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Articles by Adam Ni
Xi’s 2026 New Year Address, China’s Diplomatic Agenda, Venezuela Response
Xi Jinping’s 2026 New Year address marks a shift from reassurance toward confidence at the close of the 14th Five-Year Plan. It portrays the past five years as a completed and successful phase of Chinese modernisation, reinforcing a sense of achievement while sidestepping uncertainty and challenges as China enters a new planning cycle. Wang Yi’s year-end stocktake and agenda for 2026 shows how Chinese diplomacy is being adjusted at the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan.
Xi Jinping on Facilitating High-Quality and Full Employment
On 31 October, the Communist Party journal Qiushi published an article by Xi Jinping titled Facilitating High-Quality and Full Employment (促进高质量充分就业), based on a speech Xi delivered at a Politburo Study Session in May. In this speech, Xi highlights the Party’s commitment to fostering high-quality, full employment as a cornerstone of public welfare, economic resilience, and national stability.
Property Market Support and Common Prosperity: A Contradiction?
Beijing’s latest support measures for the property sector appear to conflict with its common prosperity agenda by disproportionately benefiting high-income groups. This situation underscores a persistent governance challenge for Beijing: balancing immediate economic pressures with long-term ideological commitments. Since September, Beijing has announced extensive measures to stabilise the struggling property sector.
Short-Term Relief, Long-Term Challenges: Beijing’s Economic Response
Beijing's recent economic interventions offer short-term relief for key sectors but fail to address underlying economic issues. Without tackling structural imbalances, Beijing risks locking China into a cycle of temporary fixes that leave its long-term economic health in jeopardy. After months of weak economic performance, Beijing has introduced a series of measures aimed at stabilising the economy.
US-China Trade Talks: Muted Talks, Loud Messages
Recent public messaging from Washington and Beijing presents sharply divergent accounts of the status of bilateral trade negotiations. On April 24, President Donald Trump stated that the United States and China were “actively” discussing trade.
Axis of Memory: Beijing and Moscow’s Use of WWII History
On May 9, Chinese President Xi Jinping joined Russian President Vladimir Putin at Moscow’s Victory Day parade in Red Square, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Xi’s appearance as guest of honour sent a clear signal of Sino-Russian solidarity amid deepening confrontation with the West. This year’s commemorations went beyond ceremony.
Taiwan Work Conference, Uyghur Deportations, Emergency Response
In this issue of China Neican: Taiwan Work Conference 2025 Beijing’s 2025 Taiwan Work Conference reaffirmed its one-China principle and opposition to Taiwanese independence but introduced notable changes in rhetoric. Wang Huning’s speech emphasised Beijing’s need to "firmly grasp" control over cross-Strait relations and framed reunification as an inevitable outcome.
Rediscovering the Lost Art of China-Watching
With access to China tightening, researchers must adapt. A mix of traditional China-watching techniques—media analysis, elite tracking, and document examination—combined with modern tools like AI and open-source intelligence has become essential for producing robust China knowledge.
Tariff Truce, Rhetoric of Bullying
Beijing and Washington have just announced a 90-day tariff truce, with both sides agreeing to roll back tariffs. The United States will reduce tariffs on Chinese imports from 145 to 30 per cent, while China will lower its tariffs on American goods from 125 to 10 per cent. The agreement, reached during high-level talks in Geneva, marks a tentative step toward de-escalation—even as the broader trade conflict, underpinned by strategic mistrust, remains unresolved.
Pandemic Blame Reignites: Beijing’s COVID White Paper
The Chinese government has released a new white paper defending its COVID-19 response, rejecting allegations that it bears responsibility for the global spread of the virus. The move comes amid renewed efforts in the United States to lay the blame at Beijing’s door—including an updated official White House website promoting the lab-leak theory and the recent Missouri v. China case, in which a US court ruled that China must pay over US$24 billion in COVID-related losses.
Beijing-Moscow: Marking History, Cementing Ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow last week on a state visit, where he joined President Vladimir Putin in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War. The most consequential outcome of the visit was the signing of a new joint statement updating and deepening the China–Russia strategic partnership.
Xi’s Rakhmetov: Revolutionary Symbolism for a Non-Revolutionary Agenda
Framing China through rigid ideological binaries distorts its global role and strategic intent. Xi’s invocation of Rakhmetov in Kazan exemplifies how Western narratives sometimes mistake China’s rhetoric for action. While ideology influences Beijing’s discourse, its international actions are primarily shaped by economic, geopolitical, and domestic realities. Misreading these dynamics risks fostering confrontation over engagement.
Politburo Standing Committee: China's COVID Miracle
The Politburo Standing Committee held a meeting on Thursday, February 16. The outcome of the meeting is a triumphant declaration: under the guidance of the Party leadership with Xi Jinping at its core, China has now won the "decisive victory" over COVID-19, "creat[ing] a miracle in the history of human civilisation". A translation of the meeting readout is below (and I left it outside the paywall).
Top Chinese General Hangs Himself
A top Chinese military general has killed himself amid a probe into military corruption, Chinese state media reported on November 28. General Zhang Yang apparently hanged himself while being held under house arrest, pending an investigation on corruption charges. Zhang's death puts to focus Xi Jinping's quest for total control over China's military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Brief #110: Why is Beijing insistent on its approach to COVID?
Beijing has doggedly stood by its Zero-COVID strategy despite the rising concerns over its viability, cost and ethics. The harrowing stories from Shanghai are heightening these concerns, yet no course change is on the horizon. Why is Beijing insistent on its approach to COVID? China’s Zero-COVID strategy aims to suppress and eliminate the spread of the virus. In contrast, most countries are moving towards “living with the virus” and mitigating the damages inflicted by severe cases.
Brief #104: Beijing's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Beijing’s positioning and language on the Ukraine crisis has shifted from trying to thread a fine line to leaning in favour of Moscow in recent weeks. Its initial response to the outbreak of full-scale war on Thursday (February 24) consisted of four components: Blame the US and NATO for the conflict. Provide tacit diplomatic support to Russia. Urge resolution of conflict through dialogue. Stress principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference.
Brief #103: big eyes, small hearts
Chinese netizens have been debating about “squinty eyes” (“眯眯眼”) in the last few weeks. The debates centred on a series of advertisement posters from Three Squirrels, a Chinese snack maker, featuring a model with small, narrow eyes. At the heart of the controversy is the perception by some Chinese netizens that these ads invoked the “slanted eyes” stereotype associated historically with Western racism against Asians.
Brief #100: Nicaragua, democracy, press freedom
1. Nicaragua Nicaragua switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China on Thursday, December 9. The decision speaks to the magnetism of Beijing largess, both economic and political. But it also highlights the limits of China’s economic pull and the US’ ambivalent role in the competition for recognition between Beijing and Taipei. Beijing claims there was no “economic precondition” from Nicaragua for the switch.
Politburo meeting: November 18, 2021
中共中央政治局召开会议 审议《国家安全战略（2021－2025年）》《军队功勋荣誉表彰条例》和《国家科技咨询委员会2021年咨询报告》 中共中央总书记习近平主持会议 The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting. It deliberated the National Security Strategy (2021-2025), the Regulation on the Recognition of Military Merit and Honour, and the National Science and Technology Advisory Committee 2021 Advisory Report. The General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping, presided over the meeting.
Document: Resolution on history
The full text of the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century 《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》was released on Tuesday, November 16. Here are the sources:
Plenum, PLA, focus on China, esports
1. Sixth Plenum preview The Sixth Plenum is currently underway in Beijing and will run until Thursday. For background on plenums and how they fit into China’s political system, see our explainers (written | video) from last year. The outcome of this Plenum is important to both policies in China as well as Xi’s prospects at the 20th Party Congress next year. The most important outcome of the plenum will be the adoption of a resolution on history, the third in the Party’s history.
To Firmly Drive Common Prosperity
扎实推动共同富裕 To Firmly Drive Common Prosperity Source: http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2021-10/15/c_1127959365.htm Introduction and Translation by Adam Ni Introduction On Friday (October 15), the CCP’s flagship journal, Qiushi, published an article by Xi Jinping titled To Firmly Drive Common Prosperity. This article is based on Xi’s speech at the 10th meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission on August 17. That meeting propelled the common prosperity concept onto the stage.
To Firmly Drive Common Prosperity
扎实推动共同富裕* To Firmly Drive Common Prosperity* Source: http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2021-10/15/c_1127959365.htm Introduction On Friday (October 15), the CCP’s flagship journal, Qiushi, published an article by Xi Jinping titled To Firmly Drive Common Prosperity. This article is based on Xi’s speech at the 10th meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission on August 17. That meeting propelled the common prosperity concept onto the stage.
Civilizing Cyberspace
The CCP aims to “civilize” cyberspace by building what it terms the “online civilization.” This is the extension of its idealised moral order into cyberspace, with “correct” values and norms of behaviour backed up by institutional arrangements. The advent of the “online civilization” concept reflects the rising importance of cyberspace as a battlefield for hearts and minds. It also highlights the Party’s pretension as the sole guardian and exemplar of the Chinese moral order.
China Analysis Digest
China Analysis Digest is a weekly published list of new China-related analyses. Issue: 2021/31 Date range: September 23-30, 2021 Sources scanned: 86 Content: 241 publications from 50 sources Download raw data (.csv) Recommended Reading Australia Took On China. Did It Get It Right?
Rectifying China's entertainment sector
The Chinese Party-state’s campaign to rectify the entertainment sector, and reshape the cultural environment more broadly, is currently unfolding. The immediate target is China’s rowdy celebrity culture. But the reverberations have already travelled far from the epicentre. The campaign is the latest development in the pattern of political and cultural tightening since Xi came to power.
Towards "common prosperity"
习近平主持召开中央财经委员会第十次会议强调 在高质量发展中促进共同富裕 统筹做好重大金融风险防范化解工作 李克强汪洋王沪宁韩正出席 Xi Jinping, while presiding over the 10th meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, stressed the importance of promoting common prosperity amid high-quality development and coordinating and effectively carrying out the work of preventing and resolving major financial risks. Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng attended the meeting.
China Scholarship Digest: Q2/2021
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Opinion on Strengthening and Improving Ideological and Political Work in the New Era
中共中央国务院印发《关于新时代加强和改进思想政治工作的意见》 The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council has jointly issued the Opinion on Strengthening and Improving Ideological and Political Work in the New Era Introduction The Central Committee and the State Council jointly issued a document titled the Opinion on Strengthening and Improving Ideological and Political Work in the New Era onMonday, July 12, 2021.
Brief: Centennary, HK, Kiwifruit
Neican Brief is a weekly analysis of China-related current affairs. This series is made possible by the support of the Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University. Subscribe to China Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan of what we do, please share it with your friends: Share China Neican 内参 1. Party centennary In a few days, on July 1, the CCP will commemorate its centennary.
Brief: Struggle, G7, China Initiative, Australia-China survey
Neican Brief is a weekly analysis of China-related current affairs. This series is made possible by the support of the Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University. Subscribe to China Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan of what we do, please share it with your friends: Share China Neican 内参 1.
Brief: Anti-sanctions, Gaokao, Education, Industry policy
Neican Brief is a weekly analysis of China-related current affairs. This series is made possible by the support of the Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University. Subscribe to China Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan of what we do, please share it with your friends: Share China Neican 内参 1.
Xi Jinping on external propaganda and discursive power
习近平在中共中央政治局第三十次集体学习时强调 加强和改进国际传播工作 展示真实立体全面的中国 Xi Jinping stressed during the 30th collective study of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee the need to strengthen and improve international communication work to showcase a real, three-dimensional and comprehensive China [Click here for the original meeting readout] Introduction and Translation by Adam Ni, edited by Yun Jiang Introduction The readout of Politburo’s collective study session on “international...
Brief: May 4th, War talks, Port of Darwin, NZ
Neican Brief is a weekly analysis of China-related current affairs. This series is made possible through the support from the Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University. Subscribe to China Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan of what we do, please share it with your friends: Share China Neican 内参 1. May Fourth: complex legacy Tuesday marks the 102 anniversary of the May Fourth Movement.
Blog - The China Story
Select Topic: Australia-China CCP Culture & Society Decoupling Diaspora Education History Hong Kong Human rights Influence Law Media Neican Security Taiwan Technology Trade & Investment
Briefing: historical nihilism, patriarchy and misogyny, and Chinese-Australians in the public service
Neican Briefing is a weekly analysis of China-related current affairs. This series is made possible by the support of the Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University. Subscribe to China Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan, please spread the word: Share China Neican 内参 1.
Briefing: Alibaba fine, Huawei and Ericsson, and public opinion on military
Neican Briefing is a weekly analysis of China-related current affairs. This series is made possible through the support from the Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University. Subscribe to China Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan, please spread the word: Share China Neican 内参 1.
Sanctions and counter-sanctions, Russia, Iran
Subscribe to Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan, please spread the word: Share China Neican 内参 1. Sanctions and counter-sanctions The US, the EU, the UK and Canada, in coordination, imposed sanctions last week on Chinese officials and state entities over human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Racism, US-China, Trials of Canadians, formalism and bureaucratism
Subscribe to Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan, please spread the word: Share China Neican 内参 Sunday was the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. But in Australia, it has become Harmony Day, which sweeps racism under the rug. The word “harmony” (和谐) is also used by CCP as a euphemism. 1.
Demography, Hukou, Lei Feng, Uyghur genocide
Subscribe to Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan, please spread the word: Share China Neican 内参 1. Demography China’s ageing population received some important attention in the 14th Five Year Plan (FYP) that will run from 2021 to 2025. China has a rapidly ageing population. By 2025, one-fifth of the population will be over 60. By 2050, China’s dependency ratio is projected to reach 70 per cent.
Two sessions, poverty, Hong Kong, delivery drivers, Q&A
For those of you who missed it, last week we launched our newest initiative: China Analysis Digest. Essentially, each week we scan a range of sources, aggregate them, and send you a list of China-related analyses. That way, you don’t have to scroll through social media and shift through your email updates for sources. You can check out the first issue of the digest here. -Yun and Adam Subscribe to Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals.
China Analysis Digest (February 24 - March 3, 2021)
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China Neican: Party history, Hua Guofeng, rural issues, heroes and martyrs
Subscribe to Necian and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan, please spread the word: Share China Neican 内参 1. Studying Party history Last week we wrote about the upcoming 100th anniversary of the CCP in July, and the importance of current and historical narratives for the Party’s rule.
China Neican: Centenary narrative, Securitisation of research, IP protection, Spring Festival Gala, CCP leadership
Subscribe to Neican and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan, please spread the word: Share China Neican 内参 1. The Party at 100 In July this year, the CCP will celebrate its centenary. In celebrating its big birthday, the Party is putting huge efforts into telling an overwhelmingly positive story of its past, one linking its “glorious revolutionary past” to its current day achievements.
China Neican: Taiwan, debt diplomacy, vaccine diplomacy, Young Pioneers, Clubhouse
Subscribe to Necian and join thousands of policymakers, researchers, and business and media professionals. If you are already a fan, please spread the word: Share China Neican 内参 Happy Spring Festival and Lunar New Year! Chinese New Year is a public holiday on Christmas Island, Australia. Yun visited Christmas Island ten years ago and highly recommend it as a travel destination. 1.
China Neican: 6 February 2021
This week: Ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, Chinese Australians, CGTN in UK, China’s position in 2021, and “feminisation of young men” 1. Abuses of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang Tursunay Ziawudun is a Uyghur woman who spent nine months in internment camps in Xinjiang. She recounted her personal experience to the BBC. Warning: the details in this article are distressing and contains references to rape and torture. Gulzira Auelkhan, a Kazakh woman, also recounted shocking experiences.
China Neican: Law, Australia-China, Science, Economy, Danmei
Subscribe now. You’ll be in the good company of thousands of policymakers, researchers, journalists and others. If you are already a fan, please spread the word. Share China Neican 内参 1. Xi’s China and law There are two terms used frequently in discussions of law in China. The first is fazhi (法制), referring to the legal system. The second is fazhi (法治), meaning “rule by law”. Note that the romanisation of these two Chinese terms is the same.
China Neican: Xi's vision, US Strategy, Sanctions
Subscribe now. You’ll be in the good company of thousands of policymakers, researchers and others. If you are already a fan, please spread the word: Share China Neican 内参 1. Strategic vision and Xi’s timescape Xi Jinping proclaimed that China has entered a “new development stage” (新发展阶段) in a speech to the Party’s top cadres on January 11. This speech deserves our attention because this is the first time a top Chinese leader has articulated this new concept. So what is this “new development stage”?
China Neican: 23 November 2020
This week’s topics: 14 grievances, “China Challenge”, and Shi Yinhong 1. Beijing’s grievances against Australia The Chinese embassy listed 14 grievances as the cause of poor Australia-China relations in a document handed to Australian media last week: Nothing on the list should come as a surprise: all have previously been mentioned by Chinese officials and/or state media.
Neican: 13 September 2020
China Neican is a weekly column on the China Story blog written by Yun Jiang and Adam Ni from the China Policy Centre in Canberra. Neican 内参 or “internal reference” are limited circulation reports only for the eyes of high-ranking officials in China, dealing with topics deemed too sensitive for public consumption. But rest assured, everyone is welcome to read what we write. You can find past issues of Neican here. 1.
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