Recent Events

With the rise of tensions in Northeast Asia over the past few months, understanding the complex interactions among China, Japan and the two Koreas has become more important than ever, as has understanding the effect such tensions have on the United States and its interaction with these countries. The National Committee, in cooperation with the Japan Society, brought together three experts to provide insights into the current state of the regional security relationships: the Brookings Institution’s Richard Bush, the Eurasia Group’s Ian Bremmer, and Johns Hopkins University’s Kent Calder.

Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed confidence in the current U.S.-China relationship and optimism for future cooperation at a luncheon in Washington, DC, co-hosted by the National Committee and the US-China Business Council. The luncheon was held on January 20, 2011 at Marriott Wardman Park hotel, in cooperation with nine other organizations.

National Committee Director Edward Steinfeld discussed his new book, Playing Our Game: Why China’s Rise Doesn’t Threaten the West (Oxford University Press, 2010), at a Jones Day program on November 2, 2010. In the book, Steinfeld explores the monumental economic and political ramifications of China’s integration into global production. By examining how contemporary Chinese enterprises […]

His Excellency Wen Jiabao, Premier of People’s Republic of China, expressed optimism about the future of U.S.-China bilateral relations at a dinner co-hosted in his honor by the National Committee and the US-China Business Council. Held at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City, the dinner began with remarks by Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who both marveled at China’s rapid growth and stressed the importance of the bilateral relationship.

Ambassador Nicholas Platt discussed his new book China Boys: How U.S. Relations with the PRC Began and Grew, and the resumption of U.S.-China relations in the 1960s and 1970s at the offices of Jones Day in New York. The memoir chronicles the preparations and negotiations that went into Nixon’s 1972 trip; fourteen months later setting […]

Jeffrey Wasserstrom and Joseph Kahn discussed the challenges of writing about China from the perspectives of an academic and a journalist at Jones Day in New York. Dr. Wasserstrom is a professor of history at the University of California, Irvine, and Mr. Kahn is deputy foreign editor of The New York Times.

The National Committee hosted an evening of stories and reflection with Jerome Alan Cohen on Tuesday, April 20 in New York City. National Committee President Stephen A. Orlins interviewed his law school professor, mentor and friend as we celebrated Professor Cohen’s 80th birthday.

Ma Zhengang, former Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom and current president of the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), visited the National Committee office for a small, off-the-record roundtable discussion. Ambassador Ma was joined by scholars from CIIS and Peking University, and an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On April 7, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations held a roundtable discussion with Professor David Zweig. He examined China’s search for energy and other resources and its impact on Sino-American relations. Professor Zweig proposed that, while China is rising as a world power, it is simplistic to say that this is China’s century: China is rising but doing so within a system that is still dominated by the United States, the “hegemon.” We should not think about China’s rise without considering the role and the responses of the United States.

Former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for China Affairs Timothy P. Stratford discussed challenges in U.S.-China economic relations in an off-the record program at the Covington and Burling office in New York on April 1, 2010. He highlighted some of the core trade issues in the U.S.-China relationship, discussed the available tools and approaches for addressing these issues, and described the complex context in which these tools may be used.

The National Committee held a roundtable discussion with Ira Belkin on February 10, 2010 in New York. Belkin shared his insights on trends in human rights and the rule of law in China. He also discussed the Ford Foundation’s work in these areas. The proceedings of the roundtable were off-the-record.

Professor Deborah Bräutigam discussed her new book, The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa, at the offices of Jones Day in New York. The book examines Chinese aid and state-sponsored economic engagement in Africa. China’s aid in Africa is based on mutual benefit – and goes far beyond a popular western misconception […]