On the afternoon of March 15th, 2019, overseas members of the Global Forum of Chinese Political Scientists, led by Mr. Zhao Quansheng, visited the School of International Studies (SIS) at Peking University and discussed current hot issues in China-US and Asia-Pacific relations with our professors, students and other domestic academics. As part of the special events of the Kim Koo Forum, this seminar was hosted by the Institute for China-US People-to-People Exchange of Peking University and presided over by Associate Professor Wang Dong, Executive Deputy Director of the Institute.
The visiting overseas scholars were as follows: Zhao Quansheng, Professor from the School of International Studies and Chair of the Asian Studies Research Council of the American University; Xu Xin, Professor and Executive Director of the China and Asia-Pacific Studies Program of Cornell University; Zhu Zhiqun, Professor, Chair of the Department of International Relations and Founding Director of the China Institute of Bucknell University; Xiong Dayun, Professor from the Faculty of Law of Yamanashi Gakuin University; Kwei-Bo Huang, Professor, Deputy Director of the College of International Affairs and Director of the Center for Global and Regional Risk Assessment of National Chengchi University; Ma Xinxin, Associate Professor from the Institute of Economic Research of Hitotsubashi University; Zhang Feng, Senior Lecturer from the Department of International Relations of the Australian National University; and Sun Taiyi, Assistant Professor from the Political Science Department of Christopher Newport University. The scholars from China were as follows: Tang Shiqi, Professor and Dean of the School of International Studies of Peking University; Jia Qingguo, Professor and Director, and Wang Dong, Associate Professor and Deputy Executive Director, of the Institute for China-US People-to-People Exchange of Peking University; Ding Dou, Professor, Qi Haotian, Assistant Professor, and Chen Muyang, Assistant Professor, of the School of International Studies of Peking University; Chen Xi, Vice President of ZTE and Director of the Institute of Digital Economy; Guo Weihua, Associate Professor from the College of National Security of the PLA National Defence University; Guo Zhenjia, Associate Professor from the Department of Public Management of the China University of Labor Relations; Liang Yabin, Associate Professor from the Institute for International Strategy Studies of the Party School, Central Committee of the CPC; Zhang Qi, Lecturer from the Department of International Politics of the Central University of Finance and Economics, etc.
At the beginning of the meeting, Associate Professor Wang Dong invited Professor Tang Shiqi, Professor Jia Qingguo, and Professor Zhao Quansheng to make speeches, respectively, and briefly introduced the scholars from the Chinese side. In his remarks, Professor Tang Shiqi welcomed and thanked the overseas members, and said that he was looking forward to receiving valuable advice from the attendees on the subject improvement and academic development of the SIS. In the context of current China-US relations, Chinese scholars can act as an essential bridge, and the SIS also hopes to strengthen cooperation with the Global Forum of Chinese Political Scientists and expand our channels of exchange. Taking the incident of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou as an example, Professor Jia Qingguo pointed out in his speech that under today's circumstances, "where the rock bottom of China-US relations is and what its impact on international relations in the Asia-Pacific region is" are two vital issues that require urgent consideration and discussion. Professor Zhao Quansheng first discussed the background and major work of the Global Forum of Chinese Political Scientists and expressed his hope and willingness to establish long-term institutional channels for communication with the SIS. He then went on to introduce the eight Chinese scholars at the seminar.
In the speech session, the Chinese scholars presented their research results and made comments on corresponding specific topics. The topic of Professor Zhao Quansheng's speech was "Trump's China Policy and China-US Relations." He pointed out that China and the United States are going to have a complex long-term relationship combining both competition and cooperation, in which the Taiwan issue is likely to be a trigger of conflict between the two countries. Therefore, corresponding crisis management and prevention should be put on the agenda. Professor Huang Kwei-Bo discussed the general views of Tsai Ing-wen's administration on China-US relations and their possible impact. He believes that the United States only pays lip service at present, while the Tsai administration expects more practical support from the United States. The topic of Professor Xu Xin's presentation was "Sino-US Competition and Asia-Pacific Geopolitical Changes." He put forward the three significant developments and three hotspots that determined the geopolitical changes in the Asia-Pacific region after the Cold War and highlighted the importance of using theories in the analysis of international politics. Associate Professor Ma Xinxin discussed Sino-US economic and trade friction and Japan's role in it. She argued that the large-scale trade war launched by the United States, which is essentially the political suppression of China, has violated the principles of economics, and Japan will also suffer from this friction rather than benefiting due to its economic structure.
Therefore, the current Sino-US competition also presents an excellent opportunity for China-Japan relations to warm up. Senior Lecturer Zhang Feng shared his views on the Indo-Pacific Strategy of the US government. He believes that despite the clear targets of the strategy, there is a lack of special agencies, multilateral coordination and an effective economic strategy. It will be challenging to implement the Indo-Pacific Strategy until these problems are addressed. Professor Zhu Zhiqun's topic was "China-US Strategic Mutual Trust and Cooperation: Challenges and Prospects." He pointed out that at this stage, it is challenging for both countries to experience significant growth in mutual trust, and crisis management and prevention are critical in the subsequent development of China-US relations. In general, short-term competition between China and the United States will intensify, but we do not have to be too pessimistic. Professor Xiong Dayun discussed the Japanese media's views on Sino-US trade friction. Some Japanese scholars believe that China can adjust its strategy from "overtaking on a corner" to "overtaking by changing to another lane." In general, as an essential stakeholder, Japan still hopes that the tension between the two countries can be eased, avoiding making Japan a victim. Assistant Professor Sun Taiyi made a presentation on "Trump's Foreign Policy Driven by Internal Affairs and its Impact on the Asia-Pacific Situation." He explained the evolution of the American attitude towards China and stated that the Trump administration's China policy is internally driven, the purpose of which is to enhance political and cultural legitimacy.
In the discussion session, Professor Ding Dou, Associate Professor Liang Yabin, Associate Professor Guo Weihua, Associate Professor Guo Zhenjia, Assistant Professor Qi Haotian, Assistant Professor Chen Muyang and Mr. Chen Xi held discussions with other Chinese scholars on issues such as the US people's attitude towards China, the risk of war in the Asia-Pacific region, US arms sales to Taiwan and Sino-Japanese economic relations. At the end of the meeting, Professor Zhao Quansheng summarized the views of all speakers. The seminar ended in a friendly and passionate atmosphere.
The Institute for China-US People-to-People Exchange of Peking University is a research institution approved by the Ministry of Education and undertaken by Peking University. Relying on the profound cultural heritage of Peking University, it aims to promote people-to-people exchange between China and the United States in the areas of academic research, scientific research cooperation and cultural exchange, to enhance mutual trust and friendship at the non-governmental level, and to eliminate prejudices and misunderstandings, thereby making positive contributions to the healthy development of relations between the two countries. Since its establishment in October 2011, the Institute has carried out cross-cultural and interdisciplinary research based on the cultural traditions of China and the United States and has done a lot of work in organizing scientific research, academic exchanges, press and publication, and policy consultation. Efforts are being made to build an academic center for China-US humanities and social sciences and scientific research exchanges. Meanwhile, it focuses on exchanges between the people of China and the United States, carries out multi-level and multi-dimensional dialogue, and has become an essential platform for people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States.
The Global Forum of Chinese Political Scientists (or the Chinese Forum) is a loose global academic society established to cater to the "China Mania" that has arisen around the world in recent years and reflects the academic achievements of Chinese scholars across the globe in politics and international relations. The Forum was founded in 1997. The first Chinese Forum was held in 1999 at the University of Maryland in Washington, DC in the United States. To date, dozens of academic panels have been held. It aims to: 1) advance and strengthen the development of research on political science and China in Chinese society and academia around the world, 2) use the understanding of political science to further the study of politics, economics and society in various Chinese-speaking communities, as well as China's foreign relations, and 3) build and improve global contact and academic exchange among Chinese political scientists.
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