Brian Finlay President and CEO at Stimson Center China Program | Official website
Michael Cunningham has joined the Stimson Center as a Senior Fellow in the China Program, according to an announcement from the organization. Cunningham brings significant experience in China’s domestic politics, foreign policy, cross-Strait relations, and Taiwan’s political environment.
Cunningham’s background includes extensive time living and working in both China and Taiwan. He has previously advised businesses on political, operational, and security risks related to their activities in the region. Before joining Stimson, he served as a Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Asia Studies Center where he focused on political and foreign policy issues involving mainland China and Taiwan. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Portuguese and also holds a position as Nonresident Fellow at National Taiwan University’s Center for China Studies.
“We are delighted to have Michael joining the Stimson Center as a Senior Fellow and bringing his deep expertise on China and Taiwan,” said Yun Sun, Senior Fellow and Director of the China Program.
“We are pleased to welcome Michael to our China team,” said Brian Finlay, President and CEO of Stimson. “Stimson has been proud to be home to some of the trusted China expertise in town, and Michael’s arrival only further strengthens our bench of dedicated scholars led by the incomparable Yun Sun.”
Cunningham will contribute research as part of ongoing efforts by the China Program to advance dialogue about developments in one of the world’s most significant regions.
The Stimson Center China Program engages stakeholders through events and dialogues aimed at fostering mutual understanding around shared security challenges (official website). The program provides policy-relevant analysis on China's foreign policy and security strategy for policymakers and the public (official website). It maintains a focus on areas such as the Indo-Pacific region, including key locations like the Taiwan Strait (official website), collaborates with other initiatives for interdisciplinary insights (official website), produces high-quality reports about China's strategic behavior (official website), operates as a nonpartisan research entity (official website), develops analysis addressing U.S.-China competition and military relations while fostering dialogue on stability (official website).
The Stimson Center promotes international security through applied research, independent analysis, global engagement, and policy innovation.
