Elizabeth Chen
Elizabeth Chen is the former editor of the Jamestown Foundation’s China Brief. Previously, she worked for a number of organizations in the U.S.-China policy space, to include the U.S.-China Strong Foundation, the East West Institute, and the Greenpoint Group. She holds a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University in International Studies and History, and has also lived and worked in mainland China for several years.
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Articles by Elizabeth Chen
Challenges and Progress in China’s Development of 5G and 6G
On July 5, ten central government departments led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the “5G Application ‘Set Sail’ Action Plan (2021-2023)” ([5G应用 ‘扬帆’ 行动计划 (2021-2023年)],
Historic Chinese Flooding Highlights Outstanding Infrastructure Problems
Beginning on July 18, Henan Province saw record levels of flooding that state officials described as a “once in 5,000 year event,” (PRC Ministry of Water Resources, July 21). Road
Rapidly Implementing a Chinese Data Security Regime
The Cyberspace Security Review Office (网络安全审查办公室, wangluo anquan shencha bangongshi) of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC, 国家互联网信息办公室, guojia hulianwang xinxi bangongshi) launched a cybersecurity review of the Chinese ride-hailing
UN Human Rights Clash Strains Credibility of Chinese Diplomacy
On June 22, the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) delivered a joint statement to the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on behalf of 44
The 2021 Party History Study Campaign Stresses Revolution and Sacrifice
On June 15, Qiushi, the leading theoretical journal of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) published an article by CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) titled, “Taking history as a mirror,
Editor’s Note to the Special Issue on the Chinese Communist Party (June 2021)
Editor’s Note: This is a special theme issue of China Brief, taking the opportunity of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s upcoming centennial celebrations (on July 1) to focus analysis on
Chinese Leaders Project Confidence in Self-Sufficiency Amid Post-Pandemic Food Security Concerns
The Chinese agronomist and “Father of Hybrid Rice'' Yuan Longping (袁隆平) passed away on May 22. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his condolences to Yuan’s family, and the state news
Low Fertility Trap Fears Cloud China’s Release of 2020 Census Data
The results of China’s seventh national census were released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on May 11, after more than a month’s delay. NBS commissioner and deputy leader
Tianhe Launch Marks a Key Step in China’s Growing Space Ambitions
On April 29, a Long March 5B (长征五号B, Changzheng wuhao B) heavy rocket carrying the Tianhe 1 (天和一号) core module of China’s space station was successfully launched into low earth
Hong Kong Cracks Down on National Security Imperatives Amid Electoral Reforms
On April 15, Hong Kong celebrated National Security Education Day (NSE Day) for the first time in the special administrative region (HKSAR)’s history. The mainland has held a National Security
China Learning From Russia’s “Emerging Great Power” Global Media Tactics
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers observed that China has employed newly assertive tactics—including spreading widespread Russian-style disinformation—which suggested that “Beijing is increasingly seeking to shape the global
Editor’s Note to the Special Issue on Chinese Information Operations (April 2021)
This is a special theme issue of China Brief, focused on the rapidly developing topic of Chinese disinformation and information operations (IO) more broadly. Although the control and weaponization of
Semiconductor Scandal A Concerning Backdrop to Xi’s Pursuit of “Core Technologies”
Introduction China’s leadership has signaled the country’s dedication towards pursuing self-sufficiency in “core technologies“ including integrated circuits. During the Fifth Plenum last fall, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) reinforced its
Directions Forward for Chinese Rare Earths After the Two Sessions
Following heightened U.S.-China tensions last year, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the “Draft Regulations on Rare Earth Management” (稀土管理条例(征求意见稿), xitu guanli tiaolie (zhengqiu yijian gao))
China Moves Ahead on Digital Yuan Before 2022 Winter Olympics
Introduction With the People’s Republic of China (PRC) a frontrunner in the global race towards digital currency, the central bank People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has taken several steps this
Chinese Demographic Signals Bode Ill for Future Development
A new study published February 8 by the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) (MPS, 中华人民共和国公安部, zhonghua renmin gongheguo gongan bu) reported that there were
Chinese COVID-19 Misinformation A Year Later
Introduction On January 28, members of an international team led by the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded fourteen days of quarantine and began field work in Wuhan, China for a
Winter Coal Shortages Reveal Chinese Energy Vulnerabilities
Introduction Amid the coldest winter recorded since 1966, provinces across the People’s Republic of China (PRC) struggled with the worst electrical blackouts seen in nearly a decade (OilPrice, January 8).
Behind Xi Jinping’s Declaration of Victory Over Poverty
Introduction The Chinese state news organization Xinhua announced on November 23 that nine counties in Guizhou had been lifted out of absolute poverty, marking the removal of all counties from
Dual Circulation’s Implementation Necessitates A Crackdown on Fintech
Introduction Rumors swirled about a crackdown on the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba following an incendiary speech given by its founder Jack Ma in late October, which criticized global banking standards
China’s Vaccine Diplomacy Revamps the Health Silk Road Amid COVID-19
Introduction As global COVID-19 cases exceed 51 million, a top health official from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has predicted that China is “very likely” to avoid a winter
The “22 vs. 50” Diplomatic Split Between the West and China Over Xinjiang and Human Rights
Introduction On July 8, 2019, a group of 22 states issued a joint letter to the 41st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which condemned China’s mass
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