John Tkacik supplies International Assessment and Strategy Center’s Asia policy, strategy and military programs with analysis and research from the perspective of a career diplomat. He maintains an international network of experts, conducts briefings for congressional, academic, think tank and military audiences, and testifies before Congress. Tkacik served 24 years in the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Service Officer, with almost 20 years of that working in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and on China/Taiwan affairs in the State Department. During his 1989-94 service as the Deputy US Consul General in Guangzhou (Canton), and later as Chief of China Analysis at the US State Department Office of Intelligence and Research (INR), he received the State Department’s Superior Honor Award and the Intelligence Community’s Exceptional Collector Award. At INR, Tkacik supervised all State Department analysis, coordination and dissemination of China economic, commercial, military, political and strategic intelligence.
Tkacik is a fluent Chinese speaker and an acknowledged expert on Taiwan’s economics and politics. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and a Masters from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He also holds a diploma from the National War College at the National Defense University. Tkacik has appeared regularly in US and international media, including CNN, PBS, MSNBC, Fox News and C-Span, and publications such as the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, The Diplomat, Defense News, and Jane’s Defense Publications.
From 2001-9, Tkacik was Research Fellow for China, Taiwan and Mongolia Policy at The Heritage Foundation. From 1994-present he has served as president of China Business Intelligence, an Alexandria, Virginia, research firm providing intelligence support to US companies doing business with China, publishers of a weekly business bulletin for Taiwan. He has also served as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International vice president for external affairs in Asia Pacific.
