The annual China Town Hall took place on Tuesday, April 9, featuring a live webcast with Dr. Kurt Campbell followed by an on-campus discussion moderated by Drs. Wendy Leutert and Nick Vogt.
Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State, and Steve Orlins, President of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, discussed hot-button issues including the Biden administration’s policy towards China, the impact of over-securitization in U.S.-China relations, U.S. policy towards Taiwan and Indo-Pacific affairs, etc. Campbell believes that . . . the current Biden administration has introduced a series of measures, such as increasing investment in semiconductors and AI, closely engaging with allies and partners to build regional consensus to maintain the global operating system, and striving to find a balance point for benign competition in U.S.-China relations. He said, “building on those foundational pieces has been a substantial bilateral commitment to finding common ground, but also being clear-headed about engagement with China.”
Regarding the recent development in U.S.-China relations, Campbell stated, ” the visit of Secretary Yellen and the call between President Biden and President Xi that proceeded that, the upcoming visit of Secretary Blinken, these are all indications that both sides, I think for now, are determined to keep U.S.-China relations on a steady, stable path.” Recently, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met virtually with Dong Jun, Defense Minister of China, on April 16th. Secretary Blinken visited China from April 24th to 26th. Amidst increasing tensions over trade, territorial disputes, and national security that could once again disrupt U.S.-China relations, these dialogues are attempting to maintain the recently-achieved fragile stability. As Campbell mentioned, Blinken’s visit “wants to display other elements of the relationship” beyond competition, such as education, drug control, climate change, artificial intelligence, and more.
Following the webcast, Drs. Wendy Leutert and Nick Vogt led a discussion on several topics raised by Campbell and Orlins. We discussed the tighter U.S. immigration controls on inbound Chinese students, expressing concerns about the potential “chilling effect” on the next generation of Chinese scholars. Additionally, we talked about ancillary effects of U.S.-China policy, especially the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, and its impact on the experience of IU students. Furthermore, Leutert and Vogt highlighted the shifting focus of U.S.-China dialogue on international hotspots. For example, the situation in Xinjiang was a prominent topic in years 2020–2021, but it gets less emphasis in recent discussions. Despite ongoing concerns about Japan, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, recent U.S.-China dialogues have increasingly directed attention towards issues in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
This event was made possible by the East Asian Studies Center. It attracted a diverse audience from various fields and the broader community, including faculty and students in Political Science, History, and East Asian Languages and Cultures, as well as individuals interested in global affairs.
Many issues discussed in this event align closely with the academic development at Indiana University. The growing number of Asian students at IU and the pressing need for academic exchanges between the United States and China underscore the significance of these topics. In addition, IU has a thriving academic community of studies of contemporary U.S.-China relations and global change. This community and these conversations play a vital role in IU’s mission of facilitating dialogues on global affairs and promoting international cooperation.
Authored by Chi FENG, Graduate student of EALC
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