Yes, I do speak Chinese (Mandarin). I can also read a newspaper in Traditional or Simplified Chinese and have studied International Relations (and Computer Sci

Yes, I do speak Chinese (Mandarin). I can also read a newspaper in Traditional or Simplified Chinese and have studied International Relations (and Computer Science, actually) in Beijing at Tsinghua University (清华大学) and in Taiwan at Taiwan University (臺灣大學). I also lived in China for about 2.5 years (and not surrounded by foreigners) and in Taiwan for close to the same length of time. The classes I took at Tsinghua were taught in Chinese and I was usually the only or one of two non-Chinese citizens. I've been to Chinese NGOs, on the set for the filming of CCTV news programs, and spoken to Government officials in China. For about a year I only had access to the Chinese web (国内). So yes, I'm speaking from personal experience.