Heng-Yu (Albert) Liao is a research assistant at the Leiden Asia Centre and is currently participating in the “China’s Foreign-Related Rule of Law” (FRROL) research project within the framework of the China Knowledge Network (CKN). He is currently a Master’s candidate in International Relations and Diplomacy at Leiden University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan.
Albert’s research focuses on Chinese political economy, foreign policy, and cross-strait security. He is skilled in analyzing China’s institutional statecraft, with research covering the EU’s strategic dependence on Chinese rare earths, the challenges posed by the internationalization of the renminbi to the dollar system, and the geopolitical dynamics in Sino-European relations. Prior to joining LAC, he interned in the KYC/AML department of Mizuho Bank Europe, where he was responsible for enhanced due diligence (EDD) and sanctions risk assessment, giving him a unique ability to analyze policy issues from a financial compliance perspective.
His current master’s thesis focuses on alternative payment systems in a geopolitical context, with a particular exploration of the institutional constraints of China’s CIPS (Cross-border Interbank Payment System). His work aims to provide European policymakers with in-depth, expert insights into China’s economic diplomacy, financial sanctions protection, and the Indo-Pacific security situation.
