Contemporary Chinese Political Economy and Strategic Relations

Contemporary Chinese Political Economy and Strategic Relations: An International Journal (CCPS) Special Issue

Theme: China’s Strategic Relations and Political Economy amidst the US-Israel War on Iran: Implications for Cross-Strait Stability and Global Conflict Mediation

Overview: The military escalations involving the United States, Israel, and Iran that started in early 2026 have fundamentally tested the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) “Global Governance Initiative”. As the primary economic partner to Iran and the world’s largest crude oil importer, Beijing’s response to this crisis is not merely a regional diplomatic endeavour but a strategic rehearsal for its own core interests, most significantly within the Taiwan Strait.

This special issue of Contemporary Chinese Political Economy and Strategic Relations seeks to examine how China utilises “pragmatic neutrality” and “strategic agency” to navigate this high-stakes conflict. We aim to explore the interconnectedness of China’s Middle Eastern policy with its cross-Strait strategy, investigating how the disruption of global energy flows and the observation of Western military doctrine in the Gulf influence Beijing’s political economy and the ongoing “intelligentisation” of the People's Liberation Army.

Key Areas of Study

We invite original research articles and theoretical analyses on the following thematic study areas:

1. Cross-Strait Implications and Global Overstretch
*Strategic Diversion: Analysing whether US and Israeli military involvement in Iran creates a “strategic window” or “security vacuum” that influences China’s posture towards Taiwan.
*The “Malacca Dilemma” and Energy Stockpiling: Lessons learned from the 2026 Strait of Hormuz blockade and their application to a potential maritime blockade of Taiwan.

2. China’s Evolving Role in Conflict Mediation
*Multilateralism under Stress: The role of BRICS (BRICS+) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in navigating the conflict and whether these institutions offer a viable ‘sanction-proof’ economic ecosystem.
*The Limits of Non-Interference: Examining the tension between China’s “Non-Interference Policy” and its provision of dual-use technologies (e.g. geospatial intelligence and radar systems) to regional actors.

3. Political Economy and Financial Sovereignty
*Renminbi Internationalisation: The expansion of the Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) as a direct response to US sanctions on Chinese refineries.
*Corporate Strategic Agency: How Chinese state-owned enterprises adapt to “rolling shocks” in energy markets.
*Energy-Security Trade-offs: The impact of volatile oil prices on the implementation of China’s economy and production targets.

4. The Intelligence and Narrative Domain
*Geospatial Intelligence as Diplomacy: The political economy of Chinese satellite firms and their role in providing “situational awareness” to actors within the conflict zone.
*Soft Power versus Sharp Power: Comparing China’s narrative of “peaceful development” in the Middle East with its hardening rhetoric regarding “sovereignty and territorial integrity” in the Asia-Pacific.

Submission Guidelines

Contributors must adhere to the CCPS style guidelines to ensure a seamless review process: https://icaps.nsysu.edu.tw/p/405-1131-113257,c13594.php?Lang=en

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline (Initial Editorial Review): 1 August 2026
Release of the Abstract Review Results: 15 September 2026
Full Paper Submission Deadline: 1 November 2026
Expected Publication: Spring 2027

Notes from the Editor: CCPS does not charge authors for article submission, reviewing, and publication. 
Manuscripts for consideration may be sent to: The Editor, Contemporary Chinese Political Economy and Strategic Relations (emails: reymund.flores@wvsu.edu.ph ; ccps.editor@gmail.com)

For further details, please click through this link: https://icaps.nsysu.edu.tw/p/405-1131-113257,c13594.php?Lang=en