Asia Events Weekly Roundup: January 29 - February 2

Every week, Asia on E Street compiles a list of upcoming Asia-related events in Washigton D.C. These events are open to the public and free of charge.

Our Asia Events Weekly Roundup for January 29 - February 2:

Games and Gamesmanship: Unity and Stability at Pyeongchang
Monday, January 29, 1:00pm-2:30pm
Wilson Center
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/games-and-gamesmanship-unity-and-stability-pyeongchang

Media and Ideology in Xi's China
Monday, January 29, 1:30pm-3:00pm
Council for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
https://www.csis.org/events/media-and-ideology-xis-china

Modernizing trade rules: The TPP and Beyond
Monday, January 29, 10:00am-11:00am
Brookings Institute
https://www.brookings.edu/events/modernizing-trade-rules-the-tpp-and-beyond/

The Tet Offensive: Lessons from the Campaign After 50 Years
Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Council for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
https://www.csis.org/events/tet-offensive-lessons-campaign-after-50-years

FELLOWSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

 Congressional-Executive Commission on

China (CECC)

LIU XIAOBO FELLOWSHIP:

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) is offering paid Fellowships to graduates of accredited Bachelor’s, Master’s, J.D. Programs, or current graduate-level students. CECC Fellowship positions are filled twice a year. The Summer term (Full-Time, 32-40 hours per week) begins approximately in mid-May and ends in August/September. The Fall-Spring term (Part-Time, 15-20 hours a week) begins approximately in early November and ends in late April. The precise start and end dates are determined based on the Commission’s schedule and the end dates can be negotiated based on Fellows’ needs. 

The CECC’s Liu Xiaobo Fellowship was created in honor of renowned Chinese Nobel Prize laureate and prominent political prisoner Liu Xiaobo, who died in state custody in July 2017, just weeks after officials reported that he was battling late-stage liver cancer. A writer, former literature professor, and human rights advocate, Liu Xiaobo was among the chief authors of Charter 08, an open statement calling for political reform and greater protection of human rights in China, which was released on December 10, 2008, to coincide with the 60^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Human Rights Day. Liu was detained on December 8, 2008 and later arrested on the charge of “inciting subversion of state power” in connection with his work on Charter 08 and several political essays he wrote. At the time of his death, he had served nearly 8 years of an 11-year prison sentence. 

The Liu Xiaobo Fellowship provides significant educational and professional experience for individuals with a background in Chinese politics, law, and society, in addition to strong Chinese language skills. Fellows work closely with the Commission and its staff on the full array of issues concerning human rights, the rule of law, and governance in China (including criminal justice, institutions of democratic governance, environmental issues, religious freedom, freedom of expression, ethnic minority rights, women’s rights, etc.).

Fellows perform important research support tasks (often in Chinese), attend China-related events, meet human rights advocates and other professionals whose work is focused on China, and assist staff in the drafting of Commission analyses, in addition to other tasks. Click here for CECC analysis of recent developments in the rule of law and human rights in China. Interns may also perform research for the Commission’s Political Prisoner Database, which has been accessible to the public since its launch in November 2004 (click here to begin a search).

CECC Fellows will be paid $12/hour. Fellows are not eligible for any additional federal benefits. Further details are available on the Commission’s website at http://www.cecc.gov/about/employment-opportunities.  

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Fellows must be U.S. citizens.  
• Fellows must be a graduate of an accredited Bachelor’s, Master’s, or J.D. program, or a current graduate-level student.
• Fellows should have completed at least some China-related coursework. It is also desirable that they have some background in one or more of the specific human rights and rule of law issues in the CECC legislative mandate.
• Chinese language skills: fellows should be able to read Chinese well enough to assist with research in newspapers, journals, and on websites. More advanced Chinese language capability would be a plus. A successful candidate for a fellowship will often have lived or studied in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and the names and contact information of two references to the CECC via e-mail to Judy Wright, Director of Administration, at judy.wright@mail.house.gov. NO phone calls, please.

Application Deadlines:

• Summer Term: Applications must be received by our office no later than 11:59 P.M. (EST) on February 15.
• Fall-Spring Term: Applications must be received by our office no later than 11:59 P.M. (EST) on August 15.

Cover Letter:

• Please discuss in your cover letter how your professional goals, interests, and background relate to the Commission’s legislative mandate regarding human rights and the rule of law in China.
• Brief statement addressing how your research skills, knowledge, and experience make you a suitable candidate for the CECC Liu Xiaobo Fellowship.
• Please indicate in your cover letter whether you are able to read Mandarin Chinese for research purposes. If yes, please indicate your level of fluency, i.e. beginner, intermediate, advanced, or native fluency. If you have taken a Chinese language proficiency exam, such as the HSK or ILR, please indicate the highest score you have obtained.
• Please indicate how you heard about this fellowship position.

Resume:

• Please include relevant work history, coursework, education achievements, honors/awards received, and anything else that you feel will help our evaluation.

Writing sample:

• Please provide a writing sample of no more than two pages and no more than 500 words (double spaced). Your submission must be your own work, and can be an excerpt of a longer piece.

References:

• Please include their names, titles, phone numbers, and email addresses. 

ABOUT THE COMMISSION:

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China was created by Congress in October 2000 with the legislative mandate to monitor human rights and the development of the rule of law in China, and to submit an annual report to the President and the Congress. The Commission consists of nine Senators, nine Members of the House of Representatives, and five senior Administration officials appointed by the President.

Princeton US-China Coalition Global Governance Forum

This upcoming spring, PUCC is excited to be hosting the annual Global Governance Forum focused on US China relations. The PUCC Global Governance Forum will draw together 30 exceptional student delegates from universities across the US, China, and around the world. To ensure smaller-scale interaction of the highest caliber, we will select the 30 delegates through competitive application. At the conference, we plan to host: 1) lectures followed by Q and A 2) simulations of multilateral dialogue and 3) policy briefings. The policy briefings—a capstone of our forum—will have delegates work intensively in groups to formulate and present policy proposals outlining how countries can tackle a specific 21st century global challenge. From these activities, delegates from vastly different backgrounds will have the unique chance to trade perspectives, tackle timely world issues, and retain a global community of peers eager to shape 21st century US-China relations.

We are looking for talented applicants interested in US-China studies to participate in our conference.  We would love if you would reach out to your student body about this exciting opportunity.  Please view our website here for more information about the application process. 

About the Princeton US-China Coalition: it is a student organization founded to establish a transnational coalition of student leaders poised to face issues at the forefront of US-China policy.

Spring 2018 applications for Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund (KACIF) Travel Grants

Spring 2018 applications for Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund (KACIF) Travel Grants will be accepted starting Tuesday, January 16, 2018. The KACIF Travel Grants are available to GW students who are participating in internships that will advance their career development and who need assistance in paying for their public transportation to and from their internship location. This reimbursement, which cannot exceed $300.00, can be used only for necessarily unpaid internships, i.e., typically those internships with non-profit, governmental, educational, and non-governmental organizations that genuinely lack the financial resources to pay salaries or wages to their interns. Applications will be accepted through myGW portal. More information: http://go.gwu.edu/kaciftravel If you have questions, please contact kaciftravel@gwu.edu. The KACIF Travel Grant was initiated in collaboration with the GW Student Association and made possible through the generous support of alumni, parents, and other donors.

Internship Opportunities for Summer

The American Enterprise Institute has several Asia related Internships for the summer:

 Summer Intern: Asian Economies:

Derek Scissors is a Resident Scholar at AEI, where he focuses on Asian economic issues, especially the Chinese and Indian economies and US economic relations with Asian countries. The Asian Economies intern will be responsible for researching and media monitoring of Chinese outward investment, fact-checking, and providing support for ongoing projects. Interested candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in Asian economics, the ability to conduct independent research, and strong analytic skills. Work ethic and attention to detail are highly valued. Ability to easily and quickly read Mandarin Chinese is required.
Link

Summer Intern: South Asia Studies

An intern in the South Asia Studies program at AEI will work closely with staff in the foreign and defense policy studies department on research relating to South Asian politics, economics, and security issues. The intern will focus specifically on India, but may also work on Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or other regional topics as needed. Tasks will include gathering news clips from Indian and international news sources, researching Indian political economy and demographics, fact checking and editing articles, and producing literature reviews, as well as sesearch concerning the domestic and foreign policies of India and Pakistan to support Sadanand Dhume's regular column and book reearch. Some administrative work will be required to help assist with events and helping the scholar prepare for any speaking engagements and other ad hoc assignments. Desired skills: familiarity with Excel, PowerPoint, and Lexis Nexis. Hindu/Urdu language skills are a plus.

Excellent organizational and research skills are required, as are intellectual curiosity and initiative. Applicants should have a strong interest in, and knowledge of, American politics, political institutions, and history. A background in the history of political thought and American political thought is a definite plus.

Link


Summer Intern: Asian Studies

The Asian Studies internship will focus primarily on Asian security initiatives and U.S. strategy in the region. An intern will work under AEI scholars Dan Blumenthal and Michael Mazza focusing on China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and Southeast Asia. The major responsibility of department interns is conducting research for short- and long-term projects focusing on defense and security issues in the Asia Pacific, including China’s military modernization, American alliances in Asia, and other issues pertaining to East Asian affairs. Interns will also assist in staffing department events.

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated interest in Asian security affairs, previous research or relevant internship experience, strong analytical and critical thinking skills, and the ability to work independently. Priority will be given to candidates with a full working proficiency in Chinese. Japanese/Korean language skills are beneficial, but not required.

Link

Additionally, the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies is looking for a Spring Intern. See below for details:

The APAICS Office Internship at the APAICS office in Washington, D.C., provides exceptional students and young professionals with the opportunity to work with us in fostering programming and outreach to build the AAPI political pipeline. The position is for individuals interested in learning about nonprofit work. Interns will get a well-rounded experience and learn relevant skills for advocacy and work in the political sphere. 

Work and Responsibilities: 
• Event planning: 
 o Helping staff organize logistics for various events, including our annual awards gala and Congressional receptions 
• Communications: 
 o Drafting social media posts relevant to the mission of APAICS, Asian Pacific American civic engagement, and politics more generally 
 o Drafting newsletters, emails to our members, and press releases 
• Research: 
 o The individual will maintain our political database of AAPI elected officials and candidates running for elected office across the country. Following issues relevant to the AAPI community and legislative work by members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus will also be necessary. Furthermore, the individual will also search for emerging community leaders to reach out towards for our political trainings. 

Qualifications 
This is an ideal internship for someone who can take on multiple projects in a responsible manner, is adaptive, and is committed to the APAICS mission. Although no previous experience with political work is necessary to apply, an eagerness towards engaging in the political process at all levels is desired. Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills are a necessity for success. Although the position is unpaid, APAICS offers a travel stipend to reimburse interns for the expenses directly related to their internship
Link