Project
Chinese Foreign Policy
Deepening understanding of China’s foreign policy behaviors and their motivations and impact
About the Project
How China interacts with the international community will help define the 21st century’s political, economic, military, and governance norms worldwide. The intersection of China’s growing ambition for global influence and existing U.S. overseas engagement is where the two countries are forced to contend with how their national interests, goals, and worldviews converge and diverge. The Chinese Foreign Policy project assesses China’s strategic intentions and foreign policy behaviors to reduce the likelihood of misunderstanding, misperception, and miscalculation. By furthering dialogue among regional actors, we work to expand interaction between the Chinese foreign policy community and their counterparts in other countries, aiming for a nuanced and realistic understanding of Chinese strategic intentions valuable for policymakers, practitioners, and experts.
Research & Writing
Commentary
Analyzing how Beijing sees the Trump-Xi summit as a moment to negotiate and determine what the U.S. is willing to offer.
May 11, 2026
Commentary
The Taliban once called China its “most important partner,” but China has been less than enthusiastic in building economic relations.
April 9, 2025
Issue Brief
Despite China’s export restrictions, germanium and gallium are still reaching the United States through indirect trade routes
March 19, 2025
Policy Memo
As access to critical minerals becomes even more vital for development in both China and the United States, Africa has become a strategic region for investment.
February 28, 2025
Commentary
New controls on metals used in semiconductor manufacturing will lead to smuggling and force countries to rethink their supply chains.
July 19, 2023
Commentary
In walking the line, China has managed to keep its strategic competitor and trade front and center.
February 13, 2023
Project Note
AsiaGlobal Podcast on the aspects of current Chinese foreign policy to watch.
September 23, 2022
Op-Ed
The key challenge for Biden is to reaffirm a historically rock-solid partnership network at a time of pressing global challenges in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific, originally published in The National Interest.
July 8, 2022
Commentary
NATO turns its attention to China as a strategic challenge to the Euro-Atlantic region.
July 5, 2022
Commentary
Expert views on its impact across four critical players: South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan.
May 25, 2022
Commentary
As the war in Ukraine enters its third month, more convergence has emerged between China and key states in the Middle East. Motivated by a shared frustration with the United States, China and its Middle East partners have found themselves on the same side more often than not regarding the conflict.
May 6, 2022
Commentary
Questions are rampant as to what role China will play to mediate and when.
April 15, 2022
Commentary
Mainstream scholars and senior leaders are increasingly convinced that the war in Ukraine presents a “window of strategic opportunity.”
March 22, 2022
Policy Memo
While the Trump administration pursued “everything” on North Korea and the Obama administration “nothing,” it appears the Biden administration is open to exploring “something in the middle,” guided by lessons from the past.
February 28, 2022
Commentary
A careful examination of the events suggests that China was, in fact, played.
February 28, 2022
Policy Memo
South Korea remains caught in the middle of an intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China.
February 28, 2022
Policy Memo
By prioritizing an “alliance-first” strategy over denuclearization, the Biden administration’s policy toward North Korea seems doomed to fail.
February 28, 2022
Policy Memo
As threat perceptions toward China grow, South Korea faces the challenge of maintaining a strategic equilibrium between Beijing and Washington, a role that keenly interests China.
February 24, 2022
Policy Memo
South Korea’s potential role in a Taiwan contingency is of great importance to Chinese policy planning. Therefore, understanding and preparing for China’s strategic reactions is critical for all parties.
February 23, 2022
Policy Memo
South Korea’s recent joint statement with the U.S. reflects a departure from its usual ambiguity about its relations with China and the U.S. But the country’s potential role in a Taiwan contingency—an issue that has yet to enter the country’s mainstream political agenda—will depend upon a number of factors.
February 23, 2022
Commentary
China’s position on Russia’s actions is both crucial and more complex, with many in the Chinese policy community surprised Putin was following through on his threats.
February 22, 2022
Commentary
As China reduces the money it lends to Africa, many speculate it is being sent to the Middle East
February 3, 2022
Testimony
Hearing on “CCP Decision-Making and the 20th Party Congress”
Panel on “Foreign Policy and National Security Decision-Making”
January 27, 2022
Stimson in the News
An Episode by Brooklyn to Beijing Podcast
December 15, 2021
Commentary
November 12, 2021
Commentary
As Biden looks to expand the Quad, the strategic interests of additional members—notably South Korea’s—present challenges
October 4, 2021
Commentary
September 11 changed America, but did it change the world?
September 2, 2021
Issue Brief
Current Chinese participation in trilateral arms control agreements seems unlikely. However, there are several steps the U.S. can take to improve the chances of future trilateral arrangements.
August 9, 2021
Commentary
Current U.S.-China relations are toxic. To avoid a military conflict, both countries must cooperate to achieve greater strategic stability and crisis management.
August 2, 2021
Op-Ed
This commentary was originally published with KEI on July 30, 2021.
July 30, 2021
Issue Brief
Taiwan is entrapped by a clash between the U.S. and China. In order to renew strategic stability between these great powers, Biden must strengthen the policy of dual deterrence.
July 6, 2021
Commentary
In order to enhance extended deterrence and strategic stability in Northeast Asia, the Biden administration must consider the relationship between conventional forces and risks of nuclear escalation.
June 30, 2021
Commentary
Biden’s “Goldilocks Solution”onthe Korean Peninsulawill requirethe right balance of coordinating with allies and managing relations with Pyongyang and Beijing.
June 7, 2021
Policy Paper
The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing many countries to the edge of default. Workouts will be done in the Paris Club, but China is not a member despite being one of the largest creditors
April 30, 2021
Commentary
April 22, 2021
Policy Memo
China and North Korea have maintained their relationship in the pandemic, but 2021 prospects depend on Biden’s policies towards them
March 17, 2021
Op-Ed
February 19, 2021
Op-Ed
This article was originally published in Asia Times.
October 30, 2020
Op-Ed
This article was originally published in High North News.
October 8, 2020
Op-Ed
This article was originally published in Global Asia.
October 2, 2020
Op-Ed
This article was originally published by Observer Research Foundation.
September 25, 2020
Op-Ed
This article was originally published by The Arctic Institute Center for Circumpolar Security Studies.
August 21, 2020
Op-Ed
This article was originally published in The Diplomat.
August 13, 2020
Video
This video was originally posted by the National Committee on North Korea.
July 30, 2020
Op-Ed
This op-ed was originally published in the Syndication Bureau
July 26, 2020
Op-Ed
This article was originally published in Asia Times.
July 20, 2020
Op-Ed
This article was originally published in The Wire China.
June 29, 2020
Recent Publications
Sub-Projects
Events
Load More