Evan S. Medeiros is a Professor and Penner Family Chair in Asia Studies in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He has published several books and articles on East Asian security affairs, U.S.-China relations, and China’s foreign and national security policies. He regularly provides advice and commentary to global corporations and international media.

Medeiros’ background is a unique blend of regional expertise and government experience. He served for six years on the staff of the National Security Council as Director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia and then as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asia. In the latter role, he was President Barack Obama’s top advisor on the Asia-Pacific and was responsible for coordinating U.S. policy toward the Asia-Pacific across areas of diplomacy, defense policy, economic policy, and intelligence.

Prior to joining the White House, Medeiros worked for seven years as a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation. From 2007 to 2008, he also served at the Treasury Department as a Policy Advisor-China to Secretary Hank Paulson, Jr., working on the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue.

Medeiros holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science, an M.Phil. in International Relations from the University of Cambridge (as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar), an M.A. in China Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, and a B.A. in Analytic Philosophy from Bates College.

Medeiros has served on the Board of Directors of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, is a member of the International Advisory Board of Cambridge University’s Centre for Geopolitics, and is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is married to U.S. Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan, and they have a daughter, Amelia.

Last Updated: June 15, 2023

Conversation

05.28.24

The Future According to Xi and Putin

Maria Repnikova, Evan Medeiros & more
On May 16 and 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a state visit to China, where he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Xi has stood closely by Putin’s side since their announcement of the “no limits” partnership, and this does not look likely...

Conversation

06.16.23

The Stakes of Antony Blinken’s Visit to Beijing

Evan Medeiros, Sheena Greitens & more
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China on June 18, after repeated delays of high-level meetings and amid ongoing tensions between the two countries. In November, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping...

10 Years of U.S.-China Diplomacy

Paul Haenle, Yan Xuetong & more from Carnegie China
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the China in the World podcast, in this podcast episode Carnegie China is looking back on 10 years of U.S.-China diplomacy following the postponement of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s planned visit to...

Conversation

10.16.20

A New Normal for U.S. China Policy?

Teng Biao, Isabel Hilton & more
After four years of Trump’s trade wars, withdrawal from international bodies, and xenophobic immigration policies, the United States has hit an apex of isolationism. Even if a new government steps in, however, it’s not altogether clear the U.S...

Conversation

07.08.19

The Other Tiananmen Papers

David Shambaugh, Evan Medeiros & more
In the wake of the lethal use of force by China’s military against demonstrators in Tiananmen Square and citizens of Beijing on June 4, 1989, the United States and other governments were confronted with a series of vexing moral and policy questions...

Conversation

12.11.18

Is this the Beginning of a New Cold War?

Ali Wyne, Yuen Yuen Ang & more
Beyond complicating trade negotiations between the United States and China, the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou has renewed concerns that the two countries are embarking on a new Cold War, based on economic preeminence and technological innovation...

Trump Will Honor ‘One China’ Policy

Paul Haenle & Evan Medeiros from Carnegie China
President Trump agreed to honor the U.S. “one China” policy in his first phone call with President Xi Jinping since taking office, providing the basis for bilateral relations to move forward. Shortly after the February 9 call, Paul Haenle spoke with...