Bonny Lin is a senior fellow for Asian security and director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Previously, she was the acting associate director of the Strategy and Doctrine Program of RAND Project AIR FORCE and a political scientist at the RAND Corporation, where she analyzed different aspects of China’s foreign and defense policy and U.S. competition with China, including China’s use of gray zone tactics against U.S. allies and partners. Her research advised senior leaders in the Department of Defense, including military leaders at U.S. Pacific Air Forces and U.S. Army Pacific. Dr. Lin also served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 2015 to 2018, where she was director for Taiwan, country director for China, and senior adviser for China.
Dr. Lin has testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an adjunct at the RAND Corporation and Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA). Dr. Lin holds a PhD in political science from Yale University, a master’s degree in Asian studies with a focus on China from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard College.
Media Queries
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- Chief Communications Officer
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In the News
China Increases Defense Budget, Adopts Tougher Language for Taiwan
Bonny Lin in Voice of America — March 4, 2024
China steps up Taiwan pressure campaign with more balloons
Bonny Lin in Axios — January 24, 2024
Beijing fears unpredictability of Trump-Lai combination: analyst
Bonny Lin and Victor Cha in Nikkei — January 17, 2024
China Isn't Going to Put the Squeeze on Taiwan's New Leader for Now. He Doesn't Have a Mandate.
Bonny Lin and Lily McElwee in Barron's — January 17, 2024
On GPS: How will Taiwan's election affect US-China tensions?
Bonny Lin in CNN — January 15, 2024
Xi’s comments on reunification could influence Taiwan’s upcoming election
Bonny Lin in NBC News: Meet the Press — December 20, 2023
Biden and Xi agree to restore some military-to-military communications between the US and China
Bonny Lin in AP — November 16, 2023
How 2024 elections in Taiwan and the U.S. could affect U.S.-China relations
Bonny Lin in NBC — November 15, 2023
All Bonny Lin Content
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A Chinese Perspective on the Russia-Ukraine War: A Conversation with Dr. Zhao Hai
Podcast Episode by Bonny Lin — April 12, 2024
Chinese Interference in Taiwan's 2024 Elections and Lessons Learned
Event — April 10, 2024
The Political Thought of Xi Jinping: A Conversation with Dr. Steve Tsang
Podcast Episode by Bonny Lin — March 28, 2024
National Security with Chinese Characteristics: A Conversation with Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens
Podcast Episode by Bonny Lin — March 15, 2024
China’s Perspective on the Current Middle East Crises: A Conversation with Mr. Tuvia Gering
Podcast Episode by Bonny Lin — March 1, 2024
Shedding Light on China’s Hidden Reach: A Conversation with Dr. Matthew Funaiole and Mr. Brian Hart
Podcast Episode by Bonny Lin, Matthew P. Funaiole, and Brian Hart — February 16, 2024
Unpacking China’s Nuclear Modernization: A Conversation with Hans Kristensen
Podcast Episode by Bonny Lin — January 31, 2024
2024 Global Forecast: The China Challenge
Digital Report by Victor Cha, Gregory C. Allen, Scott Kennedy, Seth G. Jones, Kari A. Bingen, and Heather Williams, Tom Karako, Bonny Lin, Jude Blanchette, Charles Edel, Christopher B. Johnstone, Nicholas Szechenyi, Lily McElwee, Daniel F. Runde, Craig Cohen, Alex Kisling — January 25, 2024
Surveying the Experts: U.S. and Taiwan Views on China's Approach to Taiwan
Report by Bonny Lin, Brian Hart, Chen Ming-Chi, Shen Ming-Shih, Samantha Lu, Truly Tinsley, and Yu-Jie (Grace) Liao — January 22, 2024
Taiwan’s 2024 Elections: Results and Implications
Critical Questions by Brian Hart, Scott Kennedy, Jude Blanchette, and Bonny Lin — January 19, 2024