Stimson’s China Program is conducting an ongoing research and dialogue project that examines China’s emerging role in conflict mediation globally. The project explores China’s foray into conflict mediation during a period of evolution in China’s multidimensional role on the international stage and engages critical Chinese actors on potential cooperation in conflict mediation in Myanmar, Afghanistan/Pakistan, India/Pakistan, the Korean peninsula, Africa, and the Middle East.
Included in the project’s first compilation of works are thorough analysis of how great powers engage in mediation, commentary on how China’s policies fit within its decades-old non-interference policy, an investigation into Beijing’s mediatory role between India and Pakistan, and detailed best practices for military ceasefire monitoring.
This monthly update highlights major events, statements, and bilateral interactions driving China’s relations with Afghanistan at a time when the Taliban sees China as a crucial partner
April 15, 2026
China’s engagement during the Tigray crisis from November 2020 to November 2022 prioritized state stability and economic interests, clashing with African mediation norms
April 6, 2026
China has attempted to mediate Afghanistan’s conflicts at various stages, even as China’s global status and roles changed over the decades
September 23, 2024
Chinese approaches to counterterrorism in Africa show complex interactions between state and nonstate actors
July 31, 2024
North Korea presents a useful case study to examine the ways that China’s interests, risk aversion, and process building drive its engagement in mediation
June 5, 2024
China seeks to balance diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran to serve its broader strategic interests
May 10, 2024
China has limited its involvement in crises in Venezuela, preferring to secure its economic interests and avoid reputational cost
February 16, 2024
China has shifted its role in Yemen to align more closely with Saudi Arabia, while maintaining a narrative of facilitation
January 31, 2024
