China
Beijing’s playbook for the US-Iran war
The Brookings Foreign Policy program is the leading center of high-quality, policy-relevant scholarship advancing actionable solutions to the major challenges to international peace and security. Brookings Foreign Policy scholars engage in in-depth, nonpartisan research and analysis aimed at informing policymakers and the public debate and developing concrete ideas for addressing the world’s toughest problems.
Latest research and commentary
Ukraine
Ukraine’s return to the mental map of Europe
Defense & Security
Do low munitions inventories invite aggression?
Global Economy & Development
Foreign investment is not making friends for China—or the US
Our experts shape the public discourse
The New Yorker April 23, 2026
Jonathan Czin was interviewed for a Q&A series in the New Yorker on how Beijing views the war in Iran.
Jonathan A. Czin
Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies, Fellow - Foreign Policy, John L. Thornton China Center @jonczin
New York Times April 23, 2026
China is pouring enormous resources in an effort to emerge as a world-leading oceanographic power.
University of Virginia April 17, 2026
Melanie W. Sisson participated in the 2026 Ambassador William C. Battle Symposium on American Diplomacy where she also contributed to a set of accompanying memorandums.
Financial Times April 16, 2026
Suzanne Maloney joined the Rachman Review podcast to discuss what Iran’s leaders want and how long they could hold out for a winning settlement.
CNN April 9, 2026
Suzanne Maloney joined CNN with Christiane Amanpour to discuss the ceasefire in the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
New York Times April 3, 2026
Suzanne Maloney appeared on “The Ezra Klein Show” to explain why Iran believes it has the upper hand in the war.
Financial Times April 2, 2026
Philip Gordon joined the “Rachman Review” podcast to analyze the consequences of the war in Iran for the U.S. and its allies.
Philip H. Gordon
Sydney Stein, Jr. Scholar - Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology @PhilGordonDC
Grand Tamasha March 31, 2026
Tanvi Madan joined Carnegie’s Grand Tamasha to discuss the trajectory of Indian foreign and trade policy under the second Trump era.
Wall Street Journal March 31, 2026
Energy markets are inherently global, and there is no possibility of insulating the U.S. from the economic damage that is already occurring and will become exponentially worse if the..."
The Bulwark March 25, 2026
Philip Gordon appeared on Tim Miller’s “The Bulwark” podcast to discuss the state of the war in Iran and President Trump’s cycles of threats and retreats.
Philip H. Gordon
Sydney Stein, Jr. Scholar - Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology @PhilGordonDCExperts
Michael E. O’Hanlon
Director of Research
- Foreign Policy,
Director
- Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology,
Co-Director
- Africa Security Initiative,
Senior Fellow
- Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology,
Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy
Mireya Solís
Director
- Center for Asia Policy Studies,
Senior Fellow
- Foreign Policy, Center for Asia Policy Studies,
Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies
Constanze Stelzenmüller
Director
- Center on the United States and Europe,
Senior Fellow
- Foreign Policy, Center on the United States and Europe,
Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and Transatlantic Relations
Richard C. Bush
Nonresident Senior Fellow
- Foreign Policy, Center for Asia Policy Studies, John L. Thornton China Center
Featured Events
Upcoming Event
May
15
2026
North Korea
North Korea diplomacy in a shifting geopolitical order
Upcoming Event
May
26
2026
Mexico
High wire: The Sheinbaum administration and the future of US-Mexico relations
Upcoming Event
May
11
2026
China
US-China competition: Policy priorities from Capitol Hill
Upcoming Event
May
15
2026
North Korea
North Korea diplomacy in a shifting geopolitical order
Upcoming Event
May
26
2026
Mexico
High wire: The Sheinbaum administration and the future of US-Mexico relations
