Chinese Power Research Articles

Distribution, chemical speciation, and potential ecological risks of hazardous trace elements in solid wastes: a case study of an ultra-low emission coal-fired power plant in Tongling, Anhui Province.

The application of ultra-low emission (ULE) technology in Chinese coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) had reduced the emissions of particulate matter but increased the kind of solid wastes, which raising public and scientific concerns over potential risks of hazardous trace elements (HTEs) in solid wastes. This study investigated the concentration, chemical speciation, and potential ecological risk of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb in bottom ash, fly ash, desulfurization gypsum, and wet sludge from a typical ULE-CFPPs. The results showed that the highest concentrations of As, Cr, Hg, and Pb were found in wet sludge, while Cd had the highest concentration in fly ash. As, Cd, and Hg in fly ash, as well as As, Cr, Hg, and Pb in wet sludge, exceeded soil risk screening values. While Cd, Cr, and Pb were predominantly in the residual fraction, As was mainly in the Fe-Mn oxidation state, indicating greater environmental mobility. The modified risk assessment code results show that As, Cr, and Pb in all solid wastes were classified as low-risk level, whereas Cd in fly ash and Hg in desulfurization gypsum were at moderate level, and these two HTEs in wet sludge even arrived very high-risk. The total risk assessment code revealed wet sludge posed very high risk, with fly ash and desulfurization gypsum categorized as moderate risk, and bottom ash exhibiting low risk. This study provides valuable insights into the ecological risk assessment of HTEs in solid wastes from ULE-CFPPs and contributes to the scientific disposal of solid wastes.

A game study on the evolution of carbon emission reduction behavior of Chinese power enterprises

Carbon verification agencies and power enterprises play a crucial role in the process of reducing carbon emissions. Under government regulation, this paper explores the low-carbon behavior of carbon verification agencies and power enterprises, considering factors such as rewards and penalties, reputation, collusion, and costs. We first constructed a carbon emission reduction game model using evolutionary game theory and replicated dynamic equations to analyze the interactions between carbon verification agencies and power enterprises under government oversight. Subsequently, this study used theoretical derivation and numerical simulation to investigate the model’s evolution and the influence of various factors on the system’s evolution results. It is found that, firstly, the carbon emission reduction game between the carbon verification agency and the power enterprises will eventually be stabilized in two states (authentic verification and carbon emission reduction) and (fraudulent verification and no carbon emission reduction), and the specific stabilization of which state is closely related to the selection of the initial values of the parameters. Secondly, within a certain range, increasing the government’s rewards and penalties, increasing the reputation loss of carbon verification agencies and power enterprises, reducing the benefits of collusion between two parties, reducing the cost of low carbon disclosure and emission reduction of power enterprises will help the construction of a cooperative pattern of low carbon emission reduction and authentic supervision of carbon verification agencies.

Synergistic effects of air pollutants and CO2 at Chinese thermal power plants based on real-monitored data.

Synergistic effects of air pollutants and CO2 at Chinese thermal power plants based on real-monitored data.

Optimizing the local-scale turbulence-induced dispersion of LAPMOD at a Chinese nuclear power plant with heterogeneous topography and irregular building layouts

Optimizing the local-scale turbulence-induced dispersion of LAPMOD at a Chinese nuclear power plant with heterogeneous topography and irregular building layouts

In the shadow of the dragon: Chinese soft power in central Asia

Abstract This article employs the theoretical framework of soft power to examine the complex and often contradictory dynamics of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in central Asia. It addresses two interrelated puzzles: first, why China's considerable economic investments and political influence have failed to translate into a corresponding increase in soft power across the region; and second, why responses to the BRI vary so markedly among central Asian states. While existing scholarship has largely emphasized concerns about debt and economic dependency, we argue that these explanations are insufficient on their own. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach that includes public opinion surveys, foreign-language media analysis, protest data, legislative changes and geospatial ethnic demography, we demonstrate that historically rooted territorial disputes and China's treatment of co-ethnic populations, particularly ethnic Kazakhs and Kyrgyz, play a critical role in undermining China's attractiveness. Contrary to China's intent to cultivate influence through a bundled strategy of economic incentives and cultural diplomacy, our findings reveal that such efforts often backfire, generating popular suspicion and nationalist backlash. The study contributes to the broader literature on soft power by emphasizing the limits of state-directed attraction in contexts marked by historical grievances and ethnonational sensitivities.

Dominant Factor Identification and Predictive Modeling of PM2.5-Bound Sulfate from Chinese Coal-Fired Power Plants

Dominant Factor Identification and Predictive Modeling of PM_2.5-Bound Sulfate from Chinese Coal-Fired Power Plants

Features and Problems of the Chinese Electric Power System

Features and Problems of the Chinese Electric Power System

Assessing care-based power-assertive parenting in Chinese families: Parent and child measures.

Researchers have been interested in exploring the distinguishing features of Chinese parenting and its role in child development, yet research in this area has been hindered by the limited availability of appropriate measures. Based on a perspective focusing on care-based power-assertive parenting (CBPAP) that explicitly emphasizes two integrated aspects of Chinese parenting, care and power assertion, parent- and child-report measures of CBPAP were developed and examined in the present study in samples with a rural background in China. Mothers of kindergarten children (N = 1,214; Mage = 54 months, 515 boys) completed the parent-report measure of CBPAP, and students in fourth grade in elementary schools (N = 714; Mage = 10 years, 385 boys) completed the child-report measure for maternal CBPAP and paternal CBPAP. Data on children's adjustment were collected from multiple sources. The results indicated a satisfactory fit of a one-factor model and internal consistency in the measures. Measurement invariance tests indicated the equivalence of the factor structure of the measures across gender and grades. Moreover, the CBPAP measures were positively associated with children's social and academic competence and negatively associated with children's behavioral problems. The study provided evidence for the psychometric properties of the measures and their meaningful relations with children's social, behavioral, and school adjustment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

The Façade of Unity: Genia Nobel, Johannes König, and GDR Propaganda about China, 1949–57

This article focuses on Genia Nobel (1912–99) and Johannes König (1903–66), two of the foremost China experts in the GDR (German Democratic Republic) in the 1950s. As a case study of the construction of international socialist relations, this article examines how they imported knowledge about China while navigating Stalinist Cold War politics within East Germany's ruling party, the SED (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands). Through a close examination of Nobel and König's publications in this period, this article argues that much East German propaganda about China was actually Chinese propaganda repurposed in East Germany. Reprinting, paraphrasing, and translating Chinese propaganda was a safe way to harmonize new GDR and PRC (People's Republic of China) political values, facilitating other kinds of exchange. This article reveals the mechanics behind the façade of unity that was essential to building foreign relationships and assuring the GDR's survival. It also suggests that this unity was a co-creation. SED cadres’ enthusiastic adoption of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) propaganda is evidence of Chinese soft power operating in the Eastern Bloc: the PRC successfully deployed cultural assets to promote its political values through powers of attraction, advancing its interests abroad.

Minority Status after Change of Government in an Ethnic Democracy: The Case of Ethnic Chinese Malaysians

Abstract In the 2018 general election, many Chinese voted emphatically for a change of government as they believed that it would lead to the emergence of a more equal Malaysia. Nevertheless, the change of government in 2018 did not alter the status of Malaysia as an ethnic democracy which institutionalizes Malay dominance and undermines Chinese political power. There have still been no significant improvements in the sociopolitical position of Chinese Malaysians and the political actions of Chinese Malaysian politicians remain constrained. A qualitative case study approach, together with Smooha’s concept of ethnic democracy and VanderStouwe’s concept of constrained agency as the conceptual framework, is adopted in this study. The reduced power of Lim Guan Eng as Minister of Finance, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) regime’s annual financial allocation for independent Chinese secondary schools (ICSS s) and its refusal to recognize the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), as well as the unchanged ethnic quota for the public matriculation program, are chosen as cases for this study.

Construction and control of cartographic imaginaries: Kashmir and Taiwan

Abstract Cartographic representations of Kashmir and Taiwan act as sites upon which Indian and Chinese state power is exercised to govern the logics of visibility and legibility for these two regions. Despite the differences in regime type, these major non-Western powers represent Kashmir and Taiwan respectively as internal and integral parts of their sovereign territorial form. In this article, we consider two cases that have not hitherto been studied together in International Relations (IR), putting forward ‘cartographic imaginaries’ as a framework to reveal systematic analytical dynamics in relation to representation, nationalism, and diaspora. Cartographic imaginaries are sites of productive power that evoke certain emotions and carry a set of ideas relating to territory that can be naturalised through repeated exposure. We present in-depth investigations providing a range of examples to trace Indian and Chinese states’ efforts, both domestic and international, involved in constructing and controlling cartographic imaginaries of Kashmir and Taiwan. Our analysis relates to significant current concerns in IR about critiques of imperial cartography, impact of rising powers on global order dynamics, and transnational governance of diaspora. Our framework thus demonstrates the connexions between affect, visuality, and state power and offers empirical insights into non-Western projections of imperialism on a global scale.

CPEC in the digital age: China’s success in hard and soft power in Pakistan

China’s rising presence in global media is due to its successful implementation of related projects in member-states in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Through consistent and positive media coverage, many within the BRI member-states have started to believe that, unlike the West, China backs local economies by helping build infrastructure, providing jobs and offering regional connectivity, subsequently increasing Chinese global soft power. By highlighting Pakistan–China collaboration in the fields of digital infrastructure and digital diplomacy for the promotion of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), this paper aims to suggest that both China and Pakistan remain committed to presenting the CPEC story well to the local and global audience in the new digital ecosystem.

Corporate governance and corporate social responsibility disclosures: fresh evidence from China

Purpose This study aims to investigate how corporate governance (CG) attributes and the the chief executive officer’s (CEO’s) political connections impacts on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in the Chinese power and chemical industry. Design/methodology/approach The study uses data from 265 Chinese power and chemical companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges between 2013 and 2016 (for a total of 892 firm-year observations). The data were analysed using multiple regression techniques. The authors addressed the endogeneity issues between CG attributes and CSR disclosures and checked the robustness of our results in several ways, such as a fixed effect regression. Findings This study finds a significant positive relationship between internal control and CSR disclosures. In addition, the results indicate that CG attributes such as ownership, board independence and Audit committee have a significant positive impact on CSR disclosures. However, contradicting the literature, no significant relationship was found between the CEO’s political connections and CSR disclosures in the Chinese power and chemical industry context. Research limitations/implications The findings of the study provide valuable insights for practitioners, regulators and policymakers on encouraging companies to enhance CSR disclosure by improving the quality of internal control and CG attributes in China’s heavily polluting industries. The findings may be useful for the users, regulators from the countries that share similar contextual and cultural values. Originality/value This study is among the few that examine CSR disclosure using a large sample within China’s power and chemical industries–sectors widely recognised as major environmental polluters and of growing concern to both the Chinese government and the international community.

Comparing discursive reproductions of national military image between China and the United States

National image building, a crucial element of Chinese soft power, has attracted growing scholarly attention. This study explores the discursive construction of one aspect of China’s national image—that of its military—and compares China’s self-projected images with those perceived by the United States. By employing a triangulated approach that integrates critical discourse analysis (CDA), a discourse-historical approach (DHA), three-dimensional typology, and corpus linguistics (CL), this paper examines the self-presentation and othering strategies employed by China and contrasts them with those used by the U.S. The findings highlight several key points: (1) While China presents a positive self-image, it often does so in a subtle and implicit manner; (2) Although negative depictions of other are commonly employed to construct a favourable self, China also elevates others as a superior group to be referenced, in an effort to legitimise its military actions; and (3) many military images promoted by China are countered by the U.S. The analysis identifies ideological systems, communicative purposes, and social psychology as key factors influencing the adoption of these discursive strategies.

A Systemetic Review of TikTok, WeChat, and LINE: The Impact of Social Media on Sino-Thai Cross-Cultural Engagement

Digital platforms play a crucial role in facilitating cross-cultural interactions in Asia. However, their dual function as both connective technologies and political instruments is not well understood in specific regional contexts. This study examines the complex dynamics of cultural exchange facilitated by these platforms. It focuses on how TikTok, WeChat, and LINE uniquely influence Sino-Thai cultural engagement, analyzing their roles as mediums for cultural transmission and their implications for digital sovereignty and transnational connectivity. A systematic review guided by the PRISMA framework was conducted to analyze interdisciplinary literature published between 2015 and 2024. This review specifically examined the roles of platforms such as TikTok, WeChat, and LINE in promoting hybrid practices, acting as instruments of Chinese soft power, maintaining diasporic kinship networks, and serving as algorithmic filters. The findings reveal an asymmetric digital ecosystem. Chinese cultural dominance is evident through WeChat’s regulated infrastructure and TikTok’s engagement-driven recommendation systems. In contrast, LINE’s localized integration in Thailand exemplifies a form of vernacular resistance through creative adaptations of user-generated content. These dynamics underscore the intricate relationships between algorithmic design, user agency, and geopolitical competition. The study presents an innovative framework for understanding platform-mediated transnationalism. We recommend that policymakers develop robust digital literacy programs to empower users in navigating platform biases and advocate for greater transparency in content governance within cross-border digital spaces.

Academic diplomacy and policy borrowing: media content analysis of Chinese soft power in Morocco

China’s Soft power in Africa has garnered increasing attention since the establishment of Confucius Institutes (CIs) in African countries. This study examines the framing and interpretation of the discourse on Chinese soft power in Moroccan online media in the context of policy borrowing and policy lending. Content analysis was performed on media reports published in three French outlets regarding the Belt and Road Initiative, Programme for International Student Assessment, CIs and related research items over the period of 2010–2019. In total, 153 online news articles were analysed, which yielded interesting results about how media outlets are calling for borrowing policy from China as a reference country. The three most common themes in the discourse behind policy borrowing were as follows: (i) human capital soft power; (ii) university ranking; and (iii) lessons learnt from the Chinese educational system.

Perspectives on Chinese Soft Power by Kazakh Repatriates from China

ABSTRACT This article explores the perception of China among Kazakhs who have first-hand experience of living in China before migrating to Kazakhstan. Through interviews with ethnic Kazakhs who were born and grew up in China before moving to their ‘homeland’, the article reveals what these Kazakh repatriates think about China. By doing so the article offers new insights into the resonance of Chinese soft power in Kazakhstan. The repatriates were positive about Kazakhstan’s economic cooperation with China, but they showed a lack of interest in Chinese culture and remained silent on the Xinjiang issue. This challenges the assumption that anti-Chinese sentiments are prevalent in Kazakhstan.

Australia's U‐Turn on Chinese Investment: A Neoclassical Realist Perspective

The late 2010s saw a rise in restrictive foreign direct investment (FDI) policies, especially in developed nations. This research uses Australia's 2018 regulation as a case study to explore the political drivers behind the trend. Drawing on a neoclassical realist (NCR) framework, it focuses on the threat perceptions of the foreign policy executive (FPEs) and analyzes how concerns about Chinese sharp power influenced Australia's significant policy shift on FDI. The study argues that espionage‐related ideological challenges and strengthened ties between political leaders and security agencies were pivotal in driving these changes. It also explores the Treasury's evolving stance on balancing the economic benefits of FDI with national security concerns. This article sheds light on the intelligence agency's role in forming a more security‐oriented FDI policy.

China’s Soft Power in Thailand: Media and Public Diplomacy Perspectives

In the context of globalization, soft power has emerged as a crucial component of a nation’s comprehensive strength, with external communication serving as a vital conduit for its enhancement. As a strategically important neighbor sharing extensive cultural, economic, and political ties with China, Thailand presents a significant case study for analyzing soft power dynamics. Examining China’s soft power projection in Thailand through the lens of external communication holds particular relevance for strengthening bilateral cooperation, expanding regional leadership, and cultivating a constructive international image. However, current efforts to enhance Chinese soft power in the Thai context face multifaceted challenges. This study conducts a systematic analysis of these obstacles while proposing evidence-based strategies, aiming to contribute both theoretical frameworks and actionable recommendations for optimizing China’s soft power deployment in Thailand.

Exploring regional impacts of Chinese power sector transition based on modeling to generate alternatives

Exploring regional impacts of Chinese power sector transition based on modeling to generate alternatives