On Wednesday, October 28, and Thursday, October 29, 2026, the China Power Project held its tenth annual conference featuring two panels and leading experts debating core issues underpinning China’s power.
All Topics
What Does China Really Spend on its Military?
China’s military budget provides insight into its expanding military capabilities. In terms of gauging relative military strength, defense budgets can be compared between countries and over a set period of time to assess overall trends.
Analyzing Trade Chokepoints in the South China Sea
This digital dashboard and companion CSIS brief offer groundbreaking insights into trade flows through critical chokepoints in the South China Sea.
Troubled Straits: Analyzing Trade Chokepoints in the South China Sea
This CSIS brief offers groundbreaking insight into the value and types of goods flowing through eight different South China Sea chokepoints.
How Deep Are China-Russia Military Ties?
Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns about the deep military ties shared between China and Russia. This ChinaPower feature analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of China-Russia military relations, focusing on arms sales and joint military exercises.
Is it a Risk for America that China Holds So Much U.S. Debt?
Many worry that China’s ownership of American debt affords the Chinese economic leverage over the United States. This apprehension stems from a misunderstanding of sovereign debt and of how states derive power from their economic relations.
How Is the Iran War Impacting China’s Economy?
This report analyzes the most important economic impacts of the Iran war on China and shows that while China is better positioned than others, the conflict threatens China’s economy in key ways.
Making Sense of China’s Government Budget
Each spring, China releases a government budget report that provides valuable insights into the country’s spending priorities and overall fiscal health. Yet these budgets can be difficult to parse, and the topline figures only tell part of the story. This ChinaPower feature untangles the details behind China’s government budget.