Tony Cai

Tony Cai is a sophomore at Yale University, working toward a B.A. in Global Affairs and a B.S. in Computer Science. Originally from Xiamen, China – an island city on the Taiwan Strait – Cai has long been interested in the nexus of international conflict, history, military affairs, and culture. Cai’s research has examined the intertwined dynamics of public opinion, policy-making, and propaganda, exploring how a nation’s self-perception shapes its historical narrative.

Cai works with universities in mainland China to design a series of courses focused on nuclear politics, including nuclear safeguards and arms control. He aims to explore the effects of China’s domestic political evolution on its nuclear strategy; he also seeks to understand the intersection of Beijing’s emphasis and decade-long efforts on public awareness of nuclear weapons with its agenda as a nuclear superpower.

Cai speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese Hokkien, English, and Spanish.

Bio recorded January 3, 2025