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
Italy’s policy on China: The Belt and Road gamble and its aftermath

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
Italy’s policy on China: The Belt and Road gamble and its aftermath

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
Italy’s policy on China: The Belt and Road gamble and its aftermath

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

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Italy’s policy on China: The Belt and Road gamble and its aftermath

By Valbona Zeneli

From the Silk Road to the Belt and Road Initiative, Italy’s relationship with China has shifted from early enthusiasm to cautious recalibration. Once Europe’s gateway for Beijing’s ambitions, Rome now frames its China policy around transatlantic solidarity, balancing economic opportunity with strategic prudence.

China Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

How Europe deals with China in trade, technology, and security

By Valbona Zeneli

The EU’s approach to China is increasingly converging around “de-risking,” though progress remains uneven. While powerful member states set the overall direction, smaller ones drive change—and outliers slow collective action. Whether the EU can turn this patchwork into a unified strategy will define its China policy in the years ahead.

China Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Germany’s policy on China: From win-win to strategic competition

By Valbona Zeneli

Germany’s China policy has shifted from economic optimism to cautious competition—balancing trade interests with mounting security concerns. Once built on deep interdependence, Berlin now prioritizes “de-risking” and resilience in its approach to Beijing.

China Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Hungary’s policy on China: Doing Beijing’s bidding

By Zoltán Fehér

Under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary has emerged as China’s closest ally within the EU, aligning its foreign policy with Beijing’s global agenda and repeatedly obstructing EU efforts to counter Chinese influence.

China Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Czechia’s policy on China: Swinging between engagement and de-risking

By Zoltán Fehér

Although Czechia emerged as one of the EU’s early hawks and whistleblowers on China, its overall stance has shifted markedly over the past two decades—oscillating between engagement and balancing, with the fluctuations largely driven by domestic political divisions and sustained Chinese influence efforts.

Central Europe China

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Recommendations for coordinating US-EU policy

By Zoltán Fehér, Valbona Zeneli

To effectively counter China, the United States should prioritize closer coordination with the EU in key areas: economic security, supply chains, anti-coercion, and strategic investment. Joint efforts on trade and investment, technology, and security will be crucial to ensure aligned US-EU action.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Nov 7, 2025

Pharmaceuticals are China’s next trade weapon

By Niels Graham

China supplies most critical drug ingredients to the US, and the dependency is only growing. After the rare earths truce, pharma is an area to watch.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Nov 6, 2025

How South Korea advanced its trade and technology agenda at the APEC summit

By Kayla T. Orta

South Korea leveraged its diplomatic influence to strengthen Seoul’s standing within the multilateral economic framework and secure trade deals with the United States.

Economy & Business Indo-Pacific

In the News

Nov 4, 2025

Galicia advocates for “networked deterrence” to counter China in the Indo-Pacific

On September 23, Scowcroft Center program assistant Bailey Galicia published an article with the Irregular Warfare Initiative titled, “Austronesian Identity as ‘Networked Deterrence’ in the Indo-Pacific.” He explores the potential of leveraging shared cultural identity in the Indo-Pacific to counter Chinese gray zone actions. The article won third place in the Irregular Warfare Initiative’s 2025 […]

China Indo-Pacific

Issue Brief

Nov 4, 2025

A next-generation agenda: South Korea-US-Australia security cooperation

By Lauren D. Gilbert, Kester Abbott, Hannah Heewon Seo

Growing collaboration and cooperation between the United States, South Korea, and Australia could be key to maintaining security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. The Atlantic Council and the Korea Foundation gathered rising experts from the United States, South Korea, and Australia to identify obstacles to that cooperation and opportunities to overcome them.

Australia Defense Industry
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Experts

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

Fellow

Jieun Baek

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Democratic Transitions Human Rights
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Events

Public Event Mon, March 23, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Kurt Campbell on what to expect from Trump’s Beijing visit
China Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy Technology & Innovation