John Dotson
John Dotson is the deputy director of the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington, DC. Previously, he was the editor of the Jamestown Foundation’s China Brief. John is a former officer in the U.S. Navy, whose assignments included positions at sea, in Japan, in Africa, and in the Pentagon. His service also included four years as an instructor on the faculty of the National Intelligence University, where he taught coursework on military strategy, intelligence analysis, and national security policy. John also served for six years on the staff of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, where he coordinated staff research on a range of trade and national-security issues on behalf of the U.S. Congress. He has performed extensive writing and research on a host of topics related to China, to include Chinese propaganda and influence efforts, and elite-level politics within the Chinese Communist Party. John holds an M.A. in National Security Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and a Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins-SAIS.
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Articles by John Dotson
Beijing’s Increasing Maritime Gray Zone Operations Around Taiwan’s Outlying Islands
Executive Summary: On February 14, an incident occurred to the east of Taiwan’s Kinmen Island, in which an unidentified PRC small boat capsized while allegedly fleeing from an attempted inspection
CCP Ideological Indoctrination, Part 2: The New Plan for Training Party Cadres
Author’s note: This is the second article in a two-part series focused on recent initiatives taken by the Chinese Communist Party to implement ideological indoctrination programs intended to reinforce the
CCP Ideological Indoctrination, Part 1: The PRC’s New “Patriotic Education Law”
Author’s note: This is the first article in a two-part series focused on recent initiatives taken by the Chinese Communist Party to implement ideological indoctrination programs intended to reinforce the
CCP Renews Political Loyalty Indoctrination
The late summer has been an eventful period for observers of the upper echelons of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), where yet another round of purges of senior figures —
CCP Narratives on Taiwan at the Two Sessions: Maintaining a “Measured Hardline”
Introduction In tandem with its increasingly provocative coercive military measures directed against Taiwan, throughout the course of 2022, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) also ramped up its accompanying rhetoric.
Beijing Signals a Harder Line Policy on Taiwan Through the 20th Party Congress and Beyond
Beijing Steps Up the Pressure on Taiwan in August Following the visit to Taiwan by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in early August, military forces of the People’s
Beijing’s Propaganda Support for Russian Biological Warfare Disinformation, Part 2: Historical Context and Contemporary Motivations
Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a two-part article series that addresses both a prominent Russian Federation state disinformation campaign related to the war in Ukraine—namely, that the
Beijing’s Propaganda Support for Russian Biological Warfare Disinformation, Part 1: Accusations Concerning the War in Ukraine
Introduction Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February, People’s Republic of China (PRC) officials and state media have promoted and amplified key elements of Moscow’s narrative
Xinhua Infiltrates Western Electronic Media, Part 2: Relationships with News Agencies and Distribution Services
Author’s Note: This is the second part of a two-part article series in China Brief exploring methods by which Xinhua and other Chinese state-owned media organizations are seeking greater presence
Xinhua Infiltrates Western Electronic Media, Part One: Online “Advertorial” Content
Introduction For many years, the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s state propaganda apparatus has sought to expand its influence among foreign audiences as part of a broader effort to achieve
Year-End CCP Politburo Meetings Stress Political Loyalty—and Hint at Potential Shake-Ups in the Party Bureaucracy
Introduction The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo held two official meetings in December 2020, both of which were publicized after the fact by official summaries presented in government outlets. The
Beijing Rejects Any Involvement in Nuclear Arms Limitation Talks
Introduction Recent years have been contentious in terms of nuclear arms control negotiations between the United States and the Russian Federation. The United States withdrew from the Intermediate Range Nuclear
Diplomatic Visits, New Arms Sales, and PLA Provocations Raise Tensions in the Taiwan Strait
Introduction Events throughout 2020 have seen a measured but steady increase in tensions surrounding Taiwan. The government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to deny any legitimacy to
The CCP’s New Directives for United Front Work in Private Enterprises
Introduction On September 15, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee Office published a document titled Opinions Concerning Strengthening New Era United Front Work in the Private Economy (关于加强新时代民营经济统战工作的意见, Guanyu
The China-U.S. Exchange Foundation and United Front “Lobbying Laundering” in American Politics
Introduction The China-U.S. Exchange Foundation (中美交流基金会, Zhong-Mei Jiaoliu Jijinhui) (CUSEF), a nominally private civic organization founded in Hong Kong in 2008, first emerged in early 2018 as a subject of
Semi-Submersible Heavy Lift Vessels: A New “Maritime Relay Platform” for PLA Cross-Strait Operations?
Introduction In August, naval and aviation forces of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) conducted exercise activity in four different maritime regions: the Bohai Gulf, Yellow Sea, East China Sea,
The CCP’s Official Journal Falls in Line with Xi Jinping’s Cult of Personality
Introduction Since 1988, the journal Qiushi (求是), produced bimonthly by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee, has served as the CCP’s leading official theoretical journal. Commenced under the tenures
The PLA Is Mobilized for Flood Relief in Eastern China
Introduction Throughout June and July, much of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has experienced heavy rainfall from the annual late spring – early summer East Asian rainy season, a
The Beidou Satellite Network and the “Space Silk Road” in Eurasia
Author’s note: This article was informed by research and analysis on the PRC’s Beidou satellite program conducted by Pointe Bello, a strategic intelligence and advisory firm. Introduction On June 23,
The CCP Politburo Holds Its First Collective Study Session for 2020
Introduction On May 29, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo held its first “collective study” (集体学习, jiti xuexi) session for the year 2020. It is unusual that the first of
Themes from the CPPCC Signal the End of Hong Kong Autonomy—and the Effective End of the “One Country, Two Systems” Framework
Introduction The annual meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), known collectively as the “Two Sessions” (两会, Liang Hui), are the biggest
China’s Long March Rocket Program Sees Both Dramatic Successes and Failures in Spring 2020
Introduction The early months of 2020 have seen a number of significant launches for the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s Long March series of rockets (长征系列运载火箭, Chang Zheng xilie yunzai
Beijing Promotes “National Security” Measures to Seek Tighter Control Over Hong Kong
Introduction: Beijing’s Personnel Appointments and Advocacy of “Patriotic Education” Luo Huining (骆惠宁) was appointed in January 2020 as Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the
Epidemic-Related Unrest and the CCP’s Reinforced Political Loyalty Indoctrination for China’s Police
Introduction: A Riot on the Border of Epidemic-Wracked Hubei Province The central Chinese city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province, was the original epicenter from which the COVID-19 viral outbreak first
Military Activity and Political Signaling in the Taiwan Strait in Early 2020
Introduction On March 16, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force aircraft conducted a set of unusual nighttime sorties over the sea to the southwest of Taiwan. At least one KJ-500
China’s Other Viral Crisis: African Swine Fever and the State Effort to Stabilize Pork Prices
Introduction Since January, much of the international news coverage surrounding the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has been dominated by the story of the COVID-19 outbreak—a previously unknown coronavirus that
Spotlight on Analysis: COVID-19
Around the New Year, reports first began to emerge of a novel coronavirus (since designated as “COVID-19” by the World Health Organization) originating in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
Beijing Purges Wuhan: The CCP Central Authorities Tighten Political Control Over Hubei Province
Introduction: The CCP Center Presses a Positive Narrative About Its Response to COVID-19 Following a slow reaction to the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, since late January the zhongyang
The CCP’s New Leading Small Group for Countering the Coronavirus Epidemic—and the Mysterious Absence of Xi Jinping
Editor’s Note: Recent issues of China Brief have presented two articles that analyzed aspects of the Chinese government’s response to the outbreak of a previously unknown coronavirus in the central
The “Democratic Life Meetings” of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo
Introduction: The CCP Politburo and “Democratic Life Meetings” On December 26 and 27, China’s central leadership held a “democratic life meeting” (民主生活会, minzhu shenghuo hui) for the full membership of
The State Response to a Mystery Viral Outbreak in Central China
Introduction: The December Viral Outbreak in Wuhan In December, a mysterious outbreak of infectious disease emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan (Hubei Province). The epicenter of the outbreak
The CCP’s Renewed Focus on Ideological Conditioning, Part 2: The New Five-Year Plan for Training Party Cadres
Author’s Note: This is the second part of a two-part series that addresses new directives issued by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the field of ideological “education.” The first
Beijing’s Reactions to November Developments Surrounding the Crisis in Hong Kong
Introduction The year 2019 has seen a gradually escalating crisis in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The territory has seen continuing
The CCP’s Renewed Focus on Ideological Indoctrination, Part 1: The 2019 Guidelines for “Patriotic Education”
Author’s Note: This is the first part of a two-part briefing series that will address new directives issued in November 2019 by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the field
The Xiangshan Forum and Emerging Themes in PRC Military Diplomacy
Introduction: The Beijing Xiangshan Forum and the PRC’s International Security Propaganda In October, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) hosted two events that illustrated the PRC’s continuing and expanding efforts
The PRC and ROC National Day Ceremonies Offer Starkly Contrasting Views of “One Country, Two Systems”
Introduction Both the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan, observe their national holidays in October. For the PRC, October 1 marks the date
Editor’s Note for Military-Civil Fusion Issue (October 2019)
Editor’s Note: This is a special theme issue of China Brief, focused on the evolving concept of “military-civil fusion” (军民融合, junmin ronghe), or MCF, a complex set of initiatives by
Military-Civil Fusion and Electromagnetic Spectrum Management in the PLA
Introduction: EMSM as a Key Element of “Military-Civil Fusion” Modern battlefield environments will contain a greater proliferation of electromagnetic emitters than ever before—including but not limited to radars, communications networks,
The United Front Work Department Assumes a Diplomatic Role
In the first week of September, a “United Front Organizations Special Symposium” (统一战线组织专题研讨会, Tongyi Zhanxian Zuzhi Zhuanti Yantaohui) was held in Beijing. Under the official slogan of “Forging Synergy and
Chinese Covert Social Media Propaganda and Disinformation Related to Hong Kong
Introduction: “Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior” Related to the Protest Movement in Hong Kong On August 19, the microblogging platform Twitter announced the suspension of 936 accounts originating in the People’s Republic
The Legacy of Li Peng in Chinese Politics
Introduction Amid a flurry of late July news stories related to China—to include continuing unrest in Hong Kong, U.S.-China trade talks, and joint Sino-Russian military flights over the Sea of
Arms Sales and High-Level Visits Signal Closer U.S. Relations with Taiwan
Introduction The first half of 2019 has seen a steady procession of developments marking a closer alignment between the United States and Taiwan (also known as the Republic of China,
Xi Jinping’s Summer Foreign Policy Tour Displays “Great Power Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics”
Introduction In the month of June, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping kept up an ambitious international travel schedule, spending nearly half the month abroad on four major
China Explores Economic Outreach to U.S. States Via United Front Entities
Introduction Ever since the seeming collapse of U.S.-China trade talks in early May (China Brief, May 29), state media outlets of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have unleashed a
“Study May Fourth,” But Not June Fourth: The CCP Seeks Control of China’s Historical Legacies
Introduction—The Chinese Government’s Official Narrative on the Tiananmen “Turmoil” Ever since the tragic events of the 1989 Beijing Massacre, the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has maintained a rigid official
What Derailed the U.S.-China Trade Talks?
Introduction: The U.S.-China “Trade War” Since Early 2018 For over a year, the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have been engaged in a contentious trade dispute
The United Front Work Department Goes Global: The Worldwide Expansion of the Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China
Author’s note: This article follows from an article previously published in China Brief in February 2018: “The United Front Work Department in Action Abroad: A Profile of The Council for
The Communist Youth League Announces Plans to Send a New Generation “Down to the Countryside”
Introduction In late March, the China Communist Youth League (Gongchan Zhuyi Qingnian Tuan, 共产主义青年团), or CCYL, released an official document that detailed plans to recruit large numbers of young people
Propaganda Themes at the CPPCC Stress the “Sinicization” of Religion
Introduction In March, the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference both convened their full annual sessions in Beijing. Collectively known as the “Two Sessions” (Lianghui, 两会),
The “Algorithm Game” and Its Implications for Chinese War Control
Editor’s note: A recent China Brief article referenced the concept of the “algorithm game” as a theoretical concept connected to developments in artificial intelligence and future Chinese military operations. (See:
Economic Themes from the National People’s Congress Illustrate CCP Concerns for Social Stability
Introduction This month, the National People’s Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui, 全国人民代表大会), or NPC, and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (Zhongguo Renmin Zhengzhi Xieshang Huiyi, 中国人民政治协商会议) convened concurrently in
China Brief Editor John Dotson Cited by Palm Beach Post
John Dotson was quoted by the Palm Beach Post, where he spoke on the Council for the Peaceful Reunification of China's connections to the United Front Work Department, a branch
“Dramas Must Feature Goodness”: The CCP Launches Renewed Efforts to Control Themes in Popular Culture
“Yanxi Palace” and Other Dramas Run Afoul of the Authorities In the last week of January, many television watchers in China were surprised and disappointed when two popular historical dramas—Ruyi’s
Beijing Sends a Menacing Message in Its Lunar New Year Greeting to Taiwan
Introduction The Lunar New Year, which commenced on February 5th, inaugurated the “Year of the Pig” in the Chinese horoscope. The Lunar New Year is China’s largest annual holiday, and
Arrests in Poland Contribute to the International Controversies Surrounding Huawei
Introduction The December 1, 2018, arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou (孟晚舟) in Vancouver—an arrest made by Canadian officials pursuant to a warrant issued in the United States—touched
Successful Lunar Landing Demonstrates Continuing PRC Advancements in Space
China’s Lunar Probe Explores New Territory on the Moon’s Surface On January 3rd, PRC officials announced a successful landing by the Chang’E-4 probe (嫦娥四号探测器) in the Van Karman Crater near
The United Front Work Department in Action Abroad: A Profile of The Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China
Throughout 2017, Australia and New Zealand were roiled by controversies surrounding alleged attempts by pro-Beijing lobbying groups to influence government policies. In Australia, one of the foremost figures at the
Political Factions and Spicy Ginger: Elder Networks in PRC Politics (Part 2)
Part 2: The Patronage Network of Hu Jintao Jiang shì lao de là: “Aged ginger is spicier” Chinese proverb meaning that older people possess more experience and wisdom. The triumph
Political Factions and Spicy Ginger: Elder Networks in PRC Politics (Part 1)
Part 1: The Patronage Network of Jiang Zemin Jiang shì lao de la: “Aged ginger is spicier” Chinese proverb meaning that older people possess more experience and wisdom. When the
Retired Taiwan Officer Exchanges Offer Insight into a Modern “United Front”
Amid Taiwan’s torrid summer heat, the island’s political temperature has been further raised by the controversy surrounding visits to China by senior-ranking retired national security officials. In early June, retired