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Neysun Mahboubi

@neysunm.bsky.social
842 followers 607 following 117 posts

Administrative law/Chinese law. Director, Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations. Host, China Studies podcast. global.upenn.edu/global-initiatives…

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Reposted by Neysun Mahboubi
Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
If you missed our event at JF Books this week, check out the video of our program "Live from Washington: Forecasting the Trump-Xi Summit" featuring Cory Combs, Aaron Glasserman, @bochenhan.bsky.social, and @yaqiu.bsky.social from our fourth cohort of project fellows: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fUK...
youtube.com
Live from Washington: Forecasting the Trump-Xi Summit | Penn Project 季風人文講壇第145期
YouTube video by JF Books 季風書園
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Edward Swaine @edswaine.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my Storage Unit, ye Mighty, and despair!"
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Henry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
"Perhaps the most useful role that the discipline of International Relations may play is ... as a generator of largely untestable and incompatible claims that can then help inform policy systems that are better adapted to work with many possible futures."
programmablemutter.com
International relations has a problem with the future
Then, so does everything else
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Many thanks to JF Books for hosting us in Washington, DC next week for a conversation featuring four of our current Project Fellows (Cory Combs, Aaron Glasserman, @bochenhan.bsky.social, @yaqiu.bsky.social) in anticipation of the Trump-Xi summit. Full details below:
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
We are delighted to announce our third class of undergraduate Student Fellows, made up of ten outstanding students at the University of Pennsylvania. Read more about them at: global.upenn.edu/future-of-us... and check out the full announcement at: global.upenn.edu/future-of-us...
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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
The search for AI ROI continues. University admin gave a presentation to faculty senate on AI. They begged us to discover use cases for them. All they have is a bespoke Ai tutoring agent and hopes and dreams for improved internal operations All senate had to offer was complaints about cheating
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Emily Feng @emilyzfeng.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
You can count on one hand the number of times the U.S. has not had a carrier formation in the Pacific since the 1970s. This month is one of them. This week I'm looking at how conflicts in the Middle East is diverting attention from Asia, yet again. www.npr.org/2026/08/18/n...
npr.org
War between U.S. and Iran shifts key resources away from Asia
The U.S. focus on Iran has pivoted key resources away from another key geopolitical region -- Asia.
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Yangyang Cheng @yangyangcheng.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
How did Jifeng Books, once the pride of Shanghai, run afoul of the authorities? Is its reincarnation in D.C. a replica of the store in China? How is the immigrant venture navigating deteriorating politics in its new abode, while nurturing aspirations for the homeland? I write @chinafile.bsky.social:
chinafile.com
A World out of Words
The opening of a bookstore rarely makes international headlines. But when JF Books, known in Chinese as “Jifeng” (seasonal winds), opened its doors in Washington, D.C. on September 1, 2024, the news w...
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Yesterday's discussion with @sambresnick.bsky.social, Lauren Gloudeman, Jay Kimmel, Calli Obern, and @selinaxu.bsky.social highlighted our timely fourth cohort visit to Beijing in late June following the Trump-Xi summit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0Dz...
youtube.com
U.S.-China Field Notes: Reports from Visit to Beijing
YouTube video by Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
In late June, our current fellows traveled to Beijing for a week of intensive dialogues with a wide range of Chinese and foreign interlocutors. In this webinar on Wednesday 8/12, some of the fellows will share their key take-aways, in conversation with Project director @neysunm.bsky.social
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
“There has been a rich landscape of cultural exchange between the US and China in the reform and opening period,” says Neysun Mahboubi. “That entire landscape has diminished tremendously over the past eight or nine years.”
ft.com
An American farewell to China
Xizhou’s internationally celebrated Linden Centre is a symbol of the deep roots of US-Chinese relations. Forty years after its seeds were sown, its founder’s plans to leave speak volumes
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
😬😬
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Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
There are long-form, science-driven and forward-looking policy-relevant analyses that explain what made Covid so difficult to confront, assess institutional failures (& successes), and dive in to intentional efforts to undermine pandemic response for short-term political gain. Airtime is a choice.
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David Rennie @dsorennie.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
The idea might boil Trump’s blood, but if he had heeded Barack Obama’s core advice to US presidents, “Don’t Do Stupid Shit”, he would be in a far better place today. My column, The Telegram, on how the Iran debacle could consume Trump’s presidency. economist.com/internationa... from The Economist
economist.com
The Iran war is consuming the Trump presidency
Donald Trump may hate to hear it, but Barack Obama was right about avoiding “stupid shit”
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Another great piece by MeredithChen in @scmpnews.bsky.social on a complicated topic — this long-form essay featuring extended quotes from Dennis Wilder, @kennedychina.bsky.social, and myself among others:
scmp.com
Fewer opportunities, less passion, no clue? How US’ China expertise is fading
Geopolitical friction and a lack of career paths are hollowing out the pipeline of US specialists who truly understand China.
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Pre-summit analysis from this observer [yours truly] seems to have held up some two months later... More at: perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
New essay in @thewirechina.bsky.social by our 3rd cohort fellow Josh Busby 👇
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
New essay by our 3rd cohort fellow @kendraschaefer.bsky.social in The Ideas Letter👇
theideasletter.org
The State as API
Schaefer explores how contemporary Chinese governance increasingly operates as an infrastructural layer embedded deep within the digital ecosystem. Through case studies ranging from COVID health codes...
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I contributed a quote about the chilling effect on U.S. students’ interest in traveling to China from the prospect of running afoul of increasing securitization in China. Longer thread elaborating on this theme over at the other place: x.com/neysunm/stat...
straitstimes.com
Fewer US students are studying in China
Fewer US students are studying in China, signalling potential shifts in future US-China relations and expertise. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Concluding my 2 months visit to China in this setting has been helpful for reflecting on what feels like a difficult moment not just for U.S.-China relations but also for China itself — the weight of history ever present, from the past 130 years since this university was founded.
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Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 10/07/2026
“University of Chicago Law School announced it will ban phones and laptops in the classroom for first-year students in its new AI strategy.”
abc7chicago.com
University of Chicago Law to ban phones, laptops in classroom for first-year students in new AI plan
University of Chicago Law School announced it will ban phones and laptops in the classroom for first-year students in its new AI strategy.
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Juliet Lu (she/her/hers) @profjulietlu.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Don’t worry, my fellow Americans! We’ll just have Trump make another call and reverse all four of those Belgian goals… ⚽️🇧🇪🥳
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
I really enjoyed this wide-ranging conversation with David Moser, centering on the value of on-the-ground experience for China studies, even in complex times. Many thanks to David and Jeremiah Jenne for having me on their podcast to discuss:
open.spotify.com
Neysun Mahboubi on the past, present, and future of US-China Academic Exchanges
Barbarians at the Gate · Episode
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Michael C. Dorf @dorfonlaw.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
The Roberts birthright citizenship majority opinion is a pleasant surprise: no mere grudging acceptance of a "feudal" relic but endorsement of a democratic ideal. The dissents utterly fail to grapple with the factual complexity of domicile and the impracticality of their view. Details on the blog.👇
dorfonlaw.org
Principle and Policy in the Birthright Citizenship Case
If you had asked me a year and a half ago what the prospects were for President Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship if a...
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Josh Chafetz @joshchafetz.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Man, the author of the majority opinion in Slaughter is gonna be SO MAD when he reads what the author of the majority opinion in Cook had to say about agency independence from presidential control.
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Really enjoyed speaking in the China Crossroads series in Shanghai the other day, my topic: “Training the Next Generation of China Experts in the U.S.”
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Quite moving to stumble across this beautiful new essay in the @pawprinceton.bsky.social about my sister Mona’s passing a few years ago paw.princeton.edu/article/how-...
paw.princeton.edu
How a Missing Classmate Changed My Perspective as a Reunions Memorial Chair
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Some more scenes from the highly generative and inspiring conversations from the past few days, including remarks to our assembled group from the last two Singaporean ambassadors to the U.S., Ashok Mirpuri (2012-23) & Chan Heng Chee (1996–2012), and a well attended public event.
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
20+ fellows of our Transpacific & Asian Dialogue on China met in Singapore last week, hosted by the NUS East Asian Institute, presenting draft policy papers for feedback & discussion, joined by 20+ interlocutors from the impressive academic & policy community in Singapore. Next stop Seoul in January
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Our new Transpacific & Asian Dialogue on China just completed its first in-person workshop in Singapore, hosted by the NUS East Asian Institute. Here is the video of Thursday's public event, a timely and wide ranging discussion featuring 5 of the 22 Fellows participating in this initiative:
youtube.com
Regional Perspectives on Relations with China: Security, Infrastructure, Governance, Values
YouTube video by Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Our new Transpacific & Asian Dialogue on China is about to hold its first in-person workshop, in Singapore. Tomorrow, you can join our public event, featuring 5 of the 22 Fellows participating in this initiative, live by registering at research.nus.edu.sg/eai/2020/09/... or vitually at:
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Penn students have breached the Great Wall
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Our 10 undergrad student fellows from @upenn.edu spent the past week engaging with student counterparts from @tsinghuauniversity.bsky.social in academic & policy dialogues re the U.S.-China relationship, and also we got to recreate the photo from last month’s summit between our countries’ 2 leaders
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Next week, our Transpacific & Asian Dialogue on China (global.upenn.edu/future-of-us...) will hold its first in-person workshop, hosted by the NUS East Asian Institute. If you are in town you can join us on campus for the public session, featuring 5 of the 22 Fellows participating in this initiative
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
If you’re in Shanghai in June…
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
We are delighted to welcome 3 new Contributors to our project community: Leah Anderson, executive director of the SNF Paideia Program; Mark Lambert, the former head of “China House” at the State Department; and Dan Schneiderman of Penn Washington. Read more here: global.upenn.edu/future-of-us...
global.upenn.edu
CONTRIBUTORS – THE PENN PROJECT ON THE FUTURE OF US-CHINA RELATIONS
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
We took our undergraduate student fellows to NYC for a full day of meetings including with @pekingmikenyt.bsky.social at @nytimes.com, our alumni fellows @zoe-liu.bsky.social & @carlminzner.bsky.social at @cfr.org, and young diplomats at the Chinese Consulate. Next stop for this group: Beijing!
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Great to see our alumni fellows @zoe-liu.bsky.social (2nd cohort) and @kyleichan.bsky.social (3rd cohort) highlighting the annual members meeting of @ncuscr.bsky.social the other day; hosted at the Penn Club of NY no less! Watch the recording here:
youtube.com
Trade Wars, Tech Rivalries, and the Long Game in U.S.-China Relations
YouTube video by National Committee on U.S.-China Relations
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
We assembled our 4th cohort fellows on campus @perryworldhouse.bsky.social for 2 days of intensive discussions about their early stage policy papers at the start of their fellowship year. Many thanks to Sarah Beran for her keynote remarks, and all the great discussants who offered feedback!
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Our third cohort fellow Ali Wyne featured on @kaiserkuo.bsky.social’s Sinica Podcast today, and thank you for his shoutout in the “paying it forward” segment to our program manager @mgmillerpenn.bsky.social!
podcasts.apple.com
"Constructive Strategic Stabil… - Sinica Podcast - Apple Podcasts
Podcast Episode · Sinica Podcast · May 17 · 1h 6m
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
I was delighted to contribute my own thoughts on the summit here, alongside @upenn.edu colleagues Jacques deLisle, Amy Gadsden, Dan Schneiderman, Tom Shattuck, and other friends
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Perry World House @perryworldhouse.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Ahead of the highly-anticipated Trump-Xi summit, PWH gathered experts from across @upenn.edu to share their perspectives on what is at stake, what outcomes to watch for, and how this meeting could shape the next phase of global politics. Read here: perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...
perryworldhouse.upenn.edu
Expectations Ahead of the Trump-Xi Summit: A PWH Q&A - Perry World House
As global attention turns to the highly anticipated Trump-Xi summit, questions about the future of U.S.-China relations, economic competition, and geopolitical stability loom large. Against a backdrop...
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Neysun Mahboubi @neysunm.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
What can we reasonably expect from next week's summit in Beijing, and what is the likely road ahead for U.S.-China relations? I thoroughly enjoyed discussing these questions with The Hoover Institution's Matt Turpin at @fpri.bsky.social yesterday. Watch our dialogue at:
youtube.com
The Trump-Xi Summit in Beijing
YouTube video by Foreign Policy Research Institute
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Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
The aim of the war is no longer regime change. The aim of the war is now to convince people this wasn't a mistake in the first place.
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
We closed out our Spring lecture series on campus @upenn.edu with a visit by none other than @kaiserkuo.bsky.social, speaking about the troubling rise of “civilizational discourse” in both the U.S. and China — and the habits of mind needed to avoid further spiraling in the bilateral relationship
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Yaqiu Wang 王亚秋 @yaqiu.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Honored to be included!
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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
We are thrilled to announce the selection of our fourth fellowship cohort, sixteen truly outstanding next generation China scholars and analysts you can read more about here: global.upenn.edu/future-of-us... Check out the full announcement at: global.upenn.edu/future-of-us...
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