Zero in on China-centered International Affairs

Throughout my academic journey in international affairs, I actively contributed to various research centers and renowned think tanks, including the esteemed China Center of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Carnegie China). I was selected as one of the distinction candidates because of my exceptional academic performance (top 10%) when I was finishing my B.A. in international relations at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School. My senior thesis explored China’s role in global health governance, a topic of utmost relevance and urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, as a master’s candidate, my master’s capstone project is focused on the intricate task of formulating a Taiwan model within the framework of “One Country, Two Systems.” This endeavor combines my passion for international affairs with a commitment to addressing complex geopolitical challenges.

To provide you with a glimpse of my research endeavors, I have included a few synopses of my projects on this page. Please contact me via email if you are interested in accessing detailed work samples.

Improving the personnel quality of the People’s Liberation Army of China (2023)

Executive Summary

The People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) and the Central Military Commission (CMC) face a critical question: How can they improve personnel quality to enhance military strength and achieve modernization? This memo proposes and evaluates three potential strategies to achieve this goal and recommends a revision in military training and exercise guidelines in accordance with the supreme leader’s vision and ambition.

Low-quality personnel could pose a significant national security threat to China: First, an ineffective military would be incapable of defending China against potential threats and military conflicts, such as a military unification with Taiwan while facing potential U.S. intervention in the Strait. Furthermore, the Chinese army has not engaged in a formal war for four decades, and the conduct and nature of warfare have since undergone a revolution due to new technologies and modernized weapons.

Type of Work
Policy Memo, International Security course

Affiliation
Master in International Affairs Program, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore

Course instructor
Adjunct Professor Evan Laksmana, Ph.D.

Protecting Human Security: China’s Changing Role in Global Health Governance (2020)

Abstract

A coronavirus-led disease, COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), brought the world another disastrous human security concern starting in December 2019 when first detected in China. This worldwide health emergency once again brought China into the international community’s discussion of its public health management and global health governance. China experienced a similar contagious respiratory disease, SARS, in the early 2000s; however, China presented a comparatively different international image this time during the process of handling COVID-19. This research focuses on the shifting role of China in global health governance — particularly within the context of the World Health Organization — to understand the international influences on China’s changing management of Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC).

Type of Work
Undergraduate Distinction Capstone Research

Affiliation
International Relations Program, Maxwell School, Syracuse University

Keywords
China, WHO, PHEIC, COVID-19, SARS, H1N1, HIV/AIDS

Capstone Advisor
Professor Francine J. D’Amico, Ph.D.