Taipei/ Okinawa Trip 2026

Taipei/ Okinawa Trip 2026

Ten Claremont McKenna students traveled with three professors to Taipei and Okinawa to participate in in-depth discussions with Taiwanese, Japanese, and US officials, visit cultural sites and museums, and understand the current state of US-Asia relations.

 

Students and Profs. Appel and Pei at Taiwan’s National Security Council visit at the Presidential Palace.

Students at MediaTek tour in Hsinchu Science Park.

 

  • The first full day in Taipei, students visited the National Palace Museum and were taken on a city tour by CMC Alum Lery Hiciano ‘20, which included a visit to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

  • Students met with Professor Wu Yu-Shan to learn more about domestic politics in Taiwan.

  • Students visited the Presidential Palace and met with Deputy National Security Advisor Vincent Chao.

  • Students attended a special dinner engagement with chief China correspondent for The New York Times, Chris Buckley, who spoke on Taiwan’s ties with mainland China.

  • Students visited MediaTek in Hsinchu Science Park, which is the world’s largest smartphone chipset vendor.

  • Students attended a special dinner and speaking engagement with the speech writer for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who spoke on Japanese security.

  • Students met with a U.S. Army Active Duty Captain Special Forces in Intelligence who works at U.S. Military Base: Torii Station.

  • Students spent the morning visiting the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park and Museum, which commemorates the Battle of Okinawa during World War II.

  • Special Dinner engagement with Professor Xueliang Ding of the Hong Kong Bo Yuan for a discussion on China’s security policy.

Itinerary

Okinawa Peace Memorial

Students at the Okinawa Peace Memorial site in Okinawa, Japan.

Students and Prof. Pei with Prof. Xueliang Ding during his dinner talk on China’s security policy.

Mexico City Trip 2026

Mexico City Trip 2026

Ten Claremont McKenna students traveled with three professors to Mexico City to participate in in-depth discussions with Mexican and US officials, visit cultural sites and museums, and understand the current state of US-Mexico relations.

 

  • The first full day in Mexico City, general sightseeing.

  • Students met with Undersecretary of Health, Eduardo Clark, to learn more about Mexico’s health and welfare policies.

  • Students attended a class and discussion at Tecnológico de Monterrey, learning more about the Mexican postgraduate education system.

  • Students visited the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and received a briefing on US-Mexico relations.

  • Students met with the Deputy Minister of Transportation, Andrés Lajous.

  • Students met with the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Public Safety.

Itinerary

Vietnam Trip 2025

Vietnam Trip 2025

Ten Claremont McKenna students traveled with three professors to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to participate in in-depth discussions with Vietnamese professors and policy experts in universities, think tanks and the United Nations in order to study two themes of the trip:

(1) Legacies of Vietnam’s experience with colonialism and war.

(2) Vietnam’s  integration into regional and global supply chains. 

 
 

  • The first day in Ho Chi Minh City, general sightseeing.

  • Students visited a network of underground rooms and tunnels used during the Vietnam-American War.

  • Professors Nicolas Weber and Vu Mionh Hoang speak about Vietnamese history. Later, students heard from Professors Cong and Tam on Vietnam’s education system.

  • Students visited Chua Vinh Trang Pagoda and a Buddhist temple.

  • Students bonded with Vu Minh and Kim Doan during their first night in Hanoi.

  • Dr. Quang Hoan Troung lectures students on Vietnam’s adaptation strategy in the context of global value chain disruptions following Donald Trump’s reelection.

  • UN Program Analyst and gender disaster risk reduction expert Luong Nhu Oanh spoke with students about women, sustainability and development.

  • Dr. Hoang Manh Cuong and Dr. Pham The Anth discuss Vietnam’s growth and development.

Itinerary

Taiwan-Singapore Trip 2024

Taiwan-Singapore Trip 2024

Claremont McKenna students engaging in insightful discussions with prominent journalists and experts working on East Asian and Southeast Asian affairs, gaining valuable knowledge and perspectives in the field.

 
 

*** Amazing Food, Stunning Architecture, Vibrant Culture ***

Itinerary

  • Meeting with Dr. Shirley Lin and her team.

  • Professor Pei delivered a public lecture on his book, The Sentinel State.

  • Dinner at Pearl Liang (Grand Hyatt)

  • Lunch and discussion about Chairman Lee’s experiences managing cross-strait relations and shaping Taiwanese foreign policy.

  • Meeting with Professor Alfred Schipke and his team.

  • Dinner at Singapore’s Raffles Hotel and discussion on Mr. Crabtree’s career and his book The Billionaire Raj.

  • Breakfast and discussion.

Thailand Trip 2023

Thailand Trip 2023

International Relations students engaging with experts, academics, and UN officials during Keck’s Winter 2023 trip to Thailand.

 

Itinerary

  • Visisted Wat Traimit, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun—as well as other city sights such as markets and ethnic minority neighborhoods. This is a great tour for first-time visitors to Bangkok as students were able to learn about the culture and religions of Thailand.

  • Lecture was given by by Dr.Thuttai Keeratipongpaiboon, Director of International Strategy and Coordination Division at the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).

  • Presentation on "ASEAN Payment Connectivity" with the introduction of regional integration by Mr. Pariwat Kanithasen, Deputy Director, Payments Systems Policy Department. Students also visited the Bank of Thailand’s Museum, a learning center about currency/monetary system development in Thailand.

  • Presentation “Thailand’s History, Society, and Politics: Evolution, Development and Prospects” by Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak.

    Presentation “EU-ASEAN Relations: Normative Bases, Prospects, and Challenges” by Professor Natthanan Kunnamas.

    Presentation “Human Rights/Human Security and Asean” by Professor Kasira Cheeppensook.

  • The UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN/ESCAP) presented an overview of UN/ESCAP and Economic and Social Survey by Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development.

  • Presentation “Economic Policies for an Inclusive Recovery and Development” by Professor Bunyasiri.

  • Private tour to Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and elephant care.