How has Ukraine built one of the world's most effective drone warfare capabilities? One of the topics discussed in my latest #podcast interview with Professor Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Dublin City University. Listen at the links in the reply 👇

"By framing a de facto quarantine as enforcement of domestic maritime law, Beijing is exploiting legal ambiguity and complicating international response options."

Probing more deeply, it reveals how democracies can become dependent on authoritaian powers without even realizing it. #Rusal #ASKRussianTradingCompany #sanctions

The Aughinish Alumina story isn't just about alumina. It's about how democracies can become dependent on authoritarian powers - and how difficult it is to unwind those relationships 1/2.

The Aughinish story isn't just about alumina #geopolitics #Ireland #Ukraine

1/3 Is the Aughinish alumina story an unintended consequence of global supply chains, or does it expose a more concerning influence by an authoritarian state ? #Russia #Ukraine #sanctions

The European Parliament voted by a landslide (542 For, 37 Against, 79 Abstentions) to bolster EU ties with East Asia. Yet as Ireland takes on the EU Presidency, it remains an EU outlier as regards supporting the EEAS position and operating a trade office in Taiwan. #EU #Taiwan

2/3 In this episode I explore: • What actually happened • Why Japan and the Philippines are part of the story • What UNCLOS says about the waters around Taiwan • Why security experts believe these developments matter for the wider Indo-Pacific #Geopolitics #IndoPacific #ForeignPolicy

2/3 Why should Taiwan trust Beijing? What lessons should be learned from Hong Kong? Can dialogue coexist with deterrence? #crossstrait #TaiwanChinaRelations

🧵1/3 One of the most interesting aspects of KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun's recent US visit wasn't what she said—it was the questions she was asked. #Taiwan #China #KMT #AsiaSociety

Can engagement with Beijing preserve Taiwan's democracy? Or does it create new vulnerabilities? Following her meeting with Xi Jinping, Cheng Li-wun travelled to the US to make her case. We examine the key moments from her appearance at the Asia Society in New York. 🎧 The Washington Test ⏯️ 👇

Not sure how the UK miscalculation relates to Ireland, but according to IBEC/Baringa, existing data centres contributed to ~2% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 - a lot less than many other areas. Yes AI is inefficient for everyday computing, but it is also at a very early stage. People said...

Today marks 37 years since Tiananmen Square. To mark the anniversary, I’m re-sharing my conversation with Wu’er Kaixi—one of the leaders of the 1989 student movement. A powerful conversation on democracy, memory, censorship and China. #Tiananmen #podcast Listen below👇

🧵 37 years after Tiananmen Square, I’m revisiting one of the most powerful conversations I’ve had on Perspectives with Neilo. Wu’er Kaixi was one of the leaders of the 1989 student movement in Beijing.

Taiwan has overtaken India in stock market value to become the fifth largest in the world. And still, Ireland 🇮🇪 does not have a trade office in Taiwan 🇹🇼.

🧵 Yesterday's Business Post revealed that Ireland's AI tech imports from Taiwan have jumped 300% since 2024 making Ireland the "leading global conduit" for this critical technology. Yet, Ireland is an EU outlier when it comes to operating a trade office in Taiwan. Is Ireland losing out ?

According to @businesspost.bsky.social latest CSO data shows that Ireland's imports of AI hardware from Taiwan grew six-fold between 2023 and 2025 - with imports close to $3 billion in the first four months of 2026 alone! But Ireland still doesn't have a trade office in Taiwan!

🌍Ready to look at the world a little differently this weekend? ▶️Check out the latest conversations on Perspectives with Neilo. #Podcast podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

🧵 I recently attended the Irish premiere of A Foggy Tale, the acclaimed Taiwanese historical drama directed by Chen Yu-hsun at Dublin’s Savoy Cinema. #AFoggyTale #Taiwan #TaiwaneseCinema #FilmPodcast #HistoryPodcast

Chinese influence operations in Ireland are also increasing at local level - with county councillors sympathetic to China pushing for more engagement, seemingly unaware of the dangers of engaging with an authoritarian regime. #kerry

In early March, China's ambassador to Ireland wrote a letter to the Irish Times critizing Irish politicians for visiting Taiwan and meeting with democratically elected representatives. #Taiwan #China

Last November the same paper reported that a Chinese government delegation that included Luo Shugang, former leader of CCP propaganda ops, visited the Oireachtas and met behind closed doors with a number of Irish politicians. Verona Murphy called it a “benchmarking visit”.

🧵 The recent report on Verona Murphy - the Ceann Comhairle (speaker of the Irish Parliament) - being targeted by a suspected China influence operation is just one of many recent examples of CCP Interference in Ireland. #CCP #ChinaInterference

There is something very sinister when a regime like the CCP works to exclude a country of 23 million people from the World Health Organization. What if a powerful regime tried to exclude your country ? The only way the CCP can get away with this is if other countries let them. Support Taiwan!

UN2758 passed in 1971 merely notes that the PRC will take the place of the RoC when it comes to representing China at the UN. It doesn't mention Taiwan nor does it in anyway infer that Taiwan belongs to China. #UN2758

China unashamedly announced that it will again block Taiwan attending the WHA this year. #WHA #Taiwan China are also using the opportunity to spread its false message that its so-called 'one-China Principle' is somehow affirmed by UN 2758.

Is this diplomacy—or coercion? From Zambia to Eswatini, we examine China’s growing pressure to isolate Taiwan. What do you think? 🎧 Apple apple.co/4weBcrt Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/4pOV... SoundCloud on.soundcloud.com/muoBVWNtzo5n... #Geopolitics #Taiwan

Taiwan's President Lai makes a successful visit to Eswatini after his flight path was previously blocked by illegal CCP influence operations.

@irishtimes.com @irishexaminer.bsky.social @thejournal.ie So here’s the question: Why is Ireland not actively deepening its economic relationship with one of the fastest-rising, most strategically important economies in the world?

Sanchez was speaking in Beijing during ⁠a visit to China earlier in the week where he and President Xi Jinping pledged closer ties. How ironic!