Foreign, defence and strategic policy

Given China’s increasing global influence and military power, it is essential to untangle the complexity of its rise and the motivations behind Chinese strategic policy. This theme of the SIPRI China and Asia Security Programme aims to deepen understanding of China’s foreign and defence policy, its drivers, and the impacts on regional and global security. The research focuses on understanding the interactions between China and other countries, including in but not limited to the Indo-Pacific region, as well as its approach to great power rivalry and alignment. It also examines China’s activities in the maritime domain, including grey-zone operations, with a particular emphasis on crisis management and risk reduction, and assesses China’s military modernization efforts and the development of its strategy in relation to emerging technologies. The theme aims to provide nuanced insights that enable policymakers and private sector leaders to develop effective strategies for their relations with China in an increasingly complex global environment.