Resource Library
China Pharma Market Demand for Diabetes and Weight Loss Drugs Expands
On 26 January China’s National Medical Products Administration announced that it had approved Novo Nordisk’s Rybelsus treatment for Type-2 diabetes, making it the first orally administrated GLP-1 receptor agonist drug available in the burgeoning Chinese market.
China Ups Ante in Quantum Computing Global Competition
Chinese scientists believe the success of domestic firm Origin Quantum’s computer development has given China “a ticket” to global quantum computing competition, despite restrictions imposed by the US on quantum computing chip and technology exports.
China-Philippines Discord Stokes South China Sea Tensions
As relations between China and the Philippines continue to deteriorate over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the Philippines is shoring up relations with other South China Sea claimants and striking agreements with regional allies to facilitate joint military operations.
China’s renewable energy battery storage sector is enjoying a boom
China is forging ahead with new renewable energy systems – and battery storage technologies that are needed to store intermittent energy sources, such as wind and solar.
China claims to have designed one of the strongest porous ceramics for heat-shielding hypersonic aircraft
The publication of a scientific study regarding the properties of a ground-breaking porous ceramic highlights China’s level of technology applicable to hypersonic aircraft and missiles.
Who is China’s Presumptive New Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao?
China is likely to announce the appointment of a new foreign minister in March, but the appointee may find his authority circumscribed by highly centralized policymaking.
China’s Demand for ASML Semiconductor Equipment Grows
China’s goal of becoming more self-reliant in semiconductor production has manifested as imports of foreign-made manufacturing equipment are rising, while purchases of foreign chips have dropped.
Italy confirms intention to leave China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Italy joined China’s BRI initiative in March 2019 despite heavy U.S. criticism, but as Rome’s presidency of the G7 approaches in March 2024, Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has formally announced that Italy will not renew its BRI accord, which is set to renew in the same month.
Taiwan’s Diplomatic Allies Dwindling
Seve Paeniu, Tuvalu’s top contender for its prime minister position, has called for the new government to consider the country’s economic interests and debate the issue of whether to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan or China, according to international media reporting.
US Congress Supports New Taiwan Administration
On 24 January a bipartisan congressional delegation led by Congressional Taiwan Caucus co-chairs Representatives Mario Diaz Balart and Ami Bera arrived in Taiwan for a three-day visit.
China Accelerates Space Dominance Pursuit
2024 is poised to be a pivotal year for China's space endeavors. A notable milestone will be the Chang'e 6 lunar mission to mark China's second attempt at returning lunar surface samples to Earth following the success of the Chang’e 5 mission in 2023.
Xi Jinping’s Anti-Graft Campaign Seeks To Deflect Economic Pressure
On 8 January Xi Jinping, who also is General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, addressed the annual meeting of the Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and pledged that the Party will show no leniency for corruption.
China’s 2024 Economic Roadmap Toward Self-Reliance
China’s annual Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) held on 12-13 December 2023 analyzed China’s economic situation and concluded that favorable conditions outweighed unfavorable factors in China’s development and that the fundamental trend of economic recovery has a positive long-term outlook.
China Lifts Boeing 737 MAX Ban, but Scrutiny Increases
Boeing seemed poised to resume aircraft deliveries to China, but the recent Alaska Airlines incident and reported mechanical failures involving US Secretary of State Blinken’s 737 aircraft almost certainly will lead to greater technical scrutiny and possible delays.
China Gains Competitive Edge in Sodium-Ion EVs
On 5 January Anhui Jianghua Automobile (JAC) began deliveries of its Yiwei electric vehicle, which it claims is the world’s first mass-produced car powered by a sodium-ion battery.
How are China and Russia advancing their shared agendas?
Download our recent analyst paper to understand the key implications of recent China-Russia diplomatic developments.
China - US relations
The U.S. government pushes the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, and South Korea to extend existing chip-making export bans, but faces resistance
Washington is in talks with the Netherlands and Japan to tighten restrictions on the export of advanced chips and chip-making equipment and materials to China. It is also seeking to bring in Germany and South Korea.
China Opposes US Army Deployment of Typhon Missile System
China’s increasingly assertive behavior in the South China Sea prompted the US to deploy more advanced weapons systems to the Philippines and conduct high-profile military exercises with Indo-Pacific allies and partners.
IP Theft: Assessing Insider Risk
A Chinese ex-Google software engineer, Linwei Ding, has been arrested for allegedly stealing over 500 sensitive files containing Intellectual Property (IP) about the company’s cutting-edge Machine Learning (ML) platform and the (AI) models it supports.
Bilateral Tensions Persist Despite US Secretary Blinken’s China Visit
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to China did not resolve fundamental differences on key issues between the US and China.
Assessing the Chinese biotech supply chain risk: Proposed Biosecurity Act targets four Chinese biotech companies deemed to be U.S. national security concern
The proposed Biosecurity Act has been advanced to the Senate floor and specifically targets four Chinese biotech firms – WuXi AppTec, WuXi Bio, BGI Genomics, and MGI and its San Jose-Based subsidiary, Complete Genomics – from accessing U.S. funding and contracts with domestic biotech and pharma firms.
China Challenge Intensifies US-Japan-Philippines Cooperation
The United States and two major Indo-Pacific allies – Japan and the Philippines – are intensifying diplomatic and military cooperation in direct response to China’s “strategic challenge.”
China’s Overcapacity Risks Strain US-China Relations and Global Economy
Pamir assesses that strong disagreements between Washington and Beijing will persist on the risks China’s excess capacity poses to US-China relations and the global economy.
US-China Tensions Persist Despite Biden-Xi Call
Pamir observes that US and Chinese official readouts indicate that fundamental disagreements on priority issues – Taiwan, the South China Sea, trade, and technology –continue to strain the relationship. US-China relations are likely to remain turbulent for the rest of 2024.
China’s Position on Hamas-Israel War
On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a major terrorist attack against Israel. Israel retaliated with massive military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in huge civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis. As the Hamas-Israel war escalated, China took a seemingly neutral position by refusing to denounce Hamas but stating instead that China opposes attacks on civilians by any party.
Pamir's Dr. Mercy Kuo podcast interview with China in Context, SOAS China Institute
Did you catch this latest podcast interview with Dr. Mercy Kuo from China in Context, China Institute, London?