Brian Hart
Coverage of Brian Hart in the Nexus archive.
- Troubled Straits: Analyzing Trade Chokepoints in the South China Sea
The article 'Troubled Straits: Analyzing Trade Chokepoints in the South China Sea' examines strategic trade routes in the region. It is authored by Brian Hart, Matthew P. Funaiole, David Peng, Jasper Verschuur, Bonny Lin, and Leon Li, and published by the ChinaPower Project.
- How Is the Iran War Impacting China’s Economy?
An Iran war beginning February 28, 2026 has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz and created significant economic shocks for China, the world's second-largest economy. Major impacts include reduced demand for Chinese exports as global economies contract, energy supply disruptions (one-third of China's crude oil transits the strait), supply chain challenges, and threats to Chinese investments in the Middle East region.
- Surveying the Experts: The State of U.S.-China Relations Entering 2026
A CSIS survey of 79 U.S. experts reveals mixed assessments of U.S.-China relations entering 2026, with only 26% believing relations are more stable than a year ago despite late 2025 trade agreements between Presidents Trump and Xi. Experts are divided on whether China views the U.S. as a strategic competitor or adversary, with significant uncertainty surrounding the durability of recent diplomatic agreements.
- Making Sense of China’s Government Budget
China released its 2026 government budget projecting RMB 24.1 trillion in revenue and RMB 30 trillion in expenditure, resulting in an official deficit of RMB 5.9 trillion. Defense spending was set at RMB 1.9 trillion with a 7 percent increase, while actual military spending is estimated to be 30-40 percent higher than official figures. The budget reflects China's fiscal situation worsening despite spending increases in defense, foreign affairs, science, technology, and social welfare.
- How Deep Are China-Russia Military Ties?
China and Russia maintain deep military ties centered on arms sales and joint exercises, though they have avoided a formal alliance. Russian military aid has been crucial to modernizing China's PLA, but tensions exist over Chinese technology theft and decreasing reliance on Russian weapons. The relationship's military dimension has evolved from the Soviet Union's massive support during the Korean War to contemporary strategic cooperation.