September 2, 2026

Who holds the advantage? Three perspectives on the US-China military balance

In what domains does the United States still maintain a military advantage over China? Where has China gained the upper hand? Brookings convened security studies experts John Culver, Bruce Jones, and Michael E. O'Hanlon to assess the shifting U.S.-China military balance and identify the capabilities that could prove most consequential in a conflict in the Western Pacific.

China’s great power vision comes into focus

"Rather than confront the United States in a contest for leadership, China is content to patiently accumulate power and influence until such time as the country becomes broadly recognized as leader of a new political order," writes Ryan Hass. He describes Beijing's vision for the future international order, its tactics to build support for it, and the obstacles China faces in doing so.

Read in China Leadership Monitor

The four seasons of Xi’s foreign policy

Jon Czin observes that Chinese foreign policy has oscillated between proactive and reactive postures across three distinct phases of Xi Jinping’s tenure. He traces how Xi’s first term was marked by a more proactive approach, his second by a more reactive and defensive posture, and his third by a return to greater assertiveness and initiative.

Read in China Leadership Monitor

A new risk framework for Chinese technology products and investments

Kyle Chan argues that the United States needs a clearer framework for evaluating and addressing the risks associated with Chinese technology products, services, and investments. He proposes a new five-step assessment to judge specific risks, weigh the benefits and costs, and select mitigation measures that match the actual threat posed by Chinese technology.

Electrostates vs. petrostates: The US, China, and the Hormuz energy shock

Scott M. Moore explains that the “electrostate vs. petrostate” framing is overstated. China’s continued reliance on fossil fuels, especially coal, has been its most important buffer against the Hormuz energy shock. Still, Moore argues that China’s dominance in EVs and renewable energy technology positions it to benefit over the long term.

Catch up on The Beijing Brief summer episodes

What’s lost when reporters leave China? Jane Perlez, Ryan Hass, and Jon Czin explore the consequences of having only a small number of foreign correspondents in China, how Beijing steers coverage of China toward "shiny bauble beats," and the importance of people-to-people exchange.

How secure is Taiwan? The view from Taipei. Recorded on the ground in Taipei, Ryan Hass, Jon Czin, and Caitlin Talmadge unpack the state of Taiwan’s evolving defense posture, the growing role of gray-zone pressure and political uncertainty, and how lessons from Ukraine and Iran are shaping debates over deterrence and resilience.

Will China replace America on the world stage? Robert Kagan, Ryan Hass, and Jon Czin examine China’s ambitions in the international system against the backdrop of eroding American leadership. They discuss how a more multipolar world could reshape China’s behavior and create new challenges for China as well as new opportunities.

No limits? Testing the China-Russia relationship. Fiona Hill and Patricia Kim sit down with Jon Czin to break down the shared strategic interests binding Beijing and Moscow, as well as the mutual mistrust and competing interests that limit their relationship. They assess how shifts in U.S. foreign policy and the international order could reshape the China-Russia relationship over time.

Can Europe survive China Shock 2.0? Constanze Stelzenmüller and Kari Heerman join Ryan Hass and Jon Czin to assess the forces behind “China Shock 2.0,” the risks it poses to European industry, and whether Europe can muster the will and capabilities needed to respond.

Explore all podcast episodes on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.

"[Promoting open-source artificial intelligence] serves China’s twin goals of bolstering its image as an inclusive A.I. leader and reducing global reliance on American A.I."

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

More research and commentary

How does Beijing approach the war in Iran? For the Assessing China Project's 'Lost in Translation' series, Zhao Long argues that Beijing does not view the Iran war as a contest over who gains or loses influence but rather as a potential threat to China's economic interests and the broader strategic environment.

China seeks to set the rules at sea. Peter Dutton assesses for the 'Lost in Translation' series how China's leaders see a window of opportunity to advance China's maritime and security interests on a regional and global basis.

How does technology contribute to China's ascendancy? Writing in The New Yorker, Evan Osnos examines how China’s technological rise is reshaping everyday life in China while unfolding alongside broader geopolitical shifts, including U.S. retrenchment and Beijing’s global ambitions.

China's rapid advances in open-source AI. In a short audio-and-video explainer for The Beijing Brief, Kyle Chan breaks down the ongoing AI battle between Chinese open-source models and American AI companies, including Anthropic and OpenAI.

AI, national security, and U.S.-China dialogue. Recording The Beijing Brief from the sidelines of the United Nations Global Conference on AI, Security, and Ethics in Geneva, Ryan Hass and R. David Edelman highlight the necessity of and prospects for sustained government-to-government dialogue on AI.

Is China catching up with the U.S. in AI? Kyle Chan joins the Financial Times podcast, "The Economics Show with Soumaya Keynes," and unpacks how the U.S. and China are approaching AI development and integration differently.

The downsides of the CCP's information control. Mary Gallagher analyzes in World Politics Review how China's "information control" regime may ultimately create greater risks for the government's longevity.

Domestic stresses reshaping politics. In the Taipei Times, Ryan Hass argues that Taiwan's social and economic pain points, rather than geopolitical competition, could be most influential in determining the outcome of Taiwan's 2028 presidential election.

Zhu Rongji's complicated legacy. In World Politics Review, Mary Gallagher asserts that, in light of his death, Zhu Rongji's most impactful economic policies created lasting wealth but also seeded China's real estate bubble.

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.