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.
China’s Battle for Narratives in Africa
By Samir Bhattacharya and Yuvvraj Singh
China has built a media network to spread information to its advantage in a region that has increasingly become a theater of great power rivalry.
A Hong Kong University Launched the World’s First Large-Scale AI Model Earth Observation Satellite
By Sunny Cheung
This cutting-edge satellite showcases Hong Kong’s growing role in China’s space ambitions and highlights the city's strategic importance in technological development.
Is It Too Late for China’s Israel Policy?
By Vasilis Petropoulos
China gravely miscalculated the effect of its one-sided approach to the ongoing conflict on Israel. Now it may be too late for Beijing to make amends.
China’s Political Mobilization Challenge
By Josh Freedman
In the face of cadre overwork and citizen apathy, China’s leaders face a mobilizational challenge that raises the costs of achieving their domestic goals.
Why Bangladesh-China Defense Ties Are Poised to Strengthen After the Monsoon Revolution
By Khandakar Tahmid Rejwan and Scott N. Romaniuk
Beijing is keenly aware of the opportunities arising from the ouster of PM Sheikh Hasina, and will seek to strengthen its existing defense diplomacy with Dhaka.
Mongolia and China Celebrate 75 Years of Partnership
By Bolor Lkhaajav
2024 also marks milestone anniversaries for the foundational treaty between China and Mongolia, as well as their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Boiling 54 Eggs: China’s Approach to Africa
By Peter Krasnopolsky
Viewing China’s relations with individual African states as a single unified policy is misleading both for China and for those watching from afar.
Why Do China Bulls Keep Getting It Wrong?
By Donald Low
Viewing the Chinese government through a prism of exceptionalism makes it hard for China bulls to imagine that the authorities might be unpredictable, capricious, and often wrong.
China Pitches Its Model of Modernization to the Global South
By Shruti Jargad
There is a shift underway in China’s Global South diplomacy, as Beijing seeks to compensate for less financial firepower by focusing more on governance and capacity building.
What to Make of President Lai’s First National Day Address
By Brian Hioe
Old themes of identity – Republic of China vs Taiwan – took on new salience amid a divided government.
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.