July 1, 2026

How the Iran war benefits China's global ambitions

As part of a new Brookings series on the long-term implications of the war in Iran, Ryan Hass assesses that the conflict has opened opportunities for China to strengthen its economic centrality and displace America as a provider of public goods. He argues, "The United States and Israel fought Iran, and China won."

Why "China first" will fail

Adapted from her forthcoming book, "No Constraints: China's Global Quest for Partners and Influence," Patricia Kim argues that Beijing is pursuing a "China first" strategy that prioritizes its narrow interests while disclaiming global responsibilities. Kim determines that, in doing so, Beijing has struggled to convert its expanding network into ties that foster loyalty or collective power. She highlights the limits of a “China first” policy for advancing Beijing’s interests.

Read in Foreign Affairs | Pre-order the book

The false promise of US-China stability

Jon Czin examines how today's “strategic stability” between the U.S. and China disproportionately favors Beijing. He warns that U.S.-China policy is reverting to a 1990s strategy of prioritizing commerce over security, while depleting the U.S. military's strength in the Middle East, straining the federal budget, and equivocating on Taiwan.

Read in Foreign Affairs

Are the US and China really in an AI "race"?

On the latest episode of The Beijing Brief, Ryan Hass sits down with Kyle Chan and R. David Edelman to dissect the U.S.'s and China's different approaches to AI development and usage. They discuss the relative advantages of both nations' AI strategies.

Listen to the episode | Explore the podcast

For decades now, we've been used to a world where the technology and innovation comes out of the west. The tables are turning.

June 23, 2026 | Kyle Chan, The New York Times

More research and commentary

What happened when Xi met Kim? In conversation with Hanna Foreman, Patricia Kim and Andrew Yeo consider the outcomes of Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea and its implications for the U.S., Russia, and U.S. allies in the region.

A view from Taiwan on the Trump-Xi meeting. In a written exchange with Ryan Hass, Stephen Tan provides an on-the-ground perspective from Taipei on the implications of Trump’s trip to Beijing for Taiwan’s interests.

Beijing's perceived opening on Taiwan. Patricia Kim argues in NOTUS that one of the most significant long-term impacts of Trump's visit to Beijing is that China may see a temporary strategic window to act more assertively toward Taiwan.

Stabilizing U.S.-China relations. In a report for NCAFP, Susan Thornton and Emily Sparkman explore the outcomes of the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing and recommendations from the NCAFP Track II dialogue on the state of U.S.-China bilateral relations.

Can China de-risk from the United States? In World Politics Review, Mary Gallagher examines the potential consequences of China's strategy to "de-risk" from the U.S.

About the China Center at Brookings

The John L. Thornton China Center develops timely, independent analysis and policy recommendations to address long-standing challenges related to U.S.-China relations and China's development.