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.
Tibetan Language, Epic, and the Bards Safeguarding Heritage
By Tim Thurston
There is a veritable cottage industry of cultural production related to the Gesar epic.
China’s Growing Concerns Over India-US Relations
By Rahul Mishra
Beijing wants to believe that friction with Trump will push India toward China. That’s a flawed assumption – but one that speaks to Chinese anxieties.
China’s Pivot to ‘Small and Beautiful’ Foreign Aid
By Gu Bin and Zou Renge
Beijing is responding to past international criticism and a domestic economic slowdown while offering a cost-effective tool to deepen influence in the Global South.
China’s System of Mass Arbitrary Detention
By Angeli Datt
New research analyzing 1,545 prison sentences echoes U.N. concerns that arbitrary detentions “may constitute crimes against humanity.”
At ‘Two Sessions,’ Beijing Signals Greater Protections for Delivery Riders
By Vincent Chow
As China’s gig economy booms, the government is pushing to expand social security coverage for these informal workers.
Should Beijing Get Credit for Incubating DeepSeek?
By Zhen Zhang and Adam Y. Liu
China’s tech startups have followed a distinct development path – one shaped by local governments. Hangzhou, home to DeepSeek, is a prime example.
Why a Possible Trump-Putin Rapprochement Is Good for China
By Justyna Szczudlik
Whatever the U.S. intentions, the outcome of the Russia-U.S. dialogue would be beneficial for China.
China’s Soft Power Play: Can Fashion and Digital Influencers Reshape Its Global Image?
By Xing Jiahui
China is experimenting with a new formula for soft power by integrating fashion, digital influencers, and lifestyle branding.
Visa-Free Policies Help Bring Foreign Tourists Back to China
By Vincent Chow
Beijing has made a concerted push to attract foreign visitors back to China after the pandemic. Those efforts are paying off.
What Will a Conservative CDU-led Coalition in Germany Mean for China?
By Muhammad Murad
Friedrich Merz has a reputation for being tough on China, but the need to accommodate a coalition partner and headwinds from Trump's trade wars could rein in those impulses.
What Do Chinese Analysts Think of Trump’s China Policy Thus Far?
By Hemant Adlakha
Contrary to Beijing’s expectations, China seemed to have been let off easy in the early days of the Trump 2.0 presidency. Will that last?
As the TPP Gets a New Leader, What’s Next for Taiwan’s Latest Third Party?
By Brian Hioe
Can the Taiwan People’s Party survive the imprisonment of its founder, Ko Wen-je?