Perspectives with Neilo

1/2 The Aughinish story isn't really about alumina. It's about how democracies can become dependent on authoritarian powers—and how difficult it is to unwind those relationships once jobs, communities and politics become intertwined. #StrategicDependency #AughinishAlumina

@danobrien20 It was interesting to hear panelists from Eastern Europe speak at @MacGillSchool . For those countries, even though housing and cost of living issues also exist there, defense and security are the top priority.

Ireland Thinks monthly tracker poll shows little change in the issues that voters are most concerned about. Cost of living and housing are, as usual, the biggest issues by a distance. Immigration ranks third.

Assuming this is possible, what would happen to China's car export market afterward?

Arrested NATO intern accused by Belgium of spying for China, source says theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…

@SariArhoHavren The contrast with the lack of media coverage of the devastating flooding in China and loss of life there is remarkable. China state media are happy to cover events abroad as it distracts for events at home.

What does Beijing say about Ceuta? After all, we are talking about Beijing’s closest partner in the EU and NATO. 📌 Official reaction. At the July 31 MFA regular press conference, Mao Ning was asked about the mass entry of migrants into Ceuta and how China views Spanish-Moroccan coordination on migration. Mao replied only that China opposes illegal migration in any form, and that “all parties” should strengthen coordination and properly handle the issue. That’s the entirety of it: no condolences over the deaths (Xinhua and CCTV reported at least 41 drownings), no reference to Spanish sovereignty, and the “all parties” framing treats Madrid and Rabat on equal footing. Worth contrasting with the April 2026 Sánchez visit and the deepened comprehensive strategic partnership–the warmth doesn’t extend to taking Spain’s side here, likely because Beijing is also cultivating Rabat and is allergic to opining on contested-enclave sovereignty questions given its own. 📌Media coverage. Xinhua, CCTV, and others have covered it prominently but descriptively; crowds breaking the fence, swimmers crossing from Fnideq, the 41 drownings, with heavy use of dramatic video. No editorials yet, though one may follow. 📌 Social media commentary is more revealing: Weibo discussion is running hot with “Spain’s border completely collapsed” framing, viral clips of migrants entering homes and attacking shops, and strongly nativist takes including commentary insisting China must never import migrants and denouncing any Chinese experts who advocate immigration . So, the crisis is being consumed domestically less as a Spain story than as a cautionary tale about the “Western disorder” (西方之乱) frame.

@shetlerjones I'm sure Victor Gao's ego is partly to blame here.

Victor Gao is a prime example of how self defeating China’s international communication has become. What explains their incompetence?

@denisewu This also shows us how insecure the CCP actually are.

Sometimes, CCP makes Taiwan look so great on the global stage that it makes me blush! ☺️

@BilliBear3 @zhngshng186883 @D162Michele The number is less important than whether the local countries want them or not. And that's the part the CCP and their wumaos don't like!

@zhngshng186883 @PwNeilo @D162Michele There are 800 over military bases actually. 😅😂

Can someone explain why America has a “defence line” in Asia? Defending what exactly?!

@spotifypodcasts If you think Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights are worth defending, why not check out some of our recent podcasts over the long weekend▶️ open.spotify.com/show/6bSmuEu72…

@IDAIRELAND @dfatirl @ibec_irl .,..and still Ireland doesn't have a trade office in Taiwan 🇹🇼 unlike the majority of other EU states... even as Ireland hosts the EU presidency! @Ireland2026eu

@grok @nianzizzz @XH_Lee23 It is structured as the Party’s army while carrying the “people’s” name.

The PLA is the PRC’s primary armed force. The constitution says the armed forces belong to the people. Chinese law (National Defense Law) and CCP rules place them under the Party’s absolute leadership. Command runs through the Central Military Commission, chaired by the CCP general secretary. The core principle remains “the Party commands the gun.” It is structured as the Party’s army while carrying the “people’s” name.

This scene will only happen in China! National Flag Guard made way for pedestrians. They are called the PEOPLE’S Liberation Army for a reason.

@nianzizzz @XH_Lee23 @grok please clarify whether the PLA is strictly the army of the Chinese Communist Party or the army of the people of China?

@PwNeilo @XH_Lee23 你错了 解放军是中国人民的军队 所以他叫中国人民解放军 解放军就是中国人民组成的

@ProsperityIndex Why do you not include Taiwan ?

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@eoinyk Any "index" that doesn't include Taiwan in this day and age is not worth the paper its printed on!

Ireland is ranked #3 in this prosperity index. Hard to believe.

Because in China the CCP believes "that critical technical expertise belongs to the state, not the individual."

Your arrogance is remarkable! The Chinese Communist Party are no angels. Anyone thinking that is a fool, like its many members purged and disappeared. The CCP are the ones who fear any threat to their iron fisted control. That's why they suppress their own people and restrict their freedom. The CCP can never relax. Authoritarian regimes are vulnerable and history shows they always fall.

@PwNeilo @jacksonhinkle “我们可以做，但你不可以。” “我们这么做了几百年，但现在不做了。所以你不要对我们做那些我们对你做过的事。” 你们怕被报复，所以用道德来威胁中国。 很遗憾，中国没有必要听你们的。 中国会用自己的方式走上舞台。 放轻松，中国的手段会比你们这些伪善又恋童的种族灭绝者们温和得多。 接受就好

🇨🇳🇺🇸 "If you want to have war, you will get war. If you want to destroy China, you will be destroyed. If you want to impose nuclear war, you will be wiped out by nuclear war...." — Victor Gao

@Genesis90792145 @jacksonhinkle You are saying that because some western countries may have done bad things in the past then it's ok for China to do the same? Two wrongs do not make a right!

@PwNeilo @jacksonhinkle 我纳闷为什么西方国家会要求中国做那些它们自己都做不到的事。 白人在这几百年来的殖民、屠杀、奴隶贸易等政策直接导致了几亿人的死亡。 在巴勒斯坦和伊朗，这个数字直到现在还在不停增加。 而所有白人国家的精英阶层仍然不思悔改、一意孤行、狼狈为奸、助纣为虐。 而你仍在当你的主人的喉舌。😅

Declaring war on others is not good, but it's not the only measure of a country's behavior. How a country treats its own people and ethnic minorities (human rights) is equally important. How a country respects its neighbors and international rule of law - also very important. Has China done all that?

@PwNeilo @jacksonhinkle 因为不像美国和以色列，中国已经40多年没有真正卷入过战争了。 很显然，如果中国像美国一样fafo则会赢得所有西方国家的敬畏。 但中国却一直很克制，我也不知道为什么。

@stevenconlon Chinese companies must obey the CCP first, local law is secondary. If Temu were to be sanctioned by the EU, would we see Irish politicians fighting to defend their shady practices? Another Aughinish in the making?

Now why would Temu be doing that? These companies are here to undermine small businesses.

@QTtJRvL1nOH4pVa @XH_Lee23 What's the point in acknowledging something that is meaningless? The PLA are controlled by the CCP - a group of elites that are not even elected by the people.

@PwNeilo @XH_Lee23 赞成，但是至少在名字上承认了是人民的，在其他国家甚至都没有再名字上假装承认的可能