Join us for an evening fireside chat with Jonathan Cheng, China bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, on his new book Korean Messiah and on where China stands today.

Korean Messiah tells the history of North Korea, one of the most closed countries in the world, through the rise of the Kim dynasty and its surprising roots in American Christianity. The New Yorker named it one of the best books of 2026 so far, and Foreign Policy and LitHub listed it among the most anticipated books of the year. It is shortlisted for the 2026 Cundill History Prize. You can buy Korean Messiah from Amazon (ships from the US) or Kinokuniya (Singapore). Jonathan will sell a limited number of copies at the event at a discount and sign the books at the event.

We will also discuss the latest in China and US-China relations after the US midterm elections, which mark the unofficial start of the 2028 presidential race, and President Trump's attendance at the APEC Summit in Shenzhen.

We are grateful to The Nanson for partnering with us. All tickets include 1 drink voucher a The Nanson bar. CAA SG members who are also Nanson members may directly contact and RSVP with The Nanson through  Shan Kumar. 

About the Author

Jonathan is the China bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, overseeing coverage of the world’s second-largest economy across politics, economics, business, technology, and society. Jonathan leads a team of two dozen correspondents and researchers in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, and New York, with responsibility for the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Previously, Jonathan was the Korea bureau chief for The Journal, running coverage of North Korea and South Korean politics and business. He began his career as an intern in The Journal’s Hong Kong bureau and also worked as a markets reporter in The Journal's New York office.

Jonathan speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, French, and Korean. A native of Toronto, Jonathan graduated from Princeton University with a degree in history. He lives in Beijing and has traveled to North Korea twice.