Since the outbreak of the war with Iran in February 2026, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz which led to a decline in global oil supply, the demand for solar energy has grown at an unprecedented rate. In March, at the height of the war, China exported solar panels with a total rated capacity of 68 gigawatts (GW) — twice China’s solar exports in February, and 49% higher than the previous record set in August 2025. Oil-dependent countries around the world are accelerating their renewable energy programs, and in the Middle...
Camera networks in Israel are vulnerable to infiltration attempts by hostile actors, including Iran. The head of the National Cyber Directorate noted that since the beginning of the war, Iran and Hezbollah have been working jointly to hack security cameras across Israel for intelligence-gathering purposes. The information is used, among other things, to pinpoint missile strikes and target specific individuals. This highlights the dual-use nature of advanced cameras, particularly Chinese cameras originally designed for civilian needs...
The visit of United States President Donald Trump to Beijing took place against the backdrop of intensifying great-power competition and the war in Iran. Trump sought to present concrete diplomatic and economic achievements and to demonstrate that the United States continues to manage its competition with China from a position of initiative. For its part, Beijing aimed to stabilize relations with Washington and shape a framework that would reflect recognition of its status as an equal great power, while setting clear boundaries...
Despite the prevailing perception that China retreated from the Middle East in 2025 amid the renewed strengthening of the United States in the region and the absence of significant Chinese involvement in the Israel-Iran war, the reality is more complex. A multi-dimensional analysis of trade, investment, technology, as well as security and diplomatic ties, shows that not only has China not retreated from the Middle East, but it has continued to consolidate and deepen its economic foothold there, maintaining a consistent pattern of...
In April 2026, Cheng Li-wun, Chairwoman of the National People’s Party Kuomintang (KMT), and leader of Taiwan’s primary opposition, arrived in Shanghai. The pinnacle of the visit was a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping—the first meeting in nearly a decade between the leadership of these two historic parties. Cheng described the visit as a “journey of peace” and an attempt to ease tensions with China, while her critics in the Taiwanese government viewed the move as problematic, labeling it a “shameful...
In recent years, a profound shift has occurred in China’s economic involvement in Israel, which, since 2020, has been reflected in a sharp and sustained decline in both the volume of investments and the number of transactions. Chinese investment hit its lowest point in 2023, totaling only 39 million NIS, about 0.12% of all foreign investment in Israel that year. This trend stems from several factors: intensifying great-power competition and US pressure to limit Chinese involvement in sensitive sectors; the establishment of Israel’s...
Over the past several decades, China has established itself as a global power in the political, economic, and military arenas, while advancing a broad strategic vision and its own set of global interests. The expansion of its international influence and its strategic development plans has increased both its security needs and its defense capabilities. Accordingly, recent years have seen a steady rise in China’s defense budget alongside significant military development. One of the central tools through which China promotes its force...
China’s response to the war with Iran appears to be one of non-intervention. Although one might have expected Beijing to stand more firmly by its partner Tehran, China’s response thus far has been relatively restrained. This article offers several explanations for this, including China’s domestic priorities, its desire to avoid further friction with the United States, Beijing’s balancing policy among all actors in the Middle East, and uncertainty about the future of the Iranian regime. At the same time, China is looking ahead to the...
The recent transit of the Istanbul Bridge, a China-linked container ship, through the Russian-controlled Northern Sea Route (NSR) marks an important milestone in the history of Arctic navigation. The vessel departed from the Port of Ningbo on September 22, 2025, and arrived at Felixstowe, United Kingdom, on October 13, 2025. It was the first liner service to traverse the Northern Sea Route (NSR). It demonstrated that the NSR could potentially become part of global container shipping networks, linking Asian manufacturing centers to...
Many regard 2027 as the year in which the Chinese military could attack Taiwan—especially after former CIA Director William Burns said in 2023 that “as a matter of intelligence, we know that he [Xi Jinping] has instructed the People’s Liberation Army to be ready by 2027 to conduct a successful invasion of Taiwan.” Western research institutes, including Brookings, have used 2027 as a reference point in their analyses. Likewise, in regional assessments by countries close to China and Taiwan—such as Japan and India—2027 repeatedly...
The withdrawal of climate science funding by the American government leaves a serious data gap that must be filled quickly. China is the country that, despite lacking territorial presence in the Arctic, is most able to fill this gap in Arctic research, particularly with regard to the region’s accelerated warming. This ability is not because China is the next most capable country, but rather because it is the only nation with the sheer resources to replace the American commitment.
China’s relations with Iran were recently tested during the twelve-day Israel–Iran war and the US strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. While China’s diplomatic statements supported Iran verbally, they did little else. Chinese media reports covered the Iranian minister of defense’s visit to Beijing in June and mentioned the possible supply of air defense systems and fighter jets to Tehran, although China denied the former. As Beijing is typically cautious in its security, defense, and military cooperation with Iran, most public attention...
