The best place to study a PhD in Chinese economic statecraft is…Australia?

Serious question: why would anyone study a PhD?

It is enormously stressful; the journey is long and demanding, filled with classes, research, teaching duties, and a constant pressure to produce.

Burnout becomes all too common.

But for Hyun Woo Jo, it’s a challenge worth taking on. His dream is to become a professor, and he knows that means he must first study a PhD.

“Of course it’s tiring. I would rather watch Netflix than read articles and papers. Most people would be,” he says.

“But between work and study, I enjoy studying, so I’m very happy to be in this field.”

After teaching social science and international trade at Sun Moon University in South Korea, he’s moving on to the next chapter of his career.

One of the biggest highlights of Jo’s academic journey is going to study a PhD in Sydney. Another was giving the commencement speech at his bachelor’s graduation from the University of Utah Asia Campus. Source: Hyun Woo Jo

Why would anyone study a PhD?

Jo grew up in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands. And every morning — without fail — would begin the same way.

His aunt would turn on the news during breakfast for background noise and that sparked his interest in how countries interact through trade and economics.

At the same time, he was interested in diplomacy too. “Trade is only possible if diplomatic relationships exist, and those relationships are heavily influenced by international politics,” he says. “So, for me, studying international commerce was perfect.”

That decision brought Jo from Saipan back to South Korea where he joined Seoul National University’s Master’s in International Studies.

He got to study at the University of Tokyo and Peking University too, thanks to the CAMPUS Asia programme.

Yet, even as he advanced in his studies, Jo hadn’t figured out exactly what he wanted to do. That is, until his parents stepped in and offered some surprisingly spot-on advice: he’d make a good professor.

And he believed them. After all, no one understood his personality better than they did.

It also helped that he had a professor he deeply admired. Besides teaching trade law and international trade institutions like the World Trade Organisation, the professor would share stories about visiting North Korea to explore possible economic partnerships with South Korea.

Hearing those stories made Jo realise that if he ever wanted to do something meaningful and exciting like that, becoming a professor was the way.

Jo’s master’s studies at Peking University in 2024 helped him learn about Chinese culture. Source: Hyun Woo Jo

Where is the best place to become an expert in China?

In July 2025, Jo was accepted to the University of Sydney to study a PhD, majoring in governance and international relations with a focus on Chinese economic statecraft.

The topic refers to how China uses its economic, trade, investment, and financial power to shape its relationships and protect its interests at regional and global levels.

It might sound odd at first — why would anyone study about China when in Australia?

“If I study a PhD in China, I’d be surrounded by only Chinese perspectives,” Jo says. “That could influence the way I interpret things. I wanted somewhere more neutral.”

His research looks at Chinese business and geopolitical strategies within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). It is a major trade agreement among 15 countries, including China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the ASEAN nations.

“Australia’s part of the RCEP and has strong economic ties with China,” he says. “That makes it the perfect country for me to study a PhD.”

Of course, it helped that the University of Sydney was the right fit. “It’s a top-tier university,” Jo adds. “I’m very excited as studying here will give me access to perspectives and resources I wouldn’t have in South Korea.”

Before he set off to study a PhD, Jo was busy inspiring students as a speaker at the University of Utah Asia Campus Career Talk in April 2025. Source: Hyun Woo Jo

‘The chaos makes it great to study a PhD’

The tariff threats from the US is probably one of the biggest economic conflicts of the 21st century. Then there’s the war in Ukraine, rising tensions between China and Taiwan, and the trade war between China and the US.

While its not the best situation to be in, there’s a silver lining for Jo. The current environment is perfect for him to study a PhD and research this area.

If the world was peaceful, all he could study about is why it is peaceful.

“The US, for example, is placing tariff threats on its allies,” he says, “It’s essentially using economic pressure to force new deals. Countries like Vietnam and the Philippines are directly impacted — they’re being pushed to rethink their trade strategies.”

That’s where his focus on RCEP comes in. “If ASEAN countries can no longer rely on the US as a buyer for their agricultural products, they’ll need new trade partners. The RCEP already includes China, Japan, Korea, Australia, and others — it offers an alternative framework.”

So while the global situation is unstable, that instability makes his research even more relevant.

Despite the challenges, Jo remains hopeful.

“Globalisation, as we know it, is still relatively new — maybe 50 years old. But we’ve grown so used to this interconnected world. Our goods come from everywhere, our economies are interdependent. People, and especially leaders, know this,” he explains.

And if leaders see their citizens struggling or getting frustrated, they’ll be forced to find solutions.

“We’ve already come too far to go back,” he says. “Maybe we won’t go back to what we had, but I believe we’ll find a new balance.”

He admits that there may be sacrifices along the way — resources, time, and economic loss — but he is willing to bet on human resilience.

“Yes, it’s a chaotic world,” he says. “But chaos brings change and change brings opportunity. That is why I believe countries will eventually figure out how to adapt.”

Another thing Jo did before going to study a PhD? He presented at the “Young Ambassador Programme” hosted by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat. Source: Hyun Woo Jo

What is it like working in academia long-term?

Teaching has been a constant in Jo’s academic life. While he was studying in China and Japan, he also worked as a teaching assistant and tutor.

He genuinely enjoyed working with students, and those experiences helped him grow and confirmed that he wants to be a professor in the long-term.

But being on the other side of the classroom isn’t always easy.

For Jo, being fair was one of the hardest parts. At Sun Moon University, he had about 100 students and some would come to him after class, asking for a boost in their grade.

Saying no wasn’t easy, especially when he saw the disappointment in their eyes. But if he made exceptions, he’d have to do it for everyone.

And don’t think your lecturers don’t notice when you’re nodding off or own your phone during class.

“I don’t force anyone to pay attention,” Jo admits. “My class is three hours long. I understand that students get tired so instead, I speak louder or switch to group activities to keep things engaging.”

Despite the ups and downs, he’s never doubted his path.

“Most of my friends talk about quitting school and jumping into work,” he says. “I’ve never felt that way. I know I want to stay in academia. This is where I belong.”