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.
The Struggle Over Jimmy Lai’s Bail Is a Struggle Over Hong Kong’s Freedom of Expression
By Jerome A. Cohen
Bail has become the most immediate arena in which the ongoing struggle between China’s Communist Party and Hong Kong’s judicial system is taking place.
Is Institutionalism Still Useful in Elite China Political Analyses?
By Tristan Kenderdine
China's elite politics is ultimately unpredictable, but the party cadre system remains the most resilient political institution.
Sentences for ‘Hong Kong 12’ Spark Outrage From Pro-Democrats
By Jessie Lau
The case served as a flashpoint for Hong Kong's beleaguered pro-democracy movement.
Russia’s Romance With China Is All About Keeping Up Appearances
By Gabriel Gavin
Closer ties between Moscow and Beijing are worth more as a threat than a reality.
Taiwan Tightens Pandemic Measures After First Local COVID-19 Case Since April
By Nick Aspinwall
Taiwan is tightening borders as a new, more contagious variant of COVID-19 spreads around the world.
The Hong Kong National Security Law Is Reshaping Political Identities
By Simon Shen
The NSL has altered many long-standing allegiances and feuds within the different political identities in Hong Kong.
Ant Group’s Year of Reckoning?
By Eleanor Albert
The targeting of the fintech giant may be part politics, part personal, and part regulatory reform.
Tuwei, Luxury Brands, and the Pitfalls of Trying To Go ‘Local’
By Laura Grunberg and Yi Jing Fly
Tuwei culture has growing appeal among China's urban youth. But foreign brands have struggled to tap into that niche.
Politburo 2022 Candidate Analysis: Li Xi
By Tristan Kenderdine
The Communist Party secretary of Guangdong province is a near-lock for the Politburo Standing Committee come 2022.
A Forgotten Chinese Hero: Zhang Xueliang
By Chi Wang
The Xi’an Incident changed the course of Chinese history.
Sino-Cuban Relations: No ‘New Cold War’ in Havana
By Bradley J. Murg and Rasheed J. Griffith
If we were going to see a new Cold War in the Caribbean, it should have happened by now.
A Quantum Leap Forward: Chinese Influence Grows in Iraq’s Oil Market
By Sophie Zinser
A Chinese company is nearing a multibillion-dollar deal with Iraq's state-run oil marketing company.