Chinese Encounters with America tells the stories of twelve Chinese whose American experiences transformed their lives and influenced China’s trajectory. Each chapter recounts how these individuals understood the United States and adapted their interpretations to bolster China’s quest for modernization. Their varied professions range from diplomacy, business, and science to sports, education, and the arts, but several shared questions tie their stories together: Why did they go to the United States, and why did they decide to return to China? What difference did their encounters with America make in their lives and careers? What do their experiences tell us about the complexities of Sino-American interactions?
In an event held on October 8, 2025, co-editors Deborah Davis and Terry Lautz, joined by chapter writers Elizabeth Knup and Sheila Melvin, in conversation with Yingyi Ma, discuss the ways in which personal encounters help people find common ground even at a time of contention in Sino-U.S. relations.
Chinese Encounters with America: Journeys that Shaped the Future of China
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At a time when U.S.-China relations are quite constrained, Deborah Davis, Terry Lautz, Elizabeth Knup, Sheila Melvin, and Yingyi Ma discuss how individual experiences may contribute to a nuanced understanding of the bilateral relationship.