Henrietta Levin

Senior Fellow, Freeman Chair in China Studies
Henrietta Levin

Henrietta Levin is a senior fellow with the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. She previously held senior roles at the U.S. Department of State and the White House, spearheading U.S. strategy and diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific, with particular focus on China and its global impact, Southeast Asia, and the region’s multilateral architecture. Most recently, Henrietta served as deputy China coordinator for global affairs at the Department of State, director for China at the White House National Security Council, and director for Southeast Asia, also at the National Security Council. Earlier, she held several positions across the Department of State, including at U.S. Embassy Beijing, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. She began her government career at the Pentagon, where she served as a spokesperson and presidential management fellow in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Henrietta is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and holds several Department of State Superior Honor Awards. She received a bachelor's degree in international relations and a master of public diplomacy degree from the University of Southern California.

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Understanding Global South Perspectives on Taiwan

The CSIS Freeman Chair convened an international task force on Taiwan and the Global South. Members evaluated the state of Taiwan’s relationships in the Global South, opportunities to expand engagement, and Global South perspectives on cross-Strait issues. This event and accompanying report reviews what they found, and explores how Global South powers have a critical stake in Taiwan’s future, while Taiwan’s interests are deeply linked to its position in the Global South as well.

Event — January 28, 2026

Understanding Global South Perspectives on Taiwan

The CSIS Freeman Chair convened an international task force on Taiwan and the Global South. Members evaluated the state of Taiwan’s relationships in the Global South, opportunities to expand engagement, and Global South perspectives on cross-Strait issues.

Brief by Henrietta Levin and Hugh Grant-Chapman — January 16, 2026

State of Play

What are CSIS experts' boldest geopolitical predictions in 2026?

12 CSIS experts join Will to share significant developments in different parts of the world in 2025, and predictions for 2026.

Podcast Episode by Will Todman, Ryan C. Berg, Max Bergmann, Victor Cha, Thomas J. Christensen, Charles Edel, Kristi Govella, Henrietta Levin, Bonny Lin, Oge Onubogu, Gregory B. Poling, Richard M. Rossow, and Mona Yacoubian — January 15, 2026

Photo: iLab/CSIS

Indo-Pacific Forecast 2026

Please join the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy (GFP) Department's annual preview of political, economic, and security developments across the region.

Event — January 14, 2026

When Faith and Geopolitics Collide

The Dalai Lama is widely revered as an advocate for human rights and nonviolence, but Beijing considers him an existential threat. When the 90-year-old monk passes, a succession crisis will ignite geopolitical flashpoints that world leaders are not yet prepared to manage.

Report by Henrietta Levin and Alison Bartel — January 9, 2026

Pekingology

China's Church Divided

Henrietta Levin is joined by Paul Mariani who unpacks the Communist Party's views on religion, how the Catholic Church navigated the turbulent politics of 1980's China, and why the Vatican has renewed a controversial deal with Beijing.

Podcast Episode by Henrietta Levin — January 8, 2026

CSIS Pekingology