By Adriana Aumen, College of Arts and Sciences
As the top exporting U.S. state to China, Washington has an enormous stake in U.S.-China relations. From wheat to apples and Microsoft to Boeing, businesses and industries statewide are directly affected by America’s political and economic strategy regarding China.
Mercy Kuo, president and executive director of the Seattle-based Washington State China Relations Council, will discuss the importance of Sino-American relations to local businesses and communities on Tuesday, Oct. 24, as part of this year’s CHINA Town Hall at Washington State University.
The free, public event will start with an interactive webcast featuring Susan E. Rice, former national security advisor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, at 4:00 p.m. in Todd Hall 276. She will take questions from audiences at WSU and at more than 80 other participating venues nationwide.
Kuo’s on-site presentation, “U.S.–China Relations in the Trump Era: What Is Washington State’s China Strategy?” will begin at 4:45 p.m.
Understanding global trade linkages across national and local economic interests is fundamental to developing an effective China strategy, Kuo said. “This means, for instance, identifying how the global supply chain affects not only multinational corporations but also small and local businesses in your community.”
Writing in Real Clear World, Kuo said: “China is a ubiquitous player in the economic development of myriad sectors. Its presence is felt across the country — from innovation incubators in Seattle and Silicon Valley, food processing in Iowa, automotive parts manufacturing in Michigan, and oil and gas development in Texas and Oklahoma, to high-tech manufacturing in Massachusetts and real estate investment in New York.”
Local government and business leaders must factor geopolitical threats into their China strategy along with possible disruptions to critical operations, including transportation, seaports, finance, telecommunications and infrastructure.
“CHINA Town Hall aims to help people nationwide understand the challenges and opportunities of what has been characterized as the most important bilateral relationship of the twenty-first century,” said Lydia Gerber, clinical associate professor of history and director of the WSU Asia Program, the local event sponsor.
“Kuo’s extensive academic research and professional experience, including as Asian affairs analyst for the federal government, provides valuable insight for state and local decision-makers in crafting effective China strategies. Ambassador Rice’s critical role as a presidential advisor in developing and executing U.S. foreign policy makes her perspective especially relevant during this uncertain time in U.S.–China relations.
“Both perspectives will help us identify productive ways of mutual exchange and cooperation in spite of political differences,” Gerber said.
Ambassador Susan E. Rice was national security advisor (2013-2017) for the Obama administration and U.S. permanent representative to the UN (2009-2013), as well as U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs and senior director for African affairs at the National Security Council.
The Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC) is the nation’s oldest state-level organization promoting stronger commercial, educational and cultural engagement with the People’s Republic of China. WSRC president Mercy Kuo authors a weekly column on U.S. Asia policy for The Diplomat, an international affairs magazine, and serves on the advisory council of the Asia Pacific Institute at the American Jewish Committee and advisory board of CHINADebate.