Latest China Brief Articles
The CCP Strengthens Control over the Judiciary
Chinese President Hu Jintao’s administration has boosted the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) control over the judiciary, a move designed to enhance Beijing’s ability to maintain stability and to crack down on dissent. More powers have been given to the party’s Central Political and Legal Affairs... MORE
The Pentagon-PLA Disconnect: China’s Self Assessments of Its Military Capabilities
Sun Tzu’s admonition “Know the enemy and know yourself” is a fundamental tenet of Chinese military strategy [1]. The books On Military Campaigns and The Science of Military Strategy include it as the first of 10 principles of war [2]. Moreover, Military Strategy reverses the... MORE
Energy Implications of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake
The May 12, 8.0-magnitude earthquake that struck southwest China with its epicenter at Wenchuan County in Sichuan province imposed a heavy death toll that so far has reached almost 70,000 with more than 17,000 still missing (People’s Daily, June 17). More than a month after... MORE
China and Thailand: Enhancing Military-Security Ties in the 21st Century
This week Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was in China for a 4-day visit, his first since taking office in January. Samak, who is concurrently defense minister, met with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral military ties. Although... MORE
Nepal Following China’s Economic Path
Two years following the peace agreement that brought an end to 11 years of Maoist insurgency against government forces in Nepal, Girija Prasad Koirala, Nepal’s interim prime minister, has resigned on June 26, paving the way for a Maoist-led government under Communist Party of Nepal... MORE
China Flexes Its Muscles on Wall Street Part III: Currency Wars?
The value of the Chinese yuan, or RMB, has been a sore spot in U.S.-China relations in recent years. Faced with a massive $256.3 billion trade deficit with China for 2007 that has increased over three times since 2000 ($83.8 billion) and continues to increase... MORE
Blowback from Zimbabwe: China’s Faltering Strategy on Arms Exports
On May 17 Zimbabwean Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga confirmed that a shipment of arms aboard the Chinese vessel An Yuejiang had arrived in Harare (The Weekender, May 17). Some sources claimed the cargo was offloaded in the Democratic Republic of Congo and some Angola,... MORE
South Africa and China: Forging Africa’s Strategic Partnership
Ten years of official diplomatic relations between the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa have been marked by a multitude of milestones in both countries. From a period of no official ties to limited interaction between the South African and Chinese... MORE
Leadership Shuffle in Chinese Provinces
A wave of hi-level leadership shuffles in 10 Chinese Communist Party (CCP) provincial and city committees occurred at the level of deputy provincial party secretary, provincial party standing committee, deputy provincial governor and other upper echelons of the party, many young officials were also promoted... MORE
PAP: The Rise of the Party’s Army
Following the crackdown on Tibetan protesters in March, President Hu Jintao issued a call for “greater security guarantees” against protesters and other disruptive forces in the run up to the August Olympic games. At the same time, the official news bulletin of the People’s Armed... MORE