Mission Statement
Young China Watchers (YCW) is a dynamic group of China-focused young professionals. Through regular roundtables and talks with senior figures in the China academic, policy and business communities, it provides a chance for engaged individuals to interact and discuss the most pressing issues emerging from China today. Through our growing global network, we seek to foster the next generation of China thought-leaders.
YCW runs an open membership policy, keen to attract all China-engaged, knowledgeable and policy-interested individuals. Our purpose is to nurture a new community of people focused on and alert to China’s growing importance in international affairs.
Our Expanding Global Network
YCW was first established in the city of Beijing in spring of 2010. In the ensuing 15 years, it has steadily expanded its network to 10 chapters with 5,000 members across the world.
Each chapter is entirely run by volunteers dedicated to discussing and knowing more about China. If you’d like to propose starting a chapter in your city, here’s how to get involved.
In addition to Chapter Officers and the Global Editorial Team, YCW also has an Alumni Council.
Speakers & Discussion Series
YCW carries out an ambitious agenda by bringing together local communities of members with expert speakers. Our chapters achieve this through events such as:
- Speaker Series involving a short presentation, followed by Q&A. After the event, members continue the discussion over drinks, interacting with the speaker and local members of the China watching community.
- Dinner Discussions that pull together a select group of YCW members – based on professional capacity and active participation – with a speaker for a more intimate gathering at a local restaurant.
- Interactive Webinars that allow more than one city’s audience to reap the benefits of a speaker or panel of speakers’ expertise.
Analysis, Interviews and Conversations
Our editorial content promotes budding voices from within the YCW network, and has been featured on established China thought forums like The Diplomat and ChinaFile.
In addition to publishing original essays on China under the YCW Features series, the team also discusses China-related issues with leading experts, past speakers, and outstanding young professionals for the YCW Interviews series. Our YCW Conversations series invites different stakeholders to weigh in on a pressing issue concerning China, with the aim of capturing a more balanced view.
