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Zi Yang

Zi Yang

Zi Yang is an associate research fellow and Ph.D. candidate at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. His research interests include civil-military relations, China’s armed forces, and Chinese intelligence history. All views presented in this article are his own and do not reflect the opinions of any affiliated organization.

Currently, he is completing his Ph.D. dissertation on military defections to violent revolutionary movements.

Mr. Yang has taught courses and delivered lecturers to graduate students and security professionals on China’s domestic politics and military affairs. His academic writings on China have been published in journals such as the International Journal of Asian Studies, The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis, Civil Wars, Comparative Strategy, International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, Small Wars & Insurgencies, Intelligence and National Security, and Asia Policy. His research reports on Chinese defense and security have been published by renowned think tanks, such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Jamestown Foundation, the National Bureau of Asian Research, and RSIS. In addition, he has authored over 60 commentaries for diverse outlets.

Mr. Yang holds an M.A. in Asian Studies from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a B.A. in Global Affairs and History from George Mason University. He can be contacted via LinkedIn. 

 

Posts by Zi Yang
March 03, 2025

Zelenskyy at the White House: The Rapid Crumbling of US Leadership Creates a Golden Opportunity for China

By Zi Yang
Amid a near-complete reversal in U.S. foreign policy, more nations may look to China to fill the role that the United States once played – an unthinkable prospect just a few months ago. 

March 01, 2025

Making Sense of China’s Latest Naval Exercises in the Asia-Pacific

By Zi Yang
In less than a week, China initiated a series of naval drills in the South Pacific, Gulf of Tonkin, and off Taiwan’s southwest coast.
February 14, 2025

Trump’s Ukraine Peace Gambit: Consequences for Taiwan’s Security

By Zi Yang
The settlement of the Ukraine conflict in a manner reminiscent of the 1938 Munich Agreement could entice more states to resolve disputes militarily. Taiwan especially looks ever more vulnerable. 

January 30, 2025

Why DeepSeek Presents Serious Problems for China Researchers

By Zi Yang
DeepSeek’s adherence to CCP narratives goes beyond major sensitivities like the Tiananmen protests, potentially distorting understanding of the country – and even global affairs.

April 06, 2022

Russia’s Stalled Invasion of Ukraine: Lessons for China’s Leaders

By Zi Yang
Russia’s Ukraine invasion holds important takeaways for China about elite politics, foreign policy, and military affairs.

February 24, 2022

Interpreting China’s Policy Toward the Russia-Ukraine Crisis

By Zi Yang
Beijing has no interest in getting caught in the crossfire between Russia and the West.
May 19, 2020

The Invisible Threat to China’s Navy: Corruption

By Zi Yang
The arrest of CSIC’s chairman speaks to endemic corruption among China’s military shipbuilders. That spells trouble for the PLAN.

March 09, 2020

Cracks in the System: COVID-19 in Chinese Prisons

By Zi Yang
The spread of the disease in prisons reveals flaws in China’s epidemic countermeasures.

October 30, 2019

Decoding China’s Cryptography Law

By Zi Yang
A look at the security and commercial implications of the new law.

September 27, 2018

China’s Military Health Diplomacy

By Zi Yang
The 2018 Asia-Pacific Military Health Exchange helped China build ties with Asian states, but failed to thaw tensions with the United States.

September 17, 2018

Vostok 2018: Russia and China’s Diverging Common Interests

By Zi Yang
China and Russia are sending a message to the U.S. – and to each other – with their display of military might.
April 01, 2018

Are China’s Soldiers Psychologically Fit for Modern Wars?

By Zi Yang
An investigation of the state of mental health, and mental health services, in the People’s Liberation Army.

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