Blog
China Power
China's rise inspires a mix of awe, fear and skepticism. But what will its global role be? Are we on the brink of a bipolar world? How will its neighbors respond? Will it all come crashing down? The Diplomat's daily China blog will try to find some answers.
Between Sisterhood and Surveillance: How the 4B Movement Came to China
By Ahana Roy
The South Korean movement rejecting heterosexual romance and childbirth has been reinterpreted by Chinese feminists navigating an authoritarian state.
Labubu Plushies Aren’t Just Toys. They’re a Brand New Frontier for Chinese Soft Power.
By Ming Gao
For the first time, an IP created in China has become a global consumer craze. And it happened entirely without central planning.
Obscured by Geopolitics, Taiwan’s Constitutional Crisis Simmers in the Background
By Lucy Best
Taiwan appears to be slated for more legislative gridlock, which implies further paralysis for its executive and judicial branches.
War in Iran: China’s Short- and Long-term Strategic Calculations
By Jianli Yang
Amid the Israeli and U.S. military strikes on Iran, China’s attempt to seize the moral high ground converges with its multilayered strategic calculations.
Is China Ready to Join CPTPP?
By Xiaoyang Zhang
And does it even need to?
What Democracies Get Wrong About Chinese AI
By Kai-Shen Huang
Democracies like Taiwan should be less worried about falling behind China’s AI progress, and more worried about the strategic vacuum Chinese technology exposes.
What Has Georgia Gained From Its Strategic Partnership With China?
By Revaz Topuria
The agreement allows Beijing to extend its diplomatic footprint in the South Caucasus at minimal cost, while for the Georgian government, it serves as a convenient geopolitical message.
Taiwan Adds New Export Controls on China’s Chip Industry
By Megha Shrivastava
The blacklisting of Huawei and SMIC signifies a conscious shift in Taiwan’s role from a neutral supplier in the tech ecosystem to an assertive actor.
Taiwan’s ‘Great Recall’ Moves Ahead – But Only Against the KMT
By Brian Hioe
An unprecedented nationwide movement will see 36 KMT legislators face a recall vote. The KMT, meanwhile, was unable to meet the benchmarks for a recall against any DPP lawmaker.
The Iran-Israel Conflict Drives Home the Importance of Gwadar for China
By Kashif Hasan Khan
With traditional shipping lanes from the Gulf in jeopardy, Gwadar Port in Pakistan is once again in focus.
Amid US Trade War, China and the EU Explore Economic Cooperation
By Muhammad Murad
The European Central Bank president's visit to China is the latest sign that Brussels and Beijing are seeking to mend ties.
Dig Deep Enough in Nicaragua, and You’ll Find China
By A. Bermúdez
China-linked companied are quietly expanding their hold on mining concessions in the Central American state.