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Latest China Brief Articles
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President Xi Lays Down His Own “Political Rules”
In the run-up to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Fifth Central Committee Plenum scheduled for October, President Xi Jinping has adopted a number of tactics to consolidate his power. Xi, who is also CCP General Secretary and Chairman of the policy-setting Central Military Commission (CMC),... MORE
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PLA Special Operations: Forces, Command, Training and Future Direction
This is the first of two articles on PLA Special Operations Forces (SOF). The second article will explore SOF combat missions and potential for missions abroad. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) considers special operations forces a new type of operational force that can act as... MORE
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China’s Military Modernization: The Legacy of Admiral Wu Shengli
Earlier this month, Caixin reported on another round of Chinese military promotions, highlighting the youth and operational experience of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) newly minted generals (Caixin, August 12). Moreover, in roughly two years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will hold its 19th Party... MORE
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Mongolia’s Place in China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’
Although the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has been active in promoting its ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) Eurasian and maritime initiative during the last two years, to the north in Mongolia there has been doubt as to how Mongolia can derive economic benefit from... MORE
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Exercises Highlight PLA Amphibious Capability
Immediately following the May release of its new maritime-focused National Defense White Paper, China is practicing “new type naval combat force” operations in the South China Sea (Xinhua, May 26; China Military Online, July 28). Several joint air-sea exercises involve “tens” of aircraft, hundreds of... MORE
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China-Ukraine Relations After Crimea
China is looking to Ukraine to be a “Gateway to Europe,” for its One Belt One Road (OBOR) project. For its part, Ukraine has signed agreements with the Development Bank of China and is increasing the share of Chinese investment in Ukraine. However, as Ukraine further... MORE
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Why Has Sea Level Rise Not Been Securitized by the PLA?
Note: The views presented in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of the Navy or Department of Defense. Ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which is set to take place in Paris... MORE
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China, the EU and One Belt, One Road Strategy
As China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative gains momentum, most interpretations of Beijing’s initial OBOR-related activities have centered on the implications of OBOR for China and her immediate neighborhood. Europe, however, has a special place within the strategy. Europe features as the end point... MORE
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China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Road to Riches?
On April 20, Sino-Pakistan relations took a great leap forward as Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled plans for investment of $46 billion in the Pakistani leg of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) (Xinhua, April 22). CPEC is an important component of China’s ambitious ‘One Belt,... MORE
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In a Fortnight: Myanmar’s Leaders Court China Despite Violence Along Border
As global attention focuses on China’s rising tensions with neighboring states in the South China Sea, violence has erupted elsewhere in the region, this time along China's border with Myanmar. Widely ignored in the western media, the cross-border tension is part of a long-smoldering Burmese... MORE