Yaolong Xian

Doctoral Researcher

Xian Yaolong is a Doctoral Re­searcher at PRIF's Research Department Intrastate Conflict. His research focuses on rebel governance, state-rebel relations, and legiti­macy in conflict settings, with a geo­graphic focus on Myanmar.

Xian Yaolong

CV

| since 2023
Doctoral Researcher at PRIF

| 2020–2023
Joint master's degree in Inter­national Humanitarian Action, Ruhr Uni­versity and Uppsala University, Erasmus Mundus Scholarship

| 2021
Research intern at the Center for Peace and Con­flict Studies, Cambodia

| 2017–2019
Research assistant at SWUFE Insti­tution, China

Projects

Publications

  • Common Threats, Flexibility, and Internal Constraints
    | 2023
    Xian, Yaolong (2023): Common Threats, Flexibility, and Internal Constraints. : A new framework to understand the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee in Myanmar, Journal of Mekong Societies, 19: 1.

  • How Crisis Crosses Borders: Myanmar’s Civil War Shattered a Chinese Border Boomtown
    | 2025
    Xian, Yaolong; Duan, Huaijiang (2025): How Crisis Crosses Borders: Myanmar’s Civil War Shattered a Chinese Border Boomtown, PRIF Blog.
    Publication
  • Ruili on Edge: A Chinese Border City Loses Its Mojo
    | 2025
    Xian, Yaolong; Yang, Mingyue (2025): Ruili on Edge: A Chinese Border City Loses Its Mojo , The Diplomate.
    Publication
  • Good Rebels or Good Timing?: Myanmar’s MNDAA and Operation 1027
    | 2024
    Xian, Yaolong (2024): Good Rebels or Good Timing?: Myanmar’s MNDAA and Operation 1027, The Diplomat.
    Publication
  • How Myanmar’s United Wa State Army Responded to COVID-19
    | 2022
    Xian, Yaolong (2022): How Myanmar’s United Wa State Army Responded to COVID-19: The Diplomat.
    Publication
  • Cooperation, Reconciliation and Self-reflection
    | 2022
    Xian, Yaolong (2022): Cooperation, Reconciliation and Self-reflection. A few thoughts on the NUG and ethnic minorities in post-coup Myanmar: Hurights Osaka.
    Publication
  • EAOs & China: Two Letters from Northern Myanmar to the CCP
    | 2021
    Xian, Yaolong (2021): EAOs & China: Two Letters from Northern Myanmar to the CCP: New Mandala.
    Publication
  • The People’s Call for R2P: To Be or Not to Be?
    | 2021
    Xian, Yaolong; Yaday, Parveen Kumar (2021): The People’s Call for R2P: To Be or Not to Be?: New Mandala.
    Publication