The rice striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis, is one of the most destructive insect pests affecting rice production in China. Achieving efficient and environmentally sustainable control of C. suppressalis is, therefore, critical for ensuring national food security. This pest exhibits highly asynchronous development, leading to the simultaneous presence of multiple larval instars and overlapping generations in the field. The consequent lack of distinct temporal windows for targeted intervention complicates effective management. Moreover, efforts to develop rice varieties with high levels of resistance to C. suppressalis have so far been unsuccessful. Consequently, periodic outbreaks of this pest continue to occur. This review comprehensively summarizes advances in research, key findings and research perspectives on C. suppressalis in China since the year 2000. Emphasis is placed on the impact of rice cultivars, cropping systems, the evolution of insecticide resistance, the development and implementation of control technologies, and the population dynamics and damage caused by C. suppressalis. This review provides valuable insights for developing sustainable management strategies for C. suppressalis in China.