Putting reins on the dragon

Abstract

Chinese nonproliferation export controls have dramatically changed since 1992. Before then, China regularly defied and mocked international efforts to control strategic exports. Since 1992, however, Beijing has been rigorously engaged in modernizing and internationalizing its export controls. That China’s export controls, then, are steadily improving is a recognized fact. What accounts for this trend, however, remains to be determined. This thesis analyzes nine possible explanations for China’s extensive export control development since 1992.