The Diplomat | Author
Zhuoran Li
Zhuoran Li is a Ph.D. candidate in China studies and a research assistant at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University. His work has been featured in The Diplomat and the National Interest, and he has appeared on Vox News.
Zhuoran Li is a Ph.D. candidate in China studies and a research assistant at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University. He received his BA at the University of Virginia and MA at SAIS. His research interests include Chinese politics, Japanese politics, and East Asian security and diplomacy. His works have been featured in The Diplomat, SAIS China Studies Review, and the National Interest, and he has appeared on Vox News.
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March 29, 2023
China’s Lackluster Vaccination Drive: A Tale of Local Cadre Incentives
By Zhuoran Li
Why was China’s vaccination campaign so little, so late? The key lies in understanding cadres’ daily working routine under Xi Jinping.
March 16, 2023
Beyond ‘Wolf Warriors’: China’s Multidimensional Diplomacy
By Zhuoran Li
The case of the Sino-Japanese thaw in 2018 shows how China pursues foreign policy flexibility through ties with foreign political parties, individual politicians, and business leaders.
March 02, 2023
The Future of the China-US Chip War
By Zhuoran Li
Beijing sees no choice but to have the state take control of its tech industry amid U.S. pressure. But past experience shows that the big semiconductor push will bring complications.
January 07, 2023
How Beijing Accidentally Ended the Zero COVID Policy
By Zhuoran Li
China’s central government aimed to modify the zero COVID policy incrementally following the 20th Party Congress. What went wrong?
November 15, 2022
China’s Performative Zero-COVID Policy
By Zhuoran Li
To bolster their standing during the pandemic, local cadres are putting a new twist on the concept of performative governance.
October 26, 2022
China’s Gradual Reform Dilemma
By Zhuoran Li
Numerous efforts to rebalance the Chinese economy, including Xi Jinping’s, have failed. Why?
October 08, 2022
The CCP’s Changing Understanding of the Soviet Union’s Collapse
By Zhuoran Li
The CCP has always been invested in avoiding the fate of its Soviet counterpart. But Chinese leaders’ lessons from the Soviet collapse have changed over the years.
September 26, 2022
The End of Senior Politics in China
By Zhuoran Li
Xi Jinping is the first leader since 1978 not to be constrained by powerful elders in the CCP.
July 15, 2022
Chinese Feminists Caught Between a Rock and the Party
By Zhuoran Li and Jennifer Lee
The CCP has tacitly encouraged cyber bullying of Chinese feminists to prevent the movement from gaining ground.
June 17, 2022
China’s Diplomatic Campaign Following Russia’s Ukraine Invasion
By Zhuoran Li
China’s diplomatic outreach is more aimed at advancing Beijing’s Indo-Pacific interests than drumming up support for Moscow.
June 02, 2022
What Does ASEAN Centrality Mean to China?
By Zhuoran Li
Beijing pays frequent lip service to the idea, but it also poses significant challenges to China’s Southeast Asian ambitions.
May 28, 2022
Despite High Ambition, China’s Media Influence Operation Is Far From Successful
By Zhuoran Li and Gavin Xu
A case study of CGTN reveals how bureaucracy and a flawed incentive structure is holding the state media outlet back from true influence power.