Jonah Bock is the Assistant Director for Research at The Alliance Futures Initiative. His own work focuses on strategic competition, Pacific Islands geopolitics, and China's influence in the region. He brings experience spanning policy research, open-source intelligence, and futures analysis — not the kinds he reads in sci-fi.
Prior to joining TAFI, Jonah served as a Senior Research Assistant at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute USA, where he published widely on Pacific Islands affairs in outlets including The Diplomat, The National Interest, and The Strategist. His work has examined topics ranging from U.S. strategic competition with China in the Pacific to Taiwan's diplomatic relationships, naval shipbuilding policy, and the geopolitics of individual island nations such as Palau and Kiribati.
He also held a virtual student federal service internship with the Department of State's East Asia and Pacific Bureau, supporting research on China's efforts to erode Taiwan's diplomatic partnerships in the Pacific.
Jonah produces the PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor, a weekly open-source intelligence product providing systematic tracking of Beijing's public diplomatic activities across the nine Pacific Island Countries hosting Chinese missions.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from American University's School of International Service, with a minor in Chinese Language. Jonah studied abroad in Taiwan, where he ate very well and took a couple of courses too.
Recent Work
Ukrainian Outcomes, Chinese Lessons
Ukraine Red Team Report
Three scenarios for how the Russia–Ukraine war ends — and what each teaches China about Taiwan.
Beijing Counts Victories in Diplomatic Competition with Taiwan
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 15
PNG–China economic framework; one-China affirmations from Tonga and Nauru.
From China Skeptic to Sit-Down
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 14
Solomon Islands PM Wale hosts Beijing's envoy; a Shanghai delegation visits Vanuatu.
Nauru and Tonga Make the Pilgrimage to Beijing
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 13
Delegations travel to Beijing; the NauruansChinaStory cultural campaign.
Xi to PM Marape: I Give You Guangdong
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 12
Papua New Guinea's investment tour; expanded PRC medical services in the Solomons and Samoa.
Cuba and China's Kiribati Rendezvous
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 11
Cuba and China's Kiribati rendezvous, disaster relief across Micronesia, and high-level meetings.
Climate Cooperation and Ministerial Visits
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 10
Climate cooperation week and ministerial visits across the Pacific.
In the Shadow of the Crocodile
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 9
China–Papua New Guinea defense cooperation and diplomacy in Nauru.
Tomb Sweeping Day & the Samoa Foray
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 8
Qian Bo's Samoa visit, Tomb Sweeping Day observance, and people-to-people ties.
44 Years with Vanuatu, Subnational Diplomacy
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 7
44 years of relations with Vanuatu, subnational diplomacy, and education engagement.
Food Security & the Economic Model
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 6
Food security, education, and promoting China's economic model across the Pacific.
Women, Children, and Energy
PRC Pacific Embassies Monitor · Wk 5
Themes from the week: women, children, and energy across the Pacific.