In late February, the Washington State China Relations Council community was deeply saddened by the passing of Joe Borich, who served as the Council’s Executive Director and President of from 1997 to 2013. A respected diplomat and a valuable of the U.S.-China community, Joe played a vital role in strengthening the Council’s mission and advancing ties between Washington state and China.
Joe devoted much of his professional life to U.S.-China relations. While at the State Department, he served under every president from Nixon to Clinton in various China related capacities. His final overseas assignment was as Consul General in Shanghai from October 1994 through June 1997, a post he had helped open in 1980. He also served as Director of the Taiwan Coordination Staff in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Department of State, and prior to that as the last Deputy Chief of Mission in the former U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu.
In his forward to the book Connecting Washington State and China: the Story of Washington State China Relations Council (2005), Joe reflected on his early involvement with China and first encounters with the WSCRC.
“As a relatively junior Foreign Service Officer working on the State Department’s China Desk in 1978, I found myself in an ideal “fly-on-the-wall” situation from which to observe and peripherally contribute to the chain of events that would lead to the full normalization of relations between the U.S. and China on January 1, 1979.
By January 1980, I was in China helping to reopen the U.S. consulate general there after a 30-year hiatus. Although I did not imagine it at the time, I would spend much of the final 17 years of my Foreign Service career involved with China. During that time I encountered the Washington State China Relations Council—its executive directors, board members, member company representatives and delegates of various WSCRC-led missions—on a number of occasions. In the process my knowledge of and respect for the WSCRC and its mission grew with each passing year.
Perhaps it was destiny that the WSCRC’s executive director position should become vacant in 1997 at the same time that I retired from the Foreign Service. Whether by fate or coincidence I was ineluctably drawn to accept the Council’s offer of employment, an acceptance that years later I have found no reason to regret.”
Joe brought his deep experience, insight, and passion for international engagement to WSCRC, where he led the organization for the next 16 years. Under his leadership, the Council expanded its programs and strengthened its partnerships—Joe helped shape the Council into the respected institution it is today. He led or helped organize multiple missions to China, including serving as advisor to Governor Gary Locke’s first trip to China. His expertise, thoughtful leadership, and larger-than-life personability helped deepen mutually beneficial relations between Washington state and China, while earning the respect and admiration of colleagues across the region and beyond.
William Franklin, who served as WSCRC’s Board President in 1985, shared:
“We first met when he was Consul General in Shanghai. He led the opening of the Shanghai Consul in 1980 but I think he did not move there as Consul general until the mid-nineties. I told Joe that his residence and his personal appearance were just exactly what you would like to see the Shanghai Consul General look like in the movies. Was he typecast? … Joe always said that I was the one that brought him to Seattle, but that is a big overstatement. I did recommend him enthusiastically, but others were equally enthusiastic. Because of his know-how and his abilities and all of his contacts with China, he did a lot of good for Washington State. In every way … I will always think of Joe as a gentleman, a man of great talent, generosity, and good purpose.”
Tong Zhu, WSCRC’s Executive Committee and Board member, reflected:
“His remarkable knowledge of Taiwan, China and global affairs was matched only by his kindness, humility, and wonderful sense of humor. Joe’s gentle spirit touched everyone who knew him.”
Nelson Dong, also a member of the Executive Committee and Board Member, fondly recalled his experience of working with Joe, especially the “journey to the West” trip he organized.
“It was my honor and privilege to have worked with Joe Borich for much of his 15-year tenure with the WSCRC, beginning from my own first year living and working in Seattle in 2000. My wife Diane and I still share deeply vivid memories of Joe himself leading a private citizen tour of the old ‘Silk Road’ across northwest China in June – July 2010 during which Joe’s intimate knowledge of China and the Chinese people informed and enlightened every day of our tour. Being with Joe on that particular 2010 trip meant we were blessed with his warmth, wisdom, humor and grace day after day as he patiently led us across China, whether by bus or train and even on the backs of camels! I only hope I spoke adequately for the entire WSCRC family when we honored Joe in September 2012 upon his retirement from his exemplary leadership and service as the WSCRC President in addition to his many other years of distinguished and unselfish public service in the Peace Corps, in the U.S. Army and for decades in the diplomatic corps as a career Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department.”
Jim Young, WSCRC’s board Chair, reflected:
“Joe’s kindness, his willingness to help others, and his passion for a better world left a lasting mark on all of us. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.”
The Council is forever grateful for Joe’s leadership, wisdom, and enduring contributions to the WSCRC and to the broader U.S.-China Community. We extended our heartful condolences to his family.
Joe’s life and legacy are beautifully captured in this obituary written by his family.
