Party School
A 3 day masterclass on the Chinese Communist Party, its plans for Taiwan, and what it means to you.
For Leaders in Business and Government
Taught by Retired Admirals and Professional China Risk Advisors
Who comes to Party School? And Why?
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Geopolitical instability is no longer an abstract concern—it’s an immediate business risk. Party School gives risk leaders the strategic insight to assess, mitigate, and prepare for China-Taiwan disruption with real intelligence, not speculation.
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Major strategic decisions—from supply chain shifts to market expansion—are shaped by China’s next moves. This program equips senior leaders with the depth to see the risks ahead and the confidence to navigate them.
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Taiwan is the focal point of modern defense strategy, yet few truly understand the CCP’s calculus. Party School provides an inside-out view of China’s strategic thinking, taught by those who have spent careers studying or countering it.
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DoD customers expect their partners to deeply understand the conflicts their technology will support. Party School gives defense startups the knowledge to speak with authority, align with government priorities, and position their solutions for real-world impact.
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In an era where defense startups are competing for government contracts and geopolitical risk is reshaping markets, investors need more than surface-level insights. Party School helps VCs assess risk, spot opportunity, and ensure their portfolio companies aren’t left behind.
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The China-Taiwan conflict is one of the most consequential global issues, yet much of the coverage and analysis lacks depth. Party School provides unparalleled access to expertise, giving thought leaders the historical, strategic, and operational insights needed to cut through misinformation and shape the conversation with authority.
PARTY SCHOOL
Taiwan could be the most important question of the 21st century…
Party School exists to tackle that question head on.
If you have Taiwan blind spots, you’ve come to the right place. While we don’t have a crystal ball, we built Party School for leaders that want to think clearly about the most complex geopolitical issue of our time.
Led by world class instructors, we take you behind the curtain of the CCP and what makes them tick - focusing on actionable insights for you and your team.
Ditch the webinars and stuffy lectures - Party School is the most engaging way to get fluent on China-Taiwan risk. Period.
Party School Grads walk away with…
A solid grasp of the CCP, its strategic goals and its methods for achieving them.
The ability to communicate the complex layers of the China-Taiwan issue and the US policy surrounding it.
Actionable, industry-specific insights for risk mitigation.
Next Party School
May 28-30th, 2025
Annnapolis, MD
Tuition: $6500
Group Rates: Groups rates available, please reach out for more information if interested.
Future Courses: Future Party School dates and locations to be announced mid-2025. Please inquire if you’re interested in Party School but unable to attend in May.
Syllabus
Day 1: The CCP and the China-Taiwan Problem
Highlights
The CCP’s Lineage from Mao to Now
“Make China Great Again” as Guiding Vision
The Party Holds the Gun: The PLA’s Role
The Strategy for Unification: Political Warfare and Beyond
Taiwan’s Complex Identity: ROC, KMT, DPP, & History
Day 2: Taiwan’s Future and Global Impact
Highlights
How Wars Start (or Don’t)
Trump 2.0: Deal or Showdown Ahead?
The Silicon Shield: Can It Prevent War?
What to Expect in the Next Five Years
How to Spot Signals of Changing Risk
Day 3: Decision-Making for China Risk
Highlights
Challenging Biases in Risk Perception
Taiwan Crisis Simulation (TTX)
Your Executive Action Plan
Industry Case Studies: Mitigations and Crisis Responses
Teaching Taiwan Risks to Your Team
The Party's in Annapolis
Party School is hosted in Annapolis, MD because life’s too short for some bland DC conference room. Away from the distractions, we believe that you learn best in a place where you can focus and detach from the grind.
Stroll through historic downtown, explore the Naval Academy campus, or hit up the local food scene - we’ve built the schedule so you have time to roam this charming town during the most beautiful time of year.
(Annapolis is a short 25 min drive from BWI Airport and a 35 min drive from Washington D.C. / Ronald Reagan Airport. )
Our Team
Kirsten Asdal
Lead Taiwan Instructor
Rear Admiral Philip Yu
USN (Ret)
Senior Lecturer
Charlotte Asdal
Lead CCP Instructor
Nick Hutchinson
Party School Host
Red Tower Institute Co-Founder
The Scene: May 28-30th, 2025
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
The Program Fee includes:
Your seat in the 3x day course
Catered breakfast and lunch each day
Dinner/Drinks on Night 2
Course Material
Transportation and lodging not included.
Application Process
Apply
Our application process ensures that we have a good understanding of your background and what you hope to take away from Party School so we can ensure a good match for the program.
The application form takes ~ 5 min to complete. Our team will review your application within 1-2 business days.
Acceptance / Payment
Once accepted, our team will reach out to inform you of next steps. ~ 60 days prior to the start date we’ll send you an email to submit your payment for the program including an invoice and online payment link. Full payment of the invoice confirms your enrollment. Payment is accepted by bank wire transfer, or credit card (American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover). $6500 course fee is inclusive of taxes and payment processing fees and represents the final price that you will be charged.
Cancellation
If you need to cancel after payment is sent, you must inform us of your cancellation more than 30 days before the program start date to receive a full refund. Cancellations or deferrals received 15 to 30 days before the program start date are subject to a payment of 50 percent of the program fee. Requests received within 14 days of the program start date are subject to full payment of the program fee.
PARTY SCHOOL
The Backstory
Since its founding, the Chinese Communist Party has trained its cadres through the national Party school system. In particular, the Central Party School in Beijing serves as the premier institution for grooming future CCP leaders through executive education and political indoctrination—immersing them in Marxist theory, Party history, and the art of wielding Party influence at home and abroad. Mao Zedong and Xi Jinping have both served as presidents of the Central Party School – it is that important.
Just as the Party trains its leaders at the Party school, we have modeled our executive education courses on the immersive experience of a Party school. To learn how the Party thinks and acts, we have created a deep-dive curriculum on its ideology, history, and lexicon. While the Party school cadres in Beijing prepare for China’s future on the world stage, so are we.
Party School exists to help leaders decode the machinery of PRC’s power and plans and give you the strategic clarity you need to lead in a world increasingly shaped by its ambitions.
FAQs
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No, the information discussed is all unclassified. While many of our experts have previously had or currently hold Top Secret clearances, they do not discuss topics that are not available to the general public. If you or anyone on your team has a TS clearance and need more specifics for your company’s security officer please enquire directly and we’ll work through that process with you.
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We understand, life happens. See Party School cancellation policy above.
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Great to hear, we’re excited to meet you! We’re currently planning for at least one additional Party School cohort later in 2025. If you’re interested in attending one of these later courses, please apply now and check the “future courses” in the comment box and we’ll keep you posted when those dates are made public.
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A more detailed schedule and syllabus is available upon request and will be provided to all accepted applicants as part of their welcome packet.