Latest China Brief Articles

HONG KONG, 1997-2002

When Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrives in Hong Kong on June 30 for what could be his last official visit to the Special Administrative Region (SAR), he should have ample reason to feel pleased. A wave of patriotism seems to be sweeping the land. Newspapers... MORE

MISSILE PROLIFERATION: CHINA GOES TO BAT FOR PAKISTAN

The abrupt influx of U.S. military forces along China's western flank has seriously jeopardized Beijing's interests in Central and South Asia. China is unlikely to be sidelined into acquiescing to the imposition of U.S. political and diplomatic control in the region in general and Pakistan--its... MORE

CHEN SHUI-BIAN’S TWO YEARS AT THE HELM

On May 20, Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian celebrated his second anniversary in office, having won Taiwan's second direct presidential election in March of 2000, turning out the Kuomintang (KMT) that had governed the island for more than half a century. It has been a trying... MORE

INTERVIEW: HONGDA HARRY WU, THE LAOGAI FOUNDATION

By Harry Wu [NOTE: China Brief offers occasional interviews with prominent individuals contributing to our understanding of Greater China. Hongda "Harry" Wu is one of the most prominent advocates for democracy and greater respect for human rights in China. For his beliefs he suffered nineteen... MORE

TIANANMEN: DOES ANYONE CARE?

At about 2 in the morning on June 4, 1989, as I watched the Chinese People's Liberation Army march into Tiananmen Square, I listened to a piece of advice from the man next to me. "Nothing to worry about," he said. The PLA would never... MORE

REALITY CHECK: THE ILL FATE OF CHINA’S POLITICAL REFORM

By Baopu Liu The upcoming 16th Chinese Communist Party Congress, scheduled for September, will feature a top power transition in China and hopes for the long-anticipated political reform are therefore running high. The prognosis, however, remains grim. THE EARLY PACKAGE The early political reform package... MORE

MOSCOW TILTS WEST, BEIJING WORRIES

By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Spin-doctoring by Russian leaders--and the Chinese media--can scarcely change or hide the fact that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership remains deeply troubled by Moscow's tilt toward Washington and NATO. On the eve of President Jiang Zemin's visit to St. Petersburg... MORE

CHINA’S EQUITY MARKETS, PART II

By Gordon G. Chang In China, there is always progress. In January of this year the People's Supreme Court, China's highest judicial body, made permanent a ban on shareholder suits against market manipulation. It may be no mistake that market manipulators are beyond the reach... MORE

THE JIANG PROTEGES AND THE JIANG THEORY

By Willy Wo-Lap Lam President Jiang Zemin has made significant headway in pushing his proteges' prospects in the run-up to the 16th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress this autumn. But he faces an uphill battle to elevate "Jiang Theory" to the same level as the... MORE