'What better way to study China-U.S. relations than actually going to Taiwan and being on the ground? Every single part of the trip, whether it was going to the military academy, or the presidential office building to speak to somebody on the National Security Council, every part of it, you could see the security aspect.'
Riya Jain
Master of Arts in Security Policy Studies '26
In Winter 2026, 18 graduate students from the Elliott School of International Affairs participated in a Short-Term Study Abroad program to Taiwan to show its resilience in the face of growing coercion from China’s military. We interviewed one of the students, Security Policy Studies student Riya Jain, on her thoughts about the trip
Q. Why did you choose to go to Taiwan for your STAP? How did the focus of the program cater to your interest in security policy studies? I chose Taiwan because I'd originally taken a class on China's military with both professors Dan Peck and Mike Dahm, and China has always been an area of interest of mine since my undergrad. So what better way to study China-U.S. relations than actually going to Taiwan and being on the ground? Every single part of the trip, whether it was going to the military academy, or the presidential office building to speak to somebody on the National Security Council, every part of it, you could see the security aspect. My focus usually has been on military strategies, so there wasn't one part of the trip that wasn't very relevant to my studies. | Image
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Q. What was it like talking to the people in Taiwan about their security concerns, especially in regards to China? In my academic experience in general, whenever we're studying China, it's always through a Chinese lens. We never really stopped to think about the Taiwanese experience at all. It's a very one-sided study that we do back here in DC, where we would talk all day and night about terrain and the conditions in Taiwan and all of this about a potential invasion. But actually getting to go there and talk to people and see what's at stake for them, because this is their lives and seeing whether they are afraid and how they are approaching this issue. It was something that we don't really get here studying in the United States, even if we read all these articles about the situation. You don't really get that experience until you're there. And it's just a very harrowing experience. Just something I never would have gotten by just staying in DC. Q. How do you plan to apply your new experience in academic, professional and personal lives? What would you say to someone who is also trying to focus on China in their studies? Over the years, I have become kind of a China enthusiast. This has been something that I've been interested in for a very long time. So through my future career or academics, the STAP is definitely something that will allow me to think of the other side of the coin, because a lot of research out there or academic papers, whatever will always focus more on China, but not many will focus on Taiwan. So I hope to be that voice in the future for the Taiwanese people and use my experiences from the STAP to voice the other side as well. For those trying to focus on China, it's very important to have that Taiwanese perspective as well. I feel like no matter what issue you are studying, it's always good to know both sides. Before this STAP, I definitely could feel it was very one-sided because I knew so much about China, but I barely knew anything about Taiwan. So after this, I can really feel I have the confidence to really say, I know what I'm talking about. Q. What advice would you give to other students considering a STAP? I am the biggest proponent of going on a study abroad. I think it’s the best decision you can make for your studies, because there’s only so much you can get from learning in a classroom in Washington DC. Even if you are just studying international affairs, there’s only so much you can get without going to a different country, walking its streets, and talking to the people there. So, 100 percent, my biggest advice would just be to do it. Book the flight, book the class, and just go. You are never going to get an experience like that otherwise, and you are going to make life long connections with the people you are going with. | |
Q. What advice would you give to other students considering a STAP? I am the biggest proponent of going on a study abroad. I think it’s the best decision you can make for your studies, because there’s only so much you can get from learning in a classroom in Washington D.C. Even if you are just studying international affairs, there’s only so much you can get without going to a different country, walking its streets, and talking to the people there. So, 100 percent, my biggest advice would just be to do it. Book the flight, book the class, and just go. You are never going to get an experience like that otherwise, and you are going to make life long connections with the people you are going with. | Image
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Q. Any last comments? Huge shout-out to Professors Dan Peck and Mike Dahm. This STAP is unlike any other STAP because of them. Their connections and expertise allowed us to have so many once-in-a-lifetime moments, like speaking to ROC Military Academy cadets or the Deputy Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council in the Presidential Office Building. They gave us the support and knowledge we needed to really explore and digest such a complex issue on our own. | |
Taiwan Resilience under Bombardment, Blockade, and Invasion: Past, Present, and Future is a 3 credit short term study abroad course focused on learning about Taiwan’s resilience in the face of growing coercion from China’s military. Students travelled to various sites in Taiwan, such as Taipei, Kaohsiung, and the Kinmen Islands, to study the military, diplomatic and political considerations of an attack on Taiwan and its effects on Taiwan, global trade, and international relations.
Interview conducted by Arunmoy Das.
Photos taken and provided by Riya Jain.