Commentaries

08/14/2019 - 07:09
The conflict reflects a broader contest between liberal democracy and populist authoritarianism. China must not be allowed to impose direct rule




‘Xi values the wealth and opportunities Hong Kong provides, but his nightmare is that insurrectionary democratic ideas could spread.’ Photograph: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
By accident or design, the eruption of political violence in Hong Kong has... more
10/26/2015 - 12:56
Breaking It All Down

      This week, as President Xi Jinping commences talks with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) recalls the Obama-Xi Summit. On Tuesday the 20th of October 2015, host Bob Schieffer conducted an in-depth discussion with three eminent panelists: Kurt Campbell Chairman and CEO of Asia Group, Demetri Sevastopulo... more
09/09/2015 - 16:56
Introduction
Last week's V-Day anniversary parade was a shock-and-awe display of China’s military power, featuring over 12,000 troops, 200 types of aircraft, and 500 pieces of military hardware. Yet Xi Jinping’s speech sang a different tune. Xi Jinping stated that “War is the sword of Damocles that still hangs over mankind... We must learn the lessons of history and dedicate ourselves to peace.”... more
07/29/2015 - 13:20
In the summer of 2001, shortly after Beijing won the bid for the 2008 summer Olympics, Chinese Minister of Sport Yuan Weimin stated that the Olympics and would bring “progress in human rights causes.” Mr. Yuan was not alone in his unbridled optimism. François Carrard, the Executive Director of the International Olympic Committee, betted that rewarding China with the games would improve its human... more
07/22/2015 - 14:59
Famed Chinese artist and political critic Ai Weiwei had his passport returned to him by the Chinese government after it was confiscated four years ago.  Ai had his passport confiscated by the Chinese government in 2011 while attempting to travel to Hong Kong amidst a roundup of political activists. In addition to the confiscation, Ai was detained for 81 days in Beijing’s International Airport.... more
07/16/2015 - 14:58
It is no secret that Chinese Communist Party authorities routinely treat deceased prisoners inhumanely. Involuntary organ harvesting from executed prisoners is well documented and has been widespread throughout China for at least a decade. Although the Party announced in late 2014 that it would end involuntary organ harvesting from prisoners by 2015, testimony seems to surface everyday confirming... more
07/09/2015 - 15:42
In an unexplained and deplorable move Thursday, Thai officials repatriated nearly 100 Uyghur refugees back to China where they will undoubtedly face harsh treatment at the hands of Chinese authorities. It remains uncertain why Bangkok repatriated the Uyghur refugees, though under international law the repatriation appears to be is illegal.
According to international lawyer Peter van Krieken, “... more
07/06/2015 - 15:03
“There are people, because of the stock market crash, who have jumped off buildings in Beijing’s Financial Street.” This alarming Weibo post was enough to detain a 29-year-old man surnamed Tian for “disorderly behavior” on Friday. The post is no longer visible on Weibo.
Although details surrounding the case are scarce at the moment, the case appears to be a clear example of strong-armed... more
06/22/2015 - 13:58
On June 8th the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) published a white paper analyzing China’s progress on human rights in 2014. The authorship would have made the paper’s reliability inherently dubious, even if the intent had been to genuinely analyze China’s 2014 human rights record. The actual report however, made no such efforts, and instead can only be read as a painfully transparent attempt to use... more
03/24/2015 - 12:30
Nearly three weeks have passed since The Wall Street Journal published David Shambaugh’s “The Coming Chinese Crackup.” Contemporary China scholars have almost uniformly applauded Shambaugh’s analysis and welcomed his controversial thesis of the Chinese Communist Party’s imminent fall.  Citing five “cracks,” including a troubled economy, uncontrollable corruption, regime loyalists who lack vigor,... more

Pages