Announces Transpacific and Asian Dialogue Fellows

The Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations is pleased to announce the selection of the fellowship cohort for the Transpacific and Asian Dialogue on China, a new initiative designed to contribute to policy deliberations across the Asia-Pacific region over the novel and complex challenges posed by China’s rise on the world stage. This initiative builds on the earlier Transatlantic and European Dialogue on Chinathat likewise has been mobilized by the Penn Project, and similarly embodies the Project’s core mission of highlighting academically-informed, policy-relevant analysis from next generation experts on China and its role in the world.

The twenty-two leading next generation scholars and experts on China from throughout the Asia-Pacific region who comprise this new fellowship cohort altogether represent almost fifteen countries and a wide range of backgrounds and thematic research interests. Under this initiative, the fellows each will be tasked with producing their own policy papers, elaborating actionable recommendations especially for regional policymakers, on how to manage relations with China across the issue sets most relevant to the region, such as security, trade, energy, infrastructure, rights, governance, and development.

In mobilizing the Transpacific and Asian Dialogue on China, the Penn Project has drawn upon senior advisors from the Asia-Pacific region for relevant guidance, and is partnering with key institutions in the region — namely, the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore, the East Asia Institute of Korea, and the Australian Centre on China in the World at the Australian National University — who will host in-person workshops in their respective countries over the course of the next two years, beginning in June 2026.

“The Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations is honored to spearhead this new initiative for encouraging practical knowledge related to China and its relationship with the rest of the world,” stated Project Director Neysun Mahboubi. “Further developing the talent pool of next generation scholars and experts on China who are capable of translating their specialized knowledge into actionable policy recommendations, and building community among these scholars and experts, represents the very core of what our Project is designed to contribute.”

The Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations is a grant-funded initiative in the office of Penn Global at the University of Pennsylvania, altogether supported by Penn’s China Research & Engagement Fund, the Henry Luce Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Ford Foundation. For more information about the Project and its various activities, please visit our website at https://global.upenn.edu/future-of-us-china-relations/.