Defining the US-China ‘cold war’
By Antonio Graceffo Over the past 10 years, as relations between the US and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have steadily deteriorated, analysts, policymakers and academics have debated whether…
Xi’s Taiwan timeline tied to legacy
By Antonio Graceffo Last month, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and naval vessels threatened the sea and airspace around Taiwan, shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) unveiled his plan…
China Blockade of Taiwan Likely
By Antonio Graceffo The likelihood of a Chinese military blockade on Taiwan is very high. The only question is whether Chinese leader Xi Jinping will use the blockade itself as…
China’s lagging military diplomacy
By Antonio Graceffo On Sept. 13, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) concluded its fifth annual joint training exercise with Singapore’s armed forces. In March, the PLA conducted joint training…
Portfolio on Repression of Religious and Ethnic Minorities
By Antonio Graceffo Welcome to my portfolio on the repression of religious and ethnic minorities. As a trained economic and national security analyst with a specialization in China, I have…
China’s Hidden Defense Budget
By Antonio Graceffo China’s military spending is larger than believed; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) recently called for increasing the U.S. defense budget. Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s objective for…
Transnational Crime on the China-Myanmar Border
By Antonio Graceffo On September 6, the United Wa State Party, the political arm of one of the most powerful ethnic resistance armies in Myanmar, handed over 1,207 Chinese online…
Russia’s Religious Offensive in Africa
By Antonio Graceffo Vladimir Putin is strategically weaponizing the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow’s drive to expand its sphere of influence in Africa. The Kremlin’s message of promoting traditional Christianity,…
Kim and Putin Talk Satellites, Ammunition
Antonio Graceffo Russian trade with North Korea has increased because of the West’s sanctions on the two countries. A flagging economy, heavy casualties, failed military objectives, lack of equipment, and…
Slowing GDP may derail PRC goal
By Antonio Graceffo At the 19th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) National Congress in 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) unveiled his vision to transform China into a “great modern socialist…