China 101 2020 offered an 8-part series to provide a unique insight into the US-China relationship. Featuring speakers with firsthand knowledge of China – its culture, its people, and its policies—the 2020 series focuses on seven key areas of interest to U.S. policymakers and their advisors.  Designed to increase awareness and understanding, the one-hour sessions offer staff the opportunity to hear from and interact with diverse experts from on and off the Hill.

While this series was open only to Congressional staff, Sessions 7 and 8 were open to the public. Audio and video of the final two sessions can be found HERE

Session by Session Overview

Session 1: Understanding China: Its Past, Its Political System, and Its Leaders. Robert Daly and Susan Lawrence gave an overview of the history, political system, and prominent leaders in China to create the foundation for this series. They believe China’s engagement with the United reflects its desire to secure its perceived economic and political interests. They further discussed how specific policies and legislation should be adopted to build a long-term beneficiary relationship with China.

Session 2: US-China Economic Interconnectivity: Where Do We Go From Here? Erin Ennis and Wayne Morrison focused their discussion on US-China economic relations, including trade, business ties, and economic policy. They touched upon policy implications for businesses of varying scale and the pandemic-informed private sectors’ supply chain diversification approach.

Session 3: China’s Influence Abroad: Economic, Social, and Strategic Impact. Bonnie Glaser and David Dollar shared the understandings and concerns in China’s expanding geopolitical and economic influences. They discussed China’s national objective, geopolitical grand-strategy, and economic influence in the global economy.

Session 4: Areas of Cooperation: COVID-19. Tim Stratford, Greg Gilligan, and Cheng Li analyzed the US’s and China’s experiences with combating COVID 19. They discussed each side’s successes and failures in addressing this public health crisis. All three scholars agree that it is in the best interests of two states to facilitate communication and cooperation to counter future possible outbreaks.

Session 5: Difficult Conversations- Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang: The Path Forward. James Millward, Margaret Lewis, and Mike Martin focused on the situation in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, their relationships with the PRC, and affects on the US-China relationship. Panelists discussed China’s policies towards these regions and the various ways in which the US could ensure the protection of human rights, autonomy, and democracy.

Session 6: US-China Technological Divide. Scott Kennedy and Donald Morrissey discussed the growing schism between the U.S. and China in the technology industry. The panelists weighed the benefits and risks of decoupling and fragmentation of the two nations’ technological sectors, and nuanced analysis of Huawei’s unique role in this evolving situation was provided.

Session 7: US-China Relations: Rebuilding Trust. Susan Thornton and Shao Yuqun discussed the misunderstandings and conflicts that lead to the rising tensions between the US and China. They agreed that rebuilding trust between the two countries requires more diplomatic conversations and frequent exchange of ideas. It is in the interests of both US and China to have a beneficial bilateral relationship.

Session 8: Feeding the Dragon: The Role of Cultural Diplomacy. Chris Fenton and Zak Dychtwald focused on “young China” and understanding their intent and directions as well as the role US media can play in shaping Chinese perceptions of the US.

Full Schedule

Session 1| June 1 | Understanding China: Its Past, Its Political System, and Its Leaders

Robert Daly, Director, Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, Wilson Center

Susan V. Lawrence, Specialist in Asian Affairs, Congressional Research Service

Session 2| June 8 | US-China Economic Interconnectivity: Where Do We Go From Here?

Erin Ennis, Senior Director for Global Public Policy, Dell Technologies

Wayne M. Morrison, Specialist in Asian Trade and Finance

Moderated by: Chris McCannell, Senior Government Affairs Consultant, GrayRobinson

Session 3 | June 15 | China’s Influence Abroad: Examining the Economic, Social, and Strategic Impact

Bonnie Glaser, Senior Advisor for Asia, and Director, China Power Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies

David Dollar, Senior Fellow, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution

Moderated by: Jeremy Haldeman, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy, Alight

Session 4 | June 22 | COVID 19 – Areas of Cooperation

Tim Stratford, Managing Partner, Covington & Burling; Chairman Emeritus, American Chamber of Commerce in China

Greg Gilligan, Chairman, American Chamber of Commerce in China

Cheng Li, Ph.D., Director and Senior Fellow, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution

Moderated by: Rachel MacKnight, Principal, Sycamore Strategies; Vice Chair, US-Asia Institute

Session 5 | July 6 | Difficult Conversations- Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang: The Path Forward

James Millward, Ph.D., Professor, Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service

Margaret Lewis, Professor of Law, Seton Hall University Law School

Michael Martin, Ph.D., Specialist in Asian Affairs, Congressional Research Service

Session 6 | July 13 | US-China Technological Divide

Scott Kennedy, Ph.D., Senior Advisor and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Donald J. Morrissey, Head of Congressional, State, and Local Government Affairs, Huawei Technologies (USA)

Moderated by: Anna Ashton, Senior Director for Government Affairs, US-China Business Council

Session 7 | July 20 | US-China Relations: Rebuilding Trust

Susan Thornton, Visiting Lecturer, Yale Law School, Senior Fellow, Paul Tsai China Center

Shao Yuqun, Ph.D., Director of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, Senior member of Center for American Studies

Moderated by: Kent Lucken, Managing Director, Citigroup; Trustee, US-Asia Institute

Session 8 | July 27 | Feeding the Dragon: The Role of Cultural Diplomacy

Chris Fenton, CEO, Media Capital Technologies; and Trustee, US-Asia Institute

Zak Dychtwald, Founder and CEO, Young China Group

Moderated by: Zev Moses, Director, International and Government Affairs, US-Asia Institute