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Rand Corporation

Rand Corporation: A prominent American non-profit global policy think tank and research institute, headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with international offices including Cambridge, UK. Its primary mission is to improve public policy and decision-making through rigorous research and analysis. Rand’s extensive work spans national security, defence, healthcare, education, and international affairs. Notable for its contributions to nuclear deterrence theory, game theory, and the development of the internet, it pioneered the modern ’think tank’ concept, significantly influencing global policy.

The China Aerospace Studies Institute describes itself as the US Air Force’s “premier centre” for studying China and its aerospace capabilities. Photo: US Air Force

China’s air force

US Air Force to shut down research centre focusing on Chinese military

The China Aerospace Studies Institute published open-source research on the PLA’s air, space, cyber and missile capabilities.

23 Sep 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Japan fast-tracks anti-drone system amid China’s military build-up

27 Aug 2026 - 12:49PMvideocam

South China Sea

Is South China Sea warship breakdown a sign US is ‘taxing reserve capacity’?

19 Aug 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Environment

Opinion | The race for critical minerals is clearing the path for deep-sea mining

Corporate pressure and US-China competition are stalling global efforts to set environmental safeguards for seabed mining.

11 Aug 2026 - 5:30AM

An aerial view of the coastline in Port Vila, Vanuatu, in December 2019. The Vanuatu government has called for a mechanism to assess gaps in scientific knowledge about deep-sea mining and progress towards filling them. Photo: Getty Images

China's military weapons

How Beijing’s hypersonic ‘carrier killers’ could distract US in a Taiwan conflict

Beijing said to be producing anti-ship missiles to hold US Pacific Fleet at distance so PLA can settle matters wherever contingency might be.

8 Aug 2026 - 10:06PMvideocam

Taiwan

Will Philippine Sea be the main battlefield for PLA carriers in a Taiwan war?

As Chinese forces push into the western Pacific, analysts say that carrier groups could be used to frustrate any intervention.

2 Aug 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

What is Beijing thinking? Why Washington is struggling to understand its rival

Language is important in US-China diplomacy, but funding cuts and dwindling student exchanges have left a ‘major gap’ in capabilities.

23 Jul 2026 - 8:49AMvideocam

US-China relations

Can America sustain a war with China? New reports raise questions

US watchdog cites ageing aircraft, spare-part shortages, maintenance challenges, expertise gaps and delays fielding advanced tankers.

23 Jun 2026 - 1:57PMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Latest US-China rivalry combines undersea dominance with a race to riches

Ahead of leaders’ summit in Beijing next week, experts point to a high-stakes competition that features military and mining technologies.

9 May 2026 - 7:02AMvideocam

Science

Will the future world order be determined by who controls low Earth orbit?

Amid Starlink’s ability to service conflict zones, Chinese article warns of ‘new form of power’ to allow or cut connectivity in real time.

25 Apr 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

Starlink was rolled out in Ukraine in 2022 to replace internet and communication networks damaged by Russia’s invasion of the country, quickly becoming a critical tool for both civilian and military connectivity. Photo: Shutterstock

China's military weapons

Can China find a market for its fifth-generation J-35 warplanes?

Analysts are uncertain how much demand there will be for the fighter in the face of competition from the US F-35 or cheaper alternatives.

21 Feb 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

A J-35A stealth fighter at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2024. Photo: Xinhua

China's military weapons

China’s Middle East arms edge overshadowed by Turkey and South Korea in Riyadh

Analysts note Chinese inroads in military UAV market but political challenges for its jet fighters at the World Defence Show.

12 Feb 2026 - 5:50PMvideocam

Taiwan

‘Black Hawk’ drones: new frontier in US-China rivalry over Taiwan Strait?

Why US drones and uncrewed helicopters deployed from allied bases could play a ‘critical role’ in disrupting PLA operations.

7 Feb 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

China's military weapons

Shandong’s use of PLA dry dock near South China Sea suggests carrier milestone

China may avoid a ‘carrier gap’ and could support carrier operations along the Indian Ocean to the Middle East and beyond, analysts say.

26 Jan 2026 - 8:25PMvideocam

Analysis by a US geospatial intelligence company says satellite imagery shows the first use by a Chinese aircraft carrier of a new dry dock near the South China Sea. Photo: AllSource Analysis

China's military weapons

Why China’s rapid military build-up is ‘hardly the whole story’

The PLA has been moving fast to modernise its arsenal and warfare strategy, but it’s seen as ‘seriously deficient’ in some areas.

18 Dec 2025 - 6:03AM

China-South Korea relations

Why South Korea poses a major challenge to China’s Middle East arms export drive

Both neighbours hope to expand exports to the region, but the Koreans may be better placed due to systems integration and political concerns.

12 Dec 2025 - 6:48AMvideocam

China-North Korea relations

Is China changing tack and accepting North Korea as a nuclear-armed state?

In a break with the recent past, Beijing makes no mention of ‘denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula’ in a white paper.

6 Dec 2025 - 6:49PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Opinion | As power balance tips to China, world needs a fairer financial system

China-led macro region will have to work on independence of monetary policy and partnerships in a fairer financial and trade framework.

20 Nov 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

China's military weapons

China-US-Russia rivalry for Middle East stealth fighter sales on show in Dubai

Analysts say China’s increasingly competitive J-35 is the one to watch among non-US allies as market splits on geopolitical lines.

20 Nov 2025 - 8:11PMvideocam

US-China relations

Modelling of Taiwan war shows US could recruit Australia, Japan for sanctions

‘Sanctions alone are unlikely to deter’ Beijing but economic tools should be part of ‘broader contingency planning’, Rand says.

10 Nov 2025 - 8:51PMvideocam

US-China relations

Will Trump’s call to resume nuclear testing fuel a US-China arms race?

US president’s order could spur Beijing to speed up development of nuclear weapon systems, observers say.

1 Nov 2025 - 10:30PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives in Tokyo, Japan on Monday as part of an Asia tour that also included a summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

China's military weapons

China’s next 5-year plan aims to narrow nuclear gap with US and Russia: analysts

Beijing’s proposed national blueprint links strategic forces with the global balance for the first time.

30 Oct 2025 - 12:11AMvideocam

China has a series of nuclear-capable weapons at its disposal. Photo: Xinhua

US-China relations

‘Hawkish’ interpretations rise as US, China discourse gets lost in translation

In an echo of the Cold War, mistranslations are testing already strained nerves in Washington and Beijing.

27 Oct 2025 - 11:38PMvideocam

US-China relations

China calls itself a responsible AI force, as most in US think otherwise

Recent capacity-building forum in Shanghai and poll of Americans highlight contrasting takes on a focal point in the China-US tech rivalry.

22 Oct 2025 - 6:59PMvideocam

US-China relations

Can US and China avoid ‘dangerous levels of tension’?

Report suggests Washington should urge Taiwan to show restraint and there may be room for negotiation over the South China Sea.

17 Oct 2025 - 9:53PMvideocam

The Taiwan Strait is seen as one of the main potential flashpoints. Photo: AFP

Shanghai

Race to the bottom? China thwarted as US moves on deep-sea mining

No reward yet for Beijing’s multilateral approach at UN body tasked with regulating law of the sea.

1 Oct 2025 - 6:39AMvideocam

US-China relations

Open Questions | Zheng Yongnian on why China must look beyond the West to build a better AI

Political analyst says strong narrative based on factual Chinese framework must be included in artificial intelligence knowledge feed.

15 Sep 2025 - 10:19AMvideocam

China's military weapons

The Front Line | Will the JL-1 missile be China’s final word on airborne nuclear deterrence?

H-6 bombers have been retrofitted to carry the weapon but they have their limits, analysts say.

11 Sep 2025 - 6:00AMvideocam

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Rand Corporation

US Air Force to shut down research centre focusing on Chinese military

The China Aerospace Studies Institute published open-source research on the PLA’s air, space, cyber and missile capabilities.

Japan fast-tracks anti-drone system amid China’s military build-up

Is South China Sea warship breakdown a sign US is ‘taxing reserve capacity’?

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | The race for critical minerals is clearing the path for deep-sea mining

Corporate pressure and US-China competition are stalling global efforts to set environmental safeguards for seabed mining.

How Beijing’s hypersonic ‘carrier killers’ could distract US in a Taiwan conflict

Beijing said to be producing anti-ship missiles to hold US Pacific Fleet at distance so PLA can settle matters wherever contingency might be.

Will Philippine Sea be the main battlefield for PLA carriers in a Taiwan war?

As Chinese forces push into the western Pacific, analysts say that carrier groups could be used to frustrate any intervention.

What is Beijing thinking? Why Washington is struggling to understand its rival

Language is important in US-China diplomacy, but funding cuts and dwindling student exchanges have left a ‘major gap’ in capabilities.

Can America sustain a war with China? New reports raise questions

US watchdog cites ageing aircraft, spare-part shortages, maintenance challenges, expertise gaps and delays fielding advanced tankers.

Latest US-China rivalry combines undersea dominance with a race to riches

Ahead of leaders’ summit in Beijing next week, experts point to a high-stakes competition that features military and mining technologies.

Will the future world order be determined by who controls low Earth orbit?

Amid Starlink’s ability to service conflict zones, Chinese article warns of ‘new form of power’ to allow or cut connectivity in real time.

Can China find a market for its fifth-generation J-35 warplanes?

Analysts are uncertain how much demand there will be for the fighter in the face of competition from the US F-35 or cheaper alternatives.

China’s Middle East arms edge overshadowed by Turkey and South Korea in Riyadh

Analysts note Chinese inroads in military UAV market but political challenges for its jet fighters at the World Defence Show.

‘Black Hawk’ drones: new frontier in US-China rivalry over Taiwan Strait?

Why US drones and uncrewed helicopters deployed from allied bases could play a ‘critical role’ in disrupting PLA operations.

Shandong’s use of PLA dry dock near South China Sea suggests carrier milestone

China may avoid a ‘carrier gap’ and could support carrier operations along the Indian Ocean to the Middle East and beyond, analysts say.

Why China’s rapid military build-up is ‘hardly the whole story’

The PLA has been moving fast to modernise its arsenal and warfare strategy, but it’s seen as ‘seriously deficient’ in some areas.

Why South Korea poses a major challenge to China’s Middle East arms export drive

Both neighbours hope to expand exports to the region, but the Koreans may be better placed due to systems integration and political concerns.

Is China changing tack and accepting North Korea as a nuclear-armed state?

In a break with the recent past, Beijing makes no mention of ‘denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula’ in a white paper.

Opinion | As power balance tips to China, world needs a fairer financial system

China-led macro region will have to work on independence of monetary policy and partnerships in a fairer financial and trade framework.

China-US-Russia rivalry for Middle East stealth fighter sales on show in Dubai

Analysts say China’s increasingly competitive J-35 is the one to watch among non-US allies as market splits on geopolitical lines.

Modelling of Taiwan war shows US could recruit Australia, Japan for sanctions

‘Sanctions alone are unlikely to deter’ Beijing but economic tools should be part of ‘broader contingency planning’, Rand says.

Will Trump’s call to resume nuclear testing fuel a US-China arms race?

US president’s order could spur Beijing to speed up development of nuclear weapon systems, observers say.

China’s next 5-year plan aims to narrow nuclear gap with US and Russia: analysts

Beijing’s proposed national blueprint links strategic forces with the global balance for the first time.

‘Hawkish’ interpretations rise as US, China discourse gets lost in translation

In an echo of the Cold War, mistranslations are testing already strained nerves in Washington and Beijing.

China calls itself a responsible AI force, as most in US think otherwise

Recent capacity-building forum in Shanghai and poll of Americans highlight contrasting takes on a focal point in the China-US tech rivalry.

Can US and China avoid ‘dangerous levels of tension’?

Report suggests Washington should urge Taiwan to show restraint and there may be room for negotiation over the South China Sea.

Race to the bottom? China thwarted as US moves on deep-sea mining

No reward yet for Beijing’s multilateral approach at UN body tasked with regulating law of the sea.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Open Questions | Zheng Yongnian on why China must look beyond the West to build a better AI

Political analyst says strong narrative based on factual Chinese framework must be included in artificial intelligence knowledge feed.

The Front Line | Will the JL-1 missile be China’s final word on airborne nuclear deterrence?

H-6 bombers have been retrofitted to carry the weapon but they have their limits, analysts say.

Opinion | The race for critical minerals is clearing the path for deep-sea mining

Open Questions | Zheng Yongnian on why China must look beyond the West to build a better AI