As strategic competition between the United States and China becomes increasingly protracted, the regional order in East Asia is undergoing a profound transformation. At the same time, the production of knowledge in China Studies faces mounting challenges. As China and its neighboring regions remain at the center of geopolitical competition, cross-border exchanges, academic collaboration, and field research have all been affected by growing geopolitical tensions and security concerns. Under these circumstances, how scholars continue to understand China, observe East Asia, and sustain intellectual dialogue across different scholarly communities has become one of the defining challenges of contemporary East Asian Studies. The challenge for China Studies, therefore, extends well beyond keeping pace with rapidly changing political realities. It also lies in sustaining the accumulation of knowledge, advancing theoretical inquiry, and cultivating scholarly communities that combine intellectual continuity with openness through intergenerational mentorship and international collaboration. Read more