Summer Endowment Intern, Center for China Analysis

Location: New York or Washington D.C.

Department: ASPI Center for China Analysis (Chinese Politics Pillar)

Reports to: Fellow on Chinese Politics

Job Type: Temporary

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (Overtime-Eligible)

Compensation: $17.00/hour (New York); $17.95/hour (Washington DC)

Schedule: 32 hrs/week; Monday – Thursday

Duration: June 2026 – August 2026 (Approximate)

Summary

The Summer Intern will contribute directly to CCA’s research on China’s vision for the world and how its domestic politics shapes external behavior and global ambitions. This includes researching Chinese elite politics, leadership priorities, ideological narratives, institutional processes, foreign policy programs, and historical case studies. The intern will also develop core skills essential to success in the think tank environment, including policy analysis, data collection, and analytical writing. A capstone goal of the internship is to produce a high-quality analytical article on Chinese politics or foreign policy for publication by CCA, subject to editorial review.

The internship is designed to provide a realistic understanding of the work performed by leading foreign policy think tanks. CCA aims to deepen the intern’s knowledge of Chinese politics and foreign policy, strengthen their analytical and research capabilities, and help them contribute meaningfully to policy debates on China’s governance and international role

The Summer Intern will join CCA Domestic Politics team and work closely with colleagues studying Chinese leadership politics and foreign policy decision-making. The intern will participate in regular meetings to assess developments in Chinese elite politics and foreign policy. The intern will also receive mentorship from CCA fellows and may have opportunities to attend China-focused policy events, conferences, and roundtables.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and analysis on Chinese elite politics, leadership priorities, foreign policy, and grand strategy.
• Monitor and analyze Chinese-language sources, including leader speeches, Party documents, policy directives, and expert commentary.
• Track and analyze institutional actors and decision-making processes involved in foreign and national security policy, including the Party leadership, foreign policy bureaucracy, and military.
• Support the production of analytical publications and outreach related to China’s domestic politics and foreign policy.
• Assist in organizing public events and closed-door roundtables related to China’s global ambitions and foreign policy.
• Produce an article on Chinese politics or foreign policy, subject to editorial approval.
• Perform additional research and administrative duties as assigned.
  
  

Requirements

• Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program and not yet have graduated at the time of the internship.
• Demonstrated interest in Chinese politics, foreign policy, or international relations, preferably with research experience.
• Strong analytical, research, and writing skills.
• Advanced or native proficiency in Chinese, especially reading and translation.
• Advanced or native proficiency in English, especially writing and speaking.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel.
• Data skills (such as scraping, statistical analysis, or visualization) are desirable but not required.
  
  

About Asia Society

Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, Asia Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution with major cultural centers and public buildings in New York, Hong Kong, and Houston, and additional locations in Delhi, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Mumbai, Paris, San Francisco, Seattle, Seoul, Sydney, Tokyo, Washington, D.C., and Zurich. Initially established to promote greater knowledge of Asia in the United States, the Society today is a global institution — with offices throughout the U.S., Asia, and Europe — that fulfills its educational mandate through a wide range of cross-disciplinary programming. As economies and cultures have become more interconnected, the Society's programs have expanded to address a range of issues and pressing concerns in Asia.

How To Apply

To be considered for this role, all applicants must submit a completed application to: aspijobs@asiasociety.org

A Completed Application Must Include

• Resume OR CV
• Cover letter
• Work sample (flexible length, but concise samples preferred)
• Subject line: Application to Summer Endowment Internship (CCA 2026)
  
  

Only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted. Please regard your submission as received unless your email is bounced back.

Asia Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.