China, East Asia and Pacific

The CEAP aims to provide a daily brief on contemporary developments within China and its external engagements. Daily developments are categorized under the following sections: Internal (Politics, Economy, S&T), Regional (China’s interactions primarily with East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Pacific, and also with other regions including Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East), Big power politics and China's global power projections. The CEAP aims to build an online database on China by collating information from different regions and divergent sources. The objective is to capture different narratives and make sense of information and dis-information.

Daily Brief
China-Europe Arctic shipping routes begin weekly operations
President Xi praises former General Secretary Zemin on 100th birth anniversary
China Reader Daily Wire | 17 August 2026, Monday | Vol 3 No. 115-116
Daily Brief
China launches “Ice Silk Road” to Europe; Aims for four months of stable seasonal operation
China’s AI weather systems outperform global models in Typhoon tracking, reports The Straits Times
China Reader Daily Wire | 12 August 2026, Wednesday | Vol 3 No. 114
Daily Brief
China raises USD 28 trillion in capital markets to fund strategic tech race with the US
Long March 7A explodes after liftoff; Marks the second explosion in six years
China Reader Daily Wire | 11 August 2026, Tuesday | Vol 3 No. 113
Daily Brief
China’s lunar blueprint includes AI robots for patrols and astronaut companionship
China’s stockpiles cushion oil supply shock triggered by the Hormuz blockade
China Reader Daily Wire | 10 August 2026, Monday | Vol 3 No. 112
Daily Brief
China to build a planetary protection lab for Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission
US drafts new nuclear strategy addressing Russia and China
China Reader Daily Wire | 07 August 2026, Friday | Vol 3 No. 111
Daily Brief
China raises USD 28 trillion in capital markets to fund strategic tech race with the US
Long March 7A explodes after liftoff; Marks the second explosion in six years
China Reader Daily Wire | 11 August 2026, Tuesday | Vol 3 No. 113

Regular Publications

The World This Quarter
China's External Landscape (Apr-Jun 2026):
Trump-Xi Summit, Pressure on Taiwan and Managing the US-Iran War

The second quarter of 2026 saw a more robust and proactive diplomatic posture than the first quarter; Beijing mostly focused on mending relations with Europe and reducing its engagement in Middle Eastern crises. To control bilateral tensions and strengthen its strategic interests in the South China Sea...

The World This Quarter
East Asia (Apr-Jun 2026):
Strategic Rebalancing, Neo-Militarisation and Increasing Tensions in Taiwan Straits

The second quarter in East Asia was marked by strategic competition and economic rebalancing, culminating in significant bilateral visits. Inadvertently, Cross-Strait relations remain the focal point of all tensions and of regional stability.  1. US President Donald Trump’s State Visit...

Global Politics Explainer
China's economy at mid-2026:
Six Takeaways of the World Bank China Economic Update

On 07 July, the China Economic Update (July 2026), titled "Rebalancing Growth" was released by the World Bank in relation to macroeconomic events until June 2026. According to the report, although China continued to demonstrate resilient growth during the first quarter due to high-tech investment...

Global Politics Explainer
China's World Artificial Intelligence Conference:
Who participated, and what happened at the WAIC 2026? What was Beijing's endgame? What does it mean for the US?

During 17-20 July, the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) alongside the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, took place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. This marked the ninth edition of the conference, with the first WAIC being held in 2018. The overarching...

Global Politics Explainer
China's C909: 
China moves from near-total reliance on foreign jets to domestic dominance. How did it happen? And what does it mean?

In June, China's C909 regional jet completed ten years of commercial operation. What began in 2016 as a single aircraft with a single carrier now accounts for 70 per cent of China's regional jet fleet. It also anchors a four-aircraft family through which Beijing aims to end its dependence on...

CW Note
China, the Philippines, and the return of South China Sea tensions:
Accusations, Arbitrations and Ambiguities

In the news On 21 July, Reuters reported that China and the Philippine Coast Guards traded accusations at Second Thomas Shoal.  The China Coast Guard (CCG) stated that a Philippine vessel rammed into a Chinese patrol boat in the South China Sea and the Philippine personnel initiated "malicious...

CW Note
UNCLOS and the South China Sea Arbitral Award:
Ten Years Later

In the news On 11 June, fourteen countries issued a joint statement on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award between the Philippines and China. It includes the US, Philippines, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom....

TWTW Note
65 years of the China-DPRK friendship treaty:
Reopening links, Russia factor, and Nuclear compromise

What happened? On 11 July, China and North Korea marked the 65th anniversary of their Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. From 10 to 12 July, North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song led a delegation to Beijing to commemorate the occasion. On 10 July, during a meeting, President Xi stated...

TWTW Note
China's SLBM test in the Pacific:
Modernization, Increasing deterrence and Strategic messaging

What happened? On 06 July, China launched a Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) with a dummy warhead from the South China Sea and into the Pacific Ocean. It was reportedly launched from one of China’s Type 094 Nuclear submarines and used the JL-2 SLBM. After the launch, Beijing received...

About the Team

Prof D Suba Chandran

Prof D Suba Chandran is the Dean of the School of Conflict and Security Studies at NIAS, Bengaluru. He heads the Science, Technology and International Relations Programme. He coordinates the Pakistan Area Studies and is the Editor of the Pakistan Monitor.

Acsah H is currently and intern at NIAS. She is pursuing postgraduate studies at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations at Manipal Institute of Social Studies, Humanities and Arts, MAHE, Manipal, Udupi. Her research interests include Outer-space governance and regulation.

Aishal Hab Yousuf is currently pursuing post-graduation at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at NIAS.

Akshath Kaimal is a Research Associate with NIAS Area Studies-Pakistan, and is a postgraduate in International Studies and International Humanitarian Action

Aparna A Nair is an undergraduate student at the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai. Her research interests lie in East Asia (China), the Arctic Region, Planetary Governance and Gender Studies.

Avaneesh S is an intern at NIAS. Currently, he is pursuing post gradaute studies at Pondicherry University. His research interests include South Asian geopolitics & Security studies, Conflict & Counterterrorism studies and Energy Transition in Asia.

Padmashree Anandhan is currently a project associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore. Her research for the NIAS Europe Studies under the Area Studies initiative focuses on protest movements, conflicts, energy, economic, migration...