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Latest China Brief Articles
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The CCP Politburo Holds Its First Collective Study Session for 2020
Introduction On May 29, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo held its first “collective study” (集体学习, jiti xuexi) session for the year 2020. It is unusual that the first of these events took place only near the mid-point of the year: in recent years, these... MORE
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Fighting the Battle for the Pandemic Narrative: The PRC White Paper on Its COVID-19 Response
Introduction On June 7, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) State Council Information Office (国务院新闻办公室, Guowuyuan Xinwen Bangongshi) released an official white paper outlining China’s response to the COVID-19 crisis (Xinhua, June 7). As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the document, titled Fighting COVID-19... MORE
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The COVID-19 Pandemic Boosts Sino-Russian Cooperation
Introduction The immediate impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Sino-Russian relations has been to weaken the social and economic ties between the two states. Similar to circumstances in other countries, their cross-border economic exchanges have abruptly shrunk. The pandemic has also exacerbated xenophobic sentiments in... MORE
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Chinese Views of the United States Amid Rising Sino-American Clashes
Introduction On May 20, the White House published a new policy document titled United States Strategic Approach to the People's Republic of China. According to the document, China poses challenges to the economy, values, and security of the United States. Therefore, the administration’s new approach... MORE
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The India-U.S. Defense Relationship Grows Amid Rising Tensions with China
Introduction China’s rise and assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific Region—as demonstrated most recently by the June 15 clashes between Chinese and Indian troops in the Galwan Valley region (India Today, June 21)—has contributed to a strategic convergence between the United States and India. Although the... MORE
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Themes from the CPPCC Signal the End of Hong Kong Autonomy—and the Effective End of the “One Country, Two Systems” Framework
Introduction The annual meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), known collectively as the “Two Sessions” (两会, Liang Hui), are the biggest official events on the annual political calendar of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Usually... MORE
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Under a COVID-19 Cloud, China’s Gig Economy Comes of Age
Introduction In late April, as residents of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) began to adjust to a new normal in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic, Ele.me—one of the country’s biggest food delivery platforms—unveiled its latest innovation. In a viral post, a delivery man... MORE
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The Belt and Road Initiative: A Domestically-Motivated Program Fueling Global Competition
Introduction The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s ambitious overseas economic and infrastructure program, is having a significant impact on the world economy. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has pledged $1 trillion in investment; the extensive geographic scope of the initiative involves more than... MORE
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Chinese Incursions Into Vietnamese Waters, Security Implications for the Region, and the Potential Role of India
Introduction: China Renews Its Maritime Sovereignty Claims at the Expense of Vietnam The outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic that began in the Chinese city of Wuhan has not deterred the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from pursuing its long-term strategic vision of asserting its... MORE
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Beijing Announces Its Intention to Impose a New “National Security” Law on Hong Kong
Editor’s Note: This article was initially published as a Jamestown “Early Warning Brief” on May 26. It has since been updated for re-publication here. Introduction: Beijing Introduces Draft “National Security” Legislation for Hong Kong For many weeks, People’s Republic of China (PRC) authorities in Beijing... MORE