June 23, 2023 — Asia Society Northern California hosted Jessica Chen Weiss, a Senior Fellow  at Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis and the Michael J. Zak Professor for China and Asia-Pacific Studies in the Department of Government at Cornell University. The discussion, moderated by Tim Stratford senior counsel in Covington & Burling LLP covered where we are in U.S.-China relations, the driving approach on each side, and what that all means moving forward. 

Weiss began by stating that Secretary Blinken’s visit to China earlier that month was an indication of progress, but also repeatedly emphasized the need to set boundaries on competition between the U.S. and China. On the American side, genuine concern about the Taiwan conflict has created a sensitive environment, but Weiss asserted that the U.S. must resist fatalism, seek to manage competition, and avoid backing China into a corner. Other themes that came up in the conversation included navigating the ambiguity of “de-risking” and the consequences of a perceived lack of transparency on both sides, but especially from China. An engaging Q&A session covered everything from the importance of domestic Taiwanese politics and the cost of U.S.-Taiwan trade disruptions to human rights and cultural barriers in policy-making. 

We thank our event sponsor and parnters in hosting this off-the-record Executive Roundtable with our Innovator, Groundbreaker, Advisory Council, and Board members.