Phase 4

Rivals and responders: The US, China, and global crisis management

The “Rivals and responders” essay series analyzes how the United States and China intersect in global crisis management.

A vector illustration depicts a chess game between the United States and China played over a world map, symbolizing their strategic moves and competition for global influence.

Geopolitics Redrawing global boundaries? The United States, China, and the viability of spheres of influence in the 21st century

William A. Galston, Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Melanie W. Sisson, Constanze Stelzenmüller, Thomas Wright, Miles Yu +2 more

February 18, 2026

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Beijing, China, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on September 29, 2025.

North Korea Stabilizer or spoiler? The China factor in the North Korea nuclear dilemma

Jeffrey Feltman, Jennifer Hong Whetsell, Patricia M. Kim, Randall G. Schriver, Andrew Yeo, Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Emilie Kimball +3 more

October 20, 2025

China’s Premier Li Qiang and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walk as they meet on the day of an event marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), in Pyongyang, North Korea, October 9, 2025, in this pictured released October 10, 2025 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea Is China committed to North Korean denuclearization?

Evans J.R. Revere

October 20, 2025

Chinese Premier Li Qiang listens as President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, speaks in presence of President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, during the opening remarks of their meeting at the 25th European Union - China Summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 24 July 2025.

Geopolitics Between Washington and Beijing: How Europe fits into US-China strategic competition

Jonathan A. Czin, Daniel S. Hamilton, Michael E. O’Hanlon, Susan A. Thornton, Tara Varma, Thomas Wright, Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Emilie Kimball +4 more

September 11, 2025

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105), near, Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey (P 234), center, and Philippine Navy guided-missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF 151) steam in formation while participating in a photo exercise in the Philippine Sea as part of Maritime Training Activity Sama Sama, Oct. 8, 2023.

China Are America’s alliances a source of strength or a burden as it competes with China?

Doug Bandow, Brian Blankenship, Mireya Solís, Thomas Wright, Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Emilie Kimball +2 more

May 15, 2025

Past Event

June 03

2025

International Affairs The United States, China, and the war in Ukraine

The Brookings Institution, Washington D.C.

Tuesday, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT

China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Geng Shuang attends a United Nations Security Council meeting addressing the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., August 30, 2024.

China Should China have a role in ending the war in Ukraine?

Pavel K. Baev, Robin Brooks, Jonathan A. Czin, Patricia M. Kim, Michael E. O’Hanlon, Constanze Stelzenmüller, Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Emilie Kimball +4 more

March 6, 2025

Lost in translation

Assessing China’s “Lost in translation: Decoding Chinese strategic narratives” series critically examines key strategic concepts, popular theories, and prevalent debates in the Chinese political system, and discusses their implications for U.S. policy.

Phase 3: Debate series

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira at the Itamaraty Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil January 19, 2024.

Latin America & the Caribbean How are the United States and China intersecting in Latin America?

R. Evan Ellis, Leland Lazarus, Ted Piccone, Valerie Wirtschafter, Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Emilie Kimball +2 more

September 25, 2024

Past Event

October 04

2024

U.S. Foreign Policy The United States and China in Latin America: Rivalry, cooperation, or something in-between?

Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, Miami Florida

Friday, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm EDT

A kid and his guardian walk across a footbridge in Taipei, where Taiwan flags flutter ahead of the island’s national day, amid rising tensions with China, in Taipei, Taiwan, on October 5, 2022.

Taiwan Should the United States change its policies toward Taiwan?

Michael E. O’Hanlon, Ivan Kanapathy, Rorry Daniels, Thomas Hanson, Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Emilie Kimball +2 more

April 16, 2024

Past Event

April 25

2024

Taiwan Should the United States change its policies around Taiwan?

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN

Thursday, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm CDT

A screen displays images of Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, while broadcasting news about their recent call at a shopping mall in Hong Kong, China, July 29, 2022.

Foreign Politics & Elections Is the US-China relationship the most consequential relationship for America in the world?

Graham T. Allison, Josh M. Cartin, Elizabeth Economy, Susan A. Thornton, Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Emilie Kimball +2 more

February 6, 2024

Past Event

February 12

2024

China Is the US-China relationship America’s most consequential bilateral relationship?

Online Only

Monday, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm EST

Dozens of freighters dock for loading and unloading at the Qingdao section of the Shandong Pilot Free Trade Zone in Qingdao, Shandong province, China, Sept 27, 2023.

Economic Development Is US security dependent on limiting China’s economic growth?

Cameron F. Kerry, Mary E. Lovely, Pavneet Singh, Liza Tobin, Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Emilie Kimball +2 more

October 3, 2023

Past Event

October 04

2023

U.S. Foreign Policy Does the US need to seek to limit China’s economic growth in order to protect itself?

The Brookings Institution, Washington DC

Wednesday, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm EDT

Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army take part in training in temperatures below minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit) at China's border with Russia in Fuyuan

Foreign Politics & Elections Should the US pursue a new Cold War with China?

Patricia M. Kim, Matthew Turpin, Joseph S. Nye Jr., Jessica Chen Weiss, Eun A Jo, Ryan Hass, Emilie Kimball +2 more

September 1, 2023

Past Event

September 07

2023

China Should the US pursue a new Cold War with China?

The Brookings Institution, Washington DC

Thursday, 11:00 am - 12:15 pm EDT

Phase 2: U.S. policy responses to China's growing role in the world

Technology & Information U.S.-China technology competition

Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Emilie Kimball, Jessica Brandt, David Dollar, Cameron F. Kerry, Aaron Klein, Joshua P. Meltzer, Amy J. Nelson, Pavneet Singh, Thomas Wright +6 more

December 23, 2021

People visit a metaverse booth during World Artificial Intelligence Conference, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Shanghai, China, September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song

China Succeeding in the AI competition with China: A strategy for action

Jessica Brandt, Sarah Kreps, Chris Meserole, Pavneet Singh, Melanie W. Sisson

September 30, 2022

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks virtually with Chinese leader Xi Jinping from the White House in Washington, U.S. November 15, 2021. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

China A course correction in America’s China policy

Ryan Hass, Patricia M. Kim, Jeffrey A. Bader

November 3, 2022

Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) transits the East China Sea during routine underway operations on Sunday Aug 28 2022. Chancellorsville is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, U.S Navy said in a statement. Two United States Navy warships - guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville - have entered the Taiwan Strait in what is the first US naval transit in the waterway since US-China tensions spiked this month over a visit to the island by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The warships were on Sunday Aug 28, 2022 making the voyage through the Taiwan Strait waters where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law, the US 7th Fleet in Japan said in a statement. The Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command said it was monitoring the two ships, maintaining a high alert and was ready to thwart any provocation. (U.S. Navy via EYEPRESS)

China Managing the risks of US-China war: Implementing a strategy of integrated deterrence

Michael E. O’Hanlon, Melanie W. Sisson, Caitlin Talmadge

September 26, 2022

European Council President Charles Michel and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speak with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese President Xi Jinping via video-conference during an EU China summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium April 1, 2022. Olivier Matthys/Pool via REUTERS

China China’s relations with Russia, India, and Europe

Célia Belin, James Goldgeier, Tanvi Madan, Angela Stent

December 20, 2022

Handout photo dated October 28 2022 of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the Military Sealift Command Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler USNS Yukon (T-AO-202) in the Philippine Sea. Chancellorsville is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and is assigned to Commander, Task Force 70, a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of its allies and partners in the region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stack via ABACAPRESS.COM

Asia & the Pacific An American strategy for the Indo-Pacific in an age of US-China competition

Richard C. Bush, Tanvi Madan, Mireya Solís, Jonathan Stromseth, Andrew Yeo

November 14, 2022

The flags of the United States and China fly from a lamppost in the Chinatown neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., November 1, 2021. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

China The United States, China, and the “new non-aligned” countries

Madiha Afzal, Bruce Riedel, Natan Sachs

February 13, 2023

Models of military equipment and a giant screen displaying Chinese President Xi Jinping are seen at an exhibition at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing, China October 8, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo

China China and the challenge to global order

Bruce Jones, Andrew Yeo

November 30, 2022

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

U.S. Foreign Policy Creating a better environment for development as an objective of US policy

David Dollar, Patricia M. Kim, Louison Sall, Jonathan Stromseth

December 20, 2022

Dr Stanford Chidziva, acting director of Green Hydrogen, looks at the solar panels at the site where Keren Energy constructed the first proof of concept of green hydrogen production facility in Africa at Namaqua Engineering in Vredendal, in collaboration with The Green Hydrogen Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry (SAIAMC) at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, November 15, 2022. REUTERS/Esa Alexander

China Power play: How the US benefits if China greens the Global South

Jeffrey Ball

February 16, 2023

Featured book

China Global China

Tarun Chhabra, Rush Doshi, Ryan Hass, Emilie Kimball

June 22, 2021

Phase 1: Assessing China's regional and global activities

Domestic politics and foreign policy
Domains of strategic competition
East Asia
Great powers
Technology
Regional influence and strategy
Global governance and norms

A general view shows delegates attending the closing session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China October 24, 2017. REUTERS/Jason Lee - RC1E687E4920

Domestic politics and foreign policy

How do President Xi Jinping’s personal ambitions and the centralization of power in the Chinese Communist Party affect China’s approach to foreign policy?

Read more

An interactive map shows ship movements around China, seen on a Reuters Eikon screen, October 23, 2015. About 4 million barrels of crude oil bought by a Chinese state trader for the country's strategic reserves have been stranded in two tankers off an eastern port for nearly two months due to a lack of storage, two trade sources said. Picture taken October 23, 2015. REUTERS/Thomas White - GF20000029024

Domains of strategic competition

What are the implications of Chinese activity across various strategic domains — security, infrastructure, economic statecraft, and more — for the United States?

Read more

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C), South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (L) and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono (R) shake hands ahead the ninth trilateral foreign ministers' meeting among China, South Korea and Japan at Gubei Town in Beijing, China, 21 August 2019. Wu Hong/Pool via REUTERS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC11D4A185B0

East Asia

How does China view its strategic requirements in East Asia as it expands its global influence and footprint?

Read more

China's President Xi Jinping arrives at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC1A028971C0

Great powers

How is China navigating relations with other major powers?

Read more

Technology

China aspires to global technology leadership. Can it achieve its ambitions? What would the impacts be at home and abroad?

Read more

General view of Brazil's President Michel Temer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South Africa's President Jacob Zuma and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seat during the BRICS Business Forum at the BRICS Summit in Xiamen, Fujian province on September 4, 2017. REUTERS/Fred Dufour/Pool - RC1EB86E2590

Regional influence and strategy

China now touches virtually every region in the world — how is China’s increasing involvement impacting South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and elsewhere?

Read more

Members of the U.N. Security Council, including representatives from Russia, China, and South Africa vote against a U.S. draft resolution calling for free and fair presidential elections in Venezuela at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., February 28, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson - RC166DE52B80

Global governance and norms

From human rights to energy to trade and beyond, how is China approaching global norms and norm development?

Read more

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Lost in translation

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