In addition to my work in academia, I write on a variety of topics related to culture, history, and politics in East Asia and the United States. My writing has been featured in the print issues of Protean, Commonweal, and The New Inquiry.

Outside of my writing, my research on human rights issues and US-China relations have been published through the Hong Kong Democracy Council. I also occasionally comment on political issues through interviews, panel remarks, & public testimony.

Below are a selection of my recent publications & public appearances. Please email mlw9751 (at) nyu (dot) edu for a full list of my writing, research, and media appearances.

Public Scholarship, Essays, & Op-eds

“See Me Like a State.” Review essay (of Minxin Pei, The Sentinel State: Surveillance and the Survival of Dictatorship in China, Harvard University Press, 2024), Public Books, November 2024.

“Chineseness and Other Fictions.” Long-form personal essay, Protean, August 2023 (published online June 2024).

“Confucius Envy.” Long-form essay, Commonweal, October 2022.

“On Belters, Beijingers, and Rat-Catchers.” Long-form literary criticism, Strange Horizons, September 2022.

“In the Mood for Loss.” Essay, The New Inquiry, August 2022.

Policy Research

The S.A.R. Network: Uncovering the Hong Kong Government’s Subnational Foreign-Influence Campaign in America. Policy report, Hong Kong Democracy Council, October 2024.

“Transnational Repression and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices,” written testimony solicited by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, September 2023.

The Counter-Lobby Confidential: How Beltway Insiders Do the Hong Kong Government’s Bidding. Policy report, Hong Kong Democracy Council, July 2023.

Business Not as Usual: International Companies in the New Authoritarian Hong Kong (with Brian Kern). Policy report, Hong Kong Democracy Council, October 2022.

Media Appearances & Public Talks

“Hong Kong ‘running local political influence campaign’ on US soil,” quoted in Radio Free Asia article, October 2024.

“报告揭港府驻外机构渗透美国政商界,” quoted in Radio Free Asia article, October 2024.

“報告指港經貿辦利用民間組織滲透美國　為中共與港府做宣傳,” quoted in Radio Free Asia article, October 2024.

“Hong Kong trade offices, academic exchange targeted in bills passed by US House,” quoted in South China Morning Post article, September 2024.

“Matthew Trickett 曾當港官保安揭露經貿辦真實性質,” quoted in Radio Free Asia article, May 2024.

“梵蒂岡希望升級與中國關係 被批「與惡人擊掌」|粵語新聞報 (05-23-2024), interviewed on television by RFA Cantonese, May 2024

“跨境鎮壓與國際滲透——《如水》論壇探討我們與惡的距離,” quoted in 如水 Flow HK article, April 2024.

“中共跨境鎮壓與國際滲透,” panel discussion hosted by 如水 Flow HK, February 2024.

“亚马逊新剧重现"雨伞运动" 香港看不了,” quoted in Radio Free Asia article, January 2024.

“港人海外倡議挑戰：中共跨境鎮壓、融入當地政治、臺灣國際處境,” quoted in 如水 Flow HK article, January 2024.

“全球港人政治能量與去路,” panel discussion hosted by 如水 Flow HK, January 2024.

“An Introduction to Hong Kong Legislative Efforts in the U.S.,” panel discussion at the 2023 Hong Kong Summit, July 2023.

“The best-connected people the Hong Kong government can buy are lobbying the U.S. government,” interview with The China Project, July 2023.

“Hong Kong spent millions lobbying in U.S.: report,” quoted in Nikkei Asia article, July 2023.

“港府自「反送中」大灑逾 萬在美遊說 與官員互動過千次,” quoted in Radio Free Asia article, July 2023 (also distributed by Radio Taiwan International as “2019「反送中」以來 港府大灑逾 億在美遊說,”).

“Hong Kong government ‘spends millions’ to advance Beijing’s interests,” quoted in Radio Free Asia article, July 2023.