China Brief Notes
China Brief Notes offers short-form, incisive articles responding to a new event, law, speech, tifa (提法), or other development in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that is of strategic interest to policymakers across the world.
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PRC Narrates Cyber Victimhood
Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has responded to an alleged U.S. cyberattack on its National Time Service Center (NTSC) by constructing a narrative of empire and victimhood,
MSS Sensationalizes National Security Awareness
Executive Summary: Online messaging campaigns from the Ministry of State Security (MSS) seek to educate citizens about national security threats and to instill a suspicion of foreigners, especially those from
Beijing’s Latest Global Leadership Bid
Executive Summary: The Global Governance Initiative (GGI), announced by Xi Jinping at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, marks a strategic evolution from sectoral cooperation to competition for global
Beijing’s War on ‘Negative Energy’
Executive Summary: The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has launched a new “clean and bright” campaign that redefines online frustration over youth unemployment, gender conflict, and social anxiety as “negative
Illicit PRC-linked Finance Enables Arms Diversion in Africa
Executive Summary: Judicial cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Nigeria confirm that citizens from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are active in both resource extraction
Cronyism and Failed Promotions: Xi’s PLA Purge
Executive Summary: The Ministry of National Defense announced on October 17 that nine generals—including Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong and Political Work Department Director Miao Hua—had been expelled
New Emphases in the PLA’s Operational Centers of Gravity
Executive Summary: Like many militaries around the world, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) places strong emphasis on Clausewitz’s concept of the center of gravity—the single most important and decisive operational
Cyberspace Force Equipment at the 2025 Military Parade
Executive Summary: The parade equipment of the Cyberspace Force indicates that the PLA has drawn lessons from the Russia–Ukraine war, seeking to avoid making the same communications mistakes on future
New Documentary Promotes PLA Development
Executive Summary: A new documentary on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Gongjian, presents an array of military hardware while showcasing operational competence. Highlighting the latest Fujian-class aircraft carrier and recent
Rare Earth Regulation Shifts From Decentralized Planning to Centralized Control
Executive Summary: Beijing has shifted its rare earth management model to a “total volume control” system, in which annual production caps are set centrally and allocated directly to enterprises. This
Dissipative Warfare: The PLA’s Potential New Strategy in the AI Era
Executive Summary: For the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the AI era, dissipative warfare could be the theory that replaces attrition with a strategy focused on maintaining internal order and
Decoding Beijing’s ‘Colonization of the Mind’ Narrative
Executive Summary: A new report by the Xinhua Institute argues that U.S. “cognitive warfare” attempts to “colonize” the minds of people across the world, in particular in global south countries.
PLA Declares World-Class Ambitions with ‘Strongest Army’ Benchmark
Executive Summary: For the first time, an official PRC publication explicitly defines its goal to “establish a world-class army” (建设世界一流军队) standards as equivalent to the “world’s strongest military”(实力最强的军队), marking a
Guns of September: What a Parade May Reveal About China’s Military Modernization
Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) upcoming military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII will serve as both a symbolic display and an operational
Hong Kong’s Crypto Bet Is Starting To Pay Off
Executive Summary: Hong Kong launched a new stablecoin regime on August 1, continuing its cautious embrace of emerging financial products nearly three years after declaring its intention to become a
Straits Forum Puts Fujian at Center of Cross-Strait Integration Campaign
Executive Summary: Beijing is operationalizing its cross-Strait unification strategy through bureaucratic embedding and military-civil fusion, with Fujian Province as the central staging ground. The 17th Straits Forum in June served
The PLA Navy’s Evolving Posture Beyond the First Island Chain
Executive Summary: The concurrent deployment of the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers beyond the First Island Chain represents a significant strategic milestone, highlighting the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) improved capability
Evolving Blue Economy Propels PRC Maritime Ambitions
Executive Summary: Beijing’s maritime strategy hinges on expanding what it calls the “blue economy,” which is increasingly integrated with broader strategic ambitions under the rubric of becoming a “strong sea
Recent Developments Underscore Beijing’s Global Security Ambitions
Executive Summary: Beijing is looking to increase its security presence in Asia and further afield, according to two recent high-level statements of intent—a white paper on “national security in the
PRC Seeks Dominance in Submarine Power Cable Infrastructure
Executive Summary: Beijing is promoting cross-border power transmission projects, deploying its leading producers of submarine electric cables to deepen integration with other countries’ critical infrastructure. Orient Cables, a national champion
Divergent Implications for Xi’s Power From New Party Regulations
Executive Summary: Speculation is growing about a power struggle at the top of the Party. An announcement of new regulations for influential decision-making and coordinating bodies is a clear sign
The Xi–Lee Reset Extends Beijing’s Regional Project—and Tests Seoul’s Commitments
Executive Summary: The Xi Jinping–Lee Jae Myung phone call on June 10 signals a tactical thaw after years of strain under Yoon Suk Yeol, reviving “good-neighborly friendship” language and soft
PRC Promotes Iranian Coverage and Showcases Advanced Weapon Systems
Executive Summary: Beijing interprets recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities as a demonstration of deterrence aimed at supporters of Iran’s Islamic regime. In response, state media showcased the Yunjian-1000
PLA Purges Provide Opening for Xi’s Rivals
Executive Summary: New evidence suggests that a faction within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aligned with former president Hu Jintao and former premier Wen Jiabao could be exerting influence on
Xinjiang Security Expo Reflects the Limits of U.S. Sanctions
Executive Summary: The annual Central Asia Digital Security Expo in Xinjiang is supported by the U.S.-sanctioned Xinjiang Public Security Bureau and brings technology firms together to network and market their
Fungus Smuggling Case Highlights Agricultural Espionage in the United States
Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has a long history of engaging in agricultural espionage and, potentially, sabotage in the United States. This is partly to decouple from
Beijing Accelerates State-Led AI Mobilization Under Xi’s ‘New National System’
Executive Summary: Beijing is moving to systematically embed artificial intelligence into its national innovation system, according to a high-level leadership meeting of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
Explainer: How Xi’s ‘New National System’ Centralizes Innovation to Counter Tech Containment
Executive Summary: Since 2019, the Party has promoted the construction of a “new national system”—a centrally directed, institutionalized framework for mobilizing state and market resources to achieve breakthroughs in core
New Legislation Could Increase Security Presence in Hong Kong
Executive Summary: Two new pieces of national security legislation in Hong Kong introduce six offenses and six “prohibited places,” signaling closer alignment with the laws of the People’s Republic of
PRC Positions Brazil as Regional Hub in a New Latin American Order
Executive Summary: Brazil, a strategic partner to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is taking a co-leading role in shaping a regional economic order decoupled from U.S.-centric trade and financial
Trade Talks, Real Moves: PRC Locks Down Critical Minerals Behind the Scenes
Executive Summary: Beijing has formally escalated its critical minerals strategy by launching a coordinated, multi-agency campaign to enforce full-chain control over rare earth and strategic mineral exports, mobilizing more than
In Moscow, Xi Defends the International Order by Misremembering It
Executive Summary: At Moscow’s 80th Victory Day parade, President Xi Jinping positioned the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as a key anti-fascist power alongside Russia, using a selective World War
Stabilization and ‘Struggle’: Strategic Signals from April’s Politburo and Trade Meetings
Executive Summary: April’s Politburo meetings and subsequent policy deployments indicate that Xi Jinping and his fellow Politburo members are scrambling to adapt to a harsher external environment—one marked by persistent
Xi Establishes ‘Strategic Endurance’ Priorities for the PRC’s Next Five-Year Plan
Executive Summary: Xi Jinping’s April 30 remarks preview a fundamental shift in the Party’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), signaling that national security—not growth—is now the central organizing principle of
Taiwan Bolsters Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience
Executive Summary: Taiwan is bolstering its deterrence posture through whole-of-society defense resilience drills, involving civilians in readiness activities in part to raise confidence in national defense and drawing on European
Taiwan Focuses on Societal Resilience and U.S. Cooperation in New Defense Review
Executive Summary: Taiwan's 2025 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) prioritizes enhancing all-of-society resilience and emphasizes U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation. The document represents a significant improvement over its predecessor in content and clarity
DeepSeek, Unitree, and the Six Dragons: Hangzhou’s Plan to Shape Technology’s Future
Executive Summary: Decades of policy support from provincial, city, and district governments underpin the successes of AI firm DeepSeek and five other tech companies domestic observers are referring to as
Rules for Thee, but Not for Me
Executive Summary: Beijing’s diplomatic rhetoric advocates upholding international rules and norms, but this diverges sharply from both its words to party officials at home and its actions abroad that undermine
The PLAN’s Tasman Sea Drill: A Military Response to AUKUS
Executive Summary: The People’s Liberation Army Navy conducted two live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea in February without providing customary notification to Australia or New Zealand and causing at least
Island Hopping: the PRC’s Quest for Strategic Maritime Influence and Resource Security through the Cook Islands Partnership
Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Cook Islands signed two agreements in February that extend Beijing’s engagement in the South Pacific to include deep-sea exploration and
Predicting the Next ‘DeepSeek Event’: Early Indicators of Capability Within the PRC’s AI Ecosystem
Executive Summary: Predicting artificial intelligence (AI) firm DeepSeek’s recent successes within a highly competitive AI ecosystem may have been possible by observing factors such as government recognition, proximity to top-tier
Expulsion of PRC Media Outlet Reveals Scale of Taiwan’s Information Challenge
Executive Summary: Taiwan is acting against media organizations operating in the country that are affiliated with the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) party-state. In early January, Taiwan’s government revoked the
‘Flash Ironmaking’ and Beijing’s Lead in Industrial Technologies
Executive Summary: A new “flash ironmaking” technology invented in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) reduces reliance on imported high-grade iron ore, aligning with Xi Jinping’s push for industrial chain
Creative Destruction: PRC Undersea Cable Technology
Executive Summary: Taiwan has suffered an annual average of 7–8 undersea cable disruptions over the past three years, most of which it attributes to vessels from the People’s Republic of
Viral Documentary Exposes CCP’s United Front Operations in Taiwan
Executive Summary The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s united front tactics include recruiting Taiwanese content creators and youth through cultural exchanges, financial incentives, and networking opportunities, according to a viral Taiwanese
PLA Unveils New Unmanned Weapons Aimed at Taiwan at the Zhuhai Airshow
Executive Summary: The People’s Liberation Army Air Force has been developing drone technology specifically for use in a Taiwan contingency, some of which was on display at the Zhuhai Airshow
‘Trusted Data Spaces’: Beijing’s Latest Step Toward Digital Dominance
Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) plans to create over 100 “trusted data spaces” by 2028 as part of a strategy to dominate data governance internationally. The plan
AI Leadership Depends on What is Measured
Executive Summary: Chinese open-source Large Language Models (LLMs) perform better than Western ones, according to a recent report from an artificial intelligence evaluation organization SuperCLUE. Chinese LLMs also excel in
PRC Pushes Digital Doppelgänger to Support Low-Altitude Economy
Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is constructing “3D Real-Scene China,” a real-time model of the physical world enabled by advanced telecoms and digital sensing technologies. The low-altitude
Hong Kong’s Pivotal Role in RMB Internationalization
Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to use Hong Kong to test policies and build support for the internationalization of its currency, the renminbi (RMB). The city
PRC Unveils New Space Plan
Executive Summary: The first national-level long-term plan for space science development from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) sets the goal of becoming a global leader by 2050, by which
HarmonyOS NEXT: Beijing’s Bid for Operating System Independence
Executive Summary: Huawei has launched HarmonyOS NEXT, the first fully self-developed mobile operating system in the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) that is independent of Android and Linux/Unix kernels. HarmonyOS
National People’s Congress Deepens External United Front Work
Executive Summary: The National People’s Congress (NPC) actively engages in diplomatic exchanges with foreign legislative bodies as part of the Party’s united front strategy. This work aims to build a
Beijing’s Latest Data Security Regulations Create Framework for Broad Domestic and Extraterritorial Supervision
Executive Summary: The State Council-approved “Network Data Security Management Regulations” impose stringent compliance requirements on data processors and platform service providers to safeguard personal information, important data, and cross-border data.
PRC Launches First Algorithm Registration Center, Strengthening AI and Data Regulation
Executive Summary: The Beijing Algorithm Registration Center—also known as the Model Share Center—has opened as the PRC’s first physical algorithm registration center, marking a significant step in regulating AI development.
Beijing’s Stimulus Package Comes Amid Growing Challenges
Executive Summary: In a departure from the long-term economic program announced at the Third Plenum in July, the Party leadership used an unusual politburo meeting in September to acknowledge “new
Q&A: What was the Relationship Between the United Front System and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office?
Editor’s Note: Q&A articles are short responses to research queries that we have received from external readers, including government officials and journalists, and that we believe are useful to a
Beyond the List: The Broad Range of United Front Work in Sweden
Executive Summary: Sweden contains at least 103 organizations that are part of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) united front system and exist across the country’s culture, business, politics, and education
The Lianyungang Conference and Beijing’s Attempts to Reshape Global Security
Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has trained 2,700 foreign police officers in the past year and pledged to train an additional 3,000 in the coming 12 months,
Beijing’s Supervision Law Overhaul: Proposed Amendments Push Extraterritorial Anti-Corruption Enforcement
Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) proposed amendments to the Supervision Law aim to strengthen the National Supervision Commission’s (NSC) authority, particularly its ability to conduct extraterritorial anti-corruption
MIIT Overhypes Lithography Breakthrough
Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has announced breakthroughs in semiconductor manufacturing, specifically in Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) lithography, as part of its effort to achieve technological self-sufficiency amid
Ahead in the Cloud: Revolution at the RISC-V Summit China
Executive Summary: A state-private partnership involving China Telecom, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Alibaba has unveiled the industry’s first cloud computing platform dedicated to RISC-V architecture, to accelerate the
Beijing Strengthens Data Security with New Regulations, Expanding Control Over Domestic and Cross-Border Data
Executive Summary: New Network Data Security Management Regulations approved by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) State Council will serve as a national-level framework to clarify and enhance the implementation
Turkish Journalists are Now ‘Telling the Xinjiang Story Well’ for Beijing
Executive Summary: Türkiye could be a key player in the People's Republic of China's (PRC) strategy of coopting foreign journalists in order to create a more favorable image of its
Hong Kong’s New Strategic Role After the Third Plenum
Executive Summary: Key officials visited the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in late August to explain the city’s political, economic, cultural, and security responsibilities. They signaled deeper integration with
Scientist at Forefront of US Army Research Selected to Lead PRC’s Strategic Chip Production Line
Executive Summary: Beijing continues to exploit US policies to circumvent technology controls and to lower the scrutiny applied to its technology transfer activities. Hong Kong as part of the Greater