U.S. military planners have assessed that China could be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027.
January 01, 2027
high
temporal
Projection reported as an assessment by U.S. military planners about China's potential military capability regarding Taiwan.
U.S. European Command leadership has assessed that NATO should be prepared to fight concurrent conflicts with Russia and China by 2027.
January 01, 2027
high
policy_assessment
Represents a planning horizon and readiness assessment articulated by U.S. European Command leadership.
The 2026–2030 Chinese five-year plan emphasizes increasing China's self-reliance in advanced technologies and expanding overseas markets to support export-driven growth.
January 01, 2026
high
temporal
Stated principal pillars for the 2026–2030 planning period focus on technological self-reliance and external market expansion.
China was the world's second-largest economy as of 2025.
November 21, 2025
high
descriptive
Relative ranking of national economies by size.
The AI Infrastructure Coalition states objectives to advance U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence, promote American economic prosperity, create high-quality jobs, and strengthen national security in competition with China.
November 19, 2025
high
policy
Summarizes the coalition's articulated goals regarding economic and national-security outcomes.
Proposals to sell advanced U.S. military aircraft such as the F-35 to Saudi Arabia raise concerns about potential Chinese access to U.S. technology and about preserving Israel's qualitative military edge.
November 18, 2025
high
general
Common security and nonproliferation concerns associated with exporting advanced U.S. weapon systems to Middle Eastern partners.
Proposed legislation can authorize the Department of Defense (the Pentagon) to revoke security clearances of former defense officials who lobby on behalf of companies substantially owned or controlled by designated adversary governments.
November 18, 2025
high
temporal
Policy approach to limit former officials' ability to leverage past security access when working for foreign-linked companies.
Proposed legislation can impose lifetime bans on Senate-confirmed federal officials from lobbying on behalf of designated adversary governments such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
November 18, 2025
high
temporal
Legislative mechanism intended to restrict former high-level officials from representing hostile foreign interests.
Proposed reforms to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) can eliminate the 'commercial' exemption and the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) exemptions for entities tied to countries of concern, thereby requiring entities representing or advocating for companies substantially owned or controlled by adversary governments to register publicly as foreign agents.
November 18, 2025
high
temporal
Legal change aimed at increasing transparency for representation of foreign-owned or controlled companies.
U.S. defense and national security officials have at times opposed proposed sales of advanced military technology to foreign partners because of concerns that such technology could be shared with third countries, including China.
November 18, 2025
high
security_risk
Describes a recurring national-security consideration in reviews of foreign military sales.
The Senkaku Islands are a group of disputed islands claimed by both Japan and China; China refers to them as the Diaoyu and they are a frequent flashpoint in Sino-Japanese relations.
November 17, 2025
high
geopolitical
Description of a longstanding territorial dispute between Japan and China.
The United Nations Security Council's permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) possess veto power over substantive resolutions.
November 17, 2025
high
temporal
Explains a durable feature of U.N. Security Council decision-making.
A recurring national-security concern in deliberations over exporting F-35s is the risk that the aircraft's sensitive technology could be stolen or otherwise transferred to third countries such as China, especially when potential buyers maintain close ties with those third countries.
November 17, 2025
high
risk
Technology proliferation and third-party transfer risks are commonly cited reasons for restricting exports of advanced military platforms.
The Senkaku Islands, referred to as the Diaoyu Islands by China, are administered by Japan and are the subject of a territorial dispute between Japan and China.
November 16, 2025
high
temporal
Describes the enduring territorial dispute and differing names used by the parties.
The China Coast Guard conducts maritime patrols in waters it claims and often frames some operations as 'rights enforcement patrols' intended to uphold its asserted maritime rights and interests.
November 16, 2025
high
temporal
Describes a general operational practice and terminology used by the China Coast Guard regarding disputed waters.
A 2025 USDA report recorded two purchases of U.S. soybeans by Chinese buyers totaling 332,000 metric tons.
November 14, 2025
high
statistical
USDA export sales data reporting Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans in 2025.
In 2025, China's tariff on U.S. soybeans was approximately 24% after a 10-percentage-point reduction.
November 14, 2025
high
policy
Applied tariff rate on U.S. soybean imports to China as of 2025.
China and Russia are veto-wielding members of the United Nations Security Council.
November 13, 2025
high
institutional
Certain Security Council members have veto power over resolutions.
As of 2025, China has imposed limits on online game time and smartphone usage for children.
November 07, 2025
high
temporal
Example of a national policy aimed at restricting minors' screen and gaming time.
China, the United States, and India are among the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters.
November 06, 2025
high
descriptive
Relative global ranking commonly used in discussions of national contributions to global emissions.
Under that tariff policy, imports from China were subject to much higher tariffs that reached as high as 145% before being reduced.
November 05, 2025
high
policy
Describes the relative tariff rates applied to Chinese imports under the policy.
North Korea relies on a network of banking representatives, financial institutions, and shell companies in North Korea, China, Russia, and elsewhere to launder funds obtained through IT worker fraud, cryptocurrency heists, and sanctions evasion.
November 04, 2025
high
operational
Description of mechanisms and geographic reach used to launder funds linked to North Korean cyber and fraud operations.
U.S. intelligence agencies have reported that Chinese actors have infiltrated parts of the United States' power grid and water systems.
November 03, 2025
high
assertion
Reported assessments by U.S. intelligence agencies about cyber intrusions targeting critical infrastructure.
China has been accused of stealing United States intellectual property and Americans' personal information.
November 03, 2025
high
assertion
Allegations of economic espionage and data theft involving Chinese actors and U.S. targets.
China has developed a dominant position in rare earth minerals production and processing by accumulating and managing supplies over roughly the past 25–30 years.
November 03, 2025
high
assertion
China's long-term accumulation and management of rare earth mineral capacity has given it significant strategic leverage in supply chains for electronics and defense equipment.
China's last known nuclear explosive test occurred in 1996.
November 03, 2025
high
temporal
Historical record of nuclear explosive testing by China.
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all atomic test explosions, and as of 2025 almost 180 nations had signed the CTBT while the United States and China had not ratified it.
November 03, 2025
high
policy
International legal framework governing nuclear test explosions and the ratification status of major powers.
China's official position is that it upholds a self-defense nuclear strategy and is committed to suspending nuclear testing.
November 03, 2025
high
policy
Stated Chinese nuclear policy regarding strategy and testing.
China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei assert overlapping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.
November 02, 2025
high
geopolitical
Multiple states claim competing sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea.
China seized control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012.
November 02, 2025
high
historical
Scarborough Shoal is a disputed feature in the South China Sea whose control shifted in 2012.
A Federation of American Scientists analysis reported that nine countries, including China, France, India, North Korea, and the United Kingdom, possess a total of roughly 12,240 nuclear warheads, and that Russia and the United States together control approximately 90% of those warheads.
October 31, 2025
high
statistical
Global nuclear warhead stockpile summary from Federation of American Scientists analysis cited in media coverage.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) routinely holds defense minister-level dialogues with external partners, including the United States, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Russia.
October 31, 2025
high
multilateral_diplomacy
ASEAN engages multiple major powers through defense and security dialogue mechanisms involving regional and extra-regional partners.
China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, and that claim overlaps with territorial claims by Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
October 31, 2025
high
temporal
Describes durable territorial claims and overlapping claimant states in the South China Sea.
China's official position asserts that reunification with Taiwan is an "unstoppable historical trend" and urges other countries to be cautious in their words and actions on the Taiwan issue.
October 31, 2025
high
temporal
Summarizes a stated policy position of China's government regarding Taiwan.
Malaysia generally prefers quiet diplomacy in responding to incursions by Chinese vessels into its waters, whereas the Philippines has experienced major maritime confrontations with China in recent years.
October 31, 2025
high
temporal
Contrasts typical diplomatic approaches and recent maritime interactions of two Southeast Asian states with China.
U.S.-China bilateral relations include disputes over tariffs, technology, and agricultural trade.
October 30, 2025
high
geopolitical
Common, durable areas of contention in analyses of U.S.-China relations.
As of 2025, China has been purchasing Russian oil.
October 30, 2025
high
temporal
Ongoing energy trade between China and Russia.
China has stated that, under Chinese law, the TikTok recommendation algorithm must remain under Chinese control.
October 30, 2025
high
temporal
Official position regarding legal control of algorithms used by apps with Chinese ownership.
China is a major market for U.S. soybean exports.
October 30, 2025
high
economic
Describes longstanding trade relationship regarding agricultural exports.
The United States' average tariff rate on imports from China is roughly 45%, while China's average tariff rate on imports from the United States is roughly 32%.
October 30, 2025
high
temporal
Comparative average tariff rates applied by the two countries on each other's imports.
China is the world's largest buyer of soybeans.
October 30, 2025
high
descriptive
Global soybean demand and trade flows
In recent years, China purchased about one quarter of U.S. soybean production.
October 30, 2025
high
statistical
Historic share of U.S. soybeans bought by China
APEC member economies include China, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam.
October 29, 2025
high
descriptive
Examples of APEC member economies
As of 2025-10-29, the United States imposes a 20% tariff on Chinese imports in addition to other tariffs, citing concerns that China has not sufficiently restricted exports of fentanyl precursor chemicals.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
U.S. tariff policy linked to concerns about fentanyl precursor exports.
As of 2025-10-29, China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. soybean exports.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
Retaliatory tariffs by China in response to U.S. tariffs and trade measures.
As of 2025-10-29, Russia allows Chinese airlines to transit Russian airspace while not allowing the same transit rights to U.S. airlines, creating a cost advantage for some Chinese carriers on routes involving Russian airspace.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
Airspace transit permissions affecting airline route costs.
Japan has concentrated defense buildup on its southwestern islands to increase military self-sufficiency in response to regional threats including China's increasingly assertive military activity, and also cites concerns about North Korea and Russia.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
The southwestern islands have been a focus of Japanese defensive posture due to proximity to regional flashpoints.
China is a major supplier of rare earth elements and can use restrictions on rare earth shipments as leverage in trade and technology disputes.
October 29, 2025
high
contextual
Role of rare earth element exports in international trade relations.
As of 2025-10-28, China has been asserting greater control in the South China Sea.
October 28, 2025
high
temporal
Described as a regional security trend affecting maritime control.
The South China Sea is a maritime region that has become increasingly contested amid rising tensions between the United States and China.
October 27, 2025
high
general
Geopolitical characterization of the South China Sea involving competing claims and strategic tensions.
As of 2025, China's economy and military have been growing, increasing the country's economic and strategic strength.
October 27, 2025
high
temporal
Describes a multi-year growth trend in China's economic and military capabilities.
China is a major source of rare earth minerals, which are of strategic and economic interest to the United States.
October 27, 2025
high
temporal
Rare earth minerals are strategically important for technology and defense supply chains.
U.S. and Japanese policymakers have sought to limit the expansion of China's manufacturing capabilities, citing concerns that advances in Chinese electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, and advanced computer chips could undermine U.S. and Japanese economic competitiveness.
October 27, 2025
high
temporal
Policy actions are motivated by concerns over strategic economic competition in key technology and manufacturing sectors.
The United States and China are the world's two largest economies.
October 27, 2025
high
descriptive
The combined economic size and global trade relationships of the U.S. and China make their economic relations globally significant.
China has, at times, restricted exports of certain key components used in technology manufacturing, prompting other countries to seek more diversified supply chains.
October 26, 2025
medium
trade
Export limits on critical technology components have influenced global supply-chain and trade-security considerations.
As of 2025, the U.S. government has pursued diversification of supply chains to reduce reliance on China because China has restricted exports of certain key components used in technology manufacturing.
October 26, 2025
high
temporal
Describes an ongoing policy trend by the U.S. in response to Chinese export controls on technology-related inputs.
Bilateral trade negotiations between the United States and China commonly address issues such as rare earth minerals, soybeans, and technology export controls.
October 26, 2025
high
general
Typical substantive topics in U.S.-China trade talks.
China is the United States' third-largest trading partner after Mexico and Canada.
October 26, 2025
high
economic
Relative ranking of U.S. trade partners by trade volume.
As of 2025-10-26, tariffs on imports from China imposed by the United States were set at 30%.
October 26, 2025
high
economic
General tariff level applied by the United States to Chinese imports.
China has increased efforts to assert control over maritime areas in the South China Sea.
October 26, 2025
high
trend
Describes a durable regional security trend involving China's maritime posture.
The United States and its allies prioritize expanding partnerships on semiconductors and critical minerals with Japan and South Korea to reduce reliance on China in global supply chains.
October 26, 2025
high
policy
Describes a sustained policy objective linking technology, resource security, and supply-chain resilience.
China has been the largest export market for U.S. soybeans.
October 26, 2025
high
temporal
Describes the role of China as the primary export destination for U.S. soybean shipments.
China's Christian population numbers in the tens of millions.
October 25, 2025
high
demographic
General estimate of the size of the Christian population in China.
Xi Jinping is the President of China.
October 25, 2025
high
political
Current head of state and government leadership in China.
Underground (unregistered) Christian churches operate in China.
October 25, 2025
high
religious_organization
Existence of Christian congregations in China that are not officially registered with state religious authorities.
China uses five-year plans to map out policy priorities and to decide on funding allocation for national development.
October 24, 2025
high
structural
Five-year plans are a central planning tool used by China's government to set multi-year policy and budget priorities.
China's five-year plans derive from the Soviet-style model of central planning and function as multi-year economic blueprints.
October 24, 2025
high
historical
The five-year planning approach traces its origins to the centralized planning systems used by the Soviet Union.
Visits by Japanese politicians to Yasukuni Shrine have routinely provoked anger from China and South Korea.
October 24, 2025
high
contextual
Describes a recurring diplomatic pattern tied to visits to the shrine.
A large share of consumer toys are manufactured in China.
October 23, 2025
high
geographic
Baseline manufacturing geography for the toy industry.
China and India are major importers of Russian oil.
October 23, 2025
high
trade
Identifies principal destination markets for Russian crude exports.
China has been increasing industrial focus and investment in electric vehicles and semiconductor manufacturing.
October 23, 2025
high
contextual
Electric vehicles and semiconductors are major areas of industrial competition and policy focus globally.
China mines approximately 70% of the world's rare earths.
October 22, 2025
high
statistical
Distribution of extraction of rare earth elements in the global market
China performs chemical processing for approximately 90% of the global rare-earth supply.
October 22, 2025
high
statistical
Share of downstream processing (chemical refining) for rare earth elements worldwide
Mexico has been a primary source or transit route for fentanyl that reaches the United States, while China has been identified as a major supplier of precursor chemicals used to produce fentanyl.
October 22, 2025
high
general
Geographic roles in the fentanyl supply chain into the United States: production/transit versus precursor-supply.
In 2025, the Chinese government announced export controls requiring foreign companies to obtain Chinese government approval to export magnets that contain any trace amounts of rare-earth materials originating from China or produced with Chinese technology.
October 20, 2025
high
temporal
A policy change affecting global rare-earth and magnet exports and supply chains.
For decades through 2025, China has at times used the tactic of dumping excess critical minerals onto global markets to depress prices and disadvantage mining companies outside China.
October 20, 2025
high
temporal
Describes a market strategy affecting global competition in critical-minerals extraction and processing.
In 2025 the Chinese government enacted export-control policies requiring foreign companies to obtain Chinese government approval to export magnets that contain trace amounts of rare-earth materials that originated in China or were produced with Chinese technology.
October 20, 2025
high
policy
Export-control measure targeting magnets with any trace of China-origin or China-processed rare-earth content.
China has used the tactic of dumping excess critical minerals onto global markets to lower prices and place competitive pressure on mining companies in other countries.
October 20, 2025
medium
economic
Historical market behavior attributed to China in the critical-minerals sector.
Building sufficient rare-earth supply capacity outside China to meaningfully reduce China’s market dominance is likely to take years to decades.
October 20, 2025
medium
supply_chain
Assessment of the time horizon for diversifying global rare-earth production away from China.
The National Time Service Center of China is responsible for generating and distributing China's standard time and provides timing services to industries including communications, finance, power, transport, and defense.
October 19, 2025
high
descriptive
Defines the institutional role and sectoral dependencies on national time services.
As of 2025-10-17, the United States, Russia, and China were not members of the International Criminal Court.
October 17, 2025
high
temporal
Notable non-member states relative to the ICC.
Tariffs are used as a negotiating and pressure tool in international trade relations, including between the United States and China.
October 15, 2025
high
policy
Tariffs can be implemented or threatened to influence trade negotiations and outcomes between trading partners.
As of 2025, China accounted for nearly 70% of the world's rare earths mining and controlled roughly 90% of global rare earths processing.
October 12, 2025
high
temporal
Global supply chain concentration for rare earth elements.
China accounts for nearly 70% of global rare earths mining and controls roughly 90% of global rare earth processing.
October 12, 2025
high
statistical
Market share and processing control of rare earth minerals.
Chinese export-control regulations require foreign companies to obtain Chinese government approval to export products that contain rare earths sourced from China, regardless of where those products are manufactured.
October 12, 2025
high
policy
Scope of Chinese export controls related to rare-earth-containing products.
Energy research company Wood Mackenzie estimated that China produces as much as 95% of the world's rare-earth magnets.
October 10, 2025
high
statistical
Market share estimate for production of rare-earth magnets
Access to rare-earth materials has been a key sticking point in trade negotiations between the United States and China.
October 10, 2025
high
descriptive
Strategic importance of rare-earth supply in US–China trade discussions
As of 2025, China processes around 90% of the world's rare earth elements.
October 09, 2025
high
statistical
Share of global processing capacity for rare earth elements.
Research cited in 2025 attributed roughly 90% of the growth in global carbon dioxide emissions over the prior decade to China.
October 08, 2025
medium
statistical
Attribution of the majority of the decade's increase in global CO2 emissions to emissions growth within China.
China supplied or accounted for about 80% of global solar cell production capacity as of 2025.
October 08, 2025
medium
statistical
Market share concentration in global solar-cell manufacturing.
China achieved a national renewable energy capacity milestone of 1,200 gigawatts earlier than planned after a 2020 pledge to reach 1,200 gigawatts by 2030, accomplishing the target more than five years ahead of the 2030 goal.
October 08, 2025
high
temporal
Demonstrates rapid growth in China's installed renewable electricity capacity relative to earlier national targets.
China's exports grew 8.3% year-over-year in September 2025.
September 30, 2025
high
temporal
Month-on-month trade data showing export growth for September 2025.
China's gross domestic product grew by 5.2% and China's overall trade in goods increased by 4% during the first three quarters of 2025.
September 30, 2025
high
temporal
High-level indicators of China's economic growth and trade performance in the first three quarters of 2025.
China was the largest source of tourists to Japan in early-to-mid 2025, with almost 7.5 million Chinese visitors to Japan in the first nine months of 2025; Chinese visitors spent more than $1 billion per month in Japan in the third quarter of 2025, accounting for about 30% of tourism-related spending in that quarter.
September 30, 2025
high
statistical
Data on tourist flows and spending by nationality for Japan in 2025.
China controls the vast majority of global rare earth mineral production and can use that control as geopolitical leverage.
September 29, 2025
high
geopolitical
Rare earth minerals are critical for many high-tech and defense supply chains, giving producing countries strategic leverage.
U.S.–China bilateral relations commonly involve disputes and negotiations over access to strategic commodities and trade issues such as rare earth minerals, soybean exports, illicit fentanyl flows, and export restrictions on advanced U.S. technologies like artificial intelligence chips.
September 29, 2025
high
geopolitical
These topics are recurring points of contention in trade and national security discussions between the two countries.
A 2025 joint Pew Research Center and Körber-Stiftung survey found that 71% of U.S. adults said relations with Germany were very or somewhat good in 2025, a 13 percentage-point decline from 2024.
September 26, 2025
high
temporal
Findings come from the 2025 joint Pew Research Center and Körber-Stiftung public opinion survey of the United States and Germany.
In 2025, U.S. adults generally viewed China and Russia as major military threats to the United States, while German adults generally viewed Russia but not China as a major security threat; both U.S. and German publics perceived China as an economic threat and expressed concern about China's growing influence.
September 26, 2025
high
temporal
Perceptions of military and economic threats reported in the 2025 joint public opinion surveys of the United States and Germany.
By 2025, U.S. soybean farmers had lost access to their largest export market, China, as a result of the U.S.–China trade war.
September 25, 2025
high
economic
Describes the impact of trade tensions on agricultural export access.
By 2025, the export market lost to U.S. farmers after China closed its market was estimated at approximately $13 billion.
September 25, 2025
high
statistical
Monetary estimate of the value of lost agricultural exports due to China's market closure.
China accounts for the majority of global production and processing capacity for rare earth elements.
September 08, 2025
high
geopolitical
Analyses of global supply chains indicate China holds dominant share in both mining output and downstream processing of rare earths.
U.S. export controls implemented during the Trump administration restricted China's access to advanced semiconductor chips and related high-end chipmaking technologies.
September 08, 2025
high
policy
U.S. technology export controls were used as policy tools to limit the transfer of advanced semiconductors and chipmaking equipment to China.
The United States has smaller commercially exploitable reserves and processing capacity for rare earth minerals compared with China.
September 08, 2025
medium
resource_distribution
Relative reserve sizes and existing processing capacity affect national supply security for rare earth minerals.
China's global exports rose 8.3% in September 2025 compared with September 2024, representing the strongest six-month growth.
September 01, 2025
high
temporal
Year-on-year monthly export growth reported by Chinese customs for September 2025
China's exports to the United States fell 27% in September 2025 compared with September 2024.
September 01, 2025
high
temporal
Year-on-year decline in exports from China to the United States for September 2025
A 2025 Ember report found that China accounted for 55% of global solar generation growth in the first half of 2025, while the United States accounted for 14% of that global solar generation growth in the same period.
June 30, 2025
high
temporal
Country contributions to global solar generation growth during the first half of 2025.
The Chinese government set a target of roughly 5% GDP growth for 2025, and China recorded 5.3% GDP growth in the first six months of 2025.
June 30, 2025
high
temporal
Mid-year 2025 government data indicated growth slightly above the stated annual target trajectory.
China is a dominant producer of mature-technology semiconductors that are widely used in automobiles.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Refers to China's large share of global production for older-generation semiconductor technologies commonly used in automotive applications.
Nexperia is a Netherlands-based semiconductor company that sends most of its products to facilities in China for packaging and testing before delivering them to customers.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Some semiconductor manufacturers use overseas packaging and test facilities as part of their production and distribution process.
The 2025 U.S. Geological Survey found that China is the sole or dominant source of eight of the nine minerals for which a supply disruption would be most damaging to the U.S. economy.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
USGS assessment of minerals critical to U.S. economic vulnerability.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies reported that China's defense budget was nearly $247 billion in 2025.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Budget figure reported by the Center for Strategic and International Studies for China in 2025.
China typically purchases roughly one-quarter of the annual U.S. soybean crop.
January 01, 2025
high
statistical
Historical share of U.S. soybean production exported to China.
A 2025 U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission report found that China built roughly 350 new intercontinental ballistic missile silos and expanded its nuclear warhead stockpile by about 20% over the prior year.
January 01, 2025
high
statistical
Findings reported in the commission's 2025 annual report on U.S.-China security and economic issues.
A 2025 AidData report found that China's state-owned banks channeled approximately $200 billion to U.S. businesses over a 25-year period, often routing funds through shell companies in jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and Delaware to obscure the loans' origins.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Findings from an AidData research report on lending by Chinese state banks to foreign entities.
A 2025 AidData report found that China's state lenders provided more than $2 trillion in loans worldwide between 2000 and 2023, about double the previous highest estimates.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Aggregate global lending totals reported by AidData covering 2000–2023.
A 2025 AidData report found that much of China's lending to wealthy countries was concentrated on critical minerals and high-tech assets, including rare earths and semiconductors used in fighter jets, submarines, radar systems, precision-guided missiles, and telecommunications networks.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Sectoral focus of lending identified by AidData as having strategic and defense-related applications.
China's state-owned banks are controlled by China's central government and the Communist Party's Central Financial Commission and are directed to advance China's strategic goals.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Description of governance and policy direction for China's state-owned banking institutions.
Export agreements for advanced artificial-intelligence chips can include security provisions intended to prevent the chips from being transferred to or benefiting specified foreign entities, such as a foreign country or a named company.
January 01, 2025
high
policy
Describes a common feature of export controls for advanced technology products to mitigate unauthorized diversion or use.
In 2024, China purchased $12.6 billion worth of soybeans from the United States, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
December 31, 2024
high
temporal
Annual value of U.S. soybean exports to China for calendar year 2024.
In 2024, Brazil supplied over 70% of China's soybean imports while the United States' share was about 21%, according to World Bank data.
December 31, 2024
high
statistical
Composition of China's soybean import sources in 2024
In 2024, China purchased more than $12.5 billion of U.S. soybean exports out of nearly $24.5 billion in total U.S. soybean export value.
December 31, 2024
high
statistical
Value and destination share of U.S. soybean exports in 2024
In 2024, almost three-quarters of U.S. coal exported to China was metallurgical coal used in steelmaking, while the remainder was thermal coal burned in power plants to produce electricity.
December 31, 2024
high
statistical
Composition of U.S. coal exports to China by coal type and end use.
More than 90% of new energy projects installed globally in 2024 were renewable, and global renewable energy deployment is growing rapidly with China leading in production and manufacturing of renewable energy technology.
December 31, 2024
high
statistical
Global deployment and market share of renewables among newly installed energy projects in 2024; manufacturing leadership.
The United States' defense spending was $997 billion in 2024, representing more than triple the defense spending of China in 2024.
December 31, 2024
high
temporal
National defense expenditure levels for 2024
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the post-World War II international order.
November 24, 2024
high
temporal
This describes an official, general policy position articulated by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserts that China and the United States fought together against fascism and militarism.
November 24, 2024
high
temporal
This reflects a historical claim or narrative expressed by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs about Sino-U.S. cooperation in past conflicts.
International shipping and shipbuilding have been sources of trade friction between the United States and China, including reciprocal port fees imposed on each other's vessels.
October 14, 2024
high
contextual
Describes an ongoing area of bilateral trade tension affecting maritime sectors.
China's Fujian is the country's third aircraft carrier and the first aircraft carrier that China designed and produced domestically (reported in 2024).
May 07, 2024
high
temporal
Counts and firsts for Chinese carrier-development capability as reported in 2024.
In April 2024, the U.S. Trade Representative launched a Section 301 trade investigation into China's growing dominance in global shipbuilding.
April 01, 2024
high
temporal
A U.S. trade policy action targeting alleged competitive pressures from China's shipbuilding industry.
The U.S. Department of State's 2024 human rights report states that genocide and crimes against humanity occurred in China against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.
January 01, 2024
high
temporal
Finding reported in the U.S. Department of State annual human rights report for 2024.
State-affiliated Chinese cyber actors have targeted U.S. critical infrastructure—including water treatment, electrical power, transportation, telecommunications, and hospitals—to create access that could be used to gain an advantage in a crisis or armed conflict.
January 01, 2024
high
temporal
Describes targeting patterns and strategic purpose attributed to state-sponsored Chinese cyber operations against civilian critical infrastructure.
China was responsible for mining roughly 60% of the world's rare earth minerals and processing nearly 90% of them as of 2024, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
January 01, 2024
high
temporal
Provides 2024 share estimates of global rare-earth mining and processing by China, indicating concentration of supply and processing capacity.
Korea International Trade Association data from 2024 showed that China's purchases of South Korean goods exceeded purchases by the United States by less than one percentage point.
January 01, 2024
high
statistical
Trade share comparison between China and the United States as purchasers of South Korean goods.
According to the Institute of International Education, more than 277,000 Chinese students studied in the United States during the 2023–2024 academic year, making China the source of the second-largest international student population in the U.S. after India.
September 01, 2023
high
temporal
Institute of International Education enrollment data for the 2023–2024 academic year.
In 2023, Kazakhstan exported $3.07 billion in critical minerals to China, $1.8 billion to Russia, and $544 million to the United States, according to country-level trade data compiled by the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
January 01, 2023
high
statistic
Country-level distribution of Kazakhstan's critical mineral exports in 2023.
China provided diplomatic and economic support to Russia following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
February 24, 2022
high
temporal
Describes China's international posture toward Russia after the 2022 invasion.
A 2022 Brookings Institution analysis reported that China accounted for about 60% of global rare earth mineral extraction and about 85% of global rare earth processing capacity.
January 01, 2022
high
statistical
Breakdown of global extraction and processing market share for rare earth minerals.
In 2021 China enacted an anti-foreign sanctions law that authorizes Chinese agencies to deny visas and freeze the assets of targeted individuals and businesses, providing powers analogous to those of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
January 01, 2021
high
policy
A legal measure enabling reciprocal actions against foreign sanctions and individuals/entities subject to them.
China's Unreliable Entity List, established in 2020 by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, resembles the U.S. Commerce Department's 'entity list' that restricts certain foreign companies from doing business with the United States.
January 01, 2020
high
policy
A Chinese export-control/sanctions-style mechanism created as a counterpart to an existing U.S. tool.
A 2020 U.S.-China trade agreement included commitments by China to purchase U.S. agricultural products.
January 01, 2020
high
policy
The 2020 trade deal between the United States and China included agricultural purchase commitments.
Supporters of the nuclear industry assert that U.S. regulatory processes increase construction costs for new nuclear plants and that China's more predictable approval system has contributed to faster nuclear deployment in China.
January 01, 2020
high
temporal
Comparative observations about regulatory predictability and nuclear deployment between the United States and China.
According to the Institute of International Education, the number of Chinese students in the United States peaked at over 372,000 during the 2019–2020 academic year.
September 01, 2019
high
temporal
Institute of International Education historical enrollment data indicating a peak in 2019–2020.
In 2018, the U.S. government provided more than $20 billion in aid to American farmers in response to retaliatory tariffs imposed by China during the U.S.-China trade dispute.
January 01, 2018
high
historical-statistic
Aggregate size of federal aid delivered to U.S. farmers amid the 2018 U.S.-China tariff exchanges.
China's 2017 national intelligence law requires Chinese nationals and organizations to support, assist, and cooperate with Chinese intelligence work from anywhere in the world.
January 01, 2017
high
temporal
Provision of China's 2017 national intelligence law concerning obligations of nationals and organizations.
After South Korea's 2016 decision to host the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, China implemented retaliatory measures targeting South Korean tourism, retail, and entertainment industries.
January 01, 2016
high
historical
Policy response by China to South Korea's acceptance of a U.S. missile defense deployment.
A 2016 international arbitration ruling found that China's maritime claims to virtually the entirety of the South China Sea were invalid under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
January 01, 2016
high
legal
Arbitral ruling interpreting the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
United States Department of Agriculture data shows China purchased $12.6 billion in U.S. soybeans in 2014, while the European Union purchased $2.45 billion in U.S. soybeans in 2014.
January 01, 2014
high
statistical
Historical U.S. agricultural export values by destination country.
China has not conducted a nuclear weapon test since 1996.
January 01, 1996
high
temporal
Historical baseline on nuclear testing activity.
China's last nuclear weapons test occurred in 1996.
January 01, 1996
high
temporal
Historical baseline for China's nuclear testing activity.
China conducted its last nuclear test in 1996.
January 01, 1996
high
temporal
Year of the final nuclear test by China.
Russia and China conducted their last known nuclear weapon tests in the 1990s.
January 01, 1990
high
temporal
Refers to the decade (the 1990s) as the period of the most recent known nuclear explosive tests by Russia and China.
China's five-year plans are state-led economic planning instruments that were first launched under Mao Zedong in 1953.
January 01, 1953
high
temporal
Five-year plans are the principal centralized economic planning framework used by the Chinese Communist Party.
China was previously the largest buyer of U.S. soybean exports.
high
trade
Historical pattern in U.S.-China agricultural trade
International trade disputes that involve tariffs or other restrictions can reduce export markets for crops such as soybeans and cause significant financial harm to soybean farmers.
high
economic
Describes how international trade conflicts can affect commodity crop markets and farm incomes.
Tariffs on imports can provoke retaliatory tariffs from affected trading partners.
high
trade-policy
General dynamic observed in international trade disputes where one country's tariffs prompt counter-tariffs.
China has been the largest buyer of U.S. agricultural exports.
high
trade
Relative importance of China as an export market for U.S. agricultural products.
Mount Everest reaches approximately 29,000 feet in elevation and straddles the border between China and Nepal.
high
geographical
Basic geographic description of Mount Everest's elevation and international location.
The Chinese side of Mount Everest is located at the southern edge of Tibet.
high
geographical
Location of Mount Everest's Chinese-side approaches relative to Tibet.
Government-owned enterprises are a hallmark of socialist-oriented economies, including China.
high
descriptive
Describes a common characteristic of socialist-oriented economic systems.
China has established a dominant global position in the production and supply of rare earth minerals and permanent magnets over recent decades.
high
general
Describes the structural market position of China in rare earths and magnets relevant to global supply chains.
Freedom House rates China among the countries with the lowest scores for political rights and civil liberties.
high
descriptive
Assessment based on Freedom House country ratings for political rights and civil liberties.
China supplies around 90% of the world's rare earths, reflecting a high geographic concentration of mining and processing capacity.
high
descriptive
Global supply concentration for rare earth elements
Rare-earth mineral deposits exist outside China, but developing equivalent mining and especially processing infrastructure outside China typically requires multiple years of investment and capacity building.
high
descriptive
Time and investment required to build non-China rare-earth processing capacity
In recent years, Chinese authorities have arrested and detained leaders of unregistered 'underground' Christian churches in China.
high
background
Describes a pattern of government action toward religious groups not registered with state authorities.
Chinese authorities have detained and imprisoned Muslims in China.
high
background
Refers to government detention and imprisonment of Muslim populations within China.
Tens of millions of people in China attend unregistered (house) churches rather than state-sanctioned churches.
medium
statistical
Indicates the scale of participation in unregistered religious gatherings relative to state-sanctioned institutions.
Russia's largest energy customers include China, India, and Turkey.
high
economic
Identification of key international buyers of Russian energy exports.
Beijing has adopted expanded export controls and foreign investment review mechanisms as part of a broader toolkit to respond to foreign sanctions and trade restrictions.
high
policy
General description of recent Chinese regulatory trends in trade and investment policy.
China is the dominant global miner and supplier of rare earth metals, which are critical inputs for modern industries such as renewable energy, automobile manufacturing, and defense.
high
temporal
Describes market position and strategic importance of rare earth metals.
Mexico has been a primary source of fentanyl sold in the United States, while U.S. authorities have increasingly focused on China-based suppliers of precursor chemicals used to produce fentanyl.
high
general
Describes major supply sources and enforcement focus related to fentanyl production and distribution.
Japan, South Korea, and China compete commercially in industries including electric vehicles and semiconductors (computer chips).
high
economic
Regional manufacturing competition in advanced technology sectors.
The United States' one-China policy recognizes Taiwan as part of China while the United States maintains relations with Taiwan.
high
temporal
Describes the U.S. one-China policy as characterized in the article.
The United States' stated position is that it 'does not support' Taiwan independence, while China has sought U.S. adoption of language stating it 'opposes' Taiwan independence.
high
temporal
Contrasts U.S. and Chinese diplomatic language regarding Taiwan independence.
Taiwan is a significant issue in U.S.–China relations alongside trade, technology transfers, and human rights.
high
temporal
Identifies the policy areas in which Taiwan figures as a point of contention between the United States and China.
Many prospective international graduate students choose programs in countries such as Australia, China, the United Kingdom, and Germany instead of U.S. universities.
medium
trend
International destination preferences for graduate study
The United States and China have repeatedly engaged in cycles of escalating trade measures and subsequently walking back those measures, a pattern that has harmed companies conducting cross-Pacific trade.
high
temporal
Describes a recurring pattern in US-China trade relations where escalation is followed by de-escalation.
China contributed approximately $15 million in equipment and engineering to the China-Argentina Radio Telescope (CART) project.
high
descriptive
Reported financial and in-kind contribution to the CART project.
North Korea has developed closer political and military ties with Russia and China, including reportedly providing personnel to Russia for its war in Ukraine, raising concerns about possible transfers of advanced technologies such as satellite systems.
high
geopolitical
Description of evolving Moscow–Pyongyang and Beijing–Pyongyang relationships and related security concerns.
U.S. authorities have warned of growing efforts by China to recruit or exploit former military personnel who have access to sensitive information.
high
security
General warning by U.S. agencies about foreign recruitment/exploitation targeting ex-military with access to sensitive information.
South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung leads a left-leaning government that has expressed reluctance to deepen South Korea's partnership with the United States because of concern about provoking Chinese backlash.
high
temporal
Characterization of the political stance of Lee Jae‑myung's administration regarding U.S.–South Korea ties and China.
Chinese law requires certain recommendation algorithms to remain under Chinese control.
medium
policy
Legal requirement referenced regarding control of recommendation algorithms.
China holds the vast majority of the world's supply of rare earth minerals and related magnets, which are critical inputs for manufacturing in technology areas such as semiconductors and missiles.
high
descriptive
Rare earth minerals and magnets are essential raw materials for advanced electronics, defense systems, and semiconductor manufacturing.
China has been expanding its nuclear weapons stockpile in recent years.
medium
descriptive
Describes a reported trend in China's nuclear force posture.
China is a dominant global producer and supplier of rare earth elements.
high
general
China accounts for a large share of the mining, processing, and export capacity for rare earth elements.
Ownership and operation of foreign-owned social media platforms such as TikTok have been subject to bilateral regulatory negotiations between the United States and China.
high
descriptive
Cross-border regulatory scrutiny of social media platform ownership
Tariff measures can materially influence agricultural trade flows; changes in tariff policy have been associated with shifts in purchases of commodities such as soybeans and beef between major trading partners like the United States and China.
high
descriptive
General relationship between tariffs and agricultural export patterns
About 90% of global rare earth processing occurs in China.
high
temporal
Reflects China's dominant role in processing rare earth elements used in high-tech and industrial applications.
China is a major global exporter of precursor chemicals that are used to produce fentanyl.
medium
contextual
Describes the role of Chinese chemical exports in the global supply chain for fentanyl precursors.
China is typically the largest buyer of U.S. soybeans.
high
contextual
Describes typical trade patterns in the global soybean market between China and the United States.
An intensifying rivalry between the United States and China complicates strategic balancing for Asian countries that have strong ties to both powers.
high
contextual
Describes a durable geopolitical dynamic affecting states with close ties to both Washington and Beijing.
The Chinese government advocates deepening bilateral cooperation with partner states and opposes policies that it characterizes as efforts to suppress trade with China while supporting the multilateral trading system.
high
contextual
General characterization of a recurrent Chinese diplomatic and trade-policy position.
Scarborough Shoal is a fishing-rich maritime feature that is claimed by both the Philippines and China.
high
geographic
Description of a contested maritime feature in the South China Sea.
Manufacturers of consumer goods commonly rely on factories in countries such as China and Vietnam for assembly and for sourcing materials, which can make reshoring production to the United States impractical or cost-prohibitive for many products.
high
supply_chain
Structural characteristics of global manufacturing and supply chains
Operation Fox Hunt is a Chinese initiative aimed at repatriating fugitives, and U.S. authorities have described Operation Fox Hunt in some instances as a tool of transnational repression.
high
description
Characterization of a named campaign associated with efforts to return individuals from abroad.
The Chinese government (Beijing) states that its efforts under initiatives like Operation Fox Hunt are intended to repatriate fugitives, including alleged corrupt officials, and it denies using threats to secure their return.
high
government_position
Summarizes the official stance China publicly asserts regarding repatriation campaigns.
The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is geologically rich in metals including tungsten, and the United States is heavily reliant on China for tungsten supply.
high
descriptive
Geographic concentration of certain strategic metals and U.S. supply dependence.
China and Japan are the two largest economies in Asia.
high
economic
The relative economic size of China and Japan shapes their regional influence.
G20 membership includes the United States, China, Russia, India, Japan, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
high
descriptive
List of major members commonly cited as part of the G20.
China claims Taiwan, a self-governing island off its coast, as part of its territory.
high
contextual
Sovereignty claim underlying cross-strait tensions and regional security dynamics.
U.S. officials have expressed concerns that selling F-35 fighter jets to foreign states could risk Chinese access to sensitive U.S. technology and could affect Israel's qualitative military edge.
high
policy
This describes recurring U.S. national security considerations surrounding advanced weapons exports.
Saudi Arabia maintains a security partnership with China.
medium
geopolitical
Characterizes bilateral security ties between Saudi Arabia and China as reported in diplomatic coverage.
China has strategic interests in maintaining stability in neighboring subregions such as the Mekong region to protect its regional security and economic interests.
high
geopolitical
Proximity and economic ties make stability in adjacent subregions a priority for major regional powers.
U.S. export agreements for advanced artificial-intelligence chips can include security provisions intended to prevent the exported technology from being transferred to or benefiting specified foreign countries or companies, such as China or Huawei.
high
descriptive
Typical security-related terms used in export controls for advanced AI hardware.
Anna Queen is a China-based company whose formal corporate name is Guangzhou Tinger Trading Co. Ltd.
high
organization
Corporate identity of the company using the brand name Anna Queen
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterizes the World War II-era relationship with the United States as having fought 'shoulder to shoulder against fascism and militarism.'
medium
historical_claim
China's official framing of Sino-American cooperation during World War II.
U.S.-China trade disputes have included restrictions and disputes over mineral exports and semiconductor (chip) exports.
high
thematic
Sustained areas of contention in economic relations between the United States and China.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has increased rhetoric about retaking Taiwan in recent years.
medium
thematic
A trend in rhetoric and public statements concerning cross-strait relations.
China has developed a dominant position (a near-bottleneck) in the processing and export of many refined rare earth materials.
high
economic
Refined rare earths are concentrated in China's processing and export capabilities, creating supply leverage.
China has publicly urged Ukraine to sign a peace agreement with Russia as part of its diplomatic position toward the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
high
policy
China has taken a diplomatic stance encouraging a negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia.