The get-out-of-jail card for dissidents: Blame the anti-China West
By Dr. Willy Lam The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership has played the “nationalism card” in trying to defuse the challenge posed by dozens of human rights lawyers and (more…)
Xi moves to counter internal damage from South China Sea ruling
By Dr. Willy Lam President Xi Jinping has reacted to the South China Sea ruling by the Court of Final Arbitration (CFA) in the Hague by fueling nationalism in (more…)
Xi confronts world community, appeases his military power base
By Dr. Willy Lam* The Xi Jinping administration raised tension over the South China Sea to unprecedented levels in advance of a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (more…)
Showdown in the Pacific: Military tensions high on eve of key ruling
Major stakeholders in the South China Sea are rapidly deploying strategic assets to the region to prepare for a major military confrontation following a key ruling by a UN (more…)
Xi gets pushback from elite intellectuals demanding Internet freedom
By Dr. Willy Lam Academics, journalists and other free-thinking intellectuals have taken the bold step of calling for more freedom of expression and less police oversight over the internet (more…)
Largest-ever paramilitary games tied to unemployment, crackdown
By Dr. Willy Lam President and Commander-in-Chief Xi Jinping launched the largest-ever war game involving the nation’s People’s Armed Police late last month. Official news agencies said more than (more…)
Off the record on China’s bottom line: Growth rate is non-negotiable
Who is in charge of China’s macro-level financial and economic policy? Most observers will say President Xi Jinping, who is head of the two highest-level decision-making bodies: the Central (more…)
Pentagon report warns China is reorganizing its military for war
China continues its buildup on artificial islands in the South China Sea as it restructures its military to fight “short-duration, high-intensity regional conflicts,” the Pentagon said. (FULL STORY) (more…)
Xi consolidates power, elevates 6th Generation Zhejiang protégés
By Dr. Willy Lam Despite reports about challenges to his power, President and Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping has quietly — and relentlessly — built up his personal (more…)