Suyash Desai is a research scholar specialising in China’s defence, foreign, and nuclear policies. His research interests include Chinese security and foreign policies, Chinese military affairs, Chinese nuclear strategy, India-China relations, and strategic and security developments in East Asia.

Previously, he served as an Associate Research Fellow in the China Studies Programme at the Takshashila Institution in Bangalore, India. His research has been featured in India Quarterly, Indian Public Policy Review, Takshashila Discussion Documents and Issue Papers, and ORF Occasional Paper. His popular writing has appeared in The Jamestown China Brief, The National Interest, The Indian Express, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, South China Morning Post, Taipei Times, South Asian Voices, and more. Additionally, he has published 117 issues of The PLA Insight, a widely subscribed weekly newsletter on the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), reaching policymakers, academics, and journalists in over 100 countries. Currently, he publishes The PLA Bulletin, a newsletter providing news and analysis on the PLA, with subscribers from academic and policymaking circles across 150 countries.

Suyash holds degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University (MPhil in International Organisations), Mumbai University (Master’s in Political Science), and a diploma in International Law from the Indian School of International Law, in addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media from Mumbai University.

He is currently studying advanced Chinese (traditional script) at National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, Taiwan, having previously completed beginner and intermediate levels at National Sun Yat-sen University. Alongside his language studies, he is pursuing a MicroMasters in Statistics and Data Science from MIT through edX.

Before joining the Takshashila Institution, Suyash briefly worked with Outlook Magazine and The Free Press Journal. He also undertook internships at the Indian Council of World Affairs (Ministry of External Affairs), The Quint, The Indian Express, Times Now, and Daily News and Analysis (DNA). At the age of 19, he was among 30 candidates from across India—and the only underage applicant—shortlisted for the final interview round for an internship at Rashtrapati Bhavan (The President’s House). Additionally, during his undergraduate studies, he served as Editor-in-Chief of his college newspaper.