A Joint Special Issue by Yale University’s China Hands & Tsinghua Youth Voices
What does China mean in a deeply interconnected world — and how do young scholars understand its global role today?
China Hands at Yale University, in collaboration with student editors at Tsinghua Youth Voices (short for Tsinghua University Student Association of China-U.S. People-to-People Exchange, 清华大学学生中美人文交流协会), invites undergraduate students to submit original work for a joint special issue exploring China’s connections with the world from transnational perspectives. This issue seeks to bring together thoughtful, rigorous, and imaginative student voices across borders, disciplines, and intellectual traditions.
Why Submit?
By contributing to this special issue, selected authors will have the opportunity to:
Engage in substantive intellectual exchange with Yale and Tsinghua undergraduates
Receive editorial guidance from both China Hands and Tsinghua student editors
Have their work published on the China Hands website
Be featured in a joint Yale–Tsinghua special issue
Take part directly in U.S.–China youth dialogue and people-to-people exchange
This is more than a publication opportunity — it is a platform for serious conversation, collaborative inquiry, and cross-cultural learning.
About Tsinghua Youth Voices
Tsinghua Youth Voices is a student-led initiative of the Tsinghua University Student Association for China–U.S. People-to-People Exchange. Founded by members of one of the first Chinese student delegations to visit the United States following the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization was created out of a shared belief that sustained dialogue among young people is essential to the future of China–U.S. relations.
Based at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) and advised by faculty mentors, Tsinghua Youth Voices works to strengthen people-to-people ties through student dialogue, visiting delegations, and collaborative projects. It provides a platform for young scholars to engage global issues from cross-cultural and transnational perspectives with openness, rigor, and mutual respect.
About China Hands
Founded in December 2012 by Chinese and American students at Yale University, China Hands is the first Ivy League undergraduate journal dedicated specifically to Greater China issues.
Historically, the term “China Hands” referred to Western merchants and diplomats knowledgeable about China. Today, it signifies individuals with a nuanced understanding of Chinese language, society, culture, and politics. China Hands seeks to cultivate the next generation of these China Hands by publishing grounded, insightful analysis that moves beyond slogans and binaries.
At a time when U.S.–China relations shape global politics, economics, climate policy, and security, China Hands is committed to elevating serious student scholarship rooted in research, lived experience, and critical thinking.
Why This Collaboration Matters
The global order is undergoing profound change, and relations between China and the United States remain among the most consequential forces shaping the world. Beyond state-to-state diplomacy, people-to-people and youth exchange play a critical role in sustaining dialogue, trust, and understanding.
Building on earlier Yale–Tsinghua student collaborations, this joint special issue represents a deeper step forward in creating a shared intellectual space for students to analyze China’s global connections with honesty, creativity, and academic rigor. The project also aligns with broader student-led dialogue efforts supported by the Yale Dialogue on U.S.–China Relations, which works to foster peer-to-peer engagement across national and cultural boundaries.
We believe serious student scholarship is essential to imagining more constructive futures.
Special Issue Theme
China in the World: Transnational Perspectives
世界中的中国：跨国视野
We welcome submissions that explore China’s connections with the world, broadly defined. Submissions may include:
Articles examining China’s interactions with other countries, regions, or cultures in a specific field
Research on China that adopts a comparative or transnational perspective
Relevant fields include (but are not limited to): literature, culture, philosophy, history, law, economics, technology, international relations, education, global governance, politics, public health, environment, energy, agriculture, sports, and more. Interdisciplinary approaches are strongly encouraged.
Submission Guidelines
Eligibility
Open to all current undergraduate students at Yale University and Tsinghua University. All majors welcome.
Submission Options
You may submit either an abstract or a full paper (in English or Chinese) in the first round.
Abstract submission
500–600 Chinese characters or 350–500 English words
Must include five clear bullet points outlining the core argument
Hyperlinked references may be included if helpful
Full paper submission
Chinese: 3,000–8,000 characters
English: 1,500–4,000 words
Must include a Chinese (500–600 characters) or English (350–500 words) abstract
Citations: Chicago style for English; 国标 (GB/T) for Chinese
Review Process
All submissions will undergo editorial review. Selected authors will receive:
Writing guidance (for abstract submissions)
Detailed revision feedback (for full paper submissions)
Final accepted papers will be published on https://chinahandsmagazine.org, with select pieces featured in the joint Yale–Tsinghua special issue.
Academic Standards
Submissions must be original and unpublished
All sources must be properly cited (any standard academic citation style accepted)
Use of fieldwork, data analysis, or faculty interviews is strongly encouraged
Timeline & How to Submit
March 8 – Article submission deadline
March 15 – Selection decisions and editorial feedback
March 23 – Final revised submission
April 15 – Final edits completed & publication begins
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