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 will assess and share their perspectives on the most recent developments and direction in US-China relations. Both speakers will address where they think 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.

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SPEAKERS

Malcolm Riddell, Founder and President, RiddellTseng and CHINADebate

As investment banker, diplomat, lawyer, Harvard academic and CIA case officer, Malcolm Riddell has participated in China affairs for more than 40 years. For 20 of those years, he lived and worked in East Asia.

Malcolm founded RiddellTseng in 1988, a China-focused boutique investment bank advising on or doing deals in China for leading financial services, insurance, and real estate companies.

In 2012 Malcolm founded CHINADebate, an online analysis and event platform that informs issues on investment in China and international economies and markets that feel China’s impact.

Prior to establishing his own businesses, Malcolm served at multiple government agencies, including as a case officer in China Operations and Special Operations Group paramilitary officer at the CIA, U.S. delegate to the UN, and Florida Undersecretary of State for International Affairs. Malcolm is also a lawyer, board-certified in international law.

Malcolm is an Associate-in-Research at Harvard Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, a former Asia Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, and a former Academic Leader and Instructor at Harvard Design School. He was also a Senior Visiting Fellow at Peking University. Malcolm is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Malcolm holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, and a JD from Stetson University’s College of Law.

Spencer Cohen, Principal and Founder, High Peak Strategy

Dr. Spencer Cohen is principal and founder of High Peak Strategy LLC, an international trade and economics research consulting firm based in Seattle, WA. He consults and writes extensively on international trade, China’s economy, industry clusters, and regional economic analysis. He has written opinion pieces in the South China Morning Post, The Daily Guardian (India), Puget Sound Business Journal, and Seattle Business Magazine. Prior to forming High Peak Strategy LLC, he served as senior economist with a Seattle-based economics consulting firm. He has also held policy and research roles with the State of Washington.

Spencer is a 2021-2023 Public Intellectuals Program fellow with the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and Senior Fellow with Infinite Sum Modelling, an economics modeling and research firm whose clients include the World Bank, Asia Development Bank, and various national governments. He is also an affiliate professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Washington.

Spencer has a PhD in economic geography from the University of Washington. He has an MA in China Studies, also from the University of Washington, and BA in mathematics and history from the University of Connecticut.