DOCSLIB.ORG

China and Conflict-Affected States

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
China and Conflict-Affected States REPORT China and conflict-affected states Between principle and pragmatism SUDAN SRI LANKA NEPAL SOUTH SUDAN Ivan Campbell, Thomas Wheeler, Larry Attree, Dell Marie Butler and Bernardo Mariani January 2012 China and conflict-affected states Between principle and pragmatism Ivan Campbell, Thomas Wheeler, Larry Attree, Dell Marie Butler and Bernardo Mariani SAFERWORLD JANUARY 2012 Authors This report was researched and written for Saferworld by Ivan Campbell, Thomas Wheeler, Larry Attree, Dell Marie Butler and Bernardo Mariani. Acknowledgements We are grateful for advice and feedback from Saferworld country teams in Sri Lanka, Nepal and South Sudan, as well as colleagues Duncan Hiscock and Johannes Olschner. For their time and comments, special thanks also go to Ian Taylor, Ochieng Adala, Chris Alden, Laura Barber, Chin-Hao Huang, Jonathan Goodhand, Nishchal Pandey, Kathelijne Schenkel, Martin Stuerzinger, Xia Liping and Xiao Yuhua. The report was copy-edited by Deepthi Wickremasinghe and designed by Jane Stevenson. Saferworld is grateful to the United Kingdom Department for International Development for providing financial support for this project. © Saferworld January 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without full attribution. Saferworld welcomes and encourage the utilisation and dissemination of the material included in this publication. Contents 1. Introduction 1 Overview 1 Rationale 2 Background 3 Research focus 3 Methodology 4 2. China’s approach 7 Introduction 7 Interests and principles informing China’s engagements abroad 8 Foreign policy principles 10 Military engagement 12 Arms transfers 12 China at the international level 14 International co-operation outside the UN 17 Aid 18 Conclusions 22 Acronyms 23 3. Sri Lanka case study 25 Introduction 25 Setting the context 26 China’s growing role in Sri Lanka 33 China’s impact on conflict and security in Sri Lanka 41 Conclusions and implications for policy 56 Acronyms 61 4. Nepal case study 63 Introduction 63 Background 64 China’s engagement in Nepal 67 Why China engages in Nepal 71 Other international actors 77 Impact on peace and conflict 78 Policy implications 83 Acronyms 87 5. Sudan and South Sudan case study 89 Introduction 89 Conflict in Sudan and South Sudan 89 International engagement in Sudan and South Sudan 97 The role of China 104 Conclusions and policy implications 125 Acronyms 130 6. Conclusions and recommendations 131 China rising 131 Implications for the West 132 Bridging the policy gap 133 Building a culture of co-operation 135 An enabling international architecture 136 1 Introduction 1.1 Overview WE ARE WITNESSING a “revolution in the global order” and China is leading this revolution.1 In the West, analysts and policy makers are grappling with what China’s rise means for international relations and the spectrum of foreign policy concerns. In China itself policy makers are also coming to terms with this new found influence and the responsibilities that come with it. A critical issue will be what happens as China and other rising powers make their presence increasingly felt in countries where peace is precarious. The risk is that conflict issues may be aggravated, leading to instability and even the return of violent conflict. But equally, China’s increasing engagement offers opportunities to consolidate peace. This report is one of the main outputs of a 12-month research project that examined the implications for peace and stability of China’s increasing engagement in conflict- affected states. The aim of the project is to contribute to more harmonised engagement by international actors in the context of major changes in the global order. While it examines the role of China in particular, it is situated within a wider Saferworld programme that focuses upon ‘rising powers’ more broadly and the implications of their rise for peace and stability. The report is based upon research in four conflict-affected states: Sri Lanka, Nepal, Sudan and South Sudan. As well as deepening understanding of China’s engagement in these contexts and of the interests that underpin it, the report explores how this will impact upon conflict issues and considers the implications for policy makers. It is intended to inform and stimulate thinking among policy communities both in China and in the West. Based on the findings of in-country research and analysis, this report contributes to the evidence base about how China’s rise will affect conflict-affected states. It is meant not only to raise awareness, but also to encourage policy makers to engage with the new realities, including how they can respond to the changing context for inter- national efforts to promote peace and stability. We start from the premise that the rise of China and other new actors should not be viewed simply as a threat to peace and stability; rather, it presents opportunities as well as challenges. However, the longer that policy makers in the West and in China fail to engage with each other about these issues, the likelier it is that the challenges will predominate over the opportunities. Therefore part of our objective is to help lay the foundations for constructive dialogue between policy communities in China and the West regarding how to support peace and stability in conflict-affected states. 1 Browne J, (UK Foreign Office Minister), ‘Navigating the New World Order’, speech at Chatham House, 20 July 2011, www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=Speech&id=633554682, accessed 3 November 2011 2 CHINA AND CONFLICT -AFFECTED STATES : BETWEEN PRINCIPLE AND PRAGMATISM 1.2 Rationale The nature of the international community is changing and with it how we must act collectively in support of peace and stability. The rise of a number of emerging powers means that we are moving from a unipolar to a multipolar world order. China and India are the most obvious examples, while others include Russia, Brazil and South Africa, a quintet referred to as the BRICS states. Largely by virtue of their rapid economic growth in recent years, these states now play a much more significant role on the global stage than previously. Preventing violent conflict is among the key challenges facing the international com- munity, both in terms of its devastating direct impacts and its potential to undermine development. It is increasingly understood that conflict and insecurity are a profound obstacle to social and economic transformation. In its 2011 World Development Report (WDR), the World Bank clearly recognised that violent conflict underpins many of the challenges facing development, and that preventing conflict must inform strategies for economic development and pursuing the millennium development goals (MDGs). The WDR presents strong evidence and arguments that conflict and security need to be addressed both as prerequisites for development and as ends in themselves. Increasingly, international donors are stepping up to the challenge of preventing conflict and insecurity, and there is growing consensus that more attention and resources are needed to tackle state fragility and instability. However, the question of how to engage effectively in such contexts remains a key challenge for policy makers. The recent track record of the international community in assisting countries emerging from war to build sustainable peace is not encouraging. Despite a decrease in conflict globally, national and international actors have struggled to build peace in post-war contexts. The reconfiguration of the international community, and in particular the emergence of major new players such as China and India, provides an opportunity to reassess and refresh policy approaches to conflict-affected states. The opportunity is there for Western donors to engage these new actors based on a shared interest in, and concern to promote, peace and stability. This may require shedding some preconceptions on all sides, as well as developing new forums and mechanisms for constructive policy engagement and dialogue. China is globally the most influential of these emerging actors, due primarily to its exceptional economic growth. The success of China’s economy depends upon its access to overseas markets and resources, and it has become a major investor and donor in many parts of the developing world, both within Asia and increasingly in Africa. This injection of resources means that China can have considerable political leverage in the countries concerned. China’s engagement has therefore altered the context in which international efforts to build peace and stability take place. It is likely to be in a position where it can either buttress or undermine the peacebuilding influence of Western donors in conflict-affected states. While there has been some research and analysis of donor policies and interventions in conflict-affected states, this has largely focused upon ‘traditional’ (i.e. Western) donors. Thus far, relatively little attention has been paid to the impact of rising powers on conflict-affected states. The focus of this research project therefore is to understand better how the involvement of new actors like China is altering the context for building peace and stability. It seeks to raise awareness of the fact that the peacebuilding context is changing, and to illustrate how and why this is happening. The rationale for the project is not simply to sound an alarm, but rather to contribute to the global debate about how to support peace and stability in the new world order. In particular, it is intended to support constructive engagement and dialogue between policy communities in China and the West regarding their respective priorities for peace. Thus the report not only focuses upon the challenges and potential problems of INTRODUCTION 3 conflicting donor approaches, but also identifies opportunities to strengthen engage- ment and coherence between ‘old’ and ‘new’ donors based upon a shared interest in peace and stability.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chinese Hacking: Impact on Human Rights and Commercial Rule of Law
    CHINESE HACKING: IMPACT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND COMMERCIAL RULE OF LAW HEARING BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL-EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON CHINA ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION JUNE 25, 2013 Printed for the use of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.cecc.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 81–855 PDF WASHINGTON : 2013 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 CONGRESSIONAL-EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON CHINA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS Senate House SHERROD BROWN, Ohio, Chairman CHRIS SMITH, New Jersey, Cochairman MAX BAUCUS, Montana FRANK WOLF, Virginia CARL LEVIN, Michigan MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California ROBERT PITTENGER, North Carolina JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon TIM WALZ, Minnesota MARCY KAPTUR, Ohio MICHAEL HONDA, California EXECUTIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS SETH D. HARRIS, Department of Labor FRANCISCO J. SA´ NCHEZ, Department of Commerce NISHA DESAI BISWAL, U.S. Agency for International Development LAWRENCE T. LIU, Staff Director PAUL B. PROTIC, Deputy Staff Director (II) CO N T E N T S STATEMENTS Page Opening Statement of Hon. Sherrod Brown, a U.S. Senator from Ohio; Chair- man, Congressional-Executive Commission on China ...................................... 1 Smith, Hon. Christopher H., a U.S. Representative from New Jersey; Cochair- man, Congressional-Executive Commission on China ...................................... 3 Levin, Hon. Carl, a U.S. Senator from Michigan; Member, Congressional- Executive Commission on China ........................................................................ 5 Pittenger, Hon. Robert, a U.S. Representative from North Carolina; Member, Congressional-Executive Commission on China ...............................................
    [Show full text]
  • New Foreign Policy Actors in China
    Stockholm InternatIonal Peace reSearch InStItute SIPrI Policy Paper new ForeIgn PolIcy new Foreign Policy actors in china 26 actorS In chIna September 2010 The dynamic transformation of Chinese society that has paralleled linda jakobson and dean knox changes in the international environment has had a direct impact on both the making and shaping of Chinese foreign policy. To understand the complex nature of these changes is of utmost importance to the international community in seeking China’s engagement and cooperation. Although much about China’s foreign policy decision making remains obscure, this Policy Paper make clear that it is possible to identify the interest groups vying for a voice in policy formulation and to explore their policy preferences. Uniquely informed by the authors’ access to individuals across the full range of Chinese foreign policy actors, this Policy Paper reveals a number of emergent trends, chief among them the changing face of China’s official decision-making apparatus and the direction that actors on the margins would like to see Chinese foreign policy take. linda Jakobson (Finland) is Director of the SIPRI China and Global Security Programme. She has lived and worked in China for over 15 years and is fluent in Chinese. She has written six books about China and has published extensively on China’s foreign policy, the Taiwan Strait, China’s energy security, and China’s policies on climate change and science and technology. Prior to joining SIPRI in 2009, Jakobson worked for 10 years for the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), most recently as director of its China Programme.
    [Show full text]
  • THE CASE of PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS Dr. Liu Lian School Of
    Global Journal of Politics and Law Research Vol.7, No.4, pp.13-29, May 2019 Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.eajournals.org) CHINA’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED NATIONS：THE CASE OF PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS Dr. Liu Lian School of Politics and International Studies, Central China Normal University 152, Luoyu Avenue, Hongshan District, Wuhan city, Hubei province P.R. China, 430079 Otenia Temitayo (PhD candidate) PhD candidate, School of Politics and International Studies, Central China Normal University 152, Luoyu Avenue, Hongshan District, Wuhan city, Hubei province P.R. China, 430079 ABSTRACT: The year 2018 marked the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up policies, and the 28th anniversary of China's participation to the United Nations peacekeeping operations. In the past 28 years, China has firmly supported and actively participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations, becoming the permanent member country of the United Nations Security Council, with the most significant number of peacekeepers. Beyond the active participation, Beijing has also been one of the leading advocates of peaceful ways to conduct the peacekeeping missions and the respect of national sovereignty. This paper aims to capture the contribution of China to the United Nations' peacekeeping operations, primarily its actions destined to strengthen the collective security mechanisms of the United Nations, to enhance the decision-making and operational capacity of peacekeeping operations to reinforce the basic principles and purposes of the United Nations. KEYWORDS: China; peacekeeping; United Nations; contribution INTRODUCTION The date of 29th May 2018 is the one marking the 70th anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping operations.
    [Show full text]
  • Cross-Strait Relations: First the Easy, Now the Hard
    Cross-Strait Relations: First the Easy, Now the Hard Alan D. Romberg After two rounds of renewed cross-Strait dialogue in 2008, PRC President Hu Jintao took the initiative at the end of the year to put forward an ambitious agenda for advancing the relationship and consolidating it for the long run. He embedded his proposals squarely in the long-standing orthodoxy on “one China” and ultimate reunification. But in the most important aspect of the speech, he fundamentally, if largely implicitly, recognized that unification is at best a distant prospect. Consistent with his approach to date, he exhibited a willingness to be patient as long as developments were consistent with—or at least not inconsistent with—these two ideas. On a tactical level, while officials on both sides continue to speak of the need to move “step-by-step,” in fact, some people in Taiwan as well as on the Mainland have shown a desire to accelerate the pace, trying to get as much as possible done while Ma and Hu are both in power. Moreover, while agreements to date have focused on specific issues such as cross-Strait transportation and tourism, Hu’s endorsement of an umbrella economic agreement—an idea Ma had first floated in the 2007– 08 presidential campaign—has raised the issue to new prominence in the cross-Strait dialogue for 2009. It has also precipitated a sharp debate in Taiwan about the merits of such a deal. Finally, the tyranny of the calendar brought the issue of Taiwan’s participation in the annual World Health Assembly meeting front and center.
    [Show full text]
  • China's Energy and Security Relations with Russia
    SIPRI Policy Paper CHINA’S ENERGY AND 29 SECURITY RELATIONS October 2011 WITH RUSSIA Hopes, Frustrations and Uncertainties linda jakobson, paul holtom, dean knox and jingchao peng STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL PEACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public. The Governing Board is not responsible for the views expressed in the publications of the Institute. GOVERNING BOARD Göran Lennmarker, Chairman (Sweden) Dr Dewi Fortuna Anwar (Indonesia) Dr Vladimir Baranovsky (Russia) Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi (Algeria) Jayantha Dhanapala (Sri Lanka) Susan Eisenhower (United States) Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger (Germany) Professor Mary Kaldor (United Kingdom) The Director DIRECTOR Dr Bates Gill (United States) Signalistgatan 9 SE-169 70 Solna, Sweden Telephone: +46 8 655 97 00 Fax: +46 8 655 97 33 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.sipri.org China’s Energy and Security Relations with Russia Hopes, Frustrations and Uncertainties SIPRI Policy Paper No. 29 LINDA JAKOBSON, PAUL HOLTOM, DEAN KNOX AND JINGCHAO PENG October 2011 © SIPRI 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of SIPRI or as expressly permitted by law. ISSN 1652–0432 (print) ISSN 1653–7548 (online) ISBN 978–91–85114–66–5 Contents Preface iv Summary vi Abbreviations viii 1. Introduction 1 2. The strategic partnership 4 Convergent interests 4 Conflicting interests 9 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Covid Diplomacy NEW VISTAS Resilient China Economic Upswing H.E
    Vol. XXXII | No.7 | July 2020 ` 50 NEWS FROM CHINA CHINA-INDIA REVIEW COVID DIPLOMACY NEW VISTAS RESILIENT CHINA ECONOMIC UPSWING H.E. SUN WEIDONG From Ambassador’s Desk China’s Ambassador to India China-India Ties: The Way Forward n any relationship, there are ups and downs. we should strengthen cooperation on curbing The recent border issue and unfortunate the epidemic and jointly overcome difficulties. Iincident between China and India should Some people have been trumpeting the so- not detract from the forward-looking vision of called “decoupling” of China-India economic the bilateral partnership charted by our two and trade relations which is erroneous thinking. leaders, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister The business community and people of India Narendra Modi. are the beneficiaries of China-India economic As our frontline troops disengage and the and trade cooperation. Any self-protection, non- border situation de-escalate, it’s important to tariff barriers and restrictive measures against underline basic principles that should guide China are unfair to everyone concerned. In the development of China-India relations. this regard, we should focus on implementing First, China and India should be partners the high-level economic and trade dialogue rather than rivals. Since the 1990s, China and mechanism, which was agreed between the two India have reached an important consensus leaders during their second informal summit in that the two countries pose no threat to each Chennai in October last year. other. During the Wuhan Informal Summit in Fourth, China and India need to build trust 2018, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister rather than suspicion.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolving Israel-China Relationship
    The Evolving Israel- China Relationship Shira Efron, Howard J. Shatz, Arthur Chan, Emily Haskel, Lyle J. Morris, Andrew Scobell C O R P O R A T I O N For more information on this publication, visit www.rand.org/t/RR2641 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available for this publication. ISBN: 978-1-9774-0233-2 Published by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. © Copyright 2019 RAND Corporation R® is a registered trademark. Cover: Photo by esfera via Shutterstock. Limited Print and Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions. The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. Support RAND Make a tax-deductible charitable contribution at www.rand.org/giving/contribute www.rand.org Preface Since the early 2000s, relations between China and Israel have expanded rapidly in numerous areas, including diplomacy, trade, investment, construction, educational partnerships, scientific coopera- tion, and tourism.
    [Show full text]
  • Shades of Red: China's Debate Over North Korea
    SHADES OF RED: CHINA’S DEBATE OVER NORTH KOREA Asia Report N°179 – 2 November 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... i I. ROCKET LAUNCH ......................................................................................................... 1 A. UNSC PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ..............................................................................................2 B. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE SIX-PARTY TALKS ...............................................................................4 II. CHINA DEBATES DPRK POLICY ............................................................................... 5 A. THE STRATEGISTS........................................................................................................................5 B. THE TRADITIONALISTS.................................................................................................................7 C. PUBLIC OPINION ..........................................................................................................................8 D. THE OUTCOME.............................................................................................................................8 III. THE SECOND NUCLEAR TEST................................................................................. 11 A. RESOLUTION 1874 .....................................................................................................................12 1. Negotiations ...............................................................................................................................12
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Connections a Quarterly E-Journal on East Asian Bilateral Relations
    Comparative Connections A Quarterly E-Journal on East Asian Bilateral Relations US-China Relations: The Honeymoon Ends Bonnie Glaser, CSIS/Pacific Forum CSIS David Szerlip, George Washington University After a relatively smooth period in US-China relations through the first year of the Obama administration, the “honeymoon” ended in the first quarter of 2010. The new year brought new frictions and returned to the spotlight many problem areas. The quarter began with an unexpected announcement from an unlikely player in China-US relations: Google, the internet giant, reported extensive hacking of its networks traced back to China and then redirected Google.cn users to its Hong Kong site to evade Chinese censorship. Tensions were further stoked by the administration’s notification to Congress of a major weapons sale to Taiwan and President Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama. Throughout the quarter, economic frictions intensified, particularly over the valuation of China’s currency. Despite these numerous difficulties, the quarter closed with the pendulum swinging back toward the center. At the end of March, President Obama and Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg both reaffirmed the US commitment to a positive relationship with China; Beijing announced that President Hu would attend a major international nuclear security summit in the US in April 2010; and Obama and Hu, in a friendly phone call, renewed their determination to sustain healthy and stable ties. Google leaves China On Jan. 12, internet search provider Google announced that it would stop cooperating with Chinese censors and threatened to pull out of China after it discovered that “highly sophisticated” cyber attacks originating in China had stolen some of the company’s source code and broken into the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights advocates.
    [Show full text]
  • All Hands on Deck a Realist Perspective on EU-China Climate Change Cooperation
    All Hands on Deck A Realist Perspective on EU-China Climate Change Cooperation © China Daily MSc Thesis (30 ECTS) Name: F.P. (Freek) Terberg Student number: 6620434 E-mail address: [email protected] Supervisor: Dr. R.E. (Rakhyun) Kim Second reader: Prof. Dr. F.H.B. (Frank) Biermann Word count: 13,011 Date: 2nd of July 2020 1 Abstract: Over the past decades, the EU and China have increasingly cooperated on the topic of climate change. Numerous studies have been carried out that highlight institutionalization and mutual gains as factors contributing to this cooperation. Realism, however, an important theoretical tradition, has often been ignored, which limits our understanding of EU-China climate change cooperation. This thesis aimed to fill this gap, by adjusting Contingent and Offensive Realism, traditionally preoccupied with military power, to the topic of climate change. In doing so, this thesis identified new factors that contributed to the emergence and endurance of EU-China climate change cooperation. It found that uncertainty reducing communication strategies aided the emergence of EU-China climate change cooperation. Furthermore, it uncovered that endurance of said cooperation was due, at least in part, to (a) recognition of climate change as a common threat and (b) recognition of cooperation as necessary to reduce the common threat. Through its analysis, this thesis demonstrates the explanatory power of Realist theories for EU- China climate change cooperation, thereby warranting future applications of Realism on related topics. Keywords: EU-China; cooperation; climate change; contingent realism; uncertainty; offensive realism; common threat; security; Acknowledgements: I would like to thank Dr R.
    [Show full text]
  • Chinese Reactions to Taiwan Arms Sales
    This Page Intentionally Left Blank Chinese Reactions to Taiwan Arms Sales US-Taiwan Business Council Project 2049 Institute March 2012 This report was published in March 2012 by the US-Taiwan Business Council and the Project 2049 Institute. The US-Taiwan Business Council is a non-profit, member-based organization dedicated to developing the trade and business relationship between the United States and Taiwan. Members consist of public and private companies with business interests in Taiwan. This report serves as one way for the Council to offer analysis and information in support of our members’ business activities in the Taiwan market. The publication of this report is part of the overall activities and programs of the Council, as endorsed by its Board of Directors. However, the views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of individual members of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee. The Project 2049 Institute seeks to guide decision makers toward a more secure Asia by the century’s mid-point. The organization fills a gap in the public policy realm through forward-looking, region-specific research on alternative security and policy solutions. Its interdisciplinary approach draws on rigorous analysis of socioeconomic, governance, military, environmental, technological and political trends, and input from key players in the region, with an eye toward educating the public and informing policy debate. The Project 2049 Institute also provides tailored studies for sponsors with an interest in long-range strategic forecasting. Institute staff members are committed to carrying out research activities that meet both U.S. and Asian partner needs for policy change and public and media engagement.
    [Show full text]
  • V​OLUME​ 20 • I​SSUE​ 5 • M​ARCH​ 16, 2020 China's Other
    VOLUME 20 • ISSUE 5 • MARCH 16, 2020 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ IN THIS ISSUE: ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ China’s Other Viral Crisis: African Swine Fever and the State Effort to Stabilize Pork Prices By John Dotson……………………………………………….pp. 1-5 ​ ​ Disposing of “Zombies”: Why the Reform of Non-Performing State-Owned Enterprises Has Gotten Even Harder By April Herlevi………………………………………………...pp. 6-10 ​ Limited Payoffs: What Have BRI Investments Delivered for China Amid the Coronavirus Outbreak? By Johan van de Ven…………………………………………...pp. 11-15 ​ The Illicit Wildlife Trade in China and the State Response Following the Coronavirus Outbreak By Leo Lin……………………………………………………….pp.16-21 ​ China-Iran Relations: The Not-So-Special “Special Relationship” By John Calabrese………………………………………….….pp. 22-27 ​ China’s Other Viral Crisis: African Swine Fever and the State Effort to Stabilize Pork Prices By John Dotson ​ Introduction Since January, much of the international news coverage surrounding the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has been dominated by the story of the COVID-19 outbreak—a previously unknown coronavirus that first manifested in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in early December, and which has since rapidly proliferated 1 ChinaBrief • Volume 20 • Issue 5 • March 16, 2020 ​ throughout China and many other countries throughout the world (China Brief, January 29; Johns-Hopkins ​ ​ ​ ​ University, ongoing). The COVID-19 pandemic has largely crowded out international attention to another viral ​ ​ ​ outbreak that Chinese authorities and farmers have been battling for eighteen months: African Swine Fever (非洲猪瘟, Feizhou Zhuwen), which throughout 2018 and 2019 devastated pig populations in both the PRC ​ ​ ​ ​ and surrounding countries. The virus has caused major disruptions to both supplies and the cost of pork, the primary staple meat in Chinese society.
    [Show full text]