Southeast Asia: Sphere of U.S.-China Rivalry
Southeast Asia is one of the most visible places where the U.S-China rivalry plays out writ large. Each country’s relations with China vary widely, complicated by strong economic ties, domestic policies and the treatment of ethnic Chinese, territorial disputes, and divergent political systems. Multinational corporations—including U.S., Japanese, South Korean, and Chinese companies—compete for new investment opportunities in the region as part of a “China + 1” supply chain strategy and as a hedge against rising labor costs in China, U.S. export controls targeting Chinese firms, Trade War tariffs, and the need for supply chain resiliency. Join us for a discussion of the impact of China’s growing economic (and military) clout in Southeast Asia, the U.S.-China rivalry and supply chain diversification, and how ASEAN countries are maneuvering in this new, increasingly contested environment. Our speaker Dr. Spencer Cohen recently traveled to Southeast Asia as a fellow with the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, meeting with government officials, diplomats, NGOs, business communities, and scholars, all with a lens on the U.S.-China relationship and its impact on the region. He shared his key findings and insights from the trip, including implications for future U.S. China policy and the Pacific Northwest. The discussion was moderated by Sam Kaplan, Director of the Highline College Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management. Mr. Kaplan has led numerous study missions to Vietnam focused on supply chain diversification in the region.
APEC Comese to Seattle
Thirty years after the very first APEC Leaders’ Summit took place in Seattle, APEC will return to the city in August this year. While this year’s Leaders’ Summit will be held in San Francisco, Seattle will host the third Senior Officials’ and several Ministerial-level meetings on women’s empowerment, health, energy, food security, disaster management and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Washington State and Seattle have long been at the center of U.S. engagement with the Asia-Pacific region across business, trade, and culture. Seattle also holds the distinction of being the home to the National Center for APEC (NCAPEC). In this webinar, Monica Hardy Whaley, President of the NCAPEC, shares her insights on the APEC process and explains what APEC’s coming to Seattle this year will mean for the region.
Employment Essentials for Companies and Talents in the U.S. and China
For businesses and workers alike, entering a new market can bring both significant challenges and opportunities. Establishing a new business in a foreign country requires extensive knowledge of local laws, regulations, and practices, including business formation, hiring, managing, and navigating complex legal and regulatory systems. Two Seattle-based attorneys discuss in this webinar key elements of U.S. and Chinese employment laws. The discussion provides critical insights and perspectives for businesses, entrepreneurs, and workers on doing business in the two largest economies in the world. Our speakers highlight many of the common mistakes that Chinese companies make managing employees as well as common employment issues that U.S. companies face in their China operations.
U.S.-China Climate Action Collaboration: Opportunities and Challenges
Amid growing geopolitical tensions between the U.S and China, cooperation on fighting climate change has arguably been one of the few promising areas of collaboration. However, such efforts have not followed a linear path. At the United Nation’s Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, the U.S. and China made a joint declaration on enhancing climate action in the 2020s. Following Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022, China announced it would suspend further climate talks with the U.S. But only a few months later, at COP27 in Egypt, both countries resumed direct bilateral climate talks. One organization has been working at the intersection of U.S.-China conservation and climate change for over two decades and through the highs and lows of the bilateral relationship is The Nature Conservancy (TNC). For our webinar, two TNC professionals outlined what activities TNC has initiated to address climate change in the U.S. and China and explain their cross-border collaboration. Having attended both the COP 27 and COP 15 conferences, our two experts shared their experiences and takeaways from these important meetings.
Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise | Book Talk with Christopher Marquis
It was long assumed that as China embraced open markets and private enterprise, its state-controlled economy would fall by the wayside, that free markets would inevitably lead to a more liberal society. Instead, China’s growth over the past four decades has positioned state capitalism as a durable foil to the orthodoxy of free markets, to the confusion of many in the West. Authors Christopher Marquis and Kunyuan Qiao argue that China’s economic success is based on—not in spite of—the continuing influence of Communist leader Mao Zedong. They illustrate how Mao’s ideological principles, mass campaigns, and socialist institutions have enduringly influenced Chinese entrepreneurs’ business strategies and the management of their ventures. Grounded in case studies and quantitative analyses, this book shows that while private enterprise is the engine of China’s growth, Chinese companies see no contradictions between commercial drive and a dedication to Maoist ideology.
China Town Hall
On November 16, 2022, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) held its 16th annual China Town Hall. The two-part event featured a national webcast keynote, followed by local virtual discussions hosted by NCUSCR partners across the country. The Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC) and the China Studies Program and East Asia Center at the University of Washington’s (UW) Jackson School of International Studies served as the local partners/sponsors in Seattle. The national webcast featured former Ambassador to China, Russia. The local discussion panel included University of Washington professors Susan Whiting (political science) and David Bachman (Jackson School), and was moderated by Dr. Spencer Cohen, Principal at the consulting firm High Peak Strategy and an affiliate professor at the University of Washington. The discussion covered a wide range topics and issues affecting U.S.-China relations, including takeaways from the recently concluded 20th Party Congress, the Biden-Xi in-person meeting on the sidelines of the G20 in Bali, domestic challenges, and the direction of U.S.-China bilateral relationship.
Unpacking the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) was signed into law by President Biden in 2021. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued new guidance in June 2022 that introduced an unprecedented “rebuttable presumption” that all foreign goods mined, farmed, manufactured, or processed wholly or in part XUAR cannot be imported into the U.S. The presumption applies unless the CBP determines that the importer of record has complied with specified conditions and, by “clear and convincing evidence”, that the goods, wares, articles, or merchandise were not produced using forced labor. The UFLPA has created significant anxiety among members of the trade community, because of uncertainty about the scope of imports that may become targeted for UFLPA scrutiny and enforcement measures. It also has created unprecedented challenges for importers and their suppliers as they must now exercise exacting due diligence and trace their supply chains all the way back to the raw materials. In this webinar, an expert panel discussed the UFLPA’s requirements, CBP’s implementation and enforcement, best practices for business compliance, and the law’s implications for international trade.
Taking Semiconductors and its Important Role in U.S.-China Relations
Paul Triolo, a recognized expert in global technology discussed the contentious role that semiconductors play in the U.S.- China Relationship, inclulding the status of the US semiconductor industry, the potential impacts of the recently passed CHIPS Act on US semiconductor production, and the outsized role that Taiwan plays in the global industry and the ramifications of any disruption of the Taiwanese semiconductor on global supply chains. He also examined the growth of the Chinese semiconductor industry and assess how quickly China may be able to produce the world’s most sophisticated chips.
Current Business Environment in China
The business climate in China has seen significant changes in recent years, particularly since COVID-19. The Washington State China Relations Council, the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, and Committee of 100 jointly hosted a panel discussion to discuss the latest business trends in China and how U.S. companies should be prepared in order to succeed in the new era.
Assessing Biden Administration’s China Policy: Setting the Right Course
The Biden Administration has hardened or sustained policies on China from the Trump Administration while reaching out to allies to craft a more multilateral approach. For this discussion, China watchers Malcolm Riddell and Spencer Cohen assessed and shared their thoughtul and thought-provoking perspectives on the most recent developments and direction in US-China relations. Both speakers addressed where they thought the Administration has done well, and less well, in its China policy and where they would like to see policy direction over the next two years.
Book Talk | the First SuperApp: Inside China’s WeChat and the New Digital Revolution
The First Superapp provides a glimpse of the future, and Kevin Shimota, a former top executive at WeChat, tells the inside story of how this phenomenon began in the context of China’s unique internet. He tells the story of WeChat’s creation and its climb to become the first superapp, providing insights on the psyche of WeChat’s founder, and of modern China tech to explain the fundamentals of these new innovations and how the framework they form could be reproduced beyond China.
Life Under Reopening – Stories from Shanghai
On May 4, 2022, two Seattle area expats living in Shanghai—former Starbucks executive Jessica Gleeson and supply chain expert Cameron Johnson—shared rare, insider perspectives on the lockdown in the city with the WSCRC audience. They discussed what life was like living and working under the lockdown, its impacts to supply chains and trade, and their outlook for when things might eventually return to “normal.” Now that the city is gradually reopening, how are living conditions in Shanghai and how close is daily life back to “normal”? We’ve invited back Jessica and Cameron to give us another insider update.
Analyzing China's Digital Ambitions
The Washington State China Relations Council and the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) partnered to present a discussion of China’s digital strategy and the security implications of China’s growing digital influence. NBR recently released a new report entitled China’s Digital Ambitions: A Global Strategy to Supplant the Liberal Order. The report argues China has diagnosed that the emergence of data as a factor of production is catalyzing a new industrial revolution, which Chinese policymakers view as a competitive opportunity to leapfrog to leadership of the international system. It analyzes how they move from this diagnosis to the implementation of a comprehensive global strategy seeking to increase China’s control of and influence over the global digital environment. This strategy seeks to replace the current liberal and decentralized digital architecture with a China-dominated, state-centric one that will create the foundation for a new type of geopolitical power and enhance China’s global influence.
American Northwest Exports to China: 2022 Export Report Highlights
Each year, the US-China Business Council tracks the latest trends in US goods and services exports to China, looking at how trade policy and other developments impact the commercial relationship. This report features detailed overviews of every state and congressional district’s unique export relationship with China, as well as the number of American jobs that are supported by those exports. In this event, USCBC’s 2022 Export Report authors Erin Slawson and Ian Hutchinson analyzed trends in last year’s national export data as well as went into detail on state- and congressional district-level export data for Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. They were joined by USCBC Senior Vice President David Thomas to answer questions from the audience on the report and the latest developments in US-China trade relations.
Life under Lockdown – Stories from Shanghai
The ongoing Shanghai lockdown as part of China’s “zero-COVID” policy has attracted global attention. Supply chains to the city have been disrupted and supplies to keep the city of 25 million functioning have dwindled. The news coverage is replete with stories of factory closures, and millions of Shanghai residents confined to their homes and scrambling to find enough to eat. Two Seattle area expats living in Shanghai—former Starbucks executive Jessica Gleeson and supply chain expert Cameron Johnson—shared rare, insider perspectives on the lockdown. They discussed what life is like living and working under the lockdown, its impacts to supply chains and trade, and their outlook for when things might eventually return to “normal”.
The China Business Environment for US Small and Medium Enterprises
Total 2021 bilateral trade with China increased 17.6% over the previous year, as the American economy recovered from COVID shock and despite increasing political tensions between the United States and China. American companies also have invested over $120 billion into the PRC through 2020. While mainstream media often reports on the successes and failures of U.S. Fortune 500 companies in China, little is heard about the fate of US-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) doing business with and in China. Tariffs, supply chain issues and the deteriorating political relationship are all creating complexities and extra costs for SMEs. In this webinar the Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC) and USCBC spoke with experienced representatives of US SMEs with operations in the United States as well as on the ground in China. Our panelists shared with us their stories and provide attendees with advice on finding business success in China.
Ukraine Crisis, China, and the Global Geopolitical Landscape: Responses and Implications
Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine is creating new uncertainties in the global geopolitical and geo-economic landscape. At first glance, the crisis seems mainly European in nature, involving the European Union (EU) and NATO with regard to Ukraine and Russia, but another critical stakeholder is China.
Supply Chain Issues Impacting the Pacific Northwest
Experts with knowledge of port operations, the trucking systems, and inflation explained how the supply chain crisis has been impacting the Pacific Northwest and unpack the issues behind the current situation.
A conversation with Representative Adam Smith on China
Congressman Adam Smith discussed key national security and diplomatic issues that cloud the current U.S.-China relationship.
Prospects for U.S.-China Collaboration in Health Care
Our panelists discussed the opportunites and challenges in health care collaboration between the U.S. and China. Areas of poetneital collabraton include R&D in the health care space, development and manufacturing capabilities of the vaccine and pharmaceutical sectors, and how to improve future pandemic preparedness.
Book Talk | China’s Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy
“China’s Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy,” tells the story of China’s transformation from an isolated and impoverished communist state to a global superpower from the perspective of its diplomats.
Unpacking Global Supply Chain Disruptions
Global supply chains have been rattled over the last year. The COVID-19 pandemic has both impaired production but also exposed many fragilities in the world’s international trade and logistics system. Supply shortages, once the domain of policy and industry experts, has now made its way into dinner table conversations. Since the late summer, these disruptions have become more acute, creating shortages during the holiday season and contributing to rising inflation. Global trade economist Walter Kemmsies provided an infomrative and insighful ananlysis to hlep us understand a myriad of factors affecting global supply chain challenges, the long-term impacts, and how these issues relate and affect U.S.-China relations.
Book Talk | Middle Class Shanghai: Reshaping U.S.-China Engagement
Cheng Li’s Middle-Class Shanghai argues that American policymakers must not lose sight of the expansive dynamism and diversity in present-day China. The caricature of the PRC as a monolithic Communist apparatus set on exporting its ideology and development model is simplistic and misguided. Drawing on empirical research in the realms of higher education, avant-garde art, architecture, and law, this unique study highlights the strong, constructive impact of bilateral exchanges.
2021 China Town Hall
The two-part event, sponsored by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC), and the University of Washington, featured a national webcast keynote as well as an local virtual discussion. The national webcast featured CNN host, worldwide columnist, and best-selling author Fareed Zakaria, who examined the challenges and opportunities for both countries as they confront the most critical issues of the 21st century.The local virtual discussion invtied a panel of local China experts, who are also NCUSCR’s board members, former and current Public Intellectual Program fellows, and members, to discuss key issues on U.S.-China relationship and the outlook of the Biden administration’s China policy.
Deciphering Xi Jinping’s Vision and What It Means for the Tech Sector
A conversation with Malcolm Riddell to hear his thoughts on Xi Jinping’s vision for China and his analysis of what it means for the tech sector.
Anti-Asian Violence and Hate Crimes: Government Perspectives
Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, FBI, and Seattle Police Department discussed recent developments in the anti-Asian hate crimes and violence. They discussed possible reasons for this surge in anti-Asian attacks and will describe how both victims and bystanders can respond to such criminal activity more safely and effectively. They also explored community-based responses and the ability and limitations of different law enforcement techniques to combat such violence, including use of hate crime laws.
Anti-Asian Violence and Hate Crimes: Community Voices and Responses
Representatives of the AAPI Community in the Seattle region shared their views on why there has been such an upsurge in violence and their experiences and stories about the growth of this worrying trend. Our panelists described how their respective communities have responded to this development and their thoughts about support from our government institutions and the wider community as a whole.
Analyzing China's Strategic Ambitions
China’s actions in the South China Sea, on its border with India, in the Arctic and its establishment of a military base in the Horn of Africa are all indications of a more militarily assertive China that will have important impacts on the international order. During the pandemic the country has taken numerous opportunities to project its growing military capabilities. For example, it repeatedly sent warplanes into Taiwanese airspace and used an overwhelming number of fishing vessels to occupy a reef in the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines. Western leaders are at odds about how to interpret China’s actions and wonder how China might project its military capabilities in the future.
A conversation with Representative Rick Larsen on U.S.-China Relations
Rep. Larsen represents Washington state’s 2nd Congressional District and serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. Rick is the co-chair of the bipartisan U.S.-China Working Group, which educates Members of Congress about U.S.-China issues through meetings and briefings with academic, business, and political leaders from the U.S. and China. Rick has visited China on many occasions and is well respected among lawmakers on China policy. Rick shared his views on some of the most pressing issues of the U.S.-China Relationship, the current administration’s China policy, and the U.S.-China Working Group’s activities.
A Conversation with the Author of "Challenging China"
As people are discovering in recent months--whether in Alaska, Japan or Canada--U.S. presidents may come and go but thorny issues with China remain. In Challenging China, a new book published in early April of this year, Seattle's own Sam Kaplan asserts China has become more authoritarian and expansionist and describes what strategies the U.S. and its allies need to adopt to address this new geopolitical landscape. Although delving into serious issues, the book is written in an engaging way and probably the only book on China that references Dolly Parton, the boy band BTS, LeBron James, the movie, Die Hard, and Bruce Springsteen. In the book, Kaplan asserts that a more authoritarian, more expansionist China is one of the four most important issues in the world. Kaplan analyzes China's economic future, how it is changing the world order and what that means for the U.S and its allies.
Analyzing Chinese Investment in the Real Estate Sector
The Puget Sound Region is a popular location for Chinese real estate buyers. Seattle’s skyline has been reshaped by investors from China while wide swaths of particular neighborhoods, noticeably on the east of Seattle, are settled by Chinese immigrants. In this webinar we looked at some of the reasons why the Seattle area has attracted significant Chinese attention, particularly in comparisons to other parts of the country. We also looked at the extent of Chinese investment in both the commercial and residential markets and examine the trends in both segments. We discussed particular issues that Chinese investors face entering this market, whether it be legal, financial or others.
Importance of International Students in the Post-Secondary Educational System
International Students, especially the large number of students from China, are both a cultural and financial boon for our state’s post-secondary institutions. The numbers of international students have expanded significantly in the recent past, increasing in importance to their respective schools. In this webinar we explored the impact that international students have on the quality and scope at three distinct higher education institutions. In addition to the financial impact of the foreign students, we examined the influences that students have on curriculums and on social life at their respective institutions. We also explored whether the visa policies of the Trump Administration led to a decrease of enrollments of international students. We discussed the outlook under the new Biden Administration for international students.
Cruising the South China Sea – Stormy Weather Ahead
China’s aggressive build-up of military facilities and its forceful actions to defend fishing and mineral rights in the South China Sea has unnerved its neighbors and put the U.S. military on alert. Despite China’s argument that, based on historic grounds, the South China Sea is Chinese sovereign territory, an independent arbitral tribunal established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) published a clear and binding ruling denying China’s claim. Yet China has ignored this verdict and continues to strengthen its control over the South China Sea. Experts in China’s maritime strategy discussed and debated China’s occupation of the South China Sea and its future implications.
Living the Headlines: The New Intersection of Business and Geopolitics in China
Geopolitics has always had an impact on companies’ grand strategies – what countries are open for foreign investment, how “friendly” are they, etc. But increasingly geopolitical clashes are impacting companies’ business operations as, for example, both the U.S. and Australia State Departments issued warnings to business people in China on the risk of arbitrary detentions and travel bans. What is driving these differences? How should companies operating in China monitor geopolitical trends? Most importantly, how can they manage the impact (actual or potential) on their business operations in China?
Analyzing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
On November 15th, fifteen countries in the Asia Pacific region signed the largest free trade pact in history creating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. These 15 countries account for approximately 30% of global GDP as well as 30% of the world’s population in 2020. The trade pact is expected to eliminate about 90% of tariffs on imports between its signatories within 20 years of coming into force. The trade deal, which was brokered by the ASEAN countries, includes China, Japan and Australia but excludes both the U.S. and India. It is seen as a triumph for China especially since this agreement is larger than the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement. In this webinar experts explored the key facets of the RCEP and discussed why India and the U.S. declined to participate. Should we now consider China the leader of the global free trade movement? With the U.S. on the sidelines what negative impact does the signing of the RCEP signal for U.S. businesses and what impacts might non-participation have on Washington based businesses?
Poverty Eradication in China: Reality versus Rhetoric
China set the ambitious goal of eliminating rural poverty by 2020 during its Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Chinese Communist Party Central Committee in 2015. Has China reached its goal? In this webinar we hear from Mr. Matthew Chitwood, an American who recently returned from China after living and working in a remote village in Yunnan province for two years. Matthew will provide us with firsthand observations of the effectiveness of the government’s programs and explain how they are transforming the lives of rural residents. He will help us understand if China’s goal has been met and whether the poverty alleviation programs implemented are sustainable.
Working Washington Small Business Grants Webinar (In Mandarin) | 华盛顿州对中小企业的最新拨款项目 （中文讲座）
Up to $20,000 per business in emergency funding is now available to Washington State eligible small businesses. Learn more about Working Washington Small Business Grants in this webinar facilitated by Ellie He, Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Certified Business Advisor, and Man Wang, Director of Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC). We will cover: • Who is eligible • How to apply • What the grant pays for • Documents and information you will need to submit Brought to you by Washington SBDC and WSCRC, in collaboration with Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Washington State and Seattle Entrepreneurship Club.
Unpacking China's Belt and Road Initiative 10012020
As discussed in his new book The Myth of Chinese Capitalism, in this session Dexter Tiff Roberts will describe how surging income inequality, an unfair social welfare system, and rising social tensions block China’s continued economic rise with implications for companies and countries around the world. He will discuss how China is struggling to leave behind its “Factory to the World” growth model, and include its hundreds of millions of left-behind migrant workers into a more innovative, consumption-driven economy. And he will talk about how these internal challenges will likely lead to an even more troubled relationship between China, the U.S., and the world.
Decoupling or Reset - Update on the U.S.-China Trade Relationship and Outlook for 2021
In this webinar Spencer Cohen, a trade economist, will review the status of the Phase I deal and discuss recent trade trends including the latest developments in our economic relationship with China. Cameron Johnson, a Shanghai-based business consultant, will provide an on-the-ground perspective on the status of our trade ties with China and share the sentiment among U.S. businesses based in China. Both Spencer and Cameron will then share their thoughts on the future of this relationship with either a Trump or Biden Administration in 2021.
When the Red Gates Opened: A Talk with Author Dori Jones Yang
A conversation with award-winning author Dori Jones Yang who spent eight years as a foreign correspondent for BusinessWeek covering China. In her new memoir, When the Red Gates Opened: A Memoir of China’s Reawakening (released September 22, 2020), Yang brings to life this transformative time in history and in her personal life.
Unpacking China's Belt and Road Initiative
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), inaugurated in 2013, has become a signature foreign policy framework of the Xi Jinping era. China has pledged $1 trillion dollars for infrastructure projects in the Asia-Pacific, and BRI projects touch over 60 percent of the world’s population based on the countries where the investment occurs. However, the BRI has also become the subject of skepticism as to its goals and impact on overseas development. This skepticism and suspicion has intensified during a period of heightened distrust and tension between the U.S. and China.