五十年以來，東亞所一直是國內研究中國大陸問題的重鎮。創所之初，其一方面為以中國大陸為主要研究對象的區域研究所，與專業學科的研究一直有所區隔；另一方面又以「培養反共思想鬥爭的人」為創所目的，故雖隱身在學術機構，卻是肩負著政策研究的使命。基於此，本文將從學術與政策研究、區域研究與專業學科間的關係，探討東亞所的發展與變遷。此外，本文也點出東亞所乃至台灣中國研究所面臨的挑戰，包括專業智庫的不足、培養政策人才不易，以及此領域容易受政治立場影響等。

For the past fifty years, the Graduate Institute of East Asian Studies has been a key contributor to Mainland China studies nationally. The institute was initially established as an institute of area studies focused predominantly on Mainland China and kept separate from academic research. Its founding purpose was to “cultivate individuals for the struggle against communist thought,” and while hidden within in an academic institution, it was at the same time tasked with policy research. As such, this paper shall examine change and development in the Institute of East Asian Affairs, in both the relationship between academic and policy research and between area studies and academic disciplines. In addition, this paper shall also identify challenges facing the institute as an institution of China studies in Taiwan, including a shortage of professional think tanks, the difficulties of cultivating outstanding policymakers, and the vulnerability of the field to the influence of different political standpoints.