WSCRC

Washington State China Relations Council

A Conversation with Representative Adam Smith on China

Representative Adam Smith (WA 9) spoke to WSCRC and WSCRF audience on February 24th, less than a day after Russia invaded Ukraine, on some of the key issues that cloud the current U.S.-China relationship: Russia-Ukraine conflict, Taiwan, discrimination against Asian Americans, and trade.

The Congressman emphatically noted that Putin must not succeed with his invasion as any success for Russia would embolden other countries to use force for territorial gain. He noted that this is an opportunity for China to use its leverage to stop Russia, but China might follow suit to use military might against Taiwan. Rep. Smith noted that he favors continued support for Taiwan and believes “strategic ambiguity” regarding the U.S. position on Taiwan is the right approach. Regarding bills in Congress to support American competitiveness, Congressman Smith expressed concern whether such legislation will be finalized. There was bi-partisan support in the Senate for the USICA bill, reaching compromise on a legislation to support critical U.S. infrastructure (e.g., semiconductors), however, may prove very difficult as the House version of this act passed on strictly partisan lines, implying a lack of consensus. When talking about trade, Rep. Smith commented that the U.S. lacks a trade policy for Asia and should  form trade partnerships, including joining the CPTPP, to compete against China. The Congressman also expressed concerns about unfair discrimination against Asian Americans, particularly in federal government agencies that require security clearances.

Click here to rewatch the webinar.

WSCRC Publishes its 2nd WA-China Quarterly Report

On February 1, 2022, the WSCRC publishes its 2nd Washington State – China Quarterly report. We started this project in October 2021 to provide industry leaders, government officials, and their staff timely and important information and analysis about key developments in U.S.-China relations, with a focus on those stories most relevant to Washington state. We also include an updated summary of notable China engagements and activities among our local businesses and organizations.

As we kick off 2022, tension continues to define the geopolitical relationship between the U.S. and China. A certain stasis has developed since President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a virtual summit at the end of November. Fortunately, there have been no major incidents to further worsen the relationship, but also no major diplomatic breakthroughs either. The 2022 Winter Olympics, once heralded as another stage for China to showcase its economic achievements, has been hindered by the emergence of Delta and Omicron variants of the Covid-19 virus.

Although the media often focuses on points of conflict between the U.S and China, business representatives who participated in a China Business Conference co-hosted by the Council and the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai in December, noted the success of their companies in the PRC, even during the pandemic. The business leaders were upbeat about their China prospects, and many planned to increase their investments in the country.

The Council—in cooperation with its educational arm, the Washington State China Relations Fund—continues to produce webinars in an effort to present a more nuanced picture of the U.S.-China relationship. Details of the event are provided at the end of the report.

Click here to read the full report.

WSCRF and World Affairs Council Tacoma Host Book Talk with Author of “China’s Civilian Army: the Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy”

In a webinar sponsored by the Washington State China Relations Fund and the World Affairs Council Tacoma, author Peter Martin discussed his new book, China’s Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy.

Peter Martin is a reporter for Bloomberg news based in Washington D.C., covering the Pentagon and State Department. He had just returned from travelling with Secretary Blinken to Kiev when he spoke to us. He lived and worked in China in the early 2000s and has extensive experience tracking and writing about China over the last two decades. His new book was motivated by an interest in understanding the role and evolution of China’s diplomatic corps.

The phrase” Wolf Warrior” diplomacy has been used to describe the aggressive style of Chinese diplomacy that became more strident under Xi’s administration. The name is adopted from a well-known Chinese action film released in 2015.

Though the phrase was relatively new, Peter noted that traditionally Chinese diplomats are expected to model the behavior of the Chinese military, hence his “China’s Civilian Army.” The notion of Chinese diplomats acting as civilian soldiers dates from the early days of the PRC. He noted that Chinese diplomats walk a tightrope. For the Chinese audience, diplomats need to be perceived as adhering closely to the party line, which often forces them to be rigid and aggressive in style. At the same time,  in order to succeed in overseas postings, they need to embrace international diplomacy norms and exhibit personal charisma.

The question was raised whether Wolf Warrior behavior is effective. Peter opined that, in general, Wolf Warrior diplomacy has been counterproductive for China’s image and reputation. China has become less favored, as illustrated in recent surveys. However, Peter does not expect Chinese diplomats to change their style anytime soon. He noted that the Wolf Warriors are appealing to a domestic audience and there is no one in China, Xi Jinping included, who has indicated that the diplomats should lessen their vitriol. Peter noted that many in the Chinese government feel that they are being “attacked” by foreigners who comment negatively on China’s policies and actions. Wolf Warrior diplomacy often entails vigorous and at times vitriolic rhetoric to counter these perceived foreign sleights.

Click here to watch the recording of the book talk.

 

Representative Rick Larsen Updates China White Paper

Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), who addressed WSCRC audiences on three occasions in 2021, recently updated his China White Paper. Larsen’s recent white paper builds on his December 2019 edition, including new priorities and recommendations while retaining the framework of the original White Paper. In his paper Larsen calls upon Congress and the Biden administration to think more broadly about its ‘China agenda.’ Instead of thinking defensively, the U.S. needs to have a proactive agenda that increases U.S. competitiveness,” said Larsen, co-founder and co-chair of the U.S.-China Working Group (USCWG).

Read a copy of the newly updated White Paper here.

2021 Year In Review And Holiday Greetings

Season’s Greetings and Warm Wishes from

the Washington State China Relations Council & the Washington State China Relations Fund
&
2021 Year in Review

 

Dear WSCRC Members and Friends,

It’s that time of year when we want to thank you for your support, to wish you and your family a happy, safe, and peaceful holiday season and all the best for 2022.

We’d also like to present you this year in review which summarizes many of our 2021 activities. We are grateful to all of you who joined with us this year in our webinars and various events and we look forward to your continued support in 2022.

PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

We continued to provide high quality webinars and conferences covering topics of importance to the U.S.-China relationship. Below we briefly highlight many of our events and provide links to the recordings or memos recapping these. You may also access videos of many of our events on  our YouTube Channel here.
2021 Virtual Annual Gala
On February 2, the Council held its annual gala, virtually, for over 200 participants. The highlight of the evening was a conversation between former Ambassador to China Gary Locke and the former Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd. These two experts expressed their ideas about how the U.S. and China can cooperate as well as compete in the future. Also speaking at the event was Congressman Rick Larsen (D WA 02), who shared his ideas about steps the U.S. must take to compete and what the U.S. must do to manage its increasingly fraught relationship with China.

Keeping with a Gala tradition, the Council awarded its 2021 Sidney Rittenberg Award for leadership in the advancement of Washington-China relations to former Council Chairman and long-time board member Gregg Rodgers.

       
Cruising the South China Sea –                         Asymmetric Competition: A Strategy for
Stormy Weather Ahead?                                      China & Technology: A Conversation with Gary Rieschel
Watch the webinar recording here                              Read the full report here

       
The Importance of International Students    Analyzing Chinese Investment in
in Post-Secondary Education System               the Real Estate Sector
Watch the webinar recording here                                Watch the webinar recording here

           
Current Challenges and Opportunities for      Coffee Chat with the Economic Alliance Snohomish County:
U.S. Companies in China: A Report by the       Rebuilding Relationships with China
Leaders of the AmCham Shanghai                      Watch the webinar recording here. 

                    
Book Talk                                     Book Talk  “Challenging China”   Dragon Boat Festival Networking Event
“Rumors from Shanghai”      Watch the webinar recording here         

           
A conversation with Representative                  Analyzing China’s Strategic Ambitions
Rick Larsen on U.S.-China Relations                 Watch the webinar recording here
Watch the webinar recording here

Anti-Asian Violence and Hate Crimes Series
       
Watch the first webinar (community voices) recording
Watch the second webinar (government perspectives) recording here

         
Deciphering Xi Jinping’s Vision and                  Book Talk “The World Turned Upside Down”
What It Means for the Tech Sector                       
Watch the webinar recording here

         
U.S.-China Relations: Trends and                A conversation with Congresswoman Suzan
Implications for U.S. Business                       DelBene on U.S.-China Relations

         
The Impact of the Evergrande Crisis             China Town Hall 2021
on China’s Economy                                             Watch the webinar recording here

       
Book Talk | Middle Class Shanghai:                 Unpacking Global Supply Chain Disruptions
Reshaping U.S.-China Engagement                  Watch the webinar recording here
Watch the webinar recording here   

The New China Business Landscape for American Companies

This virtual conference was co-hosted by the WSCRC and AmCham Shanghai. Ambassador Stapleton Roy provided a very insightful keynote speech. He stated that even though there are many “dark clouds” on the horizon for U.S.-China relations, the notion of a “new cold war” is misleading and inappropriate. He listed three key factors hampering the U.S’s China policy, including no defined U.S. economic strategy for Asia, Taiwan, and a hostility in the U.S. against globalization.

Representative Rick Larsen (D WA 02) made recorded remarks, stating the importance of a healthy relationship for Washington State and the U.S. with China, and what the Congress should do to improve the relationship.

Three panels comprised of leaders of the U.S. business community in China and leading China experts discussed three key issues of the U.S.-China relationship, including the current state and the future of U.S.-China relations, the business environment for U.S. companies in China, and what are the implications of a “de-coupled” tech landscape.

WSCRC Government Affairs Committee Projects

WSCRC and Select Washington Trade Associations Outline Ideas for China Policies

The Washington State China Relations Council and its partners recently prepared a document for federal, state and local officials, outlining policies that these organizations endorse with the intent to improve the competitiveness of Washington businesses in their dealings with China. The WSCRC would like to thank our partner organizations, CleanTech Alliance, the Northwest Horticultural Council, Visit Seattle, and the Washington Technology Industry Association, for providing their valuable inputs. Full report can be viewed here.

WSCRC Produces its First China Quarterly Report

The intent of this communique is to provide timely and important information about U.S.-China relations, key developments of interest and relevance in China, and an update on the progress of local entities in their interactions with China. The Council – drawing upon its 42-year history, knowledge, and resources – is well positioned to track, analyze, and report on the Pacific Northwest’s important economic, cultural, and educational relationship with China. We hope this report, coupled with other works of the Council, provide key resources for industry leaders, government officials and their staff. Read the full report here. 

 

 

WSCRC in the Media & Member Highlights

On August 10, Nelson Dong, a board member and former Chairman of the WSCRC was selected by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of their eight “Director of the Year” for 2021. The board members are recognized for their outstanding contributions to help their companies/organizations navigate through challenging times. Read the PBSJ’s full story “Nelson Dong: ‘Now, more than ever, U.S. businesses need to remain active in their various trade associations“.

On April 16, the WSCRC published an Op-ed in the Seattle Times to recommend five core themes in terms of engaging and competing with China to boost Washington’s economic recovery.

On January 15, the WSCRC member Spencer Cohen co-penned an editorial in the South China Morning Post. Titled New alliances, not tariffs, are key to US trade strategy on China, the op-ed calls for the U.S. to take a multi-lateral approach to solving trade problems with China.

The U.S. China Business Council (USCBC), in coordination with the WSCRC, has interviewed a number of WSCRC member companies to understand the importance of the China market to these firms, as part of its “50 States, 50 Stories” initiative. Four WSCRC members were interviewed and featured in the series.

  • Brown and Haley – “In Pursuit of a Billion Sweet Tooths“.  Tacoma-based Brown and Haley is the legendary candy maker who created “Almond Roca”. In the article, the company’s CEO John Melin explains how they developed their business in China, how the company has adapted its product line to meet the needs of Chinese consumers. and how they have responded to impacts from the trade war and the pandemic.
  • GX Architecture & Design – “Adding an American Touch to China’s Tech Headquarters“. Bob Ormond, Senior Vice President and COO of the company advised the readers to take the long(er) view when working with the Chinese based on his and his company’s experience working throughout Asia. Mr. Ormond also praised the role of state level U.S.-China trade groups like the WSCRC which helps companies like his with business transactions and policy and strategy advice.

Support Our Work

We thank you for your continued support of our work and mission. Such support is vitally important to the future of U.S.-China business and cultural relations. You can support us by becoming a WSCRC member or making a tax-deductible contribution to the WSCRF’s educational programs.

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