Weikang Liu

Weikang Liu is a PhD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public and International Affairs. Weikang’s research focuses on international political economy, including economic statecraft, industrial policy, and China’s relations with Southeast Asia. One project examines whether trade patterns around the China–Philippines South China Sea arbitration show evidence of informal economic coercion. Another investigates how China recalibrates its High and New Technology Enterprise (HTE) program through monitoring, provincial enforcement, and removing firms that no longer meet program criteria. Combining quantitative analysis and comparative case studies, Weikang’s broader research explores how political priorities shape economic policy and cooperation. Ongoing research also examines infrastructure cooperation in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link.