Executive Summary: Chinese analysts see achievement of the 2027 Centennial Military Building Goal as being based on advances in three key dimensions: military modernization, military readiness, and anti-corruption work. Western analysts frequently link the 2027 Goal to readiness—if not a deadline—for a Taiwan scenario. Chinese... MORE

Executive Summary: China Railway Container Transport Corp. Ltd, on August 7, joined the Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd, a joint railway venture between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia, to facilitate the development of the Middle Corridor. Progress on the Zangezur Corridor, rebranded as Trump Route for International... MORE

Executive Summary: By 2035, artificial intelligence (AI) will underpin practically all sectors of the economy and society, according to recent plans from policy planners in Beijing. The upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan could become the first to include “AI+” as a major policy initiative. Development of... MORE

Executive Summary: Xi Jinping’s third trip to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) underscores its importance to his agenda at the national level. His Tibet policy emphasizes regional stability, economic development, ecological conservation, and border defense, but the top priority remains stability. The ceremony, which celebrated... MORE

Executive Summary: The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) appears to be consolidating around a handful of national giants such as Sino Biopharm and Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine. These companies occupy a large and growing presence in international supply chains and hold... MORE

Executive Summary: Smart home device manufacturers in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) benefit from efforts by Beijing to export data infrastructure and governance standards along with “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices. Manufacturers like Xiaomi, TCL, and Skyworth maintain strong links with the PRC government... MORE

Executive Summary: Russia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) held the joint Maritime Interaction-2025 naval drills on August 1–5 in the Sea of Japan and East China Sea, coordinating submarine operations for the first time. These drills demonstrate a new level of interoperability in... MORE

Executive Summary: Azerbaijan has pursued proactive diplomacy to strengthen its role as a transit hub since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2022, especially with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Transit through Azerbaijan offers a sanction-free, resilient, and stable environment to facilitate... MORE

Executive Summary: Beijing and Budapest have reportedly finalized the details of an extradition treaty that reflects Beijing’s growing involvement in Hungary’s internal security. The new treaty comes as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has begun investing heavily in various sectors of the Hungarian economy.... MORE

Executive Summary: Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin on August 31 and September 1, and the Victory Day military parade on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on September 3. Putin likely... MORE