Michael Yahuda was the first appointment to the new chair of East Asian Studies, Centre for Asian Studies, which was limited to three years (1982–1984).

Michael Yahuda graduated in Modern Chinese Language and Literature in 1963 at the School of Oriental Studies, the University of London and was awarded an MSc Econ with a mark of distinction in the Government and Politics of China from there in 1966. 

Professor Emeritus of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, where he served from 1973 to 2003.

His main fields of interest are China's politics, foreign policy and the international relations of the Asia Pacific.