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Zhou Bo

(周波)

Zhou Bo
周波
The latest news and top stories on Zhou Bo. A retired senior colonel in the People’s Liberation Army, he is a senior fellow at the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University. His military career included roles in the Ministry of National Defense’s Foreign Affairs Office and as a defence attaché. He contributes to major international publications and speaks at global security forums, offering insights on geopolitics and China’s strategic posture.
President Donald Trump has posted on social media that the US is “leading China” and the rest of the world and he intends “to keep it that way”. Photo: TNS
US-China relations

Does Trump’s new AI Force signal tech race escalation ahead of Xi summit?

Move may either aid AI risk talks or become containment tool targeting China, one analyst says, as others expect more intense tech rivalry.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Chinese defence chief skirts flashpoints at Xiangshan Forum ahead of Xi-Trump summit

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US-China relations

Defence chief Dong Jun omits Taiwan in milder Xiangshan Forum address

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SCMP

SCMP Plus exclusive: meet ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo in person

The retired senior colonel and Tsinghua University senior fellow will feature in an exclusive in-person event for SCMP Plus subscribers in Hong Kong.

US-China relations

Open Questions | China’s military goal is to stand neck and neck with US: retired colonel Zhou Bo

Prominent commentator shares insights on the PLA’s 2027 goal, competition with the US, the Taiwan issue and the peacetime dilemma.

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US-China relations

How Hegseth might shift his tone on Taiwan at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue

While the US defence chief gave a gung-ho speech at last year’s conference, reset in Beijing ties after recent summit may prompt moderation.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi urges ‘utmost caution’ from Trump on Taiwan, warns of conflict risk

Managing ‘Taiwan question’ to be primary factor for ‘constructive strategic stability’ in ties over the next three years, analysts note.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a meeting with US President Donald Trump (not in picture), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
2026 Xi-Trump summits

What does Pete Hegseth’s presence in China say about Trump’s military agenda?

US arms sales to Taiwan, nuclear weapons and military-to-military communication will be among topics discussed, experts say.

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US, Israel war on Iran

As Trump hails airman rescue in Iran, Chinese experts count US wins and losses

Former PLA personnel say Iran’s success in shooting down US fighter jet boosts morale and shows it retains ‘some air-defence capabilities’.

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US-China relations

Are US and China seeking ‘minimum stability’ after a ‘rough patch’ in relations?

Even though Donald Trump has postponed his trip to China, an academic forum heard that both sides still hoped to keep things on an even keel.

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Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping pictured at their most recent meeting in South Korea last year. Photo: Reuters
China trade

Japan taps oil reserves as Iran war spreads. Could it give China leverage?

With Tokyo and Beijing still at loggerheads over Taiwan, analysts warn Japan’s decision exposes its economic vulnerability.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to the media about the release of oil stockpiles at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

How foreign students can amplify China’s narrative in its push for soft power

On the sidelines of Beijing’s ‘two sessions’, academic and political adviser Zhang Bo emphasises the power of personal stories.

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China-Middle East relations

Why China is staying on the sidelines of the US-Iran conflict

Decision based on consideration of Beijing’s own interests as well as its ties with Washington and others, analysts say.

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Munich Security Conference

As transatlantic divorce plays out in Munich, China enjoys the silence

For long, China was a magnet for America’s rhetorical aggression. Now, it is the Europeans who are under fire.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses a session of the Munich Security Conference on February 14. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Why the collapse of the last US-Russia nuclear treaty matters for China

Analysts warn expiry of New Start could trigger vicious circle and three-way arms race between Beijing, Washington and Moscow.

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Russian soldiers load Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile launchers as part of a June 2024 drill to train troops in using tactical nuclear weapons. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP
SCMP Highlights

Open Questions | How Trump ‘stunned’ China; ‘Western hegemony is over’: 12 interviews from 2025

From acclaimed academics and writers to influential economists and policymakers, here are some of our best Open Questions interviews of the year.

US-China relations

Will Trump’s battleship plan deter China or is it just a pipe dream?

Donald Trump unveils new class of ship meant to ‘inspire fear in America’s enemies’, but analysts say the initiative faces huge hurdles.

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China-Russia relations

Missile defence in focus as China, Russia generals pledge deeper cooperation

Zhang Youxia and Russian counterpart discuss collaboration ‘blueprint’ in Moscow as US pushes Golden Dome, nuclear weapons testing.

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In his first visit to Russia in two years, Zhang Youxia, China’s top general, has signalled a continued strengthening of defence ties between the two countries. Photo: Sputnik
Japan

Japanese yen weakens to 9‑month low, hits 155 to US dollar amid uncertainties

Stocks and bond market slump as investors fret over expansionary fiscal plans, fading US rate-cut bets, and a China-Japan diplomatic row.

China's military weapons

Will China’s new aircraft carrier tilt the power balance in the western Pacific?

The Fujian is the PLA Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier and it is expected to be used to project global power.

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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.

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

A ‘fantastic deal’ or more tariffs? Why US-China trade talks face uncertainty

President Trump’s mostly optimistic remarks seen signalling desire for a deal, but some analysts still question whether one will manifest in the near term.

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US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Will China be a lower US defence priority? A new strategy report will soon tell

The Pentagon is preparing a National Defence Strategy that might point to a change in American tack.

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US-China relations

Why homeward shift by Pentagon may signal US decline in ‘bad news’ for Taiwan

US Defence Department officials have reportedly called for prioritising domestic and regional threats over countering China.

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China's military weapons

Could China’s hi-tech military display help it surpass Russia in arms sales?

China is poised to gain bigger share of global weapons exports, but entering markets with US ties is a challenge, analysts say.

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China’s YJ-21 anti-ship missiles are displayed during a military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
China's military weapons

China flexes deterrence muscle with new missile line-up in military parade

The PLA appears to have a nuclear triad, with land, sea and air arsenal.

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Spectators watch as DF-5C intercontinental strategic nuclear missiles are showcased at a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: China Daily via Reuters
China's military weapons

China parades statecraft and hardware as world faces ‘critical’ choices

From the rostrum overlooking Tiananmen Square, Beijing makes a diplomatic stand for a multipolar world.

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US-China relations

US debuts hypersonic missile in Australia. Is it a deterrent against China?

Chinese analysts say Washington is showing the importance of US-Australia relationship, but missile system unlikely to affect China.

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