Over the past decade, Chinese think tanks have thrived with government backing and some independence, as retired officials joined, bringing expertise and connections. However, two recent corruption cases involving prominent think tanks have cast uncertainty over this model's future. Observers note that such ties could prove a double-edged sword.
During the past decade, Chinese think tanks have enjoyed the best of both worlds—government backing while having some room to operate outside it. Encouraged by the country's leadership to promote China's soft power, the sector has grown in influence as retired officials joined, bringing expertise, connections, and some freedom.
But two recent episodes involving once high-profile think tanks raise uncertainty over whether that model can continue. In both cases, retired officials at those institutes have come under a cloud in the national anti-corruption campaign, suggesting that these connections could turn out to be a double-edged sword, according to observers.
Keywords highlight institutions such as the Taihe Institute and the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, with figures like Bi Jingquan and Gao Yichen involved. These events tie into the anti-corruption campaign under Xi Jinping, driven by bodies like the State Council and the National Development and Reform Commission.
Entities like the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences are part of the broader think tank landscape. Commentators including Alfred Wu and Einar Tangen have addressed this trend, with reports from Caixin Magazine providing context.
This unfolds against Xi Jinping's New Year's speech urging growth and vowing 'unstoppable' Taiwan reunification, though unrelated to the think tank cases directly.