East Asia

East Asia

For more than seventy years, East Asia has been the nexus of US presence and engagement in Asia. Today, the region is becoming a hotbed for the return of great power competition, with long-term US allies and partners like Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan next door to competitors and challengers including China, Russia, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. While East Asia continues to navigate a number of longstanding traditional security issues, it must also address the rise of online disinformation, competition to pioneer emerging technologies, and more.

Explore

China’s Military Spending and US National Security

New Atlanticist
Mar 31, 2025

Dispatch from Hong Kong: How the ‘geoeconomic city’ is weathering global headwinds

By
Josh Lipsky, Ananya Kumar

From Chinese and US economic growth to stablecoin regulations, a recent visit to Hong Kong offered important insights for two Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center experts.

China
Digital Currencies

China’s Military Spending and US National Security

New Atlanticist
Mar 25, 2025

Reading between the lines of Taiwan’s new Quadrennial Defense Review

By
Kitsch Liao

The recently released Quadrennial Defense Review offers a window into the Taiwanese military’s issues with prioritization, operational readiness, and manpower retention.

China
East Asia

China’s Military Spending and US National Security

Report
Mar 24, 2025

How Beijing uses inducements as a tool of economic statecraft

By
William Piekos

As strategic competition between the United States and China intensifies, Washington and Beijing seek every possible advantage to gain an edge. In this environment, both countries are increasingly turning to economic statecraft—the use of economic coercion or inducement to pursue strategic goals—to advance their interests.

China
Economy & Business

Programs

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Indo-Pacific Security Initiative equips the transatlantic community to “pivot” to the Asia-Pacific and to position the Atlantic Council to serve as the essential link between high-level transatlantic and Asian leaders and thinkers

EXPLORE THE Initiative

Content

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2012

China’s Military Spending and US National Security

By Derek Reveron

In a sign of transparency, China recently unveiled its annual military budget of 670 billion yuan ($106 billion), which represents a $10.6 billion annual increase. Given that China’s currency is undervalued, some estimates bring the total to over $200 billion and even higher when foreign procurement is included.

China

New Atlanticist

Feb 23, 2012

Where Next for US-China Relations?

By Banning Garrett

The change in leaders in China is perhaps less significant than a new administration taking power in the United States, especially if the new US administration is from the party previously out of power. Xi Jinping has been part of the ruling administration for years. There will be new faces taking Politburo and Standing Committee […]

China

Event Recap

Feb 15, 2012

Atlantic Council Participates in Xi Jinping Luncheon

By Adrienne Chuck

On Wednesday, February 15 the Atlantic Council served as a cooperating organization for a luncheon with special guest Xi Jinping, Vice President of China, hosted by the US-China Business Council and the National Committee on US-China Relations. The delegation from the Council included Atlantic Council Chairman Senator Chuck Hagel, Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick […]

China

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2012

China Pivot or Pirouette?

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Amid the gazillion blogs, tweets, Facebookies and LinkedIn aficionados, it has become even harder to find reasoned and convincing arguments for what kind of military drawdown would do least harm to the United States’ global posture. Even learned think tanks are tweeting. Retired admirals and generals, professors and journalists, everyone is weighing in with elite […]

China United States and Canada

Event Recap

Dec 16, 2011

Peering Over the Edge: Challenges and Opportunities for the Global Economy in 2012

By Adrienne Chuck

On December 16, World Bank President Robert Zoellick joined Atlantic Council President and CEO Fred Kempe at the Four Seasons Hotel In Washington for a dialogue on the many forces shaping the global economy today.

Afghanistan China

New Atlanticist

Dec 15, 2011

As China Rises, A New US Strategy

By Zbigniew Brzezinski

A great power that allows itself to be preoccupied only with the problems of today is likely to end up mired in the conflicts of yesterday. A great power must be guided by a longer-range strategic vision.

China

Event Recap

Dec 12, 2011

Rebalanced and Refocused?: US Regional Security Strategy in Asia Facing a Rising China

By Adrienne Chuck

On December 12, the Atlantic Council’s International Security Program held its second installment of the Cross-Strait Series, a continuing discussion on the state of US-China-Taiwan relations.

China East Asia

New Atlanticist

Nov 10, 2011

Talking Tohoku in Tokyo

By Julian Lindley-French

Tokyo. What a city of uber-contrast. A concrete-scape beyond an eye’s leap that crawls and then creeps before eventually soaring and swooping around the old Imperial palace at its heart. This mega-city is periodically punctuated by serene oases of intimate greenery in which water, rock, and flora tease the imagination back toward a Japan long […]

Japan Nuclear Nonproliferation

Event Recap

Nov 10, 2011

Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions

By Adrienne Chuck

On November 10, the Atlantic Council’s Iran Task Force held a public briefing on Iran trade relations. This briefing marks the release of the Council’s fifth issue brief, entitled “Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions,” by senior fellow Barbara Slavin.

China Germany

Issue Brief

Nov 10, 2011

Iran turns to China, barter to survive sanctions

By Barbara Slavin

“Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions,” by senior fellow Barbara Slavin discusses Iran’s changing trade patterns, its greater dependence on China, India and Turkey, and continuing relationships with Germany and Italy. The brief also discusses the impact of sanctions and measures the United States could take to convince Iran to curb its nuclear […]

China Iran
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Danial Abdul Rahman

Chief Executive Officer, Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute

Millennium Leadership Program

East Asia Education

Fellow

Ahmed Aboudouh

Former Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic China

Fellow

Michael Allen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Cybersecurity

Fellow

Peter Arvo

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

China Human Rights

Staff

Rayhan Asat

Senior Legal & Policy Advisor, China Lead

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Central Asia China

Fellow

Kelsang (Kaydor) Aukatsang

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Global China Hub

China Civil Society
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