Cheng Li
Director, John L. Thornton China Center, The Brookings Institution
Oct 23, 2022
“Upper echelon strategists,” a term coined in some quarters of the Chinese political establishment, support Xi Jinping by playing an increasingly key role in China’s strategic thinking, ideological discourse, and propaganda work. And as some top scholar-officials move to the center stage in propaganda and ideological work during Xi’s third term, one can expect that “upper echelon strategists” like them will gain more influence in the years to come.
Oct 14, 2022
Chinese think tanks have far-reaching influence – their scholars serve as researchers and disseminators of state-approved information, and their leaders are also assuming positions of power in the Party. Xi Jinping has relied on think tanks more than his predecessors, and they deserve a closer look.
Oct 10, 2022
A significant portion of senior officers of the People’s Liberation Army has been trained in Russia. As the relationship between China and U.S.-led NATO countries continues to deteriorate, an examination of Russian-educated military elites within the Chinese leadership is critically important.
Oct 03, 2022
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has predictably become this year’s dominant international story. In the West, China has often been cast alongside Russia as the world’s villain-in-waiting - and this deserves a deep dive into the relationship between two nations seemingly sharing the hot seat on the global stage.
Sep 30, 2022
China’s political leadership has a significant amount of Western-educated policy makers, the result of four decades of meaningful educational exchange. Despite the recent decline in exchange, an assessment of China’s upcoming leadership lineup shows this trend will likely continue.
Sep 14, 2022
The representation of high-level university administrators in China’s Central Committee has significantly increased during the Xi era, signaling Beijing’s desire to bolster technological innovation and scientific research in the country.
Sep 06, 2022
China’s highly-trained, well-educated technicians and professionals have helped bolster the country’s economy in the 21st Century. It’s no surprise that a number of them are well represented in the Party Congress, and should see their numbers grow this fall when promotions are doled out.
Sep 02, 2022
A significant number of China’s military leaders are equipped with substantial aviation and aerospace expertise, a trend that will likely persist into President Xi’s third term.
Aug 30, 2022
The looming possibility of military confrontation over the Taiwan Strait has been making headlines as of late. Chinese leaders consider these scenarios constantly, and their recent efforts to promote military-civil fusion show what they are doing to prepare for a crisis.
Aug 26, 2022
Recent events in the Taiwan Strait have led to an outpouring of international concern regarding potential war between the United States and China. AI technology advancements, which these two superpowers are leaders in research, resources, and patents, would mean that the world has yet to see the most AI-driven conflict in history.