About Breaking Beijing

Breaking Beijing came about thanks to the advice of Bill Bishop and plenty of negative experiences with the think tank community. As both a policy staffer and graduate student, I grew tired of reading the same bland think tank reports, where even when there was excellent research and analysis done, the policy recommendations were so watered down and bland that it made the entire paper worthless. So that’s what Breaking Beijing is (mostly) about: creating real, tangible policy recommendations and discussions that are otherwise absent in the US-China policy and national security. In other words, it’s the blueprint for how we win. Breaking Beijing posts about 2-4 times a month, and please subscribe!

Submission Guidelines

So, what is Breaking Beijing looking for in an article submission? Here’s a few guidelines:

In general, I’d like to keep posts between 500 and 3000 words. If your submission is a little over, I can work with you on bringing it below 3000. I’m doing this both for reader attention span and the sake of my inbox.
Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following: US-China diplomacy, mil-tech and emerging technologies, tactics and operations, strategy, views from the Joint Force, China policy, allied viewpoints, etc. If you’ve read Breaking Beijing before, you should have an idea what I’m looking for in terms of content. I’ll also accept book reviews.
If you are writing on policy, you must make *concrete* recommendations. No “Allies and Partners” bumper sticker stuff. Tell me *exactly* how you intend to change things. What mechanisms, who would you work with, where on the map would you get the job done?
I like maps and graphics if they help advance the argument or story you’re trying to tell.
There are no general requirements for background/experience/etc. Unlike other platforms, if I think you have a good idea/argument and I can verify/validate your points, I’m going to consider publishing. Early in my career, I was given chances that my resume didn’t necessarily support. I want to give back and offer that same opportunity to you. You can be an undergraduate student, junior officer, or an SES. I have no interest in professional gatekeeping, it’s a big pet-peeve of mine. However, if you’re an asshole (bigoted, insurrection-friendly, genocide denial, etc.) I reserve the right to ignore you.
I will accept works of fiction, so long as they are intended to be so.
I do not accept sponsored posts.
Citations are required, endnotes preferred. I’ll handle inputting the hyperlinks for the post itself.
When submitting, include the title of the article in the subject line of your email to: breakingbeijing@substack.com. In the body of the email, include who you are, a brief bio, and a synopsis for your article. Please submit in word doc format. You can usually expect a response/feedback within a week of submission.
Remember to enjoy your writing.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Tony Stark. I’ve been writing on China, national security, and technology for years, but only in 2022 did I decide to centralize my writings into Breaking Beijing. I’ve been an Army infantryman, policy staffer, and consultant, among other things. Oh, and I’m a science fiction writer, too. You can find my first (Prometheus award-nominated) novel, EX SUPRA, available for purchase here. I’ve got a few other projects in the works as well, to include a direct sequel: Project Duality.

Where to find me:

Interview w/ Jack Murphy about EX SUPRA and the future of war

Business email: breakingbeijing@substack.com

BlueSky: @tonystark.bsky.social

X/Twitter: @Iron_Man_Actual