We are well past the stereotype that Chinese language skills are a prerequisite for understanding China.

Sure, if you don't mind your expert being unable to actually use any primary sources an instead having to rely on translations (or, more likely, interpretations) of those sources from other people? Sounds like a great policy plan!

Expert, a word which here means "someone who is credentialed and who agrees with the regime." Actual expertise makes you less likely to be an expert because it increases the probability that you will come up with your own idea which conflicts with the regime's.

Or find China on a map.

I would guess anymore that a large proportion of "experts" are just the nominally credentialed who take credit for their interpretation of their underling's actual work.

Just like some of our supposed Russian experts who can't speak Russian.

I hate having the shame reflex that would prevent me from calling myself a China expert without being able to speak or read it. I could get so much done if it was easy for me to lie like that.

Its like lionel hutz the lawyer or dr nick the doctor in the simpsons lol... lionel hutz tells marge its his first court session. But he watched matlock in a bar and the sound wasnt on, but he got the gist of it.. or dr nick proudly asking bart if he too attented hollywood medical school above a convenience store lol.