Ryan Hass argues that the decade-long bromance between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be cooling because of Russia's recent troubles, including the disastrous war effort in Ukraine. He writes that while China cannot afford to abandon its relationship with Russia entirely, Xi may need to adjust his foreign policy and provide stronger support for ending the war in Ukraine to protect his own strategic goals.
On the Dollar & Sense podcast, David Dollar interviews Mark Sobel, U.S. chairman of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum. The two discuss Secretary Janet Yellen's trip to China in the context of the breakdown of U.S.-China dialogue, how China is reacting to recent U.S. attempts to repair the relationship, and the complications of technology "derisking" and debt relief in developing countries.
Over the years, America has considered but ultimately rejected instrumentalizing Taiwan as a strategic asset in competition with China. Ryan Hass writes that the United States similarly needs to resist the temptation now to view Taiwan as a critical node in competition with China. Rather, the United States should anchor its approach around advancing its top priorities – ensuring that Taiwan is healthy, resilient, and confident in its own future, and that peace and stability is upheld in the Taiwan Strait.
Ryan Hass announced as John L. Thornton China Center Director
In his new role, Hass will lead and manage the center’s research and activities, and help steer Brookings’s cross-disciplinary work on China, while also advancing research on Taiwan.
Hass joined Brookings in September 2017 as part of the inaugural class of David M. Rubenstein Fellows, prior to which he served on the National Security Council as director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia as part of a 15-year career in the Foreign Service.
Hass will build upon Brookings’s legacy of path-breaking independent scholarship and dialogue sustained by outgoing director Cheng Li, who will continue his 17-year Brookings affiliation as a nonresident senior fellow.
More research and commentary
Talks are too important to be a bargaining chip. Writing for Barron's,Susan Thornton argues that engagement with China is worthwhile and urges both sides to restart security discussions to avoid dangerous incidents.
In the news
How China and the West found common ground—in Zambia. David Dollar spoke with Barron's about how debt relief could be one of very few areas for cooperation between the United States and China.
China's stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Patricia Kim provided commentary to Al Arabiya News on how the war in Ukraine and the Wagner conflict have impacted China's views on Russia.
John Kerry seeks climate dividend from thawing relations. Susan Thornton spoke to Politico about the importance of noncommittal rhetoric in rebuilding the U.S.-China relationship.
The worries surrounding youth unemployment in China. In Business Insider, David Dollar outlines why youth unemployment is so high in China and what could help mitigate the problem.
China’s missing foreign minister. Ryan Hass was quoted in the Wall Street Journal about the mysterious disappearance of Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang.
About the China Center
The John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings develops timely, independent analysis and policy recommendations to address long-standing challenges related to U.S.-China relations and China’s internal development.
The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington,DC, 20036
