PacNet #46: China's Coercive Economic Diplomacy—A New and Worrying Trend
When the 10 member nations of ASEAN failed to reach agreement on the wording of a joint communique; for the first time in 45 years, most pundits blamed this year's ASEAN chair, Cambodia, for failing to...
View ArticleChina's Coercive Economic Diplomacy: A New and Worrying Trend
When the 10 member nations of ASEAN failed to reach agreement on the wording of a joint communiqué for the first time in 45 years, most pundits blamed this year’s ASEAN chair, Cambodia, for failing to...
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: Decoding China's Harder Line on the South China Sea
FEATURED ESSAY:Decoding China's Harder Line on the South China SeaBy Christopher Johnsonread more
View ArticleComparative Connections v.14 n.2 - US-China
Over the summer, the US began to flesh out its rebalancing to Asia strategy, prompting Chinese concerns. The fourth round of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) was held in Beijing in May...
View ArticleSecretary of Defense Leon Panetta Heads to China
Leon Panetta will make his first visit to China as U.S. secretary of defense, September 18–20.Q1: Why is the visit important?read more
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: Beleaguered CCP Shows Signs of Resilience
FEATURED ESSAY: Beleaguered CCP Shows Signs of ResilienceBy Christopher Johnsonread more
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: Looking Beyond the Horse Race: Can China's New...
FEATURED ESSAY:Looking Beyond the Horse Race: Can China's New Leaders Reform?By Christopher JohnsonAfter much anticipation, and one of the more difficult years in its recent history, the Chinese...
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: All Eyes on Xi as China's New Leaders Take Power
FEATURED ESSAY:All Eyes on Xi as China’s New Leaders Take PowerBy Christopher Johnson, Freeman Chair in China Studiesread more
View ArticleReordering Chinese Priorities on the Korean Peninsula
The accession to power of a new leader in North Korea has not increased the prospects for denuclearization. Hints that Kim Jong-un might experiment with agricultural and economic reforms are not...
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: Mutual Distrust Creeping into U.S.-China Economic...
FEATURED ESSAYMutual Distrust Creeping into U.S.-China Economic Tiesread more
View ArticleComparative Connections v.14 n.3 - US-China
The rare convergence of a US presidential election cycle and China’s once-in-a-decade leadership transition caused both countries to focus their energies and attention domestically in the last four...
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: Xi's Plea for 2013 "Cross the River by Feeling...
FEATURED ESSAYXi's Plea for 2013 "Cross the River by Feeling the Stones"By Christopher Johnson, Freeman Chair in China Studiesread more
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: Re-Think Chinese Policy Toward DPRK
FEATURED ESSAYread more
View ArticleThe UN Prepares to Impose New Sanctions on North Korea
On February 12, 2013, North Korea conducted its third underground nuclear test. The test was met with harsh international criticism; it was condemned by the European Union, ASEAN, NATO, Russia, Japan,...
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: China's National People's Congress: A Satisfying...
FEATURED ESSAYChina’s National People’s Congress: A Satisfying End and an Uncertain Beginningread more
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: North Korea: Defining the Danger and the Way Out
FEATURED ESSAYBy Christopher Johnson, Victor Cha, and Michael GreenOver the past month, North Korea's 29-year-old leader, Kim Jong Un, has threatened to attack Washington with nuclear weapons, declared...
View ArticleComparative Connections v.15 n.1 - US-China
With Xi Jinping’s assumption to the presidency at the National People’s Congress, China’s leadership transition finally ended and high-level US-China contacts and exchanges picked up steam.read more
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: Strong Political Crosscurrents in Beijing...
These are humbling times for those of us engaged in the enterprise of prognosticating on the future trajectory of China’s political and economic development. This month alone, we have seen several...
View ArticlePacNet #38 - China’s Missed Opportunity at the Shangri-La Dialogue
The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), launched by the Institute of International Strategic Studies (IISS) in 2002, brings together Asia-Pacific defense ministers and experts from around the world to discuss...
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: Now that We Understand Each Other, Time to Get to...
FEATURED ESSAY:Now that We Understand Each Other, Time to Get to WorkBy Christopher K. Johnsonread more
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: Xi Looking Strong, Determined Heading to the Beach
FEATURED ESSAY:read more
View ArticleHow Will China React to a Military Strike on Syria?
On September 4, the Obama administration’s efforts to build consensus on military action against Syria received a boost as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee cleared an attack on the Syrian...
View ArticleComparative Connections v.15 n.2 - US-China
With their domestic challenges in mind and a shared need for a stable bilateral relationship, Presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping met for a day and a half “no necktie” official working meeting to...
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: A New Type of Major Power Relations on North Korea
Earlier this year it appeared to some that U.S. and Chinese approaches to North Korea were converging. More recently, however, the gap between Beijing and Washington in their policies toward Pyongyang...
View ArticleThoughts from the Chairman: China's Third Plenum: Go Big or Go Home?
FEATURED ESSAY:China’s Third Plenum: Go Big or Go Home? By Christopher K. Johnsonread more
View ArticleTaiwan’s Quest for Greater Participation in the International Community
Taiwan’s ambiguous international status has long complicated its ability to participate in international organizations in which the rest of the world shares information and makes critical global...
View ArticleChina's Air Defense Identification Zone: Impact on Regional Security
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced the creation of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Saturday, November 23.read more
View ArticleComparative Connections v.15 n.3 - US-China
Bilateral interactions in the final months of 2013 were characteristically active. Secretary of State John Kerry attended the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting and the East Asia Summit in President Obama’s...
View ArticleCan Asia prevent its own Crimea?
With the world watching Ukraine with wary eyes, the U.S. Navy’s lead admiral in the Pacific suggested Asia could face a similar crisis if the continent’s other major power continues on its current...
View ArticleA Role for Taiwan in Promoting Peace in the South China Sea
In its East China Sea diplomacy, Taiwan has been creative and constructive. In August 2012, President Ma Ying-jeou proposed the East China Sea Peace Initiative (ECSPI) to manage rising tensions over...
View ArticlePacNet #30 -- A Role for Taiwan in Promoting Peace in the South China Sea
In its East China Sea diplomacy, Taiwan has been creative and constructive. In August 2012, President Ma Ying-jeou proposed the East China Sea Peace Initiative (ECSPI) to manage rising tensions over...
View ArticleComparative Connections v.16 n.1 - US-China
The complexity of the US-China relationship was in sharp relief in the first four months of 2014. Differences over maritime disputes along China’s eastern periphery were at the top of the agenda....
View ArticleComparative Connections v.16 n.2 - US-China
The US and China held the sixth Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing in July. None of the myriad of problems in the relationship were solved, but the annual meetings provided an opportunity to...
View ArticleObama-Xi Summit: Assuage Respective Fears, Expand Cooperation
President Obama’s November 11-12 summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping comes at an opportune time. With the Republican sweep of Congress, Obama will now have more leeway on foreign policy than on...
View ArticleAn Analysis of Taiwan’s Nine-in-One Local Elections
Q1: What was the outcome of Taiwan’s local elections held on November 29?read more
View ArticleComparative Connections v.16 n.3 - US-China
The highlight of the final months of 2014 was the summit between Presidents Obama and Xi Jinping, which produced agreements on visa extensions, military confidence-building measures, climate change,...
View ArticleTaiwan’s Marginalized Role in International Security
The complicated question of Taiwan’s sovereignty has led to its exclusion from virtually all international security organizations. This marginalization has left a critical hole not only in the security...
View ArticleComparative Connections v.17 n.1 - US-China
2015 opened with high-level exchanges in preparation for the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, scheduled for early summer, and Xi Jinping’s state visit in September. The South China Sea remained a...
View ArticlePacNet #33 - China’s missed opportunity at the Shangri-La Dialogue
Since China first sent a senior military officer to participate in the Shangri-la Dialogue (SLD) in 2007, it has come to the annual security meeting prepared with a carefully crafted strategy to...
View ArticleChina’s Land Reclamation Announcement: A Change in Message, Not in Policy
Q1: What has China announced about its land reclamation activities in the Spratly Islands?read more
View ArticleTough times ahead if the DPP returns to power?
Taiwan’s presidential election is six months away, but it seems increasingly likely that the DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen will win. In a July 7 TVBS public opinion poll, Tsai leads the KMT’s Hung Hsiu-chu 54.2...
View ArticleComparative Connections v.17 n.2 - US-China
Preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the US in September were the primary focus of the US-China relationship from May to August. The seventh Strategic and Economic Dialogue...
View ArticleThe U.S. Asserts Freedom of Navigation in the South China Sea
After months of internal debate within the Obama administration, the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen transited within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef, one of China’s artificially-built features in...
View ArticleGeopolitical Consequences of China’s Slowdown
Despite being widely recognized as the most powerful emerging country in the world, China’s international position rests upon an untested foundation. Unlike other leading countries, whose national...
View ArticleChina's Reaction to North Korea's Nuclear Test
Q1: Was the official statement by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs particularly harsh?read more
View ArticleComparative Connections v.17 n.3 - US-China
Despite growing friction between the US and China, Xi Jinping’s visit to the US in September was mostly positive and produced important outcomes. Tensions persisted in the South China Sea with China...
View ArticleTsai Ing-wen and DPP Win Big in Taiwan
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won a landslide victory in Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections on Saturday, January 16, ousting the Kuomintang (KMT) from office. President-elect Tsai...
View ArticleSeeing the Forest through the SAMs on Woody Island
The recent deployment of Chinese surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) to Woody Island is a notable tactical development, but a far more significant strategic signal.read more
View ArticleProspects for Cross-Strait Relations as Tsai Ing-wen Assumes the Presidency...
On May 20, Tsai Ing-wen from the Democratic People’s Progressive Party (DPP) will be inaugurated president in Taiwan. A key concern of the United States is whether relations between Taiwan and China...
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