Four Diplomats from Asia on the Case for 'America First'
From left to right: Melissa La Bouff, Consul General Tomochika Uyama, Consul General Joon-yong Park, Consul General Sanjay Panda, Kenneth P. Wilcox, Mary Kay Magistad, Deputy Consul General Faqiang Ren, Margaret Conley, and Lawrence Patrick III of Medill. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Bill Fuller of Asia Society Northern California's Advisory Board, Consul General Sanjay Panda, Consul General Joon-yong Park and Tian Feng of BART pose for a moment at the VIP reception prior to the program. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Moderator Mary Kay Magistad (far right) chats with Oriana Branon, Tasha Yorozu, Annabel Chang, and Lawrence Patrick III. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Tian Feng of BART shares a lighthearted moment with Margaret Conley of Asia Society Northern California and Consul General Joon-yong Park at the VIP reception. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
From left to right: Melissa La Bouff, Kurt Glaubitz of Chevron, Consul General Tomochika Uyama, Consul General Joon-yong Park, Consul General Sanjay Panda, Kenneth P. Wilcox, Mary Kay Magistad, Deputy Consul General Faqiang Ren, Margaret Conley, and Lawrence Patrick III of Medill. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Margaret Conley, Executive Director of Asia Society Northern California, opens the program. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Kurt Glaubitz of Chevron offers some remarks before the program. Thank you to Chevron for sponsoring this program. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Lawrence Patrick III of the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communication at Northwestern University in San Francisco gives introductory remarks before the program. Thank you to Medill for partnering with us on this program. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Mary Kay Magistad, far right, starts the moderated portion of the discussion. Magistad is formerly a journalist with National Public Radio and Public Radio International. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Deputy Consul General Faqiang Ren (center) of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco kicks off the panel discussion. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Consul General Tomochika Uyama of the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco continues the discussion. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Consul General Joon-yong Park from the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Consul General Sanjay Panda of the Consulate General of India in San Francisco. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Consul General Joon-yong Park weighs in on the discussion. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Deputy Consul General Faqiang Ren of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Consul General Sanjay Panda contributes to the panel discussion. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Consul General Tomochika Uyama of the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Audience members were quite eager to ask questions during the Q&A portion. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
The panelists share a laugh with the audience as the questions start. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
The panelists during an amusing moment. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Consul General Sanjay Panda and Kenneth P. Wilcox, Chair of the Asia Society Northern California Advisory Board. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
Consul General Uyama chats with an audience member after the program. (Frank Jang/Asia Society)
On July 24, 2019, Asia Society Northern California hosted "The Case for America First with Four Consul Generals" in partnership with the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University in San Francisco.
Speaking at the program were four diplomats: Consul General Sanjay Panda from the Consulate General of India in San Francisco, Consul General Joon-yong Park from the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco, Consul General Tomochika Uyama from the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, and Deputy Consul General Faqiang Ren from the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco. The discussion was moderated by Mary Kay Magistad from the UC Berkeley School of Journalism.
All four of the diplomats spoke on how their countries have responded to the “America First” policy, and agreed it is both natural to prioritize a country's national interest. However, they each stressed the importance of international cooperation and that in today’s globalized world, “America First” cannot mean America alone. All envision an environment of stability and predictability in East Asia and throughout the Asia Pacific with the aim to foster transparency and business cooperation that will benefit the entire region.
Consul General Uyama stressed the importance of finding ways to cooperate through our differences, including that national benefits can be maximized in a realistic manner, but not at the expense of others. Consul General Sanjay Panda stated that although the U.S. has a preeminent place in world order, we are moving in the direction of a multipolar world. He emphasized that we cannot afford to look at one country first, but that we need to work together on pressing issues that impact us all such as the growing water crisis. “We need to work together. We do not have a choice” Panda said.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was also discussed as many countries share concern over China’s intentions. Deputy Consul General Ren explained that China only wants to spread prosperity: “If you want to be rich, make your neighbors rich so you can do business,” he said. Moving forward, China wants to shoulder more global responsibility and put differences aside to find common development. China believes the Asia Pacific region will become more multilateral, that economic integration will go further, and that it is possible to have multiple wins beneficial to all.
The overall message of the discussion was to stay globally engaged, and stay respectful. It is not about one country first, it is about countries cooperating together for a mutually beneficial future.
Asia Society Northern California would like to thank Chevron for sponsoring this event.
Watch the complete discussion below (1 hr., 20 mins.)