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.
Bolivia Turns to China Amid Historic Economic Crisis
By Joseph Bouchard
Amid tensions with Washington, President Luis Arce's government is leaning heavily on Beijing for trade, investment, and economic support.
Will China Replace the US As Saudi Arabia’s Main Ally?
By Aparna Divya
Riyadh is trying to strike a balance between short-term economic benefits from China and its long-standing strategic alliance with the United States.
China and the Race for Nuclear Fusion
By Chris Qihan Zou
Nuclear fusion is the next frontier in both climate change and great power competition.
China’s AI Gambit: Old Tricks for a New Game
By Shaoyu Yuan
Rather than pushing the boundaries of innovation, Beijing seeks to mold existing AI technologies to fit its own socio-political objectives.
Taiwan’s LGBTQ Progress Under Lai Ching-te: From Rhetoric to Action
By Huynh Tam Sang and Phan Van Tim
With the DPP’s legacy on marriage equality as a springboard, President Lai should advance LGBTQ rights in Taiwan through a two-pronged strategy.
Will Iraq’s Prime Minister Sudani Visit China?
By Sardar Aziz
The Iraqi prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has been invited to Beijing, but it appears that the Iraqi side is reluctant. Why?
Hong Kong and Tiananmen: Erasing Memory in the Name of National Security
By Eric Wear and Anouk Wear
Hong Kong's vague and ambiguous concept of “national security,” imported from the mainland, is applied to arts and culture.
The New Reality of Dealing With a China in Decline
By Collins Chong Yew Keat
China’s rapid rise is slowing down, and incumbent global powers that have dominated political, military, and economic spheres for decades are scrambling to respond.
China’s Big Fund 3.0: Xi’s Boldest Gamble Yet for Chip Supremacy
By Lizzi C. Lee
The third phase of Beijing’s semiconductor policy aims to learn from past mistakes. As stakes rise, can Xi Jinping secure China’s tech future and cement his political-economic legacy?
China’s Energy Intensity and Carbon Intensity Targets Are All But Unachievable
By Rakshith Shetty
China is far behind on its international commitments for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions per unit of GDP.
China Expands Its Oil Ties in Iraq
By Sercan Çalışkan
China’s dominance in Iraq’s energy sector creates political interdependence between the two countries.
China Dials up Military, Economic Pressure Campaign Against Taiwan’s New President
By Brian Hioe
The tactics are familiar: military exercises, economic coercion, and pressure on Taiwanese celebrities.