Glossary
Ai Weiwei
A contemporary Chinese artist and activist known for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government and his art installations that often address human rights issues.
Example:
Ai Weiwei uses his provocative art to challenge government censorship and advocate for greater freedom of expression in China.
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
A global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 to invest in nearly 150 countries and international organizations.
Example:
Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China aims to enhance its economic influence by funding infrastructure projects across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Chen Guangcheng
A blind Chinese civil rights activist and self-taught lawyer who exposed forced abortions and sterilizations under China's one-child policy, later fleeing to the US.
Example:
Chen Guangcheng's dramatic escape from house arrest and subsequent asylum in the US highlighted the risks faced by human rights defenders in China.
Cyber Espionage
The act of using computer networks to gain illicit access to confidential information, often by state-sponsored actors, for political, economic, or military advantage.
Example:
Allegations of Cyber Espionage against foreign governments have led to increased cybersecurity measures and international agreements.
East China Sea
A marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean, a site of territorial disputes between China and Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.
Example:
Naval patrols have increased in the East China Sea due to ongoing tensions regarding the disputed Senkaku Islands.
Gao Zhisheng
A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer known for defending Falun Gong practitioners and other vulnerable groups, who has faced severe persecution and torture.
Example:
The disappearance and alleged torture of lawyer Gao Zhisheng underscore the dangers faced by those who challenge the state in China.
Human Rights Abuses
Violations of the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled, often perpetrated by state actors against their own citizens.
Example:
International organizations have frequently condemned China for alleged Human Rights Abuses, particularly concerning ethnic minorities and political dissidents.
Intellectual Property (IP) Theft
The unauthorized use or reproduction of creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce.
Example:
Many US companies have raised concerns about Intellectual Property Theft in China, fearing their patented technologies could be copied without permission.
Liu Xiaobo
A prominent Chinese literary critic, writer, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was imprisoned by the Chinese government.
Example:
Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China, even while he was incarcerated.
Phase One Trade Deal
An agreement signed in January 2020 between the US and China, aiming to de-escalate trade tensions by addressing some US concerns and committing China to purchase more American goods.
Example:
Despite the signing of the Phase One Trade Deal, many underlying economic tensions between the two superpowers remained unresolved.
Protectionism
The economic policy of restricting imports from other countries through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, import quotas, and a variety of other government regulations.
Example:
China accused the US of Protectionism when it implemented policies designed to favor American businesses over foreign competitors.
Re-education Camps
Detention facilities in Xinjiang, China, where large numbers of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities are reportedly held for political indoctrination and forced labor.
Example:
Eyewitness accounts from former detainees describe harsh conditions and forced political indoctrination within the Re-education Camps.
Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands
A group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, claimed by both Japan (Senkaku) and China (Diaoyu), rich in potential natural resources.
Example:
The sovereignty over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands remains a significant point of contention in Sino-Japanese relations.
South China Sea
A marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean, a major site of territorial disputes involving China and several Southeast Asian countries, known for its strategic shipping lanes and potential oil and gas reserves.
Example:
China's construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea has been met with international criticism and concerns about militarization.
Tariffs
Taxes imposed by a government on imported or exported goods and services, often used to protect domestic industries or as a tool in trade disputes.
Example:
When the US imposed Tariffs on Chinese steel, China retaliated with tariffs on American agricultural products.
Territorial Disputes
Conflicts between states over the ownership or control of land or maritime areas, often driven by claims to resources or strategic importance.
Example:
The Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea have led to increased military presence and strained diplomatic relations among claimant nations.
Trade Disputes
Disagreements between countries, primarily the US and China, over trade practices such as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers, and the imposition of tariffs.
Example:
The ongoing Trade Disputes between the US and China have led to increased tariffs on imported goods, impacting global supply chains.
Uighurs
A Turkic-speaking Muslim ethnic group native to the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in Northwest China.
Example:
The plight of the Uighurs in China's 're-education camps' has become a major human rights issue on the global stage.
Xinjiang Province
An autonomous region in northwest China, home to a large population of ethnic Uighurs, and a focal point of international human rights concerns.
Example:
Reports of mass detentions and forced labor in Xinjiang Province have drawn widespread international condemnation.