Douglas H. Paal
{
"authors": [
"Douglas H. Paal"
],
"type": "legacyinthemedia",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "asia",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"programAffiliation": "AP",
"programs": [
"Asia"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"East Asia",
"China"
],
"topics": [
"Political Reform",
"Economy"
]
}REQUIRED IMAGE
Political Ramifications of China's Earthquake
Douglas Paal appeared on BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight to discuss the political ramifications of China’s massive earthquake—which saw the collapse of numerous buildings with substandard construction, prompting public outrage and calls for investigations of corruption.
Source: BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight

“It’s going to be a big question for the Chinese leadership, to what extent they let this go forth and show responsiveness to the people—and on the other hand, find that the corruption and allegations are so widespread and corrosive that it might become a threat to the regime. Finding a balance point is going to be a very tough challenge for them on such a highly emotional issue.”
About the Author
Distinguished Fellow, Asia Program
Paal previously served as vice chairman of JPMorgan Chase International and as unofficial U.S. representative to Taiwan as director of the American Institute in Taiwan.
- America’s Future in a Dynamic AsiaPaper
- U.S.-China Relations at the Forty-Year MarkQ&A
- +1
Douglas H. Paal, Tong Zhao, Chen Qi, …
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- The Other Global Crisis Stemming From the Strait of Hormuz’s BlockageCommentary
Even if the Iran war stops, restarting production and transport for fertilizers and their components could take weeks—at a crucial moment for planting.
Noah Gordon, Lucy Corthell
- The EU Needs a Third Way in IranCommentary
European reactions to the war in Iran have lost sight of wider political dynamics. The EU must position itself for the next phase of the crisis without giving up on its principles.
Richard Youngs
- Resetting Cyber Relations with the United StatesArticle
For years, the United States anchored global cyber diplomacy. As Washington rethinks its leadership role, the launch of the UN’s Cyber Global Mechanism may test how allies adjust their engagement.
Patryk Pawlak, Chris Painter
- China’s AI-Empowered Censorship: Strengths and LimitationsArticle
Censorship in China spans the public and private domains and is now enabled by powerful AI systems.
Nathan Law
- Why Are China and Russia Not Rushing to Help Iran?Commentary
Most of Moscow’s military resources are tied up in Ukraine, while Beijing’s foreign policy prioritizes economic ties and avoids direct conflict.
Alexander Gabuev, Temur Umarov