About Us

The Decoding China Project

The Decoding China Project (DCP) is an independent non-profit research organisation established by a group of China specialists with extensive expertise in Chinese politics, law, media, international relations and development cooperation. Our team brings a wealth of academic and real-world experience from years of engagement with Chinese counterparts.

At the heart of our mission to strengthen China literacy is the Decoding China Dictionary. The Dictionary is an open access resource aimed at deepening understanding of how key terms in international relations are interpreted and utilised by the Chinese government and affiliated actors, and how that differs from their common understanding in the normative framework of the UN. The dictionary’s content is authored and compiled by the founding members of the Decoding China Project, using original Chinese sources such as official statements, regulations, and policy plans, while referencing the work of leading scholars in the field.

You can access the Decoding China Dictionary for free as an online resource or download it in PDF format. Stay informed with our latest feature articles and analyses on our website: www.decodingchina.eu.

Your support is vital for us to be able to provide this resource. With your financial assistance, we can continue to develop and expand the dictionary, host events, and translate the dictionary into multiple languages, making it available to a wider audience.

If you are interested in supporting the project, commissioning research, funding printed copies, or inviting us for presentations and training sessions, please reach out at info@decodingchina.eu. We also welcome your feedback and suggestions for future editions, as we strive to grow and refine our offerings.

Our Team

David Bandurski

David Bandurski is a founding member and contributor at The Decoding China Project. His work focuses on media, public diplomacy and civil society. He is also Executive Director of the China Media Project, an independent research organisation based in Taiwan that specialises in the study of Chinese-language media and the discourse of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) both within the PRC and globally. His books include Dragons in Diamond Village (Penguin/MelvilleHouse), a work of reportage on urban development in China, and Investigative Journalism in China.

Katja Drinhausen

Katja Drinhausen is a founding member, contributor and co-managing director at The Decoding China Project. Her work focuses on China’s political, legal and governance system, including digital development and human rights. She also heads the research programme on Chinese politics and society at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), which she joined in 2018. She previously worked as a researcher and project coordinator for the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Beijing, organising political and academic exchange with Chinese partner institutions. Katja studied Sinology as well as Chinese and international law, receiving her LL.M. from China University of Political Science and Law.

Jerker Hellström

Jerker Hellström is a founding member and contributor at The Decoding China Project. His work focuses on investment, trade, and security. During 2024, he served as China Fellow with IDEA, the advisory hub that reports to the European Commission president. Having held senior roles at Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Defence Research Agency, Jerker was Director of the industry-backed Swedish Center for China Studies. A journalist by training, Jerker worked as a Reuters correspondent in Shanghai and Stockholm until 2008.

Malin Oud

Malin Oud is a founding member, contributor and co-managing director at The Decoding China Project. Her work focuses on Global China, international law, human rights, and development cooperation. Malin is currently Senior Advisor at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, having initially joined the Institute in 2001 as Director of its Beijing Office. Additionally, Malin serves as vice chair in the Swedish Expert Group for Aid Studies (EBA) and on several advisory boards, including the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS). She studied Chinese language, Chinese law and international human rights law in Lund, Kunming, and London, and has an MA in International Development from Melbourne University.

Marina Rudyak

Marina Rudyak is a founding member, contributor and co-managing director at The Decoding China Project. Her work focuses on Global China, development cooperation, international relations, and global governance. She is currently an Assistant Professor in Chinese Studies at Heidelberg University and a Principal Investigator in the Horizon Europe project Detecting and Countering Information Suppression from a Transnational Perspective (De-Conspirator). Previously, she worked for the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Beijing and Bishkek. Marina studied Modern and Classical Chinese Studies and Public Law in Heidelberg and Shanghai, and holds an MA and PhD in Chinese Studies from Heidelberg University.

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