China and Japan have links stretching back some 1500 years, but the official relationship between the two countries today is tense and, according to opinion polls, less than ten percent of each population had a positive opinion of the other. Ezra Vogel examines the long history of Sino-Japanese relations, arguing that both sides must acknowledge the other country’s grievances for their own sake, as well as for the benefit of the region and the world.
Despite the ongoing deterioration in U.S.-China relations, productive and extensive exchange continues to take place. Matt Sheehan examines the varied, broad, and deep ties between the state of California and China to illustrate what is happening on the ground beyond the power centers of Beijing and Washington.
Since the announcement of “Reform and Opening” in December 1978, some in the West have debated China’s path: would it eventually democratize? Would it become capitalist? Would Mao Zedong’s legacy influence the process? Jude Blanchette surveys the intellectual and political debates of the last few decades, and concludes that Mao is making a resurgence.
For over nine years, this bi-annual Track II dialogue has brought together leading American and Chinese economists, economic thinkers and business leaders for a day and a half of off-the-record discussions on important issues related to bilateral economic relations and the global economic system.
A U.S.-China Subnational Symposium was held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, April 23-24, 2019, bringing together over 30 officials from 25 U.S. states who work on China issues in the areas of trade and investment, education, culture, agriculture, and development. In this time of heightened tensions in the U.S.-China relationship, the symposium sought to educate, foster coordination, and develop best practices among participants.
This ongoing bi-annual dialogue, established in 2017, examines the effectiveness of the healthcare systems in China and the United States and recommends ways to better measure and manage the delivery and efficiency of healthcare in the two countries.
The Public Intellectuals Program (PIP), launched by the National Committee in 2005, is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of China specialists who, in the tradition of earlier China hands, have the interest and potential to venture outside of academia to engage with the public and policy communities.
In 2019, the National Committee established a new Track II dialogue between the United States and China to discuss issues relating to the digital economy, in partnership with the Guanchao Cyber Forum, a division of Chinese Internet Security Conference. The dialogue focuses on changes affecting corporations doing business globally and on finding ways that American and Chinese companies can cooperate to address these concerns.
In April 1972, the National Committee made history by hosting the Chinese Table Tennis Team in round two of what became widely known as Ping Pong Diplomacy. The watershed visit — the first-ever of a delegation from the People's Republic of China to the United States — set the Committee on its path of becoming the pre-eminent exchange organization between the United States and China.
Eight months after the Chinese ping pong team visited the United States, the National Committee made history again by hosting the first performing arts company from the People's Republic of China — the Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe — for a four-week, four-city tour.
In September 1973, the National Committee helped facilitate the Philadelphia Orchestra's historic trip to China, paving the way for other American orchestras. The Boston Symphony followed in 1979.
Following a cooling of relations in the early 1990s, the National Committee revitalized the U.S.-China military dialogue, sending a group of retired four-star generals and admirals to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan in 1994 and 1996. Since then, the success of this program has continued to foster constructive exchange, in addition to inspiring other programs like the U.S.-China Strategic Security Dialogue.
The National Committee brought the first group of Chinese mayors and deputy mayors to U.S. soil in September, 1978. Led by Beijing Deputy Mayor Zhao Pengfei and Shanghai Deputy Mayor Yen Yumin, the 19-member delegation also included city planners, architects, and engineers. The visit was the first of approximately 50 exchanges the Committee has sponsored in the area of municipal and state/provincial management and planning.
In a new collection of interviews, Ambassador Winston Lord chronicles Dr. Kissinger’s diplomatic adventures. Recorded 6/11/19.
In his keynote speech at the U.S. Foreign Policy Colloquium on May 30, 2019, Ambassador Thomas Pickering explains the shift toward multi-polarity in the current world order. Recorded 5/30/19.
Susan A. Thornton delivers the 2019 Barnett-Oksenberg Lecture on Sino-American Relations. Recorded 5/15/19. View Transcript
A discussion focusing on how the United States and China have moved from strategic cooperation to strategic competition, and what can be done to help ease bilateral tensions. Recorded 5/21/19.
