Research Department
SIGNAL’s research is designed to bring actionable insights to decision makers working across government, business, and academia. We aim to communicate an accurate view of Israel and the Middle East in China and to cultivate in-depth knowledge of China in Israel. SIGNAL taps into research communities, industry, and academic institutions worldwide to cultivate theories, knowledge, and techniques that drive our initiatives.
Research Projects
How Countries Engage a Rising China
This research project examines China’s international relations with a select group of countries: Australia, Chile, Netherlands, Singapore, and Switzerland. It looks at how these countries understand Chinese foreign policy, and conduct relations with Beijing. It also outlines the resulting consequences. Through the systematic presentation of the principles and dynamics underlying these engagements, this inquiry offers an empirically grounded framework which may guide the formulation of appropriate foreign policy strategies that can be directed towards the East Asian power. The study aims to contribute to the enrichment and crystallization of Israel’s thinking regarding China during a period of rapidly shifting international power dynamics.

Switzerland-China: The First Movers Advantage
History of China's FTAs
In 2016, Israel and China agreed to enter Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. For China, FTAs are not only tools to enhance trade relations, but also instruments for achieving diplomatic and strategic objectives. SIGNAL’s inquiry into China’s FTAs sheds light on Chinese priorities when forming these types of agreements and the factors determining their terms – illuminating Beijing’s strategic mindset and expectations.
Blue Book
The Blue Book is a Chinese language series, published annually, covering domestic issues and country studies. The series serves as a reference for policy experts, scholars, Party, and Government officials across China. The series comprises of approximately 15 countries. The Israel Blue Book was first published in 2015 by the Director of the SIGNAL Henan University Israel Studies Program, Prof. Zhang Qianhong. Each year, SIGNAL provides original source material for the essays, as well as original articles written by SIGNAL staff, SIGNAL fellows, and other Israeli /Jewish experts.
2017 Survey: Israeli Attitudes and Perceptions of China, its people and the BRI
This study, commissioned by China’s Ministry of Education, was initiated by Dr. Li Wei, a Research Fellow from the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) of China’s Northwest University, and conducted in collaboration with SIGNAL.

The Attitudes and Perceptions of Israelis Towards China, its People, and the BRI
Professor Li Wei, Kalman Guyer, & SIGNAL, December 2017
The Geography of Sino-Israeli Relations

Binyamin Tjong-Alvares
From the Jewish Political Studies Review, Vol. 24, Nos. 3–4 (Fall 2012), published by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.