I entered the China Focus essay contest and didn’t win—but here’s what I learned about choosing global topics

[Valio]

I spent January–February 2026 working on the China Focus Essay Contest . Didn’t win. Didn’t place. But I learned more about topic selection in 10 weeks than in 3 years of coursework.

The prompts (for 2026):

1. Cooperation amid Strategic Rivalry – How can the U.S. and China find common ground on climate, health, or AI governance?
2. Beyond the Trade War – How is U.S.-China competition reshaping Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia?

What I learned the hard way:

• Don’t pick the “biggest” question. I tried to answer “Can the U.S. and China cooperate on everything?” Dumb. The winners picked one mechanism—one trade deal, one health initiative, one AI governance framework.
• Guiding questions are not suggestions. They’re the actual assignment. If they ask about Vietnam and Japan, they don’t want your essay on South Korea.
• Evidence-based means recent. My 2019 sources got cooked. The 2024–2026 policy shifts matter more than historical context.

Also: Their AI policy is strict. You can use AI for brainstorming and clarity, but if they detect AI-generated drafting? Rejected .

Anyone else do contest season this year? What worked for you?