Diplomats in Camouflage: A Dataset of China’s Military-Diplomatic Engagements

Face-to-face diplomacy is central to international politics, yet existing research focuses largely on civilian leaders and diplomats. We introduce an original meeting-level dataset of China’s public military-diplomatic engagements from 2000 to 2023. Drawing on four authoritative Chinese-language party, state, and military outlets, the dataset records over 2,500 engagements involving senior Chinese military leaders and foreign counterparts. It classifies engagements as receptions in China, outbound visits, multilateral organization meetings, and defense and security fora, while preserving information on participants, timing, location, sources, and reported content. Official reporting frames these engagements primarily around cooperation and exchange. An illustrative analysis of outbound visits finds little evidence that China concentrates senior-level military outreach on U.S. allies. Outbound visits are instead positively associated with pre-existing security-specific and economic relationships with China. This dataset enables future research on how military diplomacy complements civilian diplomacy, signals strategic priorities, and shapes security cooperation, crisis management, and political influence.