Taiwan’s 2024 elections were not just about China Wei-ting Yen - January 31, 2024 These five points help decode the January election outcome.
Good to Know: The U.S. commitment to Taiwan Jeremy Wallace - January 10, 2024 U.S.-Taiwan relations are complicated. Here's an explainer.
Back to face-to-face: What you need to know about the Biden-Xi summit Jeremy Wallace - November 16, 2023 Talk between nuclear-armed superpowers is usually a good thing.
Are U.S.-China relations on the mend? Jeremy Wallace - October 19, 2023 Tensions remain, despite efforts to boost bilateral talks.
What China’s economic slowdown means for the world Jeremy Wallace - September 20, 2023 It’s a slowdown, not a collapse.
‘Great power competition’ is a dangerous narrative for U.S. foreign policy Stacie Goddard - September 20, 2023 We need a more nuanced approach.
These were our 10 most popular posts of 2022 E.J. Graff - December 30, 2022 The Monkey Cage 2022 roundup: Top 10
Leaders around the world made bold moves in 2022. They didn’t always succeed. Elizabeth N. Saunders - December 29, 2022 The TMC 2022 roundups: The international beat
Why protesters are targeting Xi Jinping for China’s ‘zero covid’ failures Jeremy Wallace - November 30, 2022 Protests across China reveal the depth of anger and frustration over strict government lockdown policies
Chinese protesters are out in record numbers. What changed? William Hurst - November 28, 2022 Five typical grievances tend to ignite street protests in China. Before the weekend, there was little overlap between the various strands of protest.
What has changed between China and Taiwan? Scott L. Kastner - November 10, 2022 Even before the latest surge in tensions, the risk of conflict in the Taiwan Strait was on the rise
China’s top leadership excludes women for the first time in two decades Shan-Jan Liu - November 10, 2022 Is Xi Jinping’s new all-male Politburo backing away from the communist party’s commitment to advancing women?
In the Middle East and North Africa, people are worrying about food Michael Robbins and Amaney Jamal - October 6, 2022 Five things to know from Arab Barometer’s latest survey
China and India weren’t critical of Putin’s war. Did that change? Rohan Mukherjee - September 26, 2022 Neither country was inclined to defend a global order that denies their status aspirations, but the war’s impact may be forcing a rethink
Sri Lanka can’t count on China to solve its debt problems Layna Mosley and Peter Rosendorff - September 12, 2022 The country owes a lot of money to a lot of creditors
Russia wants to put Syria back in control of humanitarian aid Jesse Marks / Managing Editor - August 30, 2022 Abandoning the U.N.-established cross-border aid routes could put millions of Syrians at risk
Taiwanese people will be reassured by Pelosi’s visit, research says Yao-Yuan Yeh, Fang-Yu Chen, Charles K.S. Wu, and Austin Horng-En Wang - August 2, 2022 A high-level visit might boost confidence in U.S. security commitments
Why further sanctions against North Korea could be tough to add Andrew Yeo - July 5, 2022 If Pyongyang carries out a seventh nuclear test, don’t expect China and Russia to back U.N. Security Council moves
How far have human rights in Hong Kong eroded? We measured. Stephen Bagwell, Meridith LaVelle, and K. Chad Clay - June 30, 2022 The national security law imposed in 2020 marked a big change.
California – not Biden – is leading U.S. climate cooperation with China Jeremy Wallace - June 3, 2022 Beijing sees California as a global climate leader
Putin just tested a new long-range missile. What does that mean? Caitlin Talmadge - April 23, 2022 Arms control helped ensure that this was a ‘nonevent’
Ukraine invasion tests the relationship between Russia and China Elizabeth Wishnick and Andrew Taffer - March 14, 2022 Their ‘unlimited’ partnership may have some limits after all
There’s a reason Putin can be so aggressive: Oil. Jeff D. Colgan and Jessica Weeks - February 27, 2022 Putin’s personalist rule leaves few domestic checks on his power.
Trump’s trade war with China failed. Why didn’t U.S. companies push back more? Robert Kubinec, Lindsay Dolan, Jiakun Zhang, and Daniel Nielson - February 16, 2022 Research suggests partisan views — not the added costs of U.S. tariffs — shaped how firms responded
When Xi and Putin declared a united front against the United States Stacie Goddard - February 8, 2022 A February 2022 joint statement reveals strong views about sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Beijing issued a white paper on China’s space program. Here’s what’s new. R. Lincoln Hines - February 1, 2022 China wants to shape international rules governing activities in outer space
Africa’s leaders often welcome Chinese private investment. How do African citizens feel? Xiaonan Wang, Margaret Pearson, and John McCauley - December 9, 2021 New research on over 400 projects shows how these investments can backfire politically.
North Korea is addressing the pandemic in its ‘style.’ That means leaving a lot of people hungry. Andrew Yeo - November 17, 2021 Tightly closed borders and sanctions against the government are adding to people’s suffering
The U.S. and China agreed to work together on climate action. What would push this cooperation forward? Dimitar Gueorguiev - November 12, 2021 Surveys reveal that Chinese citizens want their government to address climate risks
China’s nuclear arsenal is growing. What does that mean for U.S.-China relations? M. Taylor Fravel and Fiona S. Cunningham - November 10, 2021 The new Pentagon report reveals China’s worries about U.S. missile defenses.
How Xi Jinping could rule China for life Ling Li - November 10, 2021 Claiming the title of party chairman would put the president in a league with Mao Zedong
China’s Evergrande is in trouble. But so is China’s top-down political economy. Susan H. Whiting - October 21, 2021 4 things to know about the distortions behind the real estate crisis
What did China test in space, exactly, and why? James J. Cameron - October 20, 2021 These components would probably boost China’s nuclear deterrence
The World Bank had to scrap its popular business report. That says a lot about the politics of numbers. Lukas Linsi - October 15, 2021 Economic statistics are far more ambiguous — and malleable — than most people realize.
Would China’s move to join this transpacific trade pact push the U.S. to rejoin? It’s complicated. Kristen Hopewell - September 27, 2021 Membership would probably place China firmly at the center of regional and global supply chains.
U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods didn’t bring companies back to the U.S., new research finds Samantha A. Vortherms and Jiakun Zhang - September 22, 2021 These tariffs instead resulted in collateral damage to the U.S. economy
After an employee’s allegations went viral, will Chinese companies adopt anti-harassment policies? Yixin Ren and Darius Longarino - September 16, 2021 Public outrage over the story may be prompting more employers to address sexual misconduct
Most Russians like China more than they like Europe or the U.S. But not Gen Z. Michal Onderco and Michal Smetana - September 1, 2021 Attitudes vary by age, gender and politics — and especially by how people feel about Putin
Has Japan’s policy toward the Taiwan Strait changed? Adam P. Liff - August 17, 2021 Its approach is far more stable and nuanced than recent headlines suggest
5 ways the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan will hurt Pakistan Fahd Humayun - August 16, 2021 Pakistan’s relationship with its own religious groups — and with Washington — just got more complicated
Commercial satellites — not U.S. intelligence — revealed China’s missile program Theo Milonopoulos and Erik Lin-Greenberg - August 2, 2021 Here’s the real challenge when governments no longer control sensitive information
Can the U.S. and India depend on each other? Christopher Clary - August 1, 2021 Here are the takeaways from the July 2021 bilateral meetings.
Nobody can go to the Tokyo Olympics. So why is the government going ahead with them? Phillip Y. Lipscy and Daniel M. Smith - July 18, 2021 The political stakes are high, as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga must face voters in a general election this fall
The Cold War is a poor analogy for today’s U.S.-China tensions Jessica Chen Weiss - July 11, 2021 That view ignores China’s deep challenges — and the strength of U.S. diplomacy
One year on, here’s how China’s national security law has changed Hong Kong Maggie Shum - June 30, 2021 The government has used the law to crack down on freedoms of protest, speech and academic research, using the judiciary to maintain social control.
Don’t panic about China’s new nuclear capabilities James M. Acton - June 30, 2021 The U.S. government probably isn’t panicking, either
Two of China’s Belt and Road projects reveal a flaw in the G-7′s new global financing plan Alvin Camba - June 28, 2021 For some countries, megaprojects have political and infrastructure goals
The G-7 wants to mobilize new global financing as an alternative to China’s multilateral push Jonathan Kay, Christopher Kilby, and Ayse Kaya - June 15, 2021 Our research examines loans from the Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Beijing wants a baby boom. Its new three-child policy probably won’t make one happen. Yun Zhou - June 6, 2021 Here’s what women think about the end of the one-child policy
Democrats and Republicans seem to agree about one foreign policy point: Getting tough on China Rachel Myrick - June 4, 2021 But research suggests that U.S. concerns about a rising China won’t bring Democrats and Republicans closer together
South Korea rebuffed Trump. Here’s why it might cooperate with Biden. Ramon Pacheco Pardo - May 20, 2021 The Moon government might be interested in joining ‘the Quad,’ if doing so doesn’t openly antagonize China
China’s ‘wolf warrior’ diplomats like to talk tough Yaoyao Dai and Luwei Rose Luqiu - May 11, 2021 We analyzed 20 years of Chinese Foreign Ministry transcripts to track the increase in hostile language
Did the pandemic shake Chinese citizens’ trust in their government? We surveyed nearly 20,000 people to find out. Cary Wu - May 5, 2021 Children walk outside the Forbidden City during the Labor Day
Why do some Muslim-majority countries support China’s crackdown on Muslims? Jonathan Hoffman - May 3, 2021 Western countries have condemned the repression in Xinjiang, but Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt praised China’s efforts to restore ‘safety and security’
China’s Belt and Road Initiative invests in African infrastructure — and African military and police forces Natalie Herbert - April 29, 2021 China is looking to protect its economic investments and build its reputation as a world power
Huawei is trying to avoid U.S. sanctions. That may change the U.S.-China tech rivalry in Africa. Henry Tugendhat - April 29, 2021 The company’s new mobile phone operating system sets up a battle between U.S. and Chinese tech firms over what Africans can see, hear, read and say.
Was China behind last October’s power outage in India? Here’s what we know. Fiona Cunningham - April 28, 2021 Despite the conflict along the Indian border, China had reasons to avoid a cyberattack
China’s backlash against Western brands may be short-lived Kecheng Fang - April 21, 2021 Not everyone in the Chinese government wants to see H&M and other foreign companies canceled
Chinese leaders boast about China’s rising power. The real story is different. Yuen Yuen Ang - April 12, 2021 A closer read of embedded clues in China’s political communications reveals caution and insecurity
Americans are divided over boycotting the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Here’s the data. Craig Kafura - April 11, 2021 Many Americans later regretted the decision not to participate in the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics
China and Russia announced a joint pledge to push back against dollar hegemony Carla Norrlof - April 8, 2021 Controlling the world’s reserve currency gives the U.S. government a powerful lever to police geopolitical behavior
Western nations sanctioned China. Chinese media made the most of the criticism over Xinjiang. Jamie Gruffydd-Jones - March 31, 2021 Beijing has long capitalized on foreign pressure on human rights
China and Iran announced a new economic and security partnership. That’s not as alarming as it sounds. Lucille Greer and Esfandyar Batmanghelidj - March 31, 2021 China has similar deals with a number of Middle Eastern countries
North Korea conducted more missile tests. What happens next? Patricia M. Kim - March 27, 2021 The Biden administration faces three big challenges on the Korean Peninsula
A woman won a landmark #MeToo case in China. Why is winning so hard? Darius Longarino - March 19, 2021 China’s legal system puts survivors of sexual harassment at a disadvantage
Will Chinese funding help strengthen Africa’s climate change response? It’s complicated. Michael Addaney - March 18, 2021 Belt and Road-linked projects could boost infrastructure development — and industrialization
African countries are helping China go green. That may have a downside for Africans. Meredith DeBoom - March 12, 2021 Namibians could pay the price for cleaner energy in China.
These two African railway megaprojects tell us a lot about China’s development model Maria Adele Carrai - March 4, 2021 Surprisingly, local rules matter more than Chinese government guidelines
Don’t believe the hype about China’s ‘vaccine diplomacy’ in Africa Lina Benabdallah - March 4, 2021 Chinese medical experts have been sharing expertise and assistance throughout Africa for decades.
Rumors are flying that China is behind the coup in Myanmar. That’s almost certainly wrong. Enze Han - March 1, 2021 But if the Myanmar crisis turns into a great power confrontation, China might back the generals.
The pandemic has worsened Africa’s debt crisis. China and other countries are stepping in. Yufan Huang, Kevin Acker, and Deborah Bräutigam - February 25, 2021 Chinese banks have been restructuring African debt for the past two decades
The U.S. and Russia kept a bilateral nuclear weapons deal alive. The harder part comes next. James J. Cameron - February 1, 2021 These five developments make arms control agreements even more complicated
China sent masks, gloves and gowns to many U.S. states. Here’s who benefited. Sebastian S. Schmidt, Lennart Kaplan, Krisztina Kis-Katos, Felix Turbanisch, and Andreas Fuchs - January 27, 2021 Critics of Beijing’s ‘mask diplomacy’ may have overlooked long-established sister-state ties
Iran and Turkey have become drone powers James Rogers - January 27, 2021 Drones have become the weapon of choice around the world.
Mike Pompeo accused China of committing ‘genocide,’ an international crime. Biden’s team agrees. Jessica Chen Weiss - January 22, 2021 This probably won’t lead to prosecutions but it will hurt China in the court of public opinion
China’s leaders say that Biden offers a ‘new window of hope.’ Their experts are more skeptical. Kacie Miura and Jessica Chen Weiss - January 21, 2021 Beijing is likely to seek short-term stability as it anticipates a long-term advantage
In Hong Kong, dozens of arrests for pro-democracy activities will have a chilling effect Maggie Shum - January 12, 2021 4 things to know about Hong Kong’s political future.
Biden will inherit Trump’s trade war with China. What do Americans really think about tariffs? Richard Clark and Don Casler - December 7, 2020 New research suggests that free trade may be far more popular than many politicians want to believe.
U.S.-China competition may be a win-win for Africa Naunihal Singh, Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny, and E. Gyimah-Boadi - November 19, 2020 Afrobarometer surveys find many Africans approve of U.S. and Chinese investment in the continent.
Huawei has an advantage in its push for global dominance. Now the U.S. is trying to counter it. Jordan Link - November 19, 2020 USAID announced a financing plan to help countries buy from other telecom vendors
15 countries just signed the world’s largest trade pact. The U.S. isn’t one of them. Kristen Hopewell - November 15, 2020 Will the U.S. economy suffer as nations in the Asia-Pacific region get closer?
How China and Germany became partners on technical standardization Sarah Eaton and Daniel Fuchs - November 15, 2020 The U.S. is waging war on China’s tech sector. Germany chose another route.
How China sees the U.S. policy of ‘strategic ambiguity’ in the Taiwan Strait Jie Dalei - October 15, 2020 Changes in U.S. policy have heightened Beijing’s concerns about an incremental drift toward Taiwan independence.
China is getting tough with Taiwan. How will that affect U.S. policy? Steven M. Goldstein - October 1, 2020 The U.S. posture of “strategic ambiguity” has helped keep the peace for decades
China announced new climate goals. But it can’t quit coal just yet. Joanna Lewis - September 28, 2020 Stringent domestic targets will be key to transforming a massive, carbon-intensive economy.
Trump got it wrong at the U.N. America can’t counteract China without global institutions. Rebecca Lissner - September 25, 2020 Future international orders may look quite different.
The Trump administration sanctioned China for detaining 1 million Uighurs. Here’s what Americans think. Nazita Lajevardi and John Kuk - September 20, 2020 They approve of sanctions but don’t want a war
The State Department says the Chinese Communist Party controls Chinese companies. It’s not that simple. Meg Rithmire - September 7, 2020 State-funded Chinese firms at times actually subvert Beijing’s interests.
The State Department labeled China’s Confucius programs a bad influence on U.S. students. What’s the story? Naima Green-Riley - August 24, 2020 Concerns over the ideological threat of these programs may be overblown
The U.S. Navy’s RIMPAC 2020 maneuvers bring 20 ships and 10 Pacific nations together Nicole Jenne and Jun Yan Chang - August 17, 2020 The world’s largest maritime exercise may be more about showcasing defense capacity — and less about military diplomacy
China’s covid-19 stimulus plan isn’t as green as it looks Nives Dolšak, Hanjie Wang, and Aseem Prakash - August 3, 2020 Jobs and social stability will probably become Beijing’s higher policy priorities
The U.S. has dialed up the rhetoric on Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea Todd H. Hall - July 24, 2020 The verbal escalation of this dispute may make it harder to find offramps
Beijing increasingly relies on economic coercion to reach its diplomatic goals Gloria Xiong - July 23, 2020 Here’s why this type of retaliation may turn out to be more symbolic than powerful
Four things to know about the U.S. decision to close the Chinese consulate in Houston Jessica Chen Weiss and Elizabeth N. Saunders - July 22, 2020 Trump administration’s latest move could make it harder to repair the U.S.-China rift
Europe’s new privacy ruling will help fragment the global economy Daniel S. Hamilton - July 22, 2020 Companies may soon scramble to shift certain kinds of data from the U.S. to the E.U.
Trump-era racist rhetoric makes Chinese students in the U.S. less supportive of democracy Yiqing Xu and Jennifer Pan - July 17, 2020 Here’s what our research found.
How China’s new national security law will hobble Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement Maggie Shum - July 13, 2020 Protesters and candidates face new risks
The Trump administration is curtailing visas for Chinese scientists. That could backfire. Caroline S. Wagner - June 26, 2020 Excluding foreign researchers and students hurts U.S. innovation — and coronavirus collaboration
Trump’s decision to pull U.S. out of WHO will boost China’s influence Yanzhong Huang - June 22, 2020 The organization will probably look to Beijing for funding and leadership support
China’s making inroads in the Middle East. The Trump administration isn’t happy. Jonathan Fulton - June 2, 2020 But U.S. pressure to reject China could bring out a great power rivalry in the region