Shijie Wang
Shijie Wang is the Deputy Editor of China Brief. He has a Master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University.
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Articles by Shijie Wang
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
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
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.
Terminal Authority: Assessing the CCP’s Emerging Crisis of Political Succession
Executive Summary: Xi Jinping continues to dominate the Chinese Party-state system, based on an assessment of evidence from spring and summer 2025. Despite high-level purges, unusual military reshuffles, and persistent
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
Scandal Exposes Technocracy, Nepotism, and Control Among PRC Elite
Executive Summary: Elite privilege and lack of transparent checks and balances mean that corruption scandals are a feature of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) system of governance. As Beijing seeks
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
‘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
From Ambition to Anxiety: The Unraveling of Xi Jinping’s Vocational Education Policy
Executive Summary: Xi Jinping’s vocational education reforms, designed to address a skills gap, have been distorted at the local level, with uneven implementation and coercive measures intensifying stress on students.