Xiang is the Discipline Convenor of Political and International Studies at the University of New England (AU).
She holds a PhD in Politics and International Relations from the University of Auckland, and an MA in International Relations, minored in American Studies from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and Nanjing University. Xiang's research interests are the politics and international relations in the Asia Pacific.
Her research extends current thinking and debates on how ideas and norms are reflected in an individual state’s public and foreign policy and law in the Asia Pacific region. Xiang has taught in New Zealand and Australia. Her teaching areas are Chinese politics and foreign relations, Australian foreign policy, politics in the developing world and the international relations in the Asia Pacific.