U.S.-China Competition in Foreign and Security Affairs

The People’s Republic of China presents the most consequential challenge to U.S. interests and values. The Program’s China research analyzes the factors shaping Beijing’s foreign and security policies, including relations across the Taiwan Strait, and with Russia and North Korea across various regions and functional domains. The Program’s work also explores China’s grand strategy and decision-making under the rule of Xi Jinping. In addition, the Program produces cutting-edge research on the implications of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) modernization, with a focus on China’s nuclear buildup and integration of military artificial intelligence (AI) into the joint force.

Support CNAS

Highlights

Reports
Tangled Threats: Integrating U.S. Strategies toward China and North Korea
China and North Korea pose intertwined challenges for U.S. and allied policy. The Korean Peninsula constitutes just one area among many in U.S.-China relations. Meanwhile, iss...
By Jacob Stokes
Reports
Dangerous Synergies
There is growing evidence that Beijing and Moscow are learning from each other and enhancing their coordination, leading to a growing convergence in their digital influence ef...
By Daniel Kliman, Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Kristine Lee, Joshua Fitt & Carisa Nietsche
Reports
Grading China's Belt and Road
The Belt and Road is more than just an economic initiative; it is a central tool for advancing China’s geo-political ambitions....
By Daniel Kliman, Rush Doshi, Kristine Lee & Zack Cooper