Sandra
Watson Parcels

I’m a final-year PhD candidate in the Defence Studies Department at King’s College London, specialising in China’s strategic behaviour and economic statecraft. My research focuses on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its use as a tool of geopolitical influence, particularly in relation to China’s role in reshaping the Liberal International Order.

 

I bring over a decade of combined experience in international security research, political risk analysis, and strategic consulting. Prior to my doctoral work, I advised on corporate strategy and government relations, with a focus on strategic business engagement in China. My expertise spans China’s foreign policy, authoritarian influence, economic coercion, and international security. I have delivered lectures to senior military officers and postgraduate students, and contributed to policy publications, commentary, and book chapters on global security issues.

 

I hold an MA in Government, with a specialisation in Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, from Reichman University in Israel, and a BA in Applied Policy Studies from Mount Royal University in Canada. I also hold a certificate in Cyber-Terrorism and have conducted research on Chinese hacker groups and cyber conflict.

 

I am available for expert interviews, collaborative research, academic teaching, and strategic advisory work related to China’s global strategy, economic statecraft, and contemporary security challenges.