The Center for the Study of Contemporary China at UPenn has launched a new website for its Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations. Over the next few weeks, the site will publish policy papers by twenty “next generation” experts to offer assessments and make recommendations on key issues in several areas of U.S. policies toward China, including security, economics, technology, environment, and protecting or promoting liberal values (in human rights, rule of law, education and research, and other areas).
A series of six public webinars over the next few weeks will examine key themes addressed by the policy papers: national security; trade & competitiveness; society & values; human rights, law & democracy; climate & environment; and technology.
The relationship between the United States and China has been increasingly strained during the last several years. In recent months, tensions have escalated between the world’s two largest economies and most powerful countries over a host of issues, including COVID-19, the Trump administration’s effort to ban Chinese social media apps Tik Tok and WeChat, China’s handling of Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and the continuing trade war.
The policy of engagement that has defined the U.S. approach to China for four decades has crumbled, leading to bipartisan support for a tougher approach, and especially hawkish policies from the current administration. To address these challenges, experts at Penn’s Center for the Study of Contemporary China (CSCC) have launched the Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations, a new initiative to cultivate fresh voices and original thinking to help chart the future of U.S.-China relations and to recommend policies.
Together, the U.S. and China represent 40% of global economic output. They increasingly view one another as rivals and national security threats, and addressing global challenges including climate change and pandemics depend on both countries’ participation.
“There has never been a more critical time in recent memory to encourage scholarship that examines the underpinnings of the U.S.-China relationship,” says Amy Gadsden, associate vice provost for global initiatives and executive director of Penn China initiatives. “We are fortunate that the provost’s China Research and Engagement Fund (CREF) is able to support this and other projects that deepen our understanding of China.”
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