Meet Our Founder
Tony Fiddis
Founder and lead analyst of China Update, helping audiences, businesses, and institutions understand what is happening in China, why it matters, and what it means for the world.
Tony Fiddis is the founder and lead analyst of China Update, one of the most widely followed independent platforms covering China’s geopolitics, economy, foreign policy, and strategic affairs.
Through YouTube and podcast platforms, China Update provides research-led analysis based on primary sources, official Chinese-language statements, policy documents, and verifiable data. Tony’s work is designed to help audiences understand what is happening in China, why it matters, and how developments may affect businesses, investors, and institutions around the world.
Tony is also the founder and head analyst of China Updates Consultancy, a specialist consultancy providing practical insight for companies operating in China, engaging with Chinese partners, or assessing China-related opportunities and risks.
- Over a decade living, studying, and working in China
- Master of International Relations, Peking University
- Admitted lawyer, New Zealand
China Update Consultancy
The latest flagship offering from Tony Fiddis and the wider China Update research platform.
Who We Serve
- Companies operating both in or out of China
- Businesses considering entering the Chinese market
- Organisations working with Chinese suppliers, partners, or investors
- Investors assessing China-related political and economic risks
- Institutions requiring independent analysis of Chinese policy and regulation
- Executives seeking a clearer understanding of China’s business environment
How We Help
Our work combines first-hand experience, rigorous research, legal training, and a detailed understanding of Chinese policy and institutions. We help clients make better-informed decisions by identifying the political, economic, regulatory, and strategic factors that may affect their operations.
Primary Sources
Chinese-language documents & policy
Legal Training
Evidence-based analysis
Commercial Relevance
Practical implications
Independent View
Objective assessment
First-Hand Experience in China
Tony’s expertise is based on more than academic study. As a New Zealander, he spent over a decade living, studying, and working in China. He is a fluent Mandarin speaker and regularly works with Chinese-language government statements, policy documents, research papers, news reports, and other primary sources.
This experience allows him to assess Chinese developments in their original context rather than relying solely on translated commentary or outside interpretation.
Each week, Tony examines a wide range of material from Chinese and international sources:
- Government announcements and policy documents
- Academic and think-tank research
- Regulatory developments
- Chinese-language media and official statements
- Economic and trade data
- Public statements from Chinese and international officials
Academic and Professional Background
Tony’s background combines legal training, international relations, and direct experience in China.
During his time at Peking University, Tony also served as a liaison officer at the New Zealand Centre at PKU, the formal hub for New Zealand - China academic and cultural exchange. This role provided direct exposure to the institutional relationship between New Zealand and China.
Master of International Relations
Peking University, Beijing
Attended as a recipient of the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia. Received the Lingyun Award for Academic Excellence and focused research on Chinese foreign policy, trade law, and regulation.
Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
After dedicating years to rigorous study and practical experience, Tony successfully qualified as a lawyer and proudly gained admission to the bar, marking a significant milestone in his professional journey.
A Lawyer’s Approach to China Analysis
Tony’s legal training shapes the way he researches and presents information. His analysis is structured around evidence, careful source evaluation, and clear reasoning.
Rather than relying on speculation or sensationalism, China Updates Consultancy focuses on rigour and transparency.
The objective is not to tell clients what to think. It is to provide the information and analysis they need to reach sound conclusions and make informed decisions.
- Primary sources
- Transparent research
- Transparent research
- Practical implications for clients
- Verifiable information
- Clear distinctions between facts, analysis, and uncertainty
- Independent and balanced assessment
Why Work With China Updates Consultancy?
Specialist China knowledge
Our work is focused specifically on China’s political, economic, regulatory, and strategic environment.
Primary-source research
We examine Chinese-language sources and official materials to provide analysis grounded in the information available to decision-makers inside China.
Practical commercial relevance
Our analysis is designed to help businesses understand how policy, politics, regulation, and economic conditions may affect their operations.
Independent perspective
We provide objective, evidence-based analysis without promoting a political or commercial agenda.
Experience on the ground
Tony’s more than a decade of living, studying, and working in China provides important context for understanding how Chinese institutions and policies operate in practice.
Connected to China Update Research
China Updates Consultancy builds on the research and analysis developed through the established China Update platform and related work, including Market Update.