Events & Briefings

A curated calendar of verified public events on democracy, human rights, rule of law, political prisoners, civil society, and issues within FreeChina.live’s research scope.

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How events are selected

FreeChina.live monitors official calendars, universities, legislatures, NGOs, think tanks, civil-society organizations, public social-media announcements, and other discoverable event sources. Candidates are checked for source reliability, relevance to the site’s research scope, specificity of date and location, public accessibility, and availability of primary documentation. Duplicate announcements are consolidated.

Inclusion is informational, not an endorsement. An event listing means that the event has been verified as relevant and publicly documented; it does not imply agreement with every view expressed by an organizer, sponsor, or participant.

Upcoming events

China in BRICS+: Multilateralism and Intra-BRICS Contestation

Wed Oct 21, 2026, 8:00–9:00am ET (1:00–2:00pm London). Zeno Leoni, Soumya Mishra, Rishika Chauhan and Natasha Kuhrt on China in BRICS+ — multilateralism and intra-BRICS contestation; KCL Strand, London. Part of King’s College London China Week 2026; free, ticket required.

Only Daughters — Women and China’s One Child Policy

Wed Oct 21, 2026, 10:00–11:00am ET (3:00–4:00pm London). Dr Ye Liu on women and China’s one-child policy, chaired by Dr Charlotte Goodburn; King’s College London, Strand, London. Part of China Week 2026; free, ticket required.

Dragon in the Americas: China’s Power, Presence, and Regional Influence

Wed Oct 21, 2026, 11:00am–12:00pm ET. The Hudson Institute hosts Leland Lazarus and Daniel Batlle on China’s power, presence and regional influence in the Americas; Hudson Institute, Washington, DC, in person.

Are Rampant Removals of Admirals and Generals Harming or Helping China’s Naval & Military Advancement?

Wed Oct 21, 2026, 12:00–1:15pm ET. Harvard’s Fairbank Center hosts Andrew S. Erickson (US Naval War College) on whether rampant removals of admirals and generals are harming or helping China’s naval and military advancement; CGIS South S020, 1730 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA.

Beyond Tariffs and Subsidies: Toward a New Framework for U.S. Industrial Policy

Wed Oct 21, 2026, 12:20–1:20pm ET. Y.S. Lee (West Virginia University College of Law) on a new framework for US industrial policy beyond tariffs and subsidies, in the context of competition with China; Wasserstein Hall WCC 3016, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA. Access note: Harvard Law School buildings require a Harvard ID; non-Harvard attendees should contact the organizers in advance.

Easting the West: Theorizing the Postliberal Conjuncture from China

Wed Oct 21, 2026, 1:15–2:30pm ET (6:15–7:30pm London). Dr Chenchen Zhang (Durham) discusses her book on theorizing the postliberal conjuncture from China, with Shakuntala Banaji, Karin Narita and Christian Sorace; LSE Marshall Building, London.

Going Out to Catch Up: China and the Globalization of State-Led Development

Wed Oct 21, 2026, 4:00–5:30pm ET. Jazmin Sierra (Notre Dame) on China and the globalization of state-led development; Harvard Fairbank Center, CGIS South S250, 1730 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA.

The Eurofile Live: Are Europe and China on an Economic Collision Course?

Thu Oct 22, 2026, 9:00–10:00am ET. CSIS’s Eurofile podcast records live with Max Bergmann, Ilaria Mazzocco and Tobias Gehrke on whether Europe and China are on an economic collision course — the EU–China EV agreement and pushback on Chinese overcapacity; virtual, livestream.

China’s Excess Capacity: Options for a Collective Response

Thu Oct 22, 2026, 9:30–10:30am ET. The Asia Society Policy Institute hosts Fukunari Kimura, Yose Damuri and Andrew Small, moderated by Jane Mellsop, on options for a collective response to China’s excess capacity; New York, in person.

What does Brazil’s 2026 election mean for its foreign policy and democracy?

Thu Oct 22, 2026, 12:00–1:00pm ET (5:00–6:00pm London). Chatham House webinar on what Brazil’s 2026 election means for its foreign policy and democracy, including Brazil’s future relations with Washington and Beijing; virtual.

Sea change: the new great game in the Arctic circle

Thu Oct 22, 2026, 1:30–3:00pm ET (6:30–8:00pm London). Rana Foroohar discusses the Arctic as the new great-power arena, with China and Russia challenging US primacy, chaired by Chris Alden; LSE campus, London. In-person public event.

What do we mean by “China?”

Thu Oct 22, 2026, 4:00–5:30pm ET. Xu Guoqi (University of Hong Kong) on the idea of “China” itself; Harvard Fairbank Center, CGIS South S354, 1730 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA.

China and the Middle East

Fri Oct 23, 2026, 5:00–6:00am ET (10:00–11:00am London). Jonathan Fulton, Mohammed Al-Sudairi, Émilie Tran and Reyhaneh Fallah-Noshiravani on China and the Middle East, chaired by Andrea Ghiselli; KCL Strand, London. Part of King’s College London China Week 2026; free, ticket required.

Distorting Mirrors: Changing Images of the U.S. in China and of the PRC in America, 1966, 1986, and 2026

Fri Oct 23, 2026, 8:00–9:30am ET (1:00–2:30pm London). Jeffrey Wasserstrom (UC Irvine) and Lijia Zhang on changing images of the US in China and of the PRC in America in 1966, 1986 and 2026; KCL Strand, London. Part of King’s College London China Week 2026; free, ticket required.

Decolonising China? Colonialism, Multipolarity and the Politics of Solidarity

Fri Oct 23, 2026, 10:30am–12:00pm ET (3:30–5:00pm London). Roundtable with Ablimit Baki Elterish, Astrid Nordin, Chenchen Zhang, Edward Vickers, Tsering Topgyal and Yanran Yao on colonialism, multipolarity and the politics of solidarity; King’s College London, Strand, London. Part of China Week 2026; free, ticket required.

Do Wedge Narratives Persuade? Experimental Evidence from the Hong Kong Diaspora in the UK

Fri Oct 23, 2026, 11:00am–12:00pm ET. Maggie Shum and Kennedy Chi-pan Wong present experimental evidence on authoritarian wedge narratives targeting the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK; University of Toronto Munk School, Room 108, North House, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto.

Closing Keynote & Reception — China and the World: A New Global Order?

Fri Oct 23, 2026, 1:30–3:00pm ET (6:30–8:00pm London). Isabel Hilton in conversation with Astrid Nordin on China and the world: a new global order?; King’s College London, Strand, London, followed by a reception. China Week 2026 closing keynote; free, ticket required.

Why Taiwan matters to the world – elections

Sat Oct 24, 2026, 6:30–9:30am ET (12:30–3:30pm Copenhagen). Taiwan Corner hosts Brian Hioe, Dafydd Fell (SOAS), Michael Danielsen and Courtney Donovan Smith on Taiwan’s 2026 local elections and their implications for Taiwan, the EU and Denmark; in-person in Copenhagen + online.

The Next Generation of Democratic Resilience: Commemorating 30 Years of Taiwan’s Electoral Sovereignty

Mon Oct 26, 2026, 7:00pm ET start (4:00pm Berkeley). UC Berkeley’s Institute of East Asian Studies hosts David Chih-Hsiang Wu, Director-General of TECO San Francisco, on democratic resilience and 30 years of Taiwan’s electoral sovereignty; IEAS Conference Room, 2111 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA.

Chasing China: How should the UK and EU respond to China’s competitive threat?

Tue Oct 27, 2026, 2:00pm ET (6:00pm London). Chatham House panel on UK and EU policy toward China’s competitive challenge; 10 St James’s Square, London.

Counting Stardust: Carbon Citizens and the Infrastructure of Climate Politics in China

Tue Oct 27, 2026, 2:00–3:30pm ET (11:00am–12:30pm Vancouver). Yifei Li on carbon citizens and the infrastructure of climate politics in China; UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, Vancouver, BC. Free.

Making Sense of the Many Chinas: A Dialogue Between Xiaolu Guo and Jeffrey Wasserstrom

Tue Oct 27, 2026, 3:00–5:00pm ET (7:00–9:00pm London). Xiaolu Guo and Jeffrey Wasserstrom in dialogue on their new books, moderated by Dr Carwyn Morris; SOAS, Paul Webley Wing, Wolfson Lecture Theatre, London. Free, registration required; in person only.

China’s Power: Up for Debate 2026

Oct 28–29, 2026. CSIS hosts its 10th-anniversary China Power conference with Bonnie Glaser, Evan Medeiros, Randall Schriver and others on China’s power trajectory; in-person in Washington, DC + webcast.

Emily Feng: Uyghurs in Syria

Wed Oct 28, 2026, 6:30–8:00pm ET. NPR’s Emily Feng discusses her book Our Hearts Burned for Home: Uyghur Militants in Syria’s Civil War, with Michael Forsythe (New York Times); Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York.

2026 Social Forum of the UN Human Rights Council

Oct 29–30, 2026. The UN Human Rights Council’s Social Forum convenes in the Assembly Hall, Palais des Nations, Geneva, on the contribution of international cooperation and solidarity to the right to health; open to states, NGOs, civil society and other stakeholders.

Building collective cognitive resilience: A cross-strait and beyond seminar

Thu Oct 29, 2026, 8:00am ET. The Atlantic Council’s Indo-Pacific Security Initiative hosts a virtual seminar with panelists from Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines — Alvin Camba, Maiko Ichihara and You-Hao Lai, moderated by Kyoko Imai — on building collective cognitive resilience against AI-fueled Chinese influence campaigns; online, registration required.

Conversation with Jonathan Cheng: U.S.-China Relations in a Time of “Strategic Stability”

Thu Oct 29, 2026, 2:30–3:30pm ET (11:30am–12:30pm Seattle). The Washington State China Relations Council hosts Jonathan Cheng, Wall Street Journal China Bureau Chief, in conversation with Nelson Dong on US–China relations, trade, technology and Taiwan; Seattle, WA (venue shared with registrants).

Roll Call for Freedom: A Ceremony Honoring Political Prisoners

Fri Oct 30, 2026, 5:00–7:00pm ET. The National Endowment for Democracy and the October 30 Coalition host Roll Call for Freedom, a public ceremony honoring political prisoners worldwide on the International Day of Political Prisoners; Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC. Open to all registered attendees.

Adrift in the South: China’s Migrant Literature

Fri Oct 30, 2026, 6:30–8:00pm ET. A conversation on the rise of China’s migrant-worker literature and the voices of China’s vast internal migrant population; Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York.

Competing for Soft Power: China’s Image-Making in Africa

Fri Oct 30, 2026, 7:00–8:30pm ET. Dr Maria Repnikova discusses her new book on China’s image-making in Africa — propaganda, media, aid and strategic communications; Rice University Baker Institute livestream, free.

Beneath the Fab: Securing the Semiconductor Materials Layer

Mon Nov 2, 2026, 9:00–10:00am ET. AEI’s Chris Miller moderates Olivier Blachier, Carl Jackson and Michael Robbins on securing the semiconductor materials layer — China’s production capacity and US/allied vulnerabilities; AEI, 1789 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC. In person + livestream.

Networked State Capital in China’s AI Ecosystem

Tue Nov 3, 2026, 12:20–1:20pm ET. Curtis J. Milhaupt (Stanford Law) with Liwen Lin on networked state capital in China’s AI ecosystem; Wasserstein Hall WCC 3019, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA. Access note: Harvard Law School buildings require a Harvard ID; non-Harvard attendees should contact the organizers in advance.

China’s New Venture Capitalists? The Transformation of Local Government Financing Vehicles

Wed Nov 4, 2026, 12:00–1:15pm ET. Jean Oi (Stanford) on China’s local government financing vehicles and their transformation into venture capitalists; Harvard Fairbank Center, Cambridge, MA.

STATE OF ASIA 2026

Thu Nov 5, 2026. Asia Society Switzerland’s flagship conference on the future of Asia, with Kevin Rudd, Taro Kono, Ethan Tu (Taiwan AI Labs) and Simona A. Grano among the speakers; Swiss Re Centre for Global Dialogue, Rüschlikon/Zurich. Tickets on sale; a free public State of Asia Address follows on the evening of Nov 4 at the University of Zurich.

Taiwan × The Netherlands Forum 2026 — Alliance for Democracy: Building inclusive and trusted societies

Sat Nov 7, 2026, 7:00am–12:00pm ET (1:00–6:00pm Utrecht). Policymakers, academics, journalists and civil-society leaders from Taiwan and the Netherlands meet on building inclusive and trusted societies amid declining trust, polarisation and disinformation; TIAS School for Business and Society, Kroonstraat 50, Utrecht. Public forum, registration required.

A Public Discussion on AI Act (II) in the U.S., EU, China & Beyond: Towards Shaping a Secure Future for ALL

Sat Nov 7, 2026, 11:00am–1:00pm ET. The Light Millennium (LMGlobal.org) and Horizon Search Institute host a public discussion on AI Act (II) in the U.S., EU, China & Beyond; virtual (Zoom).

Chatham House Prize 2026: The women of Afghanistan

Mon Nov 9, 2026, 12:30–2:00pm ET (5:30–7:00pm London). The Chatham House Prize 2026 honours the women of Afghanistan for their advocacy under systematic gender persecution; Chatham House, London + online livestream. Balloted — register interest.

How can the future of AI center human rights?

Tue Nov 10, 2026, 10:00–11:00am EST. CSIS Human Rights Initiative event on AI and human rights; in-person at CSIS HQ, 1616 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC + webcast.

Banned Books: How Does it Feel to be Censored?

Nov 10, 2026, London. The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation hosts Mark Clifford, Paul Harris SC and Justin Wong, moderated by Jemimah Steinfeld (Index on Censorship), on Hong Kong book censorship.

The New Cold War?: Authoritarian Ideologies and the International Order

Wed Nov 11, 2026, 4:00–6:00pm ET. Jennifer Gandhi (Yale) and Michael McFaul (Stanford) on authoritarian ideologies and the international order; University of Toronto Munk School, Campbell Conference Facility, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto.

2026 NGO Fellowship Roundtable Discussion

Thu Nov 12, 2026, 8:30pm ET – Fri Nov 13, 3:00am ET (Fri Nov 13, 9:30am–4:00pm Taipei). The Taiwan Alliance in International Development hosts 12 NGO fellows from 12 Asian countries for panels on civic engagement, human rights advocacy and social innovation; GIS NTU Convention Center, Taipei. Registration open.

Sixth Session, UN Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law

Nov 16–17, 2026. The Sixth Session of the UN Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law convenes at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, on education for civic participation. Access note: participation is by accredited delegations — Permanent Missions, UN agencies, IGOs, national human rights institutions and ECOSOC-status NGOs; no general-public registration.

Modernization Theory and Historical Knowledge in Cold War Taiwan

Tue Nov 17, 2026, 4:00–5:30pm ET. Fei-Hsien Wang (Indiana University Bloomington) on Academia Sinica’s “Modernization in China” project (1973–89) and how historical knowledge about China and Taiwan was produced under Cold War conditions; Harvard Fairbank Center, CGIS Knafel K354, 1737 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA.

Illiberal Law and Development: Property Rights and Conflict over Land in China

Tue Nov 17, 2026, 8:30–10:00pm ET. Susan Whiting (University of Washington) on illiberal law and development — property rights and conflict over land in China; Harvard Fairbank Center, virtual (Zoom).

Dear You (2026): A Roundtable on Transnational Ties, Chinese Soft Power and Geopolitical Anxieties

Wed Nov 18, 2026, 6:00–7:30am ET (11:00am–12:30pm London). Scholars from KCL, SOAS and Chulalongkorn discuss Dear You, qiaopi letters and Chinese soft-power strategies toward the Southeast Asian diaspora; virtual (MS Teams), free, registration open.

2026 Taiwan Election — Policy Roundtable

Wed Nov 18, 2026, 12:15–1:30pm ET. Margaret Lewis, Shelley Rigger and Kharis Templeman hold a policy roundtable ahead of Taiwan’s Nov 28, 2026 local elections; University of Pennsylvania Center for the Study of Contemporary China, PCPSE Room 418, 133 S. 36th St, Philadelphia, PA.

Outsourcing Surveillance: Online Opinion Management in China

Thu Nov 19, 2026, 12:00–1:15pm ET. Lynette Ong (University of Toronto) on outsourcing surveillance — how China outsources online opinion management to market actors; Harvard Fairbank Center, Cambridge, MA.

Strengthening Canada-Taiwan Ties: Opportunities and Strategic Pathways Forward

Thu Nov 19, 2026, 4:00–5:00pm ET (2:00–3:00pm MT). Lihsin Liu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, discusses strengthening Canada–Taiwan ties and strategic pathways forward; virtual (online, registration open, link sent Nov 16).

Jung Chang: My Life After China

Fri Nov 20, 2026, 6:30–8:00pm ET. Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans, discusses her memoir Fly, Wild Swans and her life after China; Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York.

15th UN Forum on Business and Human Rights

Nov 23–25, 2026. The 15th UN Forum on Business and Human Rights convenes at the Palais des Nations, Geneva + UN Web TV, on “UN Guiding Principles at 15: Building on Gains, Confronting Gaps, Reimagining the Future.”

Chatham House Berlin Conference 2026

Wed Nov 25 – Thu Nov 26, 2026, Berlin. Includes the China session “De-risking without decoupling: Europe’s new playbook for China” with Denis Redonnet (EU Commission DG TRADE), Amb. Frank Hartmann, Amb. Sylvie Bermann and Gideon Rachman (FT); conference registration required.

19th Session, UN Forum on Minority Issues

Nov 26–27, 2026. The 19th Session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues convenes in the Assembly Hall, Palais des Nations, Geneva + livestream, on advancing minority rights through regional initiatives and cooperation. Registration open via Indico until Nov 15, 2026.

India & China: Shaping the Future of Asia

Fri Nov 27, 2026, 10:00–11:00pm ET (Sat Nov 28, 11:00am–12:00pm Hong Kong). Ambassador Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, India’s Ambassador to China, in conversation with Jonathan Cheng (Wall Street Journal) on India–China relations; Asia Society Hong Kong Center, 9 Justice Drive, Hong Kong. Part of the India by the Bay festival.

Surveillance Authoritarianism: How Digital Technology Transforms Political Control in China

Mon Nov 30, 2026, 4:30–6:00pm ET. Xu Xu discusses how digital technology transforms political control in China — surveillance, targeted repression and authoritarian legitimacy; Princeton University, Louis A. Simpson Building A71, Princeton, NJ.

HR McMaster, President Trump’s former National Security Advisor, discusses America’s future security challenges

Thu Dec 10, 2026, 4:00–5:00am ET (9:00–10:00am London). Lt Gen (Retd.) H. R. McMaster, former US National Security Advisor, discusses America’s future security challenges, including China, Europe and Iran, with Bronwen Maddox; Chatham House, London + online.

Past events & permanent archive

Listings remain available after an event ends so that video, transcripts, photographs, testimony, reporting, speaker materials, and related FreeChina.live research can be added to the historical record.

Reimagining Chinese Diasporas: Queer Art, Community Building and Co-Creation

Wed Oct 21, 2026, 5:00–6:30am ET (10:00–11:30am London). King’s College London’s Lau China Institute hosts Yanran Yao, Spencer Yu and others on queer art, community building and co-creation in the Chinese diaspora; KCL Strand, London. Part of China Week 2026; free, ticket required.

“What’s Your Agenda?”: Attacks Against the Free Press and Democratic Backsliding in Southeast Asia — 2026 Shorenstein Journalism Award

Tue Oct 20, 2026, 3:00–4:30pm ET (12:00–1:30pm Stanford). Stanford’s Shorenstein APARC presents the 2026 Shorenstein Journalism Award: Shibani Mahtani (co-author of Among the Braves) on attacks against the free press in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, with Anna Fifield and Oren Samet; Stanford University, in person, registration required.

US-Taiwan Relations: Growing Strategic Convergence Faces Mutual Leadership Uncertainties

Tue Oct 20, 2026, 12:45–1:45pm ET. George Washington University’s Elliott School hosts a seminar on US–Taiwan relations and growing strategic convergence amid mutual leadership uncertainties; 1957 E St NW, Washington, DC. Free.

Strengthening Taiwan’s Democracy: The Role of Civil Society in Legislative Oversight

Tue Oct 20, 2026, 11:15am–12:30pm ET. The Global Taiwan Institute hosts Li-Yi Chen (Citizen Congress Watch), Robert Maguire (CREW), Scott Greytak (Transparency International US) and Daryl Lobban (Common Cause) on civil society’s role in legislative oversight, ethics and anti-corruption; in-person in Washington, DC + webcast.

Full Stack Spies: How China’s Cyber Operations Foreshadowed its Statecraft

Tue Oct 20, 2026, 5:00–6:00am ET (10:00–11:00am London). Dr Ahana Datta Fasel, author of Full Stack Spies, on how China’s cyber operations foreshadowed its statecraft, chaired by Dr Charlotte Goodburn; virtual (Zoom). Part of King’s College London China Week 2026; free, registration required.

China Week Opening Keynote & Reception — BRICS, the G20 and China

Mon Oct 19, 2026, 2:00–4:00pm ET (7:00–9:00pm London). Lord Jim O’Neill in conversation with Dr Gemma Chenger Deng on BRICS, the G20 and China; KCL Strand, London. King’s College London China Week 2026 opening keynote and reception; free, ticket required.

China and a Multipolar World Order

Mon Oct 19, 2026, 10:30am–12:00pm ET (3:30–5:00pm London). King’s College London’s Lau China Institute hosts Astrid Nordin, Dani Solomon, Giulia Sciorati, Olivia Cheung and Yang Han on how China’s engagement with multipolarity is reshaping world order; KCL Strand, London. Part of China Week 2026; free, ticket required.

China Cure: The Rise of a Biotech, AI Medicine and Global Health Superpower

Mon Oct 19, 2026, 5:30–6:30am ET (10:30–11:30am London). King’s College London’s Lau China Institute hosts Dr Ruby Wang in conversation with Prof. Kerry Brown on China’s rise as a biotech, AI-medicine and global-health superpower; KCL Strand, London. Part of China Week 2026; free, ticket required.

Outcompeting China Through Technology, Industry, and Allied Power with Senator Dave McCormick

Oct 16, 2026. The Hudson Institute (Washington, DC) hosted Sen. Dave McCormick with Mike Gallagher on outcompeting China through technology, industry, and allied power.

Ideas Uncorked | China After Communism: Preparing For What Comes Next

Oct 14, 2026. The Hoover Institution (Washington, DC) hosted Miles Maochun Yu on planning for a post-communist China.