Liberty government students gain real-world diplomacy experience on visits to Japanese, Chinese Embassies

Students from Liberty University’s Helms School of Government engaged with top diplomats at the Japanese and Chinese embassies on Friday and gleaned insights from officials on the United States’ tariff reciprocity, the state of national security, and strengthening international relations with America.

The Helms School sponsors multiple trips every semester to provide students with real-world diplomacy opportunities that expand beyond the classroom. The 35 students who attended last week’s trip prepared questions for the Deputy Chief of Mission Takehiro Shimada at the Embassy of Japan and Minister Qiu Wenxing at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

“Liberty University and the Helms School of Government’s choice to invest in students like me through trips like this is a huge blessing,” said junior international relations student Tyler Kerr. “Not only do they care that I learn in the classroom, but they invest heavily in real-world experience for their students. This is my third trip to D.C. this semester, and through these trips, I have been introduced to job and internship opportunities, exposure to real-life government, and have been able to realize God’s calling on my life in a tangible way.”

At the Japanese Embassy, students learned about the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, the critical economic partnership Japan shares with America, and how the United States’ tariffs on Japanese imports may affect each country’s economic prosperity.

Students toured the Chinese Embassy and learned of the country’s rich history and culture before meeting with Minister Qiu Wenxing and other ranking members. Discussions were heavily centered around rising economic tension following reciprocal tariffs.

Earlier this academic year, students visited the French and British Embassies in October, and in February, they visited three different conservative think tanks (Heritage Foundation, the Hudson Institute, and the Observer Research Foundation).

“These experiences will cultivate refined communication and engagement skillsets that students will use to effectively conduct the business of statecraft,” said Associate Professor of Government Scott Roenicke, who organized and led last week’s venture. “Alternatively, a lack of understanding in these matters can seriously damage efforts to mitigate U.S. national security threats and achieve U.S. security objectives. Experiencing the myriad factors associated with intercultural communication is critical to effectual substantive engagement.”

Roenicke came to Liberty in 2021 following three decades working in the Pentagon as Senior Advisor for Russia Affairs to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in addition to serving as the Director for Russia Affairs at the White House in the National Security Council.

He said the trips are invaluable to students as they transition into a professional environment with more fully developed skills and perspectives to succeed in such a career.

“When I graduated with my master’s degree and entered the federal workforce, it took me years to develop the skills necessary for acclimatation to this environment,” Roenicke said. “In comparison, our students are landing federal positions of influence and are able to walk into positions of significant responsibility because of their exposure to practical exercises such as these.”

For sophomore pre-law student Jacob Heath, this trip gave him a glimpse into the robust world of government and cross-cultural engagement. In the students’ meeting with Chinese officials, Heath asked about China’s response to President Donald Trump’s increased tariffs.

“I feel like I’m actually getting involved in doing the things I love, that I have dreamed of doing since high school,” Heath said of his experience engaging directly with Minister Qiu Wenxing at the Chinese Embassy.

Heath said he is grateful for Roenicke’s influence: “I have a deep gratitude for Professor Roenicke. I believe he is one of the most genuine professors at Liberty, and I can truly see his heart for God. I believe that he has truly selfless intentions in his passion to teach other students about the things he loves — and that other students love as well — in the realm of international politics.”

In between embassy visits, Roenicke ushered students to the base of the Pentagon, where 184 people lost their lives during the tragic events on Sept. 11, 2001. Roenicke, who was inside the Pentagon on that fateful day, recounted his experience of losing friends, grappling with resentment toward the perpetrators, and ultimately finding peace through forgiveness.

As a token of gratitude for their hospitality, Roenicke delivered a gift to each of the embassies. The Japanese Embassy accepted a colonial-style tea set purchased from Thomas Jefferson’s estate at Poplar Forest (his retreat home a few miles from Liberty’s campus), and the Chinese Embassy received a wooden bowl — hand-carved from a tree that was alive during the time that Thomas Jefferson resided at Poplar Forest.