Ministry of State Security (MSS). In 1999, it was again placed under the CCP Central Committee, maintaining strong organizational ties to the MSS and Foreign Affairs Leading Group. In 2009 an article in the CCP journal Liaowang, published by Xinhua, called CICR "subordinate" to the MSS. Hong Kong media have disputed its precise institutional position—whether it is actually the intelligence research arm of the MSS—or whether it merely provides "intelligence research and analysis" for the agency. Given, however, that the Foreign Affairs Leading Group is its principal customer, and it is largely funded by the MSS, it can be called a "Soviet-style intelligence organ." In 2003, CICIR changed its name from the China Institute of International Relations to the China Institutes of International Relations. A number of cases have been reported of CICIR researchers traveling abroad to collect intelligence for reporting back to the MSS. Geng Huichang, the Minister of State Security from 2007 to 2016, served as the president of CICIR from 1990 to 1993. According to David Shambaugh, CICIR's leadership "all share lengthy and shadowy careers in the intelligence services." Focus, functions, influence While CICIR's research spans the range of international affairs, its major focus is the US and US-China relations. Its activities include: providing reports to government departments, publishing research in academic journals, carrying out projects on commission from the PRC government, conducting joint research projects with domestic and foreign institutions, promoting academic exchanges, offering Master's and PhD programs. CICIR is the public face of the 11th Bureau of the Ministry of State Security, China's main civilian intelligence agency. The organization itself does not speak much about its relationship with the Chinese government; however, and Chinese media reports rarely acknowledge the institution's ties with the regime. The institute has held considerable influence over China's foreign policy decision-making process due in part to its close organizational proximity to the CCP Central Committee, the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, the Foreign Affairs Office, and the MSS. The institute's relevance to the foreign policy process is further bolstered by its large research staff and ability to produce timely intelligence analysis. This influence has been in decline since the mid-1990s, however, coinciding with the death or retirement of some of its senior researchers, and the growing influence of the Foreign Ministry in foreign policy decision-making. The CICIR is part of the Green Belt and Road Initiative Center, a platform for CCP influence