Hong-Cheng Hsiao

Hong-Cheng Hsiao is a PhD researcher at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy, and Strategy (CSDS) of the VUB. He holds an M.Sc. in International Relations and Diplomacy from Leiden University, the Netherlands, and a B.A. in Political Science from Soochow University, Taiwan. Prior to joining CSDS, Hong-Cheng gained experience in various positions related to cross-border investment analysis, having previously worked at a Chinese investment bank and a Japanese corporate bank. He also completed a traineeship at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, covering FDI, trade and economic influence, foreign interference, and digital diplomacy.

His research interests cover economic security, foreign economic interference, and international and regional political economy. He is particularly interested in examining how the European economy and foreign policy could secure the EU’s autonomy while demonstrating the EU’s resilience in great power competition. Among others, his research delves into cross-cultural interaction, non-western diplomacy, and regional security in Asia.