In recent weeks, Western media has characterized Xi Jinping as a more assertive and forceful leader of China’s armed forces, including the People’s Liberation Army and People’s Armed Police. The Wall Street Journal, for example, described Xi as “as a strong military leader at home and embracing a more hawkish worldview.” Similarly, the New York Times described Xi …
Nuclear Weapons in U.S.-China Relations
This past year, I joined a working group sponsored by the Project on Nuclear Initiatives at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. We were tasked with thinking about the role of nuclear weapons in U.S.-China relations in the coming two decades. The working group’s report explored the challenges posed by China’s continued force modernization …
Hainan’s New Maritime Regulations: An Update
On January 1, 2013, Hainan’s new maritime security regulations entered into force. Entitled Regulations for the Management of Coastal Border Security and Public Order in Hainan Province, they replaced those lastissued in 1999. When the new regulations were first announced in November they attracted a great deal of attention because they appeared to authorize broad powers to interfere …
Hainan’s New Maritime Regulations: A Preliminary Analysis
Hainan’s People’s Congress recently approved new regulations for the management of public order for coastal and border defense. Part of the regulations authorizes public security units to inspect, detain or expel foreign ships illegally entering waters under Hainan’s jurisdiction. As a result,initial reporting and analysis indicated that the regulations may provide a basis for China to challenge freedom …
Chinese Foreign Policy Under Xi Jinping
Following the conclusion of the , a new , the top leadership body of the Chinese Communist Party, has been named. has revolved around whether or how China’s new leaders will pursue much-needed economic and political reforms. An equally important question concerns the future direction of Chinese foreign policy under Xi Jinping. To repeat Zhou Enlai’s assessment of …
Sinica podcast
During a recent trip to Beijing, I met up with Kaiser Kuo, one of the hosts of the outstanding Sinica podcast. We discussed recent developments in China’s maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas, as well as the state of the Chinese navy. You can listen to the podcast here. I had so …
Redefining the Status Quo
The most striking feature of China’s behavior in its maritime disputes this year has been efforts to redefine the status quo. In its disputes with the Philippines and Japan, China has used the presence of its civilian maritime law enforcement agencies to create new facts on the water to strengthen China’s sovereignty claims. Before April …
The Dangerous Math of Chinese Island Disputes
Today, I published a piece in the Asian Wall Street Journal on the current standoff between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands. Reviewing China’s behavior in its past territorial disputes, I argue that the danger of escalation is much greater than is commonly believed. The piece can be viewed here. You can also email me …
Doubling Down in the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands?
High-ranking diplomats from China and Japan met in Shanghai recently to hold consultations over the Senkaku / Diaoyu Islands. Zhang Zhijun, vice minister of foreign affairs, met with his counterpart, Chikao Kawai. Details of the talks were not disclosed, but the continuation of consultations that started in September is important if the two sides seek …
Easing China-Japan Island Tensions
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced that Luo Zhaohui, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs, had made an unpublicized visit to Japan. The purpose of his trip was to prepare for the next round of talks over the Senkaku / Diaoyu Islands at the vice ministerial level, similar to those heldin late September. Overall, this …