Latest China Brief Articles
In A Fortnight
--BEIJING SPONSORS HUMAN RIGHTS EXHIBITION China kicked off a 10-day human rights exhibition last Friday, November 17 in Beijing. The display of more than 700 pictures, 250 legal documents, 330 books and 24 diagrams on human rights was meant to exhibit “China’s efforts to promote... MORE
Beijing’s Strategy of Sea Denial
In October 1994, the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk was operating with its battle group in the Yellow Sea when it detected an underwater contact. Battle group aircraft began tracking the contact, which turned out to be a Chinese Han-class nuclear powered attack submarine (SSN)... MORE
China-ASEAN Summit: Beijing’s Charm Offensive Continues
On October 30, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) held a Commemorative Summit in the southern Chinese city of Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The summit, attended by all ten ASEAN leaders and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao,... MORE
The Development of Environmental NGOs in China: A Road to Civil Society?
There has been an upsurge of environmental movements in China over the past several years. During the spring of 2005, environmentalists staged a series of protests that eventually halted a construction project in Yuanmingyuan. Just one year earlier, Green Peace China prevented the Asian Pulp... MORE
New Developments in the PLA’s Operational Doctrine
In late 1997, China’s military planners raised, for the first time, the issue of “leapfrogging development” for its military modernization. At the time, the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had been largely focused on mechanization—the acquisition of more advanced operational platforms. The concept... MORE
In A Fortnight
BEIJING WRAPS UP FORUM ON CHINA-AFRICA COOPERATION WITH PLEDGES OF AID AND COOPERATION The two-day Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) concluded with additional pledges of support from China in the form of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, loans and lucrative contracts. Among... MORE
China in Angola: An Emerging Energy Partnership
Despite the impressive economic ties between China and Angola in recent years, their historical relations have suffered periods of strain and volatility. During Angola’s struggle against Portuguese colonial rule, China provided training and assistance to UNITA, one of the three rival national liberation movements in... MORE
Defense Reform and Civilian Control in Taiwan
Acquiring high-tech weapons systems and enlisting U.S. support have been Taiwan’s primary attempts to counter the growing Chinese military threat across the Taiwan Strait. In recent years, however, it has become increasingly clear that some of the most pressing challenges facing Taiwan’s armed forces have... MORE
The Sino-Russian Arms Dilemma
For over a decade, Russian military exports to China have constituted the most important dimension of the two countries’ security relationship. Since the two governments signed an agreement on military-technical cooperation in December 1992, China has purchased more weapons platforms and hardware-related items from Russia... MORE
In A Fortnight
SINO-AFRICAN RELATIONS HAILED AS SUMMIT NEARS With the highly anticipated Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) fast approaching, China has been busily preparing for the largest meeting of African and Chinese leaders in nearly 50 years. Around 30 African heads-of-state are expected... MORE