John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution
Recent News About John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution
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Complexities in US-Taiwan security partnership amid China's growing influence
The United States' security partnership with Taiwan is notable due to the unique nature of their relationship. While Washington does not recognize the Republic of China (ROC) government in Taipei as the official government of China, it recognizes the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing. Despite this, America maintains substantive ties with Taiwan through a nominally private organization, the American Institute in Taiwan. The next administration will need to navigate this complex partnership carefully, considering Beijing's relationships with both Washington and Taipei.
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Brookings to host Susan Rice for leadership discussion
Susan Rice, recognized for her influential roles in both domestic and foreign policy, will be featured in a fireside chat hosted by the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings on Thursday, September 5. The event will see Rice in conversation with China Center Director and Senior Fellow Ryan Hass.
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Glossary aims to bridge US-China understanding on AI in national security
Since 2019, the Brookings Institution and the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University (Tsinghua CISS) have convened teams of national security technology experts from the United States and China for an unofficial Track-II dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI) in national security. The two teams identified a need to build parallel glossaries of AI terms—one developed by U.S. experts and the other developed by Chinese experts—to enable a precise understanding of each other’s intended meanings when discussing AI and national security.
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Brookings to host discussion on China's naval strength
China's rapid naval buildup has allowed it to surpass the U.S. Navy in terms of the number of battle force ships, and it continues to expand at a significant rate. The United States maintains a substantial lead over the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) by tonnage and holds a qualitative edge in several types of platforms, although this quality gap is narrowing. Additionally, the United States collaborates closely with other regional navies, though the effectiveness of these alliances in a crisis remains uncertain.
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Debating US-China relations: A closer look at underlying complexities
The assertion that a U.S. "consensus" on China policy has emerged is increasingly questioned. Both the Trump and Biden administrations concur that China aims to surpass the United States as the leading global power, marking a rare continuity in foreign policy between the two administrations. Bipartisan agreement exists in Congress regarding Beijing as Washington's primary geopolitical rival. Over the past decade, the U.S. has implemented measures to counter China's military advancements, restrict its access to high-tech components, and strengthen alliances in Europe and Asia.
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Concerns rise over potential Chinese influence via TikTok ownership
Washington is concerned about TikTok, particularly regarding Beijing’s influence through the platform's parent company ByteDance. Critics allege that TikTok is used to "silence free speech," "undermine democracy," and "promote propaganda." These fears led President Joe Biden to sign a bill requiring TikTok to find a new owner within a year or face a ban in the United States.
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China's strategy shifts towards technology-led growth
During a visit to Heilongjiang Province in September 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the nation to mobilize “new quality productive forces” (新质生产力) to drive economic growth. This message was reiterated at the annual Central Economic Work Conference in December and emphasized by Premier Li Qiang during his annual work report at the National People’s Congress in March 2024. Additionally, on January 31, a coalition of seven ministries led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a list of “future industries” (未来产业), which are intended to be major...
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How China plans to tackle potential second trump presidency
By the spring of 2024, China had come to terms with the significant possibility of a second Trump presidency. According to national polling organization FiveThirtyEight, by May 22, 2024, former U.S. President Donald Trump held a 0.9% lead over President Joe Biden in national presidential polls, at 41.1% versus Biden’s 40.2%. Despite a guilty verdict in his criminal trial, Trump's support remained strong, reflected in a 1.7% lead according to FiveThirtyEight on May 30.
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Taiwan's incoming president: A pragmatic leader or a harbinger of conflict
As the inauguration of William Lai, Taiwan's next president, draws near on May 20, there is a growing anticipation of news analyses forecasting heightened tensions and potential conflict. This is due to Lai's self-proclaimed identity as a "pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence." Given Beijing's stern warning against Taiwan independence, many predict that Lai's inauguration could signal upcoming turmoil.