Latest China Brief Articles
At National People’s Congress, Strong Emphasis on Stability Militates Against Reform
The slogan “seeking progress in the midst of stability” sums up Premier Li Keqiang’s annual Government Work Report (henceforward- the Report) to the National People’s Congress (NPC), which opened in Beijing on Saturday, March 5. The major thrust of the Report centers on maintaining a... MORE
Military Operations Other Than War: Antidote to the PLA’s “Peace Disease”?
On January 31, the eve of the Chinese New Year national holiday, two People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels departed Guangzhou province to provide Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) to Tonga, which was struck by a massive tsunami earlier in the month (Xinhua Net, January... MORE
Gay in the PLA: Chinese Military Views on Homosexuals Serving in the Armed Forces
Introduction Chinese President Xi Jinping has identified the recruitment and retention of top-notch human capital as key to the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) transformation into a “world-class military” by mid-century. In late January 2022, under Xi’s guidance as chairman, China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) issued... MORE
Extensive China-EU Economic Linkages Persist Despite Growing Divide on Democracy and Human Rights
Introduction Trade is the most important element of the relationship between China and the European Union (EU). Although the COVID-19 pandemic has weakened the global economy, the EU remains China’s largest trading partner and China is the EU’s second-largest trade partner. In 2021, bilateral trade... MORE
Trouble in Paradise: China’s Influence and Unrest in the Solomon Islands
Introduction What began as a peaceful protest in the Solomon Islands against the government’s decision to switch formal diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China turned deadly in late November. The demonstrations morphed into a violent expression of overall dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s government.... MORE
City of Vice: Macau, Gambling, and Organized Crime in China
Introduction In November 2021 and January 2022, the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) Judiciary Police arrested 13 individuals involved in operating two separate casino VIP customer “junkets” for engaging in illegal gambling activities, running a criminal syndicate, and money laundering (Macau Judiciary Police, November 29,... MORE
All Necessary Measures: China’s Shifting Approach to U.S.-Taiwan Relations
Last month, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke briefly with Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te at the inauguration of President Xiaomara Castro in Honduras (Taiwan News, January 28). When asked about the public interaction between Harris and Lai, People’s Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of... MORE
China and Pakistan: Strains in the All-Weather Partnership?
Introduction China and Pakistan have formally launched Phase II of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship venture in China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). During Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Beijing on February 3-6 for the Winter Olympics, the two... MORE
Chinese Security Narratives in the New Afghan Context: Xinjiang and the Recycling of the “ETIM” Threat
Introduction In its latest report on the global terrorism threat, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) indicates that, following the Taliban takeover of power in Afghanistan, “terrorist groups enjoy greater freedom there than at any time in recent history” (UN Security Council, February 3). In... MORE
The Evolution of the PLA’s Enlisted Force: Training (Part Two)
Introduction On January 4, 2022, Chinese President and Central Military Commission Chairman Xi Jinping issued a mobilization order for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to begin its annual training cycle. In the directive, Xi called on the PLA to “closely track the evolution of technology,... MORE