Emma Burgers is a staff member at the Leiden Asia Centre, where she works as an assistant researcher on issues related to China, digital technologies, and international security. She previously contributed to the project China’s Role in Cyber Security (2019–2023) and was part of the research team for How Asia Confronts COVID-19 Through Technology, for which she authored the chapter on China’s deployment of digital technologies in the early stages of the pandemic. Most recently, Emma contributed to the research project Dealing with Decoupling from China, conducted within the framework of the China Knowledge Network (CKN), which examines how companies in Europe and Asia navigate the strategic and operational risks associated with economic decoupling.
In addition to her research activities, Emma is responsible for the development, coordination, and delivery of the Leiden Asia Centre’s training programmes. These include the Regional Course Asia, the India Masterclass, and the China Workshop for Journalists. She also oversees the organisation of the Centre’s public events, including the Asia Academy lecture series and CKN knowledge sessions.
Emma graduated in 2021 with a master’s degree in Asian Studies (China) from Leiden University. Her master’s thesis examined Dutch digital diplomacy in China, focusing on the use of Weibo by the Dutch diplomatic mission. During her studies, she interned at the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency in Shanghai and studied Mandarin for one year at the Beijing Language and Culture University. She also served as a board member of the Young China Circle, a platform for students and young professionals to discuss contemporary developments related to China.
