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

In the News

Aug 14, 2025

Michta published in National Security Journal on China as the primary strategic beneficiary in Russia’s war against Ukraine

On August 14, 2025, Andrew Michta, nonresident senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was published in National Security Journal where he argues that the key to ending the war against Ukraine lies in Beijing, not Moscow.

China Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Aug 12, 2025

Sacrificing Ukraine will only increase the cost of stopping Putin’s Russia

By Pavlo Zhovnirenko

Pressuring Ukraine to accept a Kremlin-friendly settlement may succeed in pausing the current war, but it will not bring peace. On the contrary, it will set the stage for international instability on a far larger scale, writes Pavlo Zhovnirenko.

China Conflict

Issue Brief

Aug 11, 2025

Strategic energy realignment: Rethinking MDB policy for growth and global stability

By Samuel Buchan, Landon Derentz

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) have drifted from their original mission of maximizing economic growth. Instead, they prioritize climate-first lending that restricts hydrocarbon investments.

China Energy & Environment

In the News

Aug 11, 2025

Ullman in The Hill on President Trump and President Putin’s meeting in Alaska 

On August 11, Atlantic Council Senior Advisor Harlan Ullman published an op-ed in The Hill on President Trump and President Putin’s meeting in Alaska. He argues that China and Russia have the leverage to disrupt Trump’s dealmaking.

China Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2025

Reading between the lines of the dueling US and Chinese AI action plans

By Atlantic Council experts

Washington and Beijing recently released plans for advancing artificial intelligence. Atlantic Council experts answer six big questions about the two publications.

Artificial Intelligence China

New Atlanticist

Aug 6, 2025

Trump’s tariffs are giving Lula a boost and shifting Brazil’s geopolitics

By Thayz Guimarães

The tariff saga is not over, but it has already produced some unexpected political and geopolitical consequences for Brazil.

Brazil China

Issue Brief

Aug 6, 2025

Surfing the Hallyu: What Taiwan can learn from South Korea’s cultural diplomacy

By Nik Foster

With sustained investment and strategic branding, Taiwan can increase global awareness, deepen international partnerships, and fortify its national identity through cultural diplomacy.

China Civil Society

MENASource

Aug 5, 2025

Did the Israel-Iran war expose China’s Middle East policy?

By Andrea Ghiselli

The region’s importance in Beijing’s foreign policy is limited and, thus, not much energy and resources are invested in long-term planning.

China Iran

In the News

Aug 4, 2025

Daniels publishes article on China’s soft power strategy in AI in Foreign Affairs

By Atlantic Council

On July 25, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Owen Daniels published an article, “China’s Overlooked AI Strategy: Beijing Is Using Soft Power to Gain Global Dominance,” in Foreign Affairs.

Artificial Intelligence China

Econographics

Jul 31, 2025

Beijing extends and pretends to deal with its mountain of local government debt

By Jeremy Mark

Beijing's three-year local debt restructuring plan fails to actually address the trillions of dollars weighing on local governments and will only cause greater problems down the road.

China Economy & Business

Experts