Russell Hsiao

Russell Hsiao is the executive director of the Global Taiwan Institute, and is currently a visiting scholar the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Advanced Asian Studies. He is a Penn Kemble Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy and adjunct fellow at the Honolulu-based Pacific Forum.

Contact Russell Hsiao

    Articles by Russell Hsiao

    A Preliminary Survey of CCP Influence Operations in Japan

    Introduction The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency’s China Military Power Report, released in January 2019, revealed the agency’s official assessment that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is conducting “political warfare”

    CCP Propaganda against Taiwan Enters the Social Age

    At the height of the on-going controversial pension reforms debate in Taiwan, LINE—the most popular messaging application on the island—and internet users reportedly began seeing a flood of messages and

    Taiwan Rebalances in the Near Seas

    At a forum held in Taipei on August 5th commemorating the 60th anniversary of the peace treaty signed between the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan) and Japan following the second

    Who Will Command China’s Aircraft Carriers?

    China has reportedly postponed the sea trial of its long-awaited aircraft carrier to an unspecified date in August. The Varyag, which was purchased from Ukraine and is under refurbishment at

    Taiwan Pivots in the South China Sea

    The latest escalation of tensions in the South China Sea has introduced new dynamics in the increasingly complex cross-Strait equation. The newest row over the disputed Spratly islets stands apart

    China Intensifies Maritime Surveillance Missions

    China is increasing its maritime surveillance missions and strengthening its capabilities to monitor vessels in areas that it considers Chinese waters. According to the 2010 China Marine Law Enforcement Bulletin

    PLA Steps Up Military Diplomacy in Asia

    Against the backdrop of an uptick in confrontations over the past two years that punctured China's "charm offensive" in Asia, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has apparently been tasked to

    Hu Signs New Regulations Safeguarding Military Secrets

    Against the backdrop of an uptick in high-profile cases involving military secrets that include startling revelations by Taiwan’s intelligence chief of China’s growing arsenal of strategic weapons, Beijing is beefing

    Advances in China’s UCAV Program

    The acquisition of advanced foreign technologies coupled with sustained high rates of investment in its defense industries has helped accelerate the pace and scope of China’s military modernization in recent

    PLA Posturing for Conflict in the South China Sea?

    The recent revelation of a Second Artillery Corps (SAC) facility that is under development in China's southern coastal province, Guangdong, and the "unprecedented" maneuvers undertaken by the combined naval fleets

    China’s Cyber Command?

    The development of China's cyber warfare program has captured worldwide attention in recent years. While evolving doctrines and incidents of cyber intrusions with alleged links to the Chinese government have

    Major Reforms in the 12th Five-Year Plan?

    As Western economies struggle to stave off contagion, Chinese leaders have been quietly working to chart the Middle Kingdom's triumphant return to the world's center stage. According to the most

    Taiwan-Japan Rift over ADIZ

    Taipei has rejected a proposal from Tokyo that would allow Japan to expand its air defense identification zone (ADIZ) to include airspace above areas west of the island of Yonaguni

    PLAN East Sea Fleet Moves Beyond First Island Chain

    The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) recently carried out its annual exercises far from China's coastal waters. The flotillas of naval warships were reportedly deployed on an unprecedented scale, seemingly

    China-Taiwan Up Missile Ante

    In spite of thawing ties along the Taiwan Strait, Beijing is reportedly deploying more sophisticated missile systems in the coastal province across Taiwan.  The director of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau

    China Assesses its Gold Reserve Strategy

    As the U.S. economy dithers through a fragile global recovery, Chinese leaders are convening in Beijing for the annual plenary session of the National People's Congress (NPC)—China's ceremonial legislature—that begins

    Major Restructuring of PLA Military Regions?

    A string of Chinese reports, which appeared in recent weeks leading to and following the People's Liberation Army (PLA) 82nd birthday on August 1, seems to indicate that a debate

    Hu Confers Hardliner Top Military Rank

    Beijing instituted a new round of personnel changes among the top-ranking officers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its general departments. According to official state-media, Central Military Commission (CMC)

    Kuayue-2009: Shifts in PLA Military Planning?

    According to official Chinese media reports, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will hold a massive two-month long military drill that will involve 50,000 troops from four divisions across four of

    China-Taiwan: An Intelligence Detente?

    The ruling party in Taiwan, the Kuomintang (KMT), is engulfed in another intelligence-related gaffe. A string of domino-like events that began with a report in the United Daily News, one

    China Cautious Toward G-20 Summit

    According to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang, Chinese President Hu Jintao will attend the G20 Economic Summit to be held in Washington DC on November 15. At a press

    China En Route to Cap Antartica

    The Chinese icebreaker and research vessel Xue Long (Snow Dragon) has left the port of Shanghai on October 20 for its 25th annual expedition to Antarctica for a six-month mission

    China, Mongolia Quietly Enhance Military Ties

    The Assistant Chief of the General Staff of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), Chen Xiaogong, was in Ulaanbaatar on a four-day visit to attend the third Sino-Mongolian Defense Security Consultation

    Nepal Following China’s Economic Path

    Two years following the peace agreement that brought an end to 11 years of Maoist insurgency against government forces in Nepal, Girija Prasad Koirala, Nepal’s interim prime minister, has resigned

    Leadership Shuffle in Chinese Provinces

    A wave of hi-level leadership shuffles in 10 Chinese Communist Party (CCP) provincial and city committees occurred at the level of deputy provincial party secretary, provincial party standing committee, deputy

    Sino-Russian Strategic Partnership Matures

    Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie met with Viktor Zavarzin, the visiting chairman of the State Duma's Defense Committee, on April 7 at the Chinese Pentagon (Bayi Dalou). During their meeting,

    Heixiazi Island to Return to PRC by End of 2008

    Liu Guchang, the Chinese ambassador to Russia, announced that the demarcation of borders for the Heixiazi Island (Bol’shoi Ussuriiskiy Island) is complete and the island will be officially returned to

    Turning the Page on Sino-Australian Relations

    Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was in Australia on February 5 for the inaugural ministerial-level strategic dialogue between China and Australia (Xinhua, February 5). Foreign Minister Yang's visit marked the

    Who’s Hu’s Successor?

    The Hong Kong based newspaper Ming Pao learned from sources in Beijing that Xi Jinping—who was only recently elevated by President Hu Jintao to become a member of the Standing

    Taiwan Lands on the Spratlys

    On January 21, the Taiwan-based newspaper United Daily News reported that a C-130 transport aircraft in the Taiwan (ROC) Air Force conducted a one-day mission to the Spratly Islets, whose

    China’s Expanding Naval Presence Troubles Neighbors

    In an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, Taiwan’s Vice-Minister for Defense Ko Chen-heng reportedly stated that Chinese warships have stepped up naval activities along the “first island chain” (diyidaolian)

    Editor’s Note

    The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CCP) concluded in Beijing with thunderous applause echoing from the Great Hall of the People. With the next National Congress

    Editor’s Note

    The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CCP) concluded in Beijing with thunderous applause echoing from the Great Hall of the People. With the next National Congress