David Arase taught and researched on East Asian politics, political economy, and security relations at Pomona College in Claremont, CA for 22 years before resigning in 2012 to join the SAIS Johns Hopkins University, Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC) as a resident professor of international politics. While teaching at HNC, he has published many articles and commentaries; participated widely in academic conferences in Asia and Europe; and visited international studies institutes in Australia, Japan, and Singapore for extended periods of research. His three most recent books are edited volumes: The US-Japan alliance: balancing soft and hard power in East Asia (Nissan Institute/Routledge, 2010), which was awarded the Ohira Memorial Foundation Special Prize for works promoting the Pacific Basin Community concept; China's Rise and East Asian Order (Palgrave, 2016); and the Routledge Handbook on Africa-Asia Relations (Routledge, 2017). He is currently working on a single authored book on China’s rise to predominance in Asia.

Kenneth Jarrett, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai since September 2013. Prior to that he was the Greater China Chairman for APCO Worldwide, a Washington-based public affairs consultancy from 2008 to 2013, and before that a U.S. diplomat from 1982 to 2008. During his 26-year diplomatic career, his postings included Consul General in Shanghai, Deputy Consul General in Hong Kong, and Director of Asian Affairs at the White House National Security Council. He also served in Beijing, Chengdu, Singapore, and had several assignments in Washington, DC. Mr. Jarrett has degrees from Cornell University, Yale University and the National War College.

Executive Director of China South China Sea Collaborative Innovation Research Center, Professor of Nanjing University.

Professor Zhu Feng was a visiting scholar at Harvard University, the United States Center for Strategic and International Studies, the United States Concern for the Alliance of Armed Control Scientists, the University of Tulane, the University of Singapore, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is currently Executive Director of the China South China Sea Collaborative Innovation Research Center, Nanjing University.