U.S. Decision to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement (open access)

U.S. Decision to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement

This report analyzes the Trump Administration's decision to pullout from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and its potential implications. The other powers that negotiated the accord with Iran--Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany--have consistently asserted that the JCPOA is succeeding in its core objectives and that its implementation should not be jeopardized.
Date: May 9, 2018
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth; Kerr, Paul K. & Heitshusen, Valerie
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress (open access)

Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on maritime territorial and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) disputes in the East China (ECS) and South China Sea (SCS) involving China, with a focus on how these disputes may affect U.S. strategic and policy interests.
Date: May 19, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities--Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities--Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on China's naval modernization effort and its implications for U.S. Navy capabilities. The issue for Congress is how the U.S. Navy should respond to China's military modernization effort, particularly its naval modernization effort.
Date: May 31, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy LX(R) Amphibious Ship Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy LX(R) Amphibious Ship Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on maritime territorial and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) disputes in the East China (ECS) and South China Sea (SCS) involving China, with a focus on how these disputes may affect U.S. strategic and policy interests.
Date: May 31, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China’s Currency Policy (open access)

China’s Currency Policy

This report provides a brief summary of China's economic policy, and tactics the Chinese government uses to reduce inflation of Chinese currency.
Date: May 18, 2015
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (open access)

U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

This report discusses renewal of the peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and the People's Republic of China (PRC). The discussion in this report focuses on congressional roles in crafting and carrying out the agreement. Such agreements are subject to Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 as amended (AEA, P.L. 95-242, 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) and commonly are called "123 agreements.
Date: May 6, 2015
Creator: Holt, Mark & Nikitin, Mary Beth D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Maritime Territorial Disputes in East Asia: Issues for Congress (open access)

Maritime Territorial Disputes in East Asia: Issues for Congress

This report presents policy and oversight issues for Congress arising from maritime territorial disputes involving East Asia, East China Sea (ECS), and an additional dispute over whether China has a right under international law to regulate U.S. and other foreign military activities in its maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Date: May 14, 2014
Creator: Dolven, Ben; Manyin, Mark E. & Kan, Shirley A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Human Rights in China and U.S. Policy: Issues for the 113th Congress (open access)

Human Rights in China and U.S. Policy: Issues for the 113th Congress

This report examines human rights issues in the People's Republic of China (PRC), including ongoing rights abuses, legal reforms, and the development of civil society.
Date: May 6, 2013
Creator: Lum, Thomas
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-China Diplomacy Over Chinese Legal Advocate Chen Guangcheng (open access)

U.S.-China Diplomacy Over Chinese Legal Advocate Chen Guangcheng

The case of blind Chinese legal advocate Chen Guangcheng, who escaped from illegal house arrest in China's Shandong Province on April 20, 2012, and made his way to Beijing, the United States Embassy, and, ultimately, the United States, has generated strong congressional interest. This report begins by examining implications of the Chen case for the place of human rights in U.S.-China relations. It then discusses why Beijing may have been willing to negotiate with the United States at all over the fate of a Chinese citizen inside China. The report highlights the remaining issues in the case, details the understandings reached between the two governments, and then provides background on Chen Guangcheng and a list of his family and other associates in China who may be at risk. The report includes a map showing Chen's home district and Beijing, the city to which he escaped. It also includes a timeline of developments in the case from April 20, 2012, until May 19, 2012, based upon information available at the time of publication.
Date: May 29, 2012
Creator: Lawrence, Susan V. & Lum, Thomas
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China-U.S. Trade Issues (open access)

China-U.S. Trade Issues

This report discusses the U.S.-China economic relationship and China's rapid expansion as a global economic market, both with respect to the current global economic crisis. It also examines major U.S.-China trade issues and related legislation.
Date: May 21, 2012
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Understanding China's Political System (open access)

Understanding China's Political System

This report is designed to provide Congress with a perspective on the contemporary political system of China, the only Communist Party-led authoritarian state in the G-20 grouping of major economies. China's Communist Party dominates state and society in China, is committed to maintaining a permanent monopoly on power, and is intolerant of those who question its right to rule. The report opens with a brief overview of China's leading political institutions, followed by an introduction to distinct features of China's formal political. The second half of the report is devoted to detailed discussion of China's formal political structures. Also discussed are other political actors who are playing a role in influencing policy debates. The report concludes with a discussion of prospects for political reform.
Date: May 10, 2012
Creator: Lawrence, Susan V. & Martin, Michael F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues (open access)

China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues

This CRS Report, updated as warranted, discusses the security problem of China's role in weapons proliferation and issues related to the U.S. policy response since the mid- 1990s. China has taken some steps to mollify U.S. and other foreign concerns about its role in weapons proliferation. Nonetheless, supplies from China have aggravated trends that result in ambiguous technical aid, more indigenous capabilities, longer-range missiles, and secondary (retransferred) proliferation. According to unclassified intelligence reports submitted as required to Congress, China has been a "key supplier" of technology, particularly PRC entities providing nuclear and missile-related technology to Pakistan and missile-related technology to Iran.
Date: May 26, 2011
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress (open access)

U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress

This CRS report discusses policy issues regarding military-to-mliitary contacts with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and provides a record of contacts since 1993. The United States suspended military contacts with China and imposed sanctions on arms sales in response to the Tiananmen Crackdown in 1989. In 1993, the Clinton Administration began to re-engage the PRC leadership up to the highest level and including China's military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Renewed military exchanges with the PLA have not regained the closeness reached in the 1980s, when U.S.-PRC strategic cooperation against the Soviet Union included U.S. arms sales to China. Issues for Congress include whether the current Administration under President Bush has complied with legislation overseeing dealings with the PLA and has determined a program of contacts with the PLA that advances a prioritized list of U.S. security interests.
Date: May 10, 2011
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China-U.S. Trade Issues (open access)

China-U.S. Trade Issues

This report discusses the U.S.-China economic relationship and China's rapid expansion as a global economic market, both with respect to the current global economic crisis. It also examines major U.S.-China trade issues and related legislation.
Date: May 6, 2011
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities--Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities--Background and Issues for Congress

This report focuses on the potential implications of China's naval modernization for future required U.S. Navy capabilities. This report is based on unclassified open-source information, such as the annual Department of Defense (DOD) report to Congress on China's military power, and published reference sources such as Jane's Fighting Ships.
Date: May 29, 2009
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues (open access)

China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues

Using a variety of unclassified consultations and sources, this report discusses the national security problem of the People's Republic of China's (PRC) role in weapons proliferation and issues related to the U.S. policy response, including legislation, since the mid-1990s.
Date: May 26, 2009
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Guam: U.S. Defense Deployments (open access)

Guam: U.S. Defense Deployments

The United States military has been building up forces on the U.S. territory of Guam to increase deterrence and power projection for possible responses to crises and disasters, counter-terrorism, and contingencies in support of South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, or elsewhere in Asia. But the defense buildup on Guam is moderate. China has concerns about the defense buildup. Guam's role has increased with plans to withdraw some U.S. forces from Japan and South Korea. This report describes in brief detail the various cooperative efforts, including financial efforts, undertaken by the U.S. and the above nations.
Date: May 22, 2009
Creator: Kan, Shirley A. & Niksch, Larry A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Taiwan's Political Status: Historical Background and Ongoing Implications (open access)

Taiwan's Political Status: Historical Background and Ongoing Implications

This report, intended as a background overview, briefly summarizes U.S. political history with Taiwan and discusses the complications it has for current U.S. policy and for congressional actions.
Date: May 7, 2009
Creator: Dumbaugh, Kerry
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-China Counterterrorism Cooperation: Issues for U.S. Policy (open access)

U.S.-China Counterterrorism Cooperation: Issues for U.S. Policy

This report discusses the United States counterterrorism cooperation with China after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This effort raised short-term policy issues about how to elicit cooperation and how to address China's concerns about military action (Operation Enduring Freedom). Longer-term questions have concerned whether counterterrorism has strategically transformed bilateral relations and whether China's support has been valuable and not obtained at the expense of other U.S. interests.
Date: May 7, 2009
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
What's the Difference?--Comparing U.S. and Chinese Trade Data (open access)

What's the Difference?--Comparing U.S. and Chinese Trade Data

The size of the U.S. bilateral trade deficit with China has been and continues to be an important issue in bilateral trade relations. Some Members of Congress view the deficit as a sign of unfair economic policies in China, and have introduced legislation seeking to redress the perceived competitive disadvantage China's policies have created for U.S. exporters. This paper examines the differences in the trade data from the two nations.
Date: May 4, 2009
Creator: Martin, Michael F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China's Currency: Economic Issues and Options for U.S. Trade Policy (open access)

China's Currency: Economic Issues and Options for U.S. Trade Policy

This paper reviews the various economic issues raised by China's present currency policy, including: the economic concerns raised by the United States over China's currency policy and China's concerns over changing that policy; how China's fixed exchange rate regime works and the various economic studies that have attempted to determine China's real, or market, exchange rate; trends and factors in the U.S.-China trade imbalance; economic consequences of China's currency policy for both China and the United States; China's massive accumulation of foreign exchange reserves and purchases of U.S. federal debt instruments; and policy options on how the United States might induce China to reform its present currency policy, including current legislation introduced in Congress.
Date: May 22, 2008
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M. & Labonte, Marc
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China's Space Program: Options for U.S.-China Cooperation (open access)

China's Space Program: Options for U.S.-China Cooperation

China has a determined, yet still modest, program of civilian space activities planned for the next decade. The potential for U.S.-China cooperation in space -- an issue of interest to Congress -- has become more controversial since the January 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test. Some argue that Chinese capabilities now threaten U.S. space assets in low earth orbit. Others stress the need to expand dialogue with China. This report outlines recent activities and future plans in China's civilian space sector. It also discusses benefits and trade-offs of possible U.S.-China collaboration in space, as well as several options to improve space relations, including information exchange, policy dialogue, and joint activities.
Date: May 21, 2008
Creator: Logan, Jeffrey
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China's Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy (open access)

China's Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy

This report examines the importance to the U.S. economy of China's investment in U.S. securities, as well as U.S. concerns over the possibility that China might unload a large share of those holdings, the likelihood that this would occur, and the potential implications such action could have for the U.S. economy. The report concludes that a large sell-off of Chinese Treasury securities holdings could negatively affect the U.S. economy, at least in the short-run. As a result, such a move could diminish U.S. demand for Chinese products and thus could lower China's economic growth as well.
Date: May 19, 2008
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M. & Labonte, Marc
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Rising Energy Competition and Energy Security in Northeast Asia: Issues for U.S. Policy (open access)

Rising Energy Competition and Energy Security in Northeast Asia: Issues for U.S. Policy

This report analyzes how China, Japan, and South Korea's pursuits to bolster their energy security impacts U.S. interests. It also examines decisions being made by Asian states now that will significantly shape global affairs in the future, how these decisions might play out, and how Congress and the executive branch might play a role in those decisions.
Date: May 13, 2008
Creator: Chanlett-Avery, Emma
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library