China and tech policy

This page lists resources on China policy, fellowships, think tanks, and master’s programs. It primarily focuses on China policy with a technology angle for people considering working on these issues in Washington, DC.

China and tech policy resources

This list is an introduction to the field. While we couldn’t include many great resources here, we encourage you to do your own research on particular topics of interest.

Career guides

China Policy: An Early Career Guide, Jordan Schneider
Career reviews: China Specialist and China-related AI governance

Newsletters

Sinocism, Bill Bishop – weekly news roundup
ChinaTalk, Jordan Schneider – focus on tech and US-China relations
ChinAI, Jeff Ding – long-running analysis of China’s AI ecosystem
Interconnected, Kevin Xu – weekly coverage of US-China from a tech perspective
Pekingology, Zichen Wang – analysis from a researcher at PRC think tank CCG
AI Safety in China, Concordia – biweekly newsletter
Slow Chinese, Andrew Methven – for Mandarin Chinese language practice

We aim to keep this page updated. You can recommend other resources here.

China-relevant policy fellowships

The following fellowship programs are especially relevant for China policy work (see also our general fellowship database for 50+ opportunities):

Language fellowships

Boren Awards (Department of Defense) – 2-12 month language program for US undergraduates (“Boren Scholarship”) and graduate students (“Boren Fellowship”)
Critical Language Scholarship (State Department) – 8-10 week summer language program covering “approximately one academic year of university-level language coursework”. Program completion provides benefit of non-competitive hiring at federal agencies. “Formal classroom language instruction is provided for a minimum of 20 hours per week”
Chinese Language Fellowship (National Bureau of Asian Research) – “providing fellowships of up to $50,000 for American graduate students (PhD and current or recent MA) so that they can devote one year to intensive Chinese language training at an institution of the fellow’s choice, generally in China or Taiwan”
Blakemore Freeman Fellowships (Blakemore Foundation) – “awarded for one academic year…of advanced level language study in East or Southeast Asia. Eligible languages are Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Khmer, Thai, and Vietnamese.”
Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships (US Department of Education) – “assist meritorious undergraduate students and graduate students undergoing training in modern foreign languages and related area or international studies.”

Research and policy fellowships

Wilson Center China Fellowship – 1-year part-time non-residential China policy fellowship with the Wilson Center. Fellows need to have a PhD/JD and receive a stipend of $20,000. “Fellows conduct research and write in their areas of interest, publish their research through the Wilson Center, and will have the opportunity to interact with policymakers and thought leaders in Washington.”
Princeton in Asia – provides work placements with educational institutions, businesses, media organizations, and NGOs throughout Asia
WSD-Handa Fellowship (Pacific Forum) – 6-12 month program offering “resident and non-resident fellowships, in addition to hosting a number of in-person and virtual gatherings” with a focus on “the geopolitical dynamics of East Asia with a particular focus on Japan.”
Undergraduate Diversity Fellowship (National Bureau of Asian Research) – “aims to provide paid educational, professional, and mentorship opportunities community college and undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of international affairs or Asia policy”
Taiwan Scholarship (Global Taiwan Institute) – “outstanding researchers from the United States who perform valuable Taiwan policy research…Selected candidates travel to Taiwan throughout the year to pursue their research projects”
Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange (CCKF) Programs – “encourage scholars in Taiwan and overseas to undertake research projects in the humanities and social sciences that can shed new light on Chinese culture and society…Full-time faculty may apply for research grants, conference and seminar grants, publication subsidies, database grants, lecture series grants, etc. Graduate students may apply for doctoral dissertation fellowships and grants for short-term overseas research.”
Luce Scholars – 13-month full-time fellowship to work in various NGOs across East and South Asia, and complete an intensive language course (including in Chinese). Open to seniors, graduate students, and young professionals with interdisciplinary backgrounds and limited prior Asia experience or language skills. The program aims to “to find a placement relevant to each Scholar’s field.” Policy-relevant opportunities may be possible, such as policy journalism.
The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) Liu Xiaobo Fellowships – paid fellowship program offered each summer (full-time) and spring (part-time) for graduates of Bachelor’s, Master’s, J.D. Programs, or current graduate-level students. Fellows work with the Commission and its staff on issues concerning human rights, the rule of law, and governance in China. “Fellows should be able to read Chinese well enough to assist with research in newspapers, journals, and government documents.”

Networking programs

Young Professionals Network (Eurasia Foundation) – “identifies emerging Eurasia specialists [between 22 and 33] in the DC area…and connects them with more established professionals from a variety of fields.”
Young China Watchers – network of China-focused young professionals with 10 local groups conducting “regular roundtables and talks with senior figures in the China academic, policy and business communities”
Fung Scholars & Fellows (Victor and William Fung Foundation) – “aims to nurture future world leaders by supporting university students to experience different cultures and environments early in their careers”

Study abroad scholarships

PRC study scholarships (some government-funded)
Fulbright, Taiwan
Taiwan government scholarships (e.g. Huayu Enrichment Scholarship)

Think tanks working on China policy

This list focuses on Western think tanks and isn’t comprehensive, but we hope it’s a useful starting point if you’re interested in think tank work on China-related policy.

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Freeman Chair in China Studies, China Power Project, Chinese Business and Economics
Brookings Institution: John L. Thornton China Center
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): China
Atlantic Council: Global China Hub
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: China and the World
Center for a New American Security (CNAS): The China Challenge
Wilson Center: Asia, China Environment Forum
RAND Corporation: China, Taiwan
Asia Society Policy Institute: Center for China Analysis
Rhodium Group: China
Paulson Institute: MacroPolo
Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)
Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS)
National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR)
Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET)
American Enterprise Institute (AEI): China
National Committee on United States–China Relations (NCUSCR)
National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP): Forum on Asia-Pacific Security
Jamestown Foundation: China and the Asia-Pacific

China-related master’s programs

See also our policy master’s guide for general advice on international relations and public policy degrees.

There are different types of master’s programs to consider for people interested in learning about China, tech, and policy, including:

China / Asian studies (often a mix of classes on language, politics, literature, philosophy, and history)
International relations master’s (often offer regional specializations on China)
1. Practitioner-oriented programs (e.g. SAIS, Georgetown)
2. Academic programs (e.g. Oxford)

Some master’s programs require Chinese language skills and/or prior China experience, while others are open to newcomers. Since the differences between programs are substantial, we recommend checking in detail the program descriptions, curricula, prerequisites, and other relevant information.

Some great China-related policy master’s to consider are (not exhaustive):

Master’s in China

Schwarzman Scholars – prestigious one-year master’s in global affairs at Beijing’s Tsinghua University; doesn’t require Chinese language skills
Yenching Academy – “offers a highly customizable Master’s program in China studies for English speakers with varied levels of Chinese language competency.”
Johns Hopkins SAIS—Nanjing University Dual Degree (Hopkins-Nanjing Center)
Johns Hopkins SAIS—Tsinghua University Dual Degree – “Students typically spend the first academic year at Tsinghua University in Beijing, followed by three semesters at Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington DC.”
LSE—Fudan University Double Degree – “you will spend your first year studying Political Economy of Europe at LSE in the European Institute, followed by the Master of Management Science in Public Policy at Fudan University in Shanghai in your second year.”
Sciences Po—Peking University Dual Degree – “two-year academic program. Students spend their first year studying at…Sciences Po, where they choose between the 7 specialised masters offered in international affairs. In the second year, students join…Peking University to study a Master of International Relations with an emphasis on security and development issues and a regional focus on China and the Asia-Pacific region.”