China
China: regional military power, dominant rare-earth supplier, active around Taiwan, South China Sea and Iran
The People's Republic of China is a state actor that projects military power across the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, occupies the Paracel Islands, and had reclaimed roughly five square miles with artificial islands by 2023. Reporting records near-daily warship and aircraft activity near Taiwan, major live-fire drills from 4 to 11 August 2022 that included 11 missiles, and a special operation in eastern Taiwan waters on 6 June 2023.
China is also a principal global rare-earth actor, holding about 70 percent of mining and, according to reporting, introduced April 2025 export-licensing measures that cut rare-earth magnet exports to the United States by over 90 percent and exposed a midstream gap. On diplomacy, sources say China condemned a US and Israeli attack on Iran, has been measured in criticising the US, shown little interest in serving as a guarantor for a peace deal, and the US government asserts China supported Tehran's weapons procurement. A non-governmental group alleges crimes against humanity targeting Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghurs, and links to fentanyl-precursor exports affecting the US-Mexican border.
- Near-daily warship and aircraft activity near Taiwan, including major live-fire drills from 4 to 11 August 2022 that fired 11 missiles
- Occupies the Paracel Islands and had reclaimed about five square miles with artificial islands by 2023
- Holds roughly 70 percent of global rare-earth mining, and April 2025 export licences cut rare-earth magnet exports to the US by over 90 percent
- Dispatched coast guard and launched a special operation in eastern Taiwan waters, linked to Japan-Philippines EEZ negotiations
- Condemned a US and Israeli attack on Iran, has been measured in criticising the US, but the US government says China supported Tehran's weapons procurement
- Accused by a non-governmental organisation of crimes against humanity targeting Falun Gong and Uyghurs, and of links to fentanyl-precursor exports
Synthesised from 40 sourced claims across our published briefings.
The complete claim-by-claim ledger for China — every sourced report with its Admiralty grade, confidence, and the briefs that cited it — is on the Analyst plan.
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