Divided Politics, Unified Challenges? U.S.-China Relations Post-Election
As the United States navigates a changing political landscape following the recent election, questions arise about the future of U.S.-China relations. Two days after the Presidential inauguration, this timely discussion will bring together leading experts to examine the possible directions for U.S. foreign policy toward China, considering shifts in Congress and other key policymaking positions.
Join us on January 22, 2025 to gain insights from our panel of experts. The panel will explore how the election outcome and the new administration will impact key issues such as trade, security, technology, and environmental cooperation between the two countries, as well as broader geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
This is a joint program with the Washington State China Relations Council, the Rainier Club, and the China Studies Program and East Asia Center at the University of Washington.
Attendance at the panel discussion is complimentary, but registration is required. A small group networking dinner ($67 per person) will follow the discussion.
Event Time: Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 5:00 – 8:30 PM Pacific Time
Event Location: the Rainier Club, 820 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Program Agenda:
5:00 PM Registration and Networking
5:30 PM Panel Discussion
6:45 – 7:00 PM Networking
7:30 – 8:30 PM Small Group Dinner (Optional; Need to Pay when registering)
Registration will open soon.
SPEAKERS
David Bachman is a professor in the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. He is also the Associate Director at the Jackson School. He was chair of the China Studies Program from 1992-2003. Dr. Bachman has been a faculty member at UW since 1991 and taught at Stanford University and Princeton University prior to coming to the University of Washington. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University. He is the author/editor of three books and more than 50 articles on Chinese politics, foreign policy, political economy, and US-China relations. At the UW he teaches courses on Chinese Foreign Policy, US-China Relations, The Rise of Asia and the Making of the 21st Century.
Dr. Bachman is a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. He was a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and President of the Washington State China Relations Council in 2005. He has chaired the Fulbright Committee on Academic Exchanges with the PRC.
Nelson Dong is an Of Counsel in the Seattle office of the Dorsey & Whitney law firm and co-heads its National Security Law Group. He advises companies, professional societies, universities and research organizations on export controls, economic sanctions, national security and international trade and investment matters. He is also an author and teacher on international technology law issues.
Nelson was a White House Fellow and U.S. Justice Department official in the Carter Administration responsible for international and national security matters and was a federal prosecutor in Boston. He has been an export control policy advisor to the U.S. Commerce Department and served over a decade as a director of the National Committee on US-China Relations in New York City. He is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu, a director of the Washington State China Relations Council in Seattle, a member of the Advisory Board for Asia Society Seattle and an active member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Committee of 100. Nelson is a graduate of Stanford University and the Yale Law School and has served as a trustee of Stanford University.
Tong Zhu is the Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer at the Northwest Seaport Alliance. She is responsible for the organization’s commercial team, including the alliance’s container and non-container cargo business portfolio and oversees business development, real estate, and marketing & research departments.
Prior to the formation of the alliance, Zhu served as the chief commercial officer at the Port of Tacoma since 2010. She managed the activities of the Port’s diversified business portfolio, including container, non‐container (breakbulk and RORO), intermodal, and real estate. She also oversaw the marketing, research, and customer outreach activities of the port’s business development teams. Zhu joined the Port of Tacoma in 2007 as director of Commercial Strategies.
Before joining the Port of Tacoma, Zhu managed international relations at the Port of Seattle and directed the State of Washington’s Greater China trade development programs. With the state, she played a critical role in former Gov. Gary Locke’s successful China trade development programs and helped advance and finalize business contracts and international agreements.
A cum laude graduate of the University of Washington, Tacoma with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Zhu is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Society.
She serves on the board of trustees for the Clover Park Technical College and Washington State China Relations Council, and is a member of the business advisory council for the Asia Society.
Kristi Heim is an experienced communications leader in life sciences, international business, and global health. A former journalist and senior communication director, Kristi currently consults companies and organizations on marketing-communications strategies, with a focus on cancer, global health, and cutting-edge technologies in medicine. She has more than 20 years’ experience in media, public relations and international affairs, managing communications strategy and business partnerships.
Her experience includes directing corporate communications for global biopharma and genomics companies. She also spent many years working in Asia and served as executive director and president of the Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC), from 2013 to 2016. As an award-winning journalist, she wrote about business and technology for publications including the Wall Street Journal, the Seattle Times, and the San Jose Mercury News.