About the Congressional Staff Program on Asia

The Congressional Staff Program on Asia (CSPA) is a bipartisan educational certificate program, which aims to equip Congressional staffers with greater knowledge of U.S.-Asia policy in order to better understand America’s role in and engagement with this dynamic region and the policy implications that will directly engage Congress. It also provides an opportunity for participants to expand their network of congressional colleagues who are involved in similar issues, while engaging leading experts and officials on a range of policy-relevant topics.

This semester-long certificate program consists of a weekly series of eight working sessions during luncheon on Capitol Hill beginning in September and through October 2018. Certificates of Completion will be awarded to participants who attend a minimum of six of the eight sessions.

Each session will feature a single topic and one or more speakers. Speakers will be from government agencies, think tanks, universities, and other policy relevant institutions. Session topics will cover issues with implications for Congressional consideration and action, and include: Managing Security Challenges in the U.S.-Japan Alliance; Great Power Competition with China/Taiwan; Alliances and Force Posture in the Indo Pacific; Korean Peninsula Issues; South China Sea, ASEAN, and Southeast Asia; Competing Economic Architectures in the Indo-Pacific; Democracy and Human Rights in US-Indo Pacific Relations; and India, U.S.-India Relations and the Indo-Pacific. A complete schedule of topics, times, and locations will be provided at the time of selection.

This program is supported by a generous financial grant from Sasakawa USA, an independent American non-profit, non-partisan institution dedicated to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations through education, programs, and research.

How to Apply

Please visit the East-West Center website for more details and for the application link. The deadline to apply is July 27, 2018.

The program will consist of a weekly series of luncheon talks on Capitol Hill in September and October 2018. Speakers will be from universities, think tanks, government agencies, and other policy relevant institutions. Session topics will cover issues with implications for Congressional consideration and action, and include: Managing Security Challenges in the U.S.-Japan Alliance; Great Power Competition with China/Taiwan; Alliances and Force Posture in the Indo Pacific; Korean Peninsula Issues; South China Sea, ASEAN, and Southeast Asia; Competing Economic Architectures in the Indo-Pacific; Democracy and Human Rights in U.S.-Indo Pacific Relations; and India, U.S.-India Relations and the Indo-Pacific. A complete schedule of topics, times, and locations will be provided at the time of selection.

Applicants must be current congressional staff, employed by either a member of congress or a congressional committee, and can come from either chamber or party. No previous Asia expertise is required, but a strong Asia interest is encouraged. Preference is given to professional staff from committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction and oversight on issues U.S.-Asia relations (e.g.: Foreign Affairs/Foreign Relations, Intelligence, Ways and Means, Finance etc.); as well as legislative assistants, directors, chiefs of staff, and deputy chiefs of staff serving Members on these committees or constituencies with strong Asia interests.

All completed applications received by the deadline will be considered for participation. A group of up to ten participants will be selected for this year’s class, with decision letters expected to be sent in early-August. For queries related to the program or application, please contact Mrs. Sarah Wang at wangs@eastwestcenter.org.