China’s accession to the World Trade Organization was heralded by the international community as a victory for free trade and economic liberalization. While China has been one of the organization’s most active members, Beijing has not instituted deep, systemic reforms and its compliance with WTO rulings has been mixed.
Global leaders in innovation produce the discoveries that shape the modern world. An economy’s capacity to innovate is dependent on a variety of factors, including its commitment to research and development, the quality of its workforce, and the effectiveness of government institutions.
China is making steady progress in constructing what is believed to be its third aircraft carrier. Commercial satellite imagery collected on August 18, 2020, shows significant developments in the construction of the vessel and additional improvements to the infrastructure at Jiangnan Shipyard.
The internet has fundamentally transformed China. Internet-based technologies help drive China’s ongoing development, but they have also been used to clamp down on political dissidence. Learn more about the opportunities and challenges presented by the internet with this ChinaPower exclusive.
In 2017, China exported $2.3 trillion and imported $1.8 trillion in goods. This amounted to 12.4 percent of global trade and left China with a trade surplus of over $400 billion. Learn more about international trade with this ChinaPower exclusive.
Chinese movies earn billions of dollars annually, but it is domestic sales that overwhelmingly drive the success of the industry. It remains to be seen if China can attract foreign audiences to its films. Learn more with this ChinaPower exclusive.
Since opening, Jiangnan has continuously engaged in the construction, maintenance, and modification of a wide range of commercial and People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels. Analysis conducted by CSIS of satellite imagery from 2011 and 2018 illustrates the degree to which the shipyard’s infrastructure has developed during the intervening seven years.
Beijing is undertaking sweeping efforts to modernize its navy. Between 2017 and 2019, China reportedly built more naval vessels than India, Japan, Australia, France, and the United Kingdom combined. Learn more about China’s naval modernization progress in this ChinaPower feature.
