Latest China Brief Articles

China’s Soft Sell: Is the World Buying?

The People’s Republic of China has been long fixated on the elements of hard power, particularly on assessing how China stacks up against other states in economic and military terms. This fixation has manifested itself as an obsession in Beijing with the concept of Comprehensive... MORE

Reconciliation: Israel’s Prime Minister in Beijing

Three Israeli leaders have visited the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in their capacities as prime ministers since the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries in January 1992. Rabin arrived in Beijing in October 1993, followed by Netanyahu who visited China twice,... MORE

In A Fortnight

BEIJING ENACTS DISCIPLINARY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES AT PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL LEVEL Beijing is increasingly worried that the large number of “mass incidents”—some 86,000 in 2005—may destabilize the country and threaten its ability to govern. In addition to the deployment of 80% of its police force... MORE

China Outlines Ambitious Objectives in its Defense White Paper

Beijing’s recently published “China’s National Defense in 2006” proposes an ambitious blueprint that would allow the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to catch up with the U.S. military in just a few decades. The defense white paper outlines multiple transformation objectives for each of the services... MORE

Competing Perceptions of the U.S. and Chinese Space Programs

In October 2006, both the United States and the People’s Republic of China released documents that dictated their policies toward the international use of space. Issued just a week apart, the “U.S. National Space Policy” (NSP) and the “China’s Space Activities in 2006” dealt with... MORE

Safety Challenges in China’s Coal Mining Industry

Coal extraction, by no means a safe endeavor, has had a particularly disastrous record in China. According to official statistics, more than 250,000 Chinese coal miners have died in mining accidents since the inception of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 [1]. In comparison,... MORE

Evaluating Trends in Central Military Commission Membership

By Leah Kimmerly Leadership ascension in China has long been an opaque and unpredictable process. The 17th Party Congress, due to convene this year, will present another opportunity for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to reshuffle its top leadership. Included in this will likely be... MORE

In A Fortnight

BEIJING ENACTS DISCIPLINARY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES AT PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL LEVEL Beijing is increasingly worried that the large number of “mass incidents”—some 86,000 in 2005—may destabilize the country and threaten its ability to govern. In addition to the deployment of 80% of its police force... MORE

China Outlines Ambitious Objectives in its Defense White Paper

Beijing’s recently published “China’s National Defense in 2006” proposes an ambitious blueprint that would allow the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to catch up with the U.S. military in just a few decades. The defense white paper outlines multiple transformation objectives for each of the services... MORE