Mark Parker Young
@markparkeryoung.bsky.social
Principal analyst at Google's Threat Intelligence Group. Former Deputy National Intelligence Officer for East Asia and senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council. Views my own.
https://markparkeryoung.net
https://markparkeryoung.net
Pinned
A Central Military Commission Built For War - Against The PLA
Political control at the expense of operational capabilities
markparkeryoung.substack.com
Xi's military purges and reorganizations have reinforced his control over the PLA at the expense of its operational capabilities. I wrote about the new Central Military Commission and what it indicates about Xi's priorities and willingness to use force:
markparkeryoung.substack.com/p/a-central-...
markparkeryoung.substack.com/p/a-central-...
Xi's military purges and reorganizations have reinforced his control over the PLA at the expense of its operational capabilities. I wrote about the new Central Military Commission and what it indicates about Xi's priorities and willingness to use force:
markparkeryoung.substack.com/p/a-central-...
markparkeryoung.substack.com/p/a-central-...
A Central Military Commission Built For War - Against The PLA
Political control at the expense of operational capabilities
markparkeryoung.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Xi's military purges and reorganizations have reinforced his control over the PLA at the expense of its operational capabilities. I wrote about the new Central Military Commission and what it indicates about Xi's priorities and willingness to use force:
markparkeryoung.substack.com/p/a-central-...
markparkeryoung.substack.com/p/a-central-...
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
Delighted that Joseph Torigian (@josephtorigian.bsky.social) will be joining us in Glasgow for
our Scottish Centre for China Research seminar series.
Join us! Wed 8 Oct 4pm UK time
To join online register via link at:
www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...
our Scottish Centre for China Research seminar series.
Join us! Wed 8 Oct 4pm UK time
To join online register via link at:
www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...
The Party's Interests Come First: The Life of Xi Zhongxun, Father of Xi Jinping
Seminar by Dr Joseph Torigian, American University in Washington & University of Michigan, 8 October 2025
www.gla.ac.uk
October 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Delighted that Joseph Torigian (@josephtorigian.bsky.social) will be joining us in Glasgow for
our Scottish Centre for China Research seminar series.
Join us! Wed 8 Oct 4pm UK time
To join online register via link at:
www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...
our Scottish Centre for China Research seminar series.
Join us! Wed 8 Oct 4pm UK time
To join online register via link at:
www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...
It's a testament to the intensity of recent PLA purges that another wave came and went with little attention from English-langauge media, but the latest moves show the depth of disarray engulfing the high command. My take on what the latest moves mean:
markparkeryoung.net/posts/fresh-...
markparkeryoung.net/posts/fresh-...
⭐️ Another Round of Purges Exposes Political Upheaval in PLA
The damage spreads
markparkeryoung.net
September 23, 2025 at 11:22 AM
It's a testament to the intensity of recent PLA purges that another wave came and went with little attention from English-langauge media, but the latest moves show the depth of disarray engulfing the high command. My take on what the latest moves mean:
markparkeryoung.net/posts/fresh-...
markparkeryoung.net/posts/fresh-...
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
Hello everyone, I am now also on Substack. Bit of an experiment for me, but I suspect people who follow me might like that format better: substack.com/@dakekang
Dake Kang | Substack
Investigative journalist in Beijing
substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Hello everyone, I am now also on Substack. Bit of an experiment for me, but I suspect people who follow me might like that format better: substack.com/@dakekang
@jonathonpsine.bsky.social has written an absolutely phenomenal review of Dan Wang's "Breakneck." This is one of my favorite single essays about China today.
www.cogitations.co/p/litigation...
www.cogitations.co/p/litigation...
Litigation Nation, Engineering Empire
A review of Dan Wang's new book Breakneck
www.cogitations.co
September 1, 2025 at 12:07 AM
@jonathonpsine.bsky.social has written an absolutely phenomenal review of Dan Wang's "Breakneck." This is one of my favorite single essays about China today.
www.cogitations.co/p/litigation...
www.cogitations.co/p/litigation...
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
Fun to work with Jon Czin on this for Foreign Affairs:
"The moves demonstrate his continued dissatisfaction with the PLA’s high command and can be seen as part of an ongoing process of achieving his larger goals of bending the military to his will."
x.com/BrookingsFP/...
"The moves demonstrate his continued dissatisfaction with the PLA’s high command and can be seen as part of an ongoing process of achieving his larger goals of bending the military to his will."
x.com/BrookingsFP/...
Brookings Foreign Policy on X: ""Xi is obsessed with ensuring that the PLA’s men would resist if need be—but he is still not confident they would." In @ForeignAffairs, Brookings experts @jonczin & @JohnCulver689 examine Xi's approach to the PLA and his continued grip on the military: https://t.co/YAilFOn169" / X
"Xi is obsessed with ensuring that the PLA’s men would resist if need be—but he is still not confident they would." In @ForeignAffairs, Brookings experts @jonczin & @JohnCulver689 examine Xi's approach to the PLA and his continued grip on the military: https://t.co/YAilFOn169
x.com
August 18, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Fun to work with Jon Czin on this for Foreign Affairs:
"The moves demonstrate his continued dissatisfaction with the PLA’s high command and can be seen as part of an ongoing process of achieving his larger goals of bending the military to his will."
x.com/BrookingsFP/...
"The moves demonstrate his continued dissatisfaction with the PLA’s high command and can be seen as part of an ongoing process of achieving his larger goals of bending the military to his will."
x.com/BrookingsFP/...
This two part interview about Xi Zhongxun is a fantastic vantage point on elite politics in China. One point by Joseph that is as true today as ever:
"...how far a purge goes, who’s included in the purge, [and] how the purge is characterized, is an art form that is shaped by a myriad of different
"...how far a purge goes, who’s included in the purge, [and] how the purge is characterized, is an art form that is shaped by a myriad of different
New: the second part of my ChinaTalk conversation with @jordanschneider.bsky.social and @jonathonpsine.bsky.social about my biography of Xi Zhongxun, father of Xi Jinping
www.chinatalk.media/p/xi-zhongxu...
www.chinatalk.media/p/xi-zhongxu...
Xi Zhongxun’s Second Act
Power, Purges, and the Education of Xi Jinping
www.chinatalk.media
July 26, 2025 at 3:51 AM
This two part interview about Xi Zhongxun is a fantastic vantage point on elite politics in China. One point by Joseph that is as true today as ever:
"...how far a purge goes, who’s included in the purge, [and] how the purge is characterized, is an art form that is shaped by a myriad of different
"...how far a purge goes, who’s included in the purge, [and] how the purge is characterized, is an art form that is shaped by a myriad of different
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
Facing U.S. tariffs, China’s exports to the U.S. are down—while exports to Southeast Asia are up. Is that trade diversion and potential transshipment? My estimate: at most 34% of the increased PRC exports to SE Asia in Q2 could reflect trade diverted from the United States.
July 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Facing U.S. tariffs, China’s exports to the U.S. are down—while exports to Southeast Asia are up. Is that trade diversion and potential transshipment? My estimate: at most 34% of the increased PRC exports to SE Asia in Q2 could reflect trade diverted from the United States.
I was going to write something about why certain types of "Xi Jinping is facing pushback" rumors are fundamentally flawed, but it's basically covered in the "faulty factionalism" section of this essay from a couple years ago:
asiasociety.org/policy-insti...
asiasociety.org/policy-insti...
2022, Xi Jinping’s Annus Horribilis: Or is it?
ASPI's Center for China Analysis Senior Fellow Christopher Johnson writes about Xi Jinping's challenges in 2022 and how he is still predicted to continue as China's top leader after the 20th Party Con...
asiasociety.org
July 5, 2025 at 11:17 PM
I was going to write something about why certain types of "Xi Jinping is facing pushback" rumors are fundamentally flawed, but it's basically covered in the "faulty factionalism" section of this essay from a couple years ago:
asiasociety.org/policy-insti...
asiasociety.org/policy-insti...
China's military high command is in the midst of extraordinary upheaval, and Xi Jinping has purged half the uniformed members of the Central Military Commission little more than two years after choosing them. My deep dive on why it's happening and what it means:
markparkeryoung.net/posts/turmoi...
markparkeryoung.net/posts/turmoi...
April 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
China's military high command is in the midst of extraordinary upheaval, and Xi Jinping has purged half the uniformed members of the Central Military Commission little more than two years after choosing them. My deep dive on why it's happening and what it means:
markparkeryoung.net/posts/turmoi...
markparkeryoung.net/posts/turmoi...
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
I would interpret the US tariff exemptions primarily as an attempt to mitigate the impact on electronics and consumers more than as a signal of a US-China deal. The exempted categories cover about 22% of US imports from China. content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd...
April 12, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I would interpret the US tariff exemptions primarily as an attempt to mitigate the impact on electronics and consumers more than as a signal of a US-China deal. The exempted categories cover about 22% of US imports from China. content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd...
This is an interesting account of how Volt Typhoon came up in a bilateral cyber dialog. I would be wary of assuming that Wang's comments here reflected a high level decision in Beijing to signal Washington.
I'm a bit skeptical because Beijing probably did not view
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
I'm a bit skeptical because Beijing probably did not view
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Exclusive | In Secret Meeting, China Acknowledged Role in U.S. Infrastructure Hacks
A senior Chinese official linked intrusions to escalating U.S. support for Taiwan.
www.wsj.com
April 11, 2025 at 4:30 AM
This is an interesting account of how Volt Typhoon came up in a bilateral cyber dialog. I would be wary of assuming that Wang's comments here reflected a high level decision in Beijing to signal Washington.
I'm a bit skeptical because Beijing probably did not view
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
I'm a bit skeptical because Beijing probably did not view
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
Was getting a spike in traffic on the other site for this simple tool, so reposting here. In case you have a need for maps like these...
www.mapspam.net/MetOrtho.html
www.mapspam.net/MetOrtho.html
April 5, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Was getting a spike in traffic on the other site for this simple tool, so reposting here. In case you have a need for maps like these...
www.mapspam.net/MetOrtho.html
www.mapspam.net/MetOrtho.html
Excellent indictment of science reporting at South China Morning Post by @zichen.bsky.social. My approach is to read SCMP reporting on Chinese politics, even given the severe constraints on it, but disregard all science reports, including on cybersecurity.
www.pekingnology.com/p/some-troub...
www.pekingnology.com/p/some-troub...
Some Troubled Science Reporting at South China Morning Post
A review of the SCMP's recent cable-cutting blockbuster and 8 other science stories in the past year.
www.pekingnology.com
April 5, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Excellent indictment of science reporting at South China Morning Post by @zichen.bsky.social. My approach is to read SCMP reporting on Chinese politics, even given the severe constraints on it, but disregard all science reports, including on cybersecurity.
www.pekingnology.com/p/some-troub...
www.pekingnology.com/p/some-troub...
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
Which US industries are most exposed to the China market? Looking at US majority-owned foreign affiliates, the answer is wholesale trade, computers & electronics, chemicals & pharma, autos, and semiconductors. This could matter for US-China talks and potential PRC retaliation to US tariffs.
March 30, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Which US industries are most exposed to the China market? Looking at US majority-owned foreign affiliates, the answer is wholesale trade, computers & electronics, chemicals & pharma, autos, and semiconductors. This could matter for US-China talks and potential PRC retaliation to US tariffs.
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
Taiwan is nervous. With good reason. Jude Blanchette and I discuss in our new RAND Commentary. www.rand.org/pubs/comment...
March 26, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Taiwan is nervous. With good reason. Jude Blanchette and I discuss in our new RAND Commentary. www.rand.org/pubs/comment...
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
Han Dynasty and Roman Empire. We like to say "all roads lead to Rome" but it is much more accurate to say "all roads lead to Chang'an."
Han Dynasty road network was radial, whereas the Roman road network was mesh-like.
Han Dynasty road network was radial, whereas the Roman road network was mesh-like.
March 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Han Dynasty and Roman Empire. We like to say "all roads lead to Rome" but it is much more accurate to say "all roads lead to Chang'an."
Han Dynasty road network was radial, whereas the Roman road network was mesh-like.
Han Dynasty road network was radial, whereas the Roman road network was mesh-like.
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
Hundreds of gigabytes of data from an unsecured server expose how China is using artificial intelligence to automate the surveillance of online discourse, with a sophisticated classification system prioritizing military, social, and political content.
chinamediaproject.org/2025/03/24/c...
chinamediaproject.org/2025/03/24/c...
China’s AI Content Dragnet - China Media Project
Hundreds of gigabytes of data from an unsecured server expose how China is using artificial intelligence to automate the surveillance of online discourse, with a sophisticated classification system pr...
chinamediaproject.org
March 24, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Hundreds of gigabytes of data from an unsecured server expose how China is using artificial intelligence to automate the surveillance of online discourse, with a sophisticated classification system prioritizing military, social, and political content.
chinamediaproject.org/2025/03/24/c...
chinamediaproject.org/2025/03/24/c...
Outstanding interview with a young censor.
A Gen Z content moderator working for a major Chinese internet platform reveals the moral contradictions of deleting sensitive political content. Translation of this superb Mang Mang interview was by CMP in cooperation with ChinaFile and China Digital Times. chinamediaproject.org/2025/03/19/s...
Survival Comes First - China Media Project
A Gen Z content moderator working for a major Chinese internet platform reveals the moral contradictions of deleting sensitive political content while struggling to make ends meet. "We're just tools,"...
chinamediaproject.org
March 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Outstanding interview with a young censor.
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
Big day for Chinese threat intel
MSS outs 4 alleged members of Taiwan's Information, Communications & Electronic Force Command, links them to cyber attacks
QiAnXin & Antiy release 2 separate reports on Taiwan-linked APT-Q-20/APT-C-01/GreenSpot/PoisonVine
🧵w/ links & details
MSS outs 4 alleged members of Taiwan's Information, Communications & Electronic Force Command, links them to cyber attacks
QiAnXin & Antiy release 2 separate reports on Taiwan-linked APT-Q-20/APT-C-01/GreenSpot/PoisonVine
🧵w/ links & details
March 17, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Big day for Chinese threat intel
MSS outs 4 alleged members of Taiwan's Information, Communications & Electronic Force Command, links them to cyber attacks
QiAnXin & Antiy release 2 separate reports on Taiwan-linked APT-Q-20/APT-C-01/GreenSpot/PoisonVine
🧵w/ links & details
MSS outs 4 alleged members of Taiwan's Information, Communications & Electronic Force Command, links them to cyber attacks
QiAnXin & Antiy release 2 separate reports on Taiwan-linked APT-Q-20/APT-C-01/GreenSpot/PoisonVine
🧵w/ links & details
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
March 15, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Reposted by Mark Parker Young
I'll be teaching a 6-week graduate-level night course at Georgetown University in May-June called Cyber Operations. We'll look at ways that nations project power in cyberspace - their motives, methods, and impact. Looking forward to meeting students in the School of Foreign Service master's program
March 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I'll be teaching a 6-week graduate-level night course at Georgetown University in May-June called Cyber Operations. We'll look at ways that nations project power in cyberspace - their motives, methods, and impact. Looking forward to meeting students in the School of Foreign Service master's program
Predictions that AI could undermine the Chinese government's societal monitoring and control remind me of predictions in the 90s that the internet would do the same thing.
I think it'll very likely be the opposite.
I think it'll very likely be the opposite.
March 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Predictions that AI could undermine the Chinese government's societal monitoring and control remind me of predictions in the 90s that the internet would do the same thing.
I think it'll very likely be the opposite.
I think it'll very likely be the opposite.
One of the best discussions of the uneven impact of AI on the future of warfare that I've heard/read.
Waking up after the big speech? Listen to @jordanschneider.bsky.social, @shashj.bsky.social, and me talk about Ukraine, the future of war, AGI risk, and the legit challenges facing the Pentagon in getting its defense innovation act together www.chinatalk.media/p/emergency-...
EMERGENCY EDITION: Trump's Pivot to Putin
+ AGI and the Future of War
www.chinatalk.media
March 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
One of the best discussions of the uneven impact of AI on the future of warfare that I've heard/read.
Fascinating article. The CCP will have to grapple with how to manage the increasingly strong emotional attachments people will form with AI systems, as is the case for every government and society. I think there are both risks and opportunities from Beijing's point of view.
Deepseek has become the new oracle. Young people in China are reviving a traditional fortune-telling practice using the AI chatbot. They say BaZi's pattern-based structure is surprisingly compatible with a reasoning model. My latest @technologyreview.com: www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/03/1...
How DeepSeek became a fortune teller for China’s youth
AI-powered BaZi analysis has become the new oracle for a disillusioned generation seeking answers.
www.technologyreview.com
March 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Fascinating article. The CCP will have to grapple with how to manage the increasingly strong emotional attachments people will form with AI systems, as is the case for every government and society. I think there are both risks and opportunities from Beijing's point of view.