China

China’s rise continues to present tremendous strategic challenges and opportunities for the United States and its allies and partners. Today, Beijing aims to connect the majority of the world’s population under the Belt and Road Initiative, dominate high-tech industry, and forge a world-class military. Despite the sustained, structural momentum behind China’s growth, increasing economic uncertainty, paired with long-term demographic challenges and tightening domestic political control, have further complicated the trajectory of Chinese power and influence in the decades ahead.

The Global China Hub tracks Beijing’s actions and their global impacts, assessing China’s rise from multiple angles and identifying emerging China policy challenges. The Hub leverages its network of China experts around the world to generate actionable recommendations for policymakers in Washington and beyond.

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Content

UkraineAlert

Sep 11, 2025

China, India, and North Korea back Russia as changing global order takes shape

By Katherine Spencer

Support from China, India, and North Korea for Russia’s war in Ukraine will allow the killing to continue while undermining Trump’s efforts to pressure the Kremlin into ending the invasion, writes Katherine Spencer.

China Conflict

New Atlanticist

Sep 5, 2025

Why China and Russia are unlikely to move the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline forward

By Joseph Webster, Landon Derentz

While questions remain over the mega pipeline project, Russia has already secured significant export volumes via smaller projects, largely from Chinese buyers.

China Economy & Business

Inflection Points

Sep 4, 2025

In Beijing and Paris, a tale of two global futures

By Frederick Kempe

Recent gatherings in China and France revealed that competing international orders are crystallizing. What part will the United States play?

China European Union

EnergySource

Sep 4, 2025

The China-Russia natural gas deal is a distraction from LNG sanctions evasion

By Olga Khakova

The announcement of a China-Russia natural gas pipeline deal is attention-grabbing geopolitical theater. The United States should instead be focused on curbing Russia's evasion of LNG sanctions.

China Energy & Environment

Issue Brief

Sep 2, 2025

Leveraging Beijing’s playbook to fortify DFC for global competition

By Caroline Costello

A close look at Chinese development lending practices reveals lessons for the United States on why Chinese deals succeed—and fail—and how the United States should reform its own institutions.

Africa China

MENASource

Aug 29, 2025

Is the cautious China-Iran military cooperation at a turning point?

By Jean-Loup Samaan

With a new war between Iran and Israel still an immediate threat, China might need to ask itself: Is cooperation with Iran worth risking its diplomacy model in the Gulf?

China Iran

In the News

Aug 27, 2025

Arnold Punaro featured in RealClear Defense on restructuring the US military

By Atlantic Council

On August 26, MajGen Arnold Punaro (ret.), a Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow, published an article in RealClear Defense, titled "Restructuring Our Military for a Multi-Front War."

China Defense Policy

Econographics

Aug 25, 2025

Everybody wants a stablecoin, even China

By Ananya Kumar

From Beijing’s perspective, a successful offshore yuan-denominated stablecoin could replace some existing yuan transactions, increase the purchases of offshore bonds, and even make them technologically more efficient.

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Aug 22, 2025

Daniels discusses China’s AI strategy on the China Power Podcast

By Atlantic Council

On August 19, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Owen Daniels was featured on Episode 108 of the German Marshal Fund's China Power Podcast.

Artificial Intelligence China

In the News

Aug 22, 2025

Daniels examines China’s AI soft power strategy in War on the Rocks

By Atlantic Council

On August 14, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Owen Daniels published an article, "China’s Soft Power Tools and Whether They Work," in War on the Rocks.

Artificial Intelligence China

Experts