The Evolution of Understanding Chinese Politics

Recent advancements in methodologies have significantly enhanced the understanding of Chinese geopolitics, especially regarding Xi Jinping's leadership and the motivations behind China's actions. The use of technology such as satellite imagery, data scraping, and large language models has allowed researchers to gain insights into various aspects of Chinese society, including emerging technologies and public sentiment. Although there is impressive analytical capability now available, this progress comes with a trade-off; scholars and analysts have increasingly lost direct access to China, limiting fieldwork opportunities. The current state of analysis thus reflects a combination of technological prowess and a shortage of on-the-ground experience, raising questions about the effectiveness of policies shaped by this knowledge.