April 14, 2015
Dear Young China Watchers,
Welcome to YCW’s April newsletter! This month we welcome our first YCW chapter in continental Europe – Berlin. We also share our past month’s events and preview upcoming events around the world for the rest of April.
Introducing YCW Berlin
We are pleased to announce the launch of our seventh and latest chapter, YCW Berlin, headed by Nadine Godehardt, Mikko Huotari, and Janka Oertel. YCW Berlin will launch on April 21 with a discussion about China’s new foreign policy and the future of the East Asian regional order, led by Volker Stanzel, former Germany ambassador to China and Japan, and Qin Yaqing, President of China Foreign Affairs University. RSVP here.
Across our global chapters
YCW San Francisco hosted Francis Fukuyama of Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, who led an invigorating discussion on democracy and governance that covered China, as well as the future of Sino-U.S. relations.
In Hong Kong, YCW hosted David Zweig, Director of the Center on China’s Transnational Relations, who spoke about haiguipai, young Chinese returning to their country after education and training abroad, and the impact they may have on China’s future.
In Beijing, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia David Sedney spoke for YCW on China’s growing role in South Asia. YCW Beijing also hosted Nicholas Lardy of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, who spoke about his new book Markets over Mao: The Rise of Private Business in China.
YCW Shanghai hosted authors James Farrer and Andrew Field of Tokyo’s Sophia University and the Hult International Business School respectively, who gave a riveting presentation on their book Shanghai Nightscapes: A Nocturnal Biography of a Global City.
YCW’s upcoming events
In addition to our YCW Berlin chapter launch on April 21, we look forward to hosting the following speakers across our other global chapters:
YCW London: Michel Hockx of London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies to speak about his recently published book Internet Literature in China on April 15.
YCW Shanghai: James Fallows, National Correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly and one of YCW’s Board of Advisors, will discuss American views China on April 19.
Sign up here to receive invitations to our events. Or check your subscription settings to ensure you’re receiving updates from city chapters you’re interested in.
Our latest on the YCW blog
We featured YCWer Michal Meidan, founder and director of China Matters, an independent consultancy with expertise on the politics of the Chinese energy sector. We spoke to her China’s latest ideas to meet growing energy needs, a tentative energy alliance with Russia, and bridging political analysis and geopolitics.
Call for contributors for book project
We’re still accepting submissions for the YCW-supported book project New Voices: Collection of Essays on Contemporary Chinese Economy and Society. We seek to capture the rich complexities of Chinese society from the ground up, from the fresh perspective of young, professionals with extensive experience in China. Submission guidelines here or contact our editors at book@youngchinawatchers.com.
Comings, goings and opportunities
YCW shares many jobs and internship opportunities across different cities, all focused on China. For more, please visit our Facebook and LinkedIn for updates.
As always, if you have ideas for our global chapters or would like to work with us, contact us at info@youngchinawatchers.com.


