What is China Vitae?
China Vitae's purpose is to advance the understanding of Chinese politics worldwide among academic institutions, governments, media organizations, businesses, and others interested in China's development. The site provides vast amounts of information with over 5000 biographies of China's current political elite and research tools designed to comb the site's information for points of commonality and points of difference between Chinese leaders as well as between coalitions, groups, and factions.
How do I use China Vitae?
On the home page of the site you will see recent updates to the three primary sections of China Vitae: Biographies, VIP Appearances, and New Appointments.
You can click links from the home page that interest you or use the global search function found on the upper right corner of the web site.
For more focused research, navigate to the Search section of the site where you can search China Vitae's content by name, by institution, by location, or by role.
What is the Research Library?
The Research Library contains searchable lists of members of major organizations, such as CPC Central Committees, the Central Military Commissions, the State Council, and other important party and government organizations. In most cases, the lists date back to the 1950s.
What are VIP Appearances?
This searchable catalogue tracks the daily appearances and travel of China's most important officials, creating an entry for each event, including the nature of the event, the names of other officials involved, the topic, the date, and the location.
What are New Appointments?
This database lists new appointments, as announced by the Chinese government, from the highest level down to the level of vice-minister, vice-mayor, deputy party secretary, and their equivalents in other party, government and business organizations.
What is the China Vitae Newsletter? How often is it published? Is it free?
Our Newsletter monitors recent developments in politics and government. On Monday morning each week, subscribers to this free online publication receive new and updated biographies, the latest VIP activities, and other announcements.
To see the current issue and subscribe for free, click here.
Does China Vitae have a Twitter?
Yes. You can follow us @ChinaVitae.
Every morning, our staff combs through official Chinese publications online for the latest news concerning top-level Chinese officials, such as meetings with foreign dignitaries (in China or abroad), announcements from CPC Party and government institutions, and new appointments. We tweet this information throughout the day.
To follow us on Twiiter, click here.
What sources does China Vitae use?
Information is culled regularly from official government and Party sources, such as web sites of cities, provinces, ministries, large corporations, the military, and other central organizations. Most of these sources are available only in Chinese. VIP Appearances and New Appointments information is drawn from the daily Chinese press. Experience since China Vitae's inception in 2002 has shown that official government sources are very accurate. There are occasional omissions but few if any commissions. As a test, our hundreds of thousands of users are encouraged to notify China Vitae whenever errors are found and corrections need to be made. Over our 12 years of operation, notifications have remained at a consistently low level.