UK lawmakers and HK pro-democracy supporters. Including @MPIainDS independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/… 8. Defendant allegedly paid £4,500 per month to record and track local pro-democracy campaigners. independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/… 9. Defendant and former Hong Kong Police officer discussed deploying local Chinese triads (14K) to “teach Mr. Cheng a lesson”. In a separate incident, pro-democracy protestors were beaten up in London’s Chinatown by the members from the same triad group. pulsehknews.com/20260311chu_fa… Please note that this work was allegedly commissioned and paid for by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office - Hong Kong's de facto 'embassy' in the UK. Let this serve as a rebuke to those who claim that a mega-embassy (with attendant increase in PRC diplomats) will have no impact on interference.

“When China Attacks: A Scenario.” My new book (in German) will be published by @CHBeckLiteratur on March 20, 2026. It is a hybrid of geopolitical analysis, counterfactual history and wake-up call. ➡️ Pre-order the German edition here: chbeck.de/fulda-china-an… /1

Transnational Repression: Italy orders expulsion of eight Chinese nationals on national security grounds following years of relentless surveillance, harassment and threats against prominent Chinese dissident and influencer @whyyoutouzhele Read more 👇 safeguarddefenders.com/en/blog/transn…

Read a sample of @METhorley's new book 'All That Glistens: Chinese Party-State Influence in Britain' and order at 25% discount here ➡️tinyurl.com/24rr45d9

1/14 Some initial details are now emerging around the arrest of an MP's partner today. A little analysis leads to some familiar networks but that isn't to allege wrongdoing among those mentioned It's being reported that David Taylor (partner of Labour MP Joani Reid) was arrested

FYI my publisher has kindly just made the book available with 25% off here: x.com/HurstPublisher…

14/14 This stuff isn't typically grand conspiracy style. It is elite networks, sometimes compromised by China's united front, sometimes by their own pursuit of wealth, sometimes both. It reaches most political parties & poses significant dangers - time to take things seriously.

13/14 For a clearer explanation with a little more space, do take a look at the book: it came out in December & explores 3 cases (UK nuclear energy, Chinese currency & the City, high value property), their ties to Chinese party-state influence & UK elites. hurstpublishers.com/book/all-that-…