Dear Young China Watchers,
With both New Year celebrations behind us, Young China Watchers is back in business. In February we held our annual all-hands team meeting, welcoming a lot of new faces to the different teams. We’re off to a flying start with live events in our two China chapters and virtual events hosted by a further eight chapters around the world!
Our European chapters came together to create the YCW Europe – V4 Series, aiming to give voice to the often overlooked Visegrád 4 countries in the discussion around China in Europe. Despite often portrayed as China’s entry point to the EU, the four countries themselves have each faced a varied experience with Beijing, which is often misunderstood globally. This series offers an opportunity for V4 scholars and professionals working on China to share their narrative and perspective, and aims to enhance understanding and cooperation within the regional China-watching community. With one successful event behind us, subscribe to updates to register for future events.
Across our global chapters
YCW Europe (Feb 23)
V4-China relations in the 2020s: Opportunities and Challenges
The launch event of the YCW Europe – V4 Series discussed the present state of cooperation between the V4 countries and China, and mapped out the opportunities and challenges this decade can bring for these relations. With Viktor Eszterhai (Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Budapest), Jakub Jakóbowski (Centre for Eastern Studies, Warsaw), Ivana Karásková (CHOICE & MapInfluenCE) and Richard Q. Turcsányi (Palacky University Olomouc).
Upcoming events
YCW Shanghai (March 11, 7:30pm) SOLD OUT!
China relations under President Biden: The view from U.S Consulate Shanghai
Join YCW Shanghai for a live event at Wooden Box.
YCW San Francisco (March 17, 5:30pm)
Unlocking a career with top Chinese tech companies
YCW San Francisco hosts the co-founders of Alariss, Joyce Zhang Gray and Nicholas Manske, for a fireside chat. Both are are experts on matching top international talent with leading Chinese multinational companies like Tencent, ByteDance, Xiaomi, and TAL 好未来.
Register |
YCW London (March 20, 12pm)
The future of law and the Belt and Road Initiative
YCW London hosts legal academics and practising lawyers in conversation on the way law and lawyers shape the BRI. Subscribe to updates from the London chapter to receive the Zoom details.
YCW Shanghai (March 23, 7:30pm)
How to commit fraud in China (but not get away with it)
A second live event by our Shanghai chapter this month, again at Wooden Box. Subscribe to updates from the Shanghai chapter to receive the event details.
Latest from the YCW blog
Björn Jerdén Director of Swedish National China Center, discusses the shaping of Sweden’s China policy.
Hao Wu, Film Director of “76 Days,” speaks to YCW about his documentary which examines the experience of four hospitals during Wuhan’s 76 days of lockdown.
Ketian Vivian Zhang, Assistant Professor at George Mason University, talks about China’s use of coercion in maritime and trade disputes.
Fangrong Wu, Co-founder of 706 Youth Space, explains how he created a public space for free debate eight years ago, and what has changed since.
Evan A. Laksmana, Senior Researcher at CSIS, shares his views on changing dynamics between China and Southeast Asian countries, the influence of domestic elites, China’s vaccine diplomacy, and why RCEP should not be seen as a China-led agreement.


