Li Nan
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, East Asian Institute, National University of SingaporeArticles by Li Nan
Politics
Will China's military exercises with SCO countries and Russia help it build a regional security order?
East Asian Institute academic Li Nan asserts that China's joint military exercises with Central Asian countries and Russia are done in the context of furthering "strategic partnerships" to deal with domestic and intramural security threats but not external threats. While it is clear that China aims to build a regional security order in Central Asia, its adherence to non-interference may hinder its efforts.
Li Nan
29 Nov 2022
Politics
Will China abandon its 'no first use' nuclear policy?
Li Nan notes the seeming contradiction of China expanding its nuclear force while vowing not to fight a nuclear war. He explains that China seeks to ensure that it has nuclear counterattack capabilities that can survive the first nuclear attack and launch retaliatory strikes. At the moment, its "no first use" policy is intact, but the debate around it suggests that China's nuclear strategists have begun to explore the possibility of limited nuclear war that can be winnable against enemy targets.
Li Nan
08 Feb 2022
Politics
What has changed in China's South China Sea policy under Xi Jinping?
Li Nan sees that China has been using more aggressive "defensive" strategies in the South China Sea (SCS) under Xi Jinping, which includes the building of several artificial islands and the consolidation of administrative control of Chinese possessions and claims in the SCS. While policy insiders in China often see these actions as defensive, those who have a stake in the SCS have cause to disagree.
Li Nan
24 Nov 2020