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 Reality of Afghanistan’s Land Link With China
By Aarish U. Khan
Trade and transit directly to China through the Wakhan Corridor is a long-held dream for Afghan governments, but the logistics remain a major hurdle.
Can China Sustain Its Diplomatic Balance as Middle East Tensions Escalate?
By Aparna Divya
China has long enjoyed cordial relations with Israel, Iran, and the Arab states. That balance is more and more difficult to sustain.
Historical Anti-Japanese Demonstrations in China and the Recent Shenzhen Incident
By KAWASHIMA Shin
Why this time is different.
Debt or Diplomacy? Inside China’s Controversial Loans to Sri Lanka, Laos, and Malaysia
By Zdeněk Rod
Several cases are frequently cited when discussing China’s so-called debt trap diplomacy: Sri Lanka, Laos, and Malaysia. These examples shed light on how China’s strategy plays out in practice.
Nepal Urges China to Share Data Required for Flood Management
By Duncan Bartlett
Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology claims that China has been withholding vital information on glacial lakes under its control in Tibet.
China’s Authoritarian Pitch Gains Ground Globally
By Changwook Ju
New research shows China is remarkably effective in promoting its authoritarian governance to a global audience. The United States must up its game.
Blurred Boundaries: The Role of Chinese Companies in CCP Policy
By César Eduardo Santos
China’s advancement in the Central American region has largely been through Chinese companies – ones that are not usually considered among the main bearers of the CCP’s global influence.
Beijing’s Push to Welcome Foreign Talent
By Hannah Pedone
Two years after zero-COVID ended, China is now serious about attracting foreign talent, especially in the tech space. But challenges remain in practice.
In First, China Sentences a Taiwanese National to Prison on Separatism Charges
By Brian Hioe
China has issued warnings about legal charges against Taiwanese independence activists and politicians. Yang Chih-yuan became the first to actually be convicted.
From COVID-19 to Economic Stimulus: Why China Is Prone to Sudden Policy U-Turns
By Donald Low
While not as dramatic as China’s abandonment of the zero-COVID policy in late 2022, the underlying reasons for the surprising turn in economic policy are quite similar.
China’s Market Frenzy: Will the Euphoria Last or Fade Fast?
By Lizzi C. Lee
Beijing's policy pivots fueled a historic stock surge. Can this rally transform into a sustainable bull run, or will deep-rooted economic challenges cut it short?
The Boomerang Effect of Beijing’s Economic Censorship
By Yaqiu Wang
By suppressing negative content, the regime could blind itself to China’s economic reality and motivate citizens to seek out uncensored information.