Abstract
China’s growing influence in artificial intelligence, biosecurity, and other emerging technologies makes it crucial for effective coordination between China and Western nations to address global catastrophic risks. While China plays a vital role in issues ranging from factory farming to nuclear security, there remains insufficient understanding and cooperation between Chinese and Western organizations working on these challenges. The development of China specialists who combine expertise in both effective altruism and Chinese language, culture, and affairs represents a high-impact career path. Rather than focusing on broad outreach efforts in China, which carry significant risks of miscommunication and cultural misalignment, the priority should be developing deep expertise and building targeted connections with Chinese experts and institutions. Key areas for specialization include AI safety and governance, biorisk reduction, international coordination, and foreign policy. The path is particularly suitable for those with humanities research skills and interest in China, with opportunities available through scholarships, language study, policy positions, and work in relevant organizations. Approximately 10-20 people with significant expertise are needed in the community within the next few years to effectively bridge these knowledge and coordination gaps. - AI-generated abstract
