Asia - Audio

In this episode, the Trade Guys and Andrew kick off the episode with more good news. They also discuss updates on EU export restrictions and a recent executive order allowing deferrals on some tariff payments.

In this episode, the Trade Guys and Andrew discuss some silver linings coming out of the COVID-19 crisis. They also break some bad news about the economy coming out of the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund.

Please join us for a conversation on Sustainable Development Goal #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, which seeks to increase connectivity and productivity of developing countries’ industries and build resilient infrastructure systems to bolster economic growth.   Of the 4 billion people who lack access to the internet globally, more than 90% of them are in developing countries. Industrialization in lower- and lower-middle-income countries trails behind developed countries, while critical infrastructure and access to mobile connectivity, electricity, and sanitation remain limited. Developing countries’ industries often lack the necessary infrastructure and innovation opportunities to achieve sustainable economic growth. The result is an increasing disconnect between rural and urban areas, lack of innovation, and stagnating productivity levels. Closing the infrastructure gap and building government capacity in developing countries would create a favorable environment for innovation and entrepreneurship and improve economic growth. Resilient and quality infrastructure systems will catalyze rapid economic development and increase the standard of living of a country’s population. Increasing official and private investment in infrastructure in developing countries, while also providing technical assistance, can help boost industrial and labor productivity.   To that end, this event will seek to answer questions about how developed countries can help lower- and lower-middle-income countries build their industries and workforce better? Furthermore, the event will also look at forms of sustainable infrastructure investments that are necessary for regions like Sub-Saharan Africa to further its efforts to industrialize and modernize its economy.This event is part of the "Chevron Forum for Development" series focused on SDGs and made possible with general support from Chevron. So far, we have hosted events focused on SDG #7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG #16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, SDG #17: Partnerships for the Goals, SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG #4: Quality Education. Our most recent event was SDG #1: No Poverty.

Please join the CSIS China Power Project, Freeman Chair in China Studies, and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics on February 11 for a special discussion on the methods and impact of PRC interference in Taiwan’s recent presidential and legislative elections. The event will feature a keynote and Q&A with Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s Digital Minister, and a panel discussion featuring Puma Shen of National Taipei University and Nick Monaco of the Institute for the Future. China Power Project director Bonnie Glaser and Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette will serve in commentator and moderator roles. AGENDA   9:00 a.m. Welcome and Opening RemarksJude Blanchette, Freeman Chair in China Studies, CSIS 9:15 a.m. Keynote Address and Q&A, Audrey TangDigital Minister, Taiwan Q&A Moderator:Bonnie S. Glaser, Director, China Power Project and Senior Adviser for Asia, CSIS 10:00 a.m. Panel Discussion: Methods and Impact of PRC Interference in Taiwan’s Elections Panelist 1: Puma Shen, Associate Professor of Criminology, National Taipei University Panelist 2: Nick Monaco, Research Director, Digital Intelligence Lab, Institute for the Future Commentator: Bonnie S. Glaser 10:45 a.m. Panelists Q&A Moderator: Jude Blanchette  11:30 a.m. Event End  This event is funded with support from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States.

This episode explores how China has responded to the deadly outbreak of a new coronavirus originating in the central city of Wuhan. Our guest, Dr. Yanzhong Huang, compares Beijing’s response to its handling of the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic, analyzing what key lessons the government appears to have learned and where it has fallen short. Dr. Huang also describes the varying local and global reactions to the Chinese government’s response efforts, and assesses how Beijing’s ability to control this outbreak will affect the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party. Dr. Yanzhong Huang is a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he directs the Global Health Governance roundtable series. He is also professor and director of global health studies at Seton Hall University's School of Diplomacy and International Relations. Dr. Huang has written extensively on global health governance, health diplomacy and health security, and public health in China and East Asia.

Australia is being ravaged by the worst bushfires seen in decades. Beginning in 2019, the fires have burnt through 25.5 million acres, the size of Denmark and Belgium combined. At least 27 people are dead, including three volunteer firefighters, and more are missing. Thousands of homes have been destroyed or damaged. Australia’s capital cities are experiencing record air pollution, and smoke has been seen as far away as South America. With the fire summer season extending for another few months, the disaster is expected to continue. The scale of these bushfires is unprecedented anywhere in the world. On Monday, January 27th, 5:00-6:30 pm, please join us for a conversation on the impact of these bushfires on regional politics, public opinion, the health of the population, and national economic growth. We will also discuss the cataclysmic scale of the fires and the climate change drivers that have driven the spread of the fires: are they a single natural disaster – a very bad year in a country accustomed to seasonal fires – or evidence of a long-term profound shift?This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

AGENDA  14:00 - 14:10  Welcoming RemarksMichael J. Green, Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, Georgetown University  14:10 - 15:00 Panel I: Politics and Leadership Jude Blanchette, Freeman Chair in China Studies, CSIS Victor D. Cha, Senior Adviser and Korea Chair, CSIS; Vice Dean for Faculty and Graduate Affairs and D.S. Song-KF Professor of Government, Georgetown University Raymond Vickery, Senior Associate, Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies Amy Searight, Senior Adviser and Director, Southeast Asia Program, CSIS Chair: Michael J. Green, Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, Georgetown University   15:00 - 15:10 Coffee Break  15:10 - 16:00 Panel II: SecurityBonnie Glaser, Senior Adviser for Asia and Director, China Power Project, CSIS Gregory Poling, Director, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, and Fellow, Southeast Asia Program, CSIS Nicholas Szechenyi, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director, Japan Chair, CSIS Sue Mi Terry, Senior Fellow, Korea Chair, CSIS Chair: Patrick Buchan, Director, U.S. Alliances Project and Fellow, Indo-Pacific Security, CSIS    16:00 - 16:10 Coffee Break  16:10-17:00 Panel III: Economics and TradeScott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, CSIS Sarah Ladislaw, Senior Vice President; Director and Senior Fellow, Energy and National Security Program, CSIS William A. Reinsch, Senior Adviser and Scholl Chair in International Business, CSIS Stephanie Segal, Senior Fellow, Simon Chair in Political Economy, CSIS Chair: Matthew Goodman, Senior Vice President; Simon Chair in Political Economy and Senior Adviser for Asian Economics, CSIS   17:00 Adjourn 

We welcome back Justin Wu, Head of Asia-Pacific, BloombergNEF, to discuss energy impacts from the US-China trade dispute and phase one deal. He and Sarah Ladislaw (CSIS) also cover the likelihood for China to meet its emissions and energy targets and to act on its climate ambitions. They look at India’s climate and clean energy goals as well as the energy developments in Southeast Asia, especially the outlook of coal finance in the region, where we get a preview of new BloombergNEF research.

This episode explores the evolution of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the developments that have occurred since it was first introduced in 2013 as One Belt One Road. Our guest, Dr. Wang Huiyao, discusses China’s efforts to generate greater buy-in from the international community and to transform the project into a shared objective for sustainable development. He also addresses the concerns of ‘debt-trap diplomacy’ and China’s push for greater transparency and institutional collaboration. Dr. Wang Huiyao is the Founder and President of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG); Vice Chairman of the China Association for International Economic Cooperation (CAIEC) under the Ministry of Commerce; and Counselor for the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (appointed by Premier Li Keqiang in 2015). He is also the Vice Chairman of China Western (Overseas) Returned Scholars Association; and the Vice Chairman of the China Talent Society under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

In this episode, Andrew and the Trade Guys kick off 2020 by looking ahead at what will happen this year in trade from the EU, Brexit, and China. They also discuss Sen. Elizabeth Warren's endorsement of the USMCA.

The Stephenson Ocean Security Project invites you to the second annual CSIS Ocean Security Forum on January 7, 2020. The annual forum highlights how marine resources disputes, exacerbated by climate change and ecosystem collapse, drive instability in key regions of the globe. This year’s event will feature keynotes from U.S. Coast Guard leadership and key members of Congress and will highlight opportunities to improve security and human rights in the global fishing industry. Speakers will explore two themes: Opportunities to address human rights violations in the seafood supply chain through U.S. policy, emerging technologies, and corporate accountability. Implications of Chinese Belt and Road Initiative port investments on ocean sustainability and on the security and sovereignty of developing coastal states. Please follow us on Twitter @CSISOceans   Phil Stephenson, Founder, The Philip Stephenson Foundation Dr. Whit Saumweber, Director, Stephenson Ocean Security Project, CSIS Dr. Dyhia Belhabib, Principal Investigator, Fisheries, Ecotrust Canada Jonathan Hillman, Senior Fellow, Simon Chair in Political Economy, and Director, Reconnecting Asia Project, CSIS Philip Chou, Senior Advisor, Oceana Ernesto Fernandez Monge, Officer, Reducing Harmful Fisheries Subsidies, Pew Charitable Trusts Moderator: Tabitha Mallory, Affiliate Professor, University of Washington, and CEO, China Ocean Institute Roberta Elias, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, World Wildlife Fund Bradley Soule, Chief Fisheries Analyst, OceanMind Jenny Barker, Chief of Party, Seafood Alliance for Legality and Traceability, FishWise Amol Mehra, Managing Director, The Freedom Fund Moderator: Dr. Whit Saumweber, Director, Stephenson Ocean Security Project, CSIS Vice Admiral Daniel B. Abel, Deputy Commandant for Operations, U.S. Coast Guard Dr. Whit Saumweber, Director, Stephenson Ocean Security Project, CSIS This event is made possible with the generous support of the Philip Stephenson Foundation.

This episode explores the key challenges and opportunities in the China-Czech bilateral relationship. Our guest, Dr. Richard Turcsányi, describes the impact of the recent cancellation of the sister city agreement between Prague and Beijing as well as divergent views on China within the Czech government. He also addresses the economic and cultural factors that impact public opinion on China in the Czech Republic, and assesses the drivers of Chinese investment in the country. Dr. Richard Turcsányi is a Key Researcher at Palacky University and Assistant Professor at Mendel University, both in the Czech Republic. Dr. Turcsányi is also a Program Director at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies, an independent think tank with branches in Bratislava, Olomouc, and Vienna. In his academic research, he focuses on Chinese foreign policy and China’s relations with Central and Eastern Europe.

This week, Energy 360 looks at the role of China on the global climate stage.  Deborah Lehr (Vice Chairman and Executive Director, Paulson Institute) and Han Chen (Manager for Energy Policy, International Program, NRDC), with Lachlan Carey (Associate Fellow, CSIS Energy & National Security Program), explain the actions China must take to meet its climate targets and be seen as a global leader on climate action. For more, check out: Deborah’s piece: Is China Still the Global Leader on Climate Change? Han’s piece US Withdraws from Paris—Don’t Expect China to Follow Suit From CSIS: How China can become the world leader for solving climate change andChinese Multilateralism and the Promise of a Green Belt and Road  

The CSIS China Power Project is pleased to host Assistant Secretary of State David R. Stilwell for a speech on "U.S.-China Bilateral Relations: The Lessons of History." Keynote remarks will be followed by Q&A moderated by Bonnie S. Glaser, director of the China Power Project. We hope that you are able to join us. David R. Stilwell is the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Secretary on June 20, 2019, he served in the Air Force for 35 years, beginning as an enlisted Korean linguist in 1980, and retiring in 2015 in the rank of Brigadier General as the Asia advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He served multiple tours of duty in Japan and Korea as a linguist, a fighter pilot, and a commander. He also served as the Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 2011-2013. Most recently, Mr. Stilwell served as the Director of the China Strategic Focus Group at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii 2017-2019 and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the East West Center in Honolulu from 2016-2019. He earned a B.S. in History from the U.S. Air Force Academy (1987), and a Master’s Degree in Asian Studies and Chinese language from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (1988) and is a 2009 graduate of the Executive Leadership program at the Darden School, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.  This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.

Against the backdrop of recent allegations leveled against Huawei and other Chinese entities, the nature and scope of the Communist Party of China’s (CCP) secret operations overseas, including traditional espionage, influence operations, industrial espionage, and intellectual property theft have never been more important, yet this topic remains widely misunderstood and understudied. In their new book, Chinese Communist Espionage: An Intelligence Primer, co-authors Peter Mattis and Matt Brazil focus on the world of Chinese espionage both past and present, enabling a better understanding of how important its influence is, both in China and abroad. Please join us at CSIS for a discussion of Chinese espionage with the two authors, as well as Aruna Viswanatha of The Wall Street Journal, in a discussion moderated by Jude Blanchette, CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies.  This event is made possible through CSIS general support funds.

The challenges and opportunities presented by China’s rise are hotly contested. ChinaPower's annual conference features leading experts from both China and the U.S. to debate core issues underpinning the nature of Chinese power. Bonnie S. Glaser Director, China Power Project and Senior Adviser for Asia Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)   8:20 a.m.      Morning Keynote Senator David Perdue (R-Georgia)   9:00 a.m.      Coffee Break   9:15 a.m.      Proposition: If Beijing and Taipei do not come to an agreement on unification by 2035, China will use military force to invade Taiwan. FOR: James Fanell (Former Director of Intelligence and Information Operations, U.S. Pacific Fleet) Fellow Geneva Centre for Security Policy   AGAINST: Timothy R. Heath Senior International Defense Researcher RAND Corporation   10:25 a.m.      Coffee break   10:40 a.m.      Proposition: Beijing is seeking to export the Chinese development model. FOR: Elizabeth Economy C. V. Starr Senior Fellow and Director for Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations Visiting Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University   AGAINST: Wang Huiyao Founder and President Center for China and Globalization   11:50 a.m.      Proposition: A technology Cold War between the United States and China will lead to separate spheres of technology influence. FOR: Naomi Wilson Senior Director of Policy, Asia Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)   AGAINST: Joy Dantong Ma Data Scientist Home Partners of America   1:00 p.m.      Lunch   1:40 p.m.      Proposition: The US economy is better positioned than China’s to weather a long-term trade conflict. FOR: Christopher Balding Associate Professor Fulbright University Vietnam   AGAINST: Yi Xiong Economist, China Deutsche Bank   2:50 p.m.      Proposition: Xi Jinping will face a leadership challenge by 2025. FOR: Jude Blanchette Freeman Chair in China Studies Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)   AGAINST: Joseph Fewsmith  Professor of International Relations and Political Science Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University   4:00 p.m.      Coffee break   4:15 p.m.      Afternoon Keynote Assistant Secretary David R. Stilwell Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs U.S. Department of State   5:00 p.m.      CONFERENCE END   This event is made possible by support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York

The challenges and opportunities presented by China’s rise are hotly contested. ChinaPower's annual conference features leading experts from both China and the U.S. to debate core issues underpinning the nature of Chinese power. Bonnie S. Glaser Director, China Power Project and Senior Adviser for Asia Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)   8:20 a.m.      Morning Keynote Senator David Perdue (R-Georgia)   9:00 a.m.      Coffee Break   9:15 a.m.      Proposition: If Beijing and Taipei do not come to an agreement on unification by 2035, China will use military force to invade Taiwan. FOR: James Fanell (Former Director of Intelligence and Information Operations, U.S. Pacific Fleet) Fellow Geneva Centre for Security Policy   AGAINST: Timothy R. Heath Senior International Defense Researcher RAND Corporation   10:25 a.m.      Coffee break   10:40 a.m.      Proposition: Beijing is seeking to export the Chinese development model. FOR: Elizabeth Economy C. V. Starr Senior Fellow and Director for Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations Visiting Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University   AGAINST: Wang Huiyao Founder and President Center for China and Globalization   11:50 a.m.      Proposition: A technology Cold War between the United States and China will lead to separate spheres of technology influence. FOR: Naomi Wilson Senior Director of Policy, Asia Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)   AGAINST: Joy Dantong Ma Data Scientist Home Partners of America   1:00 p.m.      Lunch   1:40 p.m.      Proposition: The US economy is better positioned than China’s to weather a long-term trade conflict. FOR: Christopher Balding Associate Professor Fulbright University Vietnam   AGAINST: Yi Xiong Economist, China Deutsche Bank   2:50 p.m.      Proposition: Xi Jinping will face a leadership challenge by 2025. FOR: Jude Blanchette Freeman Chair in China Studies Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)   AGAINST: Joseph Fewsmith  Professor of International Relations and Political Science Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University   4:00 p.m.      Coffee break   4:15 p.m.      Afternoon Keynote Assistant Secretary David R. Stilwell Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs U.S. Department of State   5:00 p.m.      CONFERENCE END   This event is made possible by support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York

Please join us on Tuesday, December 3 for a public event focused on Sustainable Development Goal #1, which aims to decrease poverty and ensure social protections for the poor and vulnerable, increase access to basic needs and services, and support people harmed by natural disasters and other extreme events. Predictions suggest that 6 percent of the world population will still live in extreme poverty in 2030. People who live in extreme poverty face deprivation from social goods and services, and often live in areas where poverty is exacerbated by conflict or natural disasters. Through Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #1, the United Nations seeks to end extreme poverty, measured as people living under $1.25 a day, by ensuring all people have access to economic resources, reducing the poor’s vulnerability to climate disasters and other shocks, and implementing national social protection systems and measures for all. Despite many countries including social protections within their government spending, these programs need to be brought to scale. Although the number of people living in poverty has decreased since 2015, the rate of poverty reduction is slowing and ultimately means the world will miss the United Nations target of less than 3 percent. This event is part of the "Chevron Forum for Development" series focused on the SDGs and made possible with general support from Chevron. So far, we have hosted events focused on SDG#7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG#16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, SDG#17: Partnerships for the Goals, and SDG#11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Our most recent event was focused on SDG#4: Quality Education.

This episode explores China's retaliatory actions against the NBA after a recent incident, as well as the larger questions surrounding the Chinese government’s treatment of foreign private companies. Our guest, Dr. Victor Cha, discusses how both US and Chinese audiences have reacted to the NBA controversy and weighs in on whether Chinese public opinion might sway Beijing’s handling of the incident. Dr. Cha also addresses the struggles that other foreign companies have faced in China and how Beijing uses “predatory liberalism” to serve its political interests. Dr. Victor Cha is a senior adviser and holds the Korea Chair at CSIS. He is also a Professor of Government and the holder of the D.S. Song-KF Chair in the Department of Government and the School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University. In July 2019, he was appointed Vice Dean for Faculty and Graduate Affairs in the SFS. His article, “Flagrant Foul: China’s Predatory Liberalism and the NBA,” will appear in the December issue of the Washington Quarterly.

The CSIS Southeast Asia Program is pleased to present The Hidden History of Burma: Race, Capitalism, and the Crisis of Democracy in the 21st Century featuring Dr. Thant Myint-U, as part of the CSIS Banyan Tree Leadership Forum. Dr. Thant Myint-U will offer an alternative story of Burma in the 21st century, set within the deeper context of colonialism and anti-colonialism as well as the the more recent past of war, dictatorship, and isolation. He will examine the evolution of thinking on issues of race and identity as well as the evolution of the country’s peculiar political economy, tied intimately since the early 1990s to the anarchic borderlands between Burma and China. He will suggest that Burma, rather than being a simple morality tale between dictators and democrats has become instead a stage for many of the world’s contemporary challenges, from the impact of social media and shifting balances in global power, to soaring inequality, climate change and the rise of ethno-nationalism. Dr. Thant Myint-U is an award-winning writer, historian, conservationist, and a former advisor to the president of Myanmar.  He has served on three United Nations peacekeeping operations, in Cambodia and the former Yugoslavia, and as the head of policy planning under Kofi Annan at the UN Secretariat in New York.  The author of four books on Burmese and Asian history, he was educated at Harvard and Cambridge and taught history for several years as a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.  Since 2007 he has been involved in numerous reform efforts in Burma.  He is the founder and chairman of the Yangon Heritage Trust, the Chairman of U Thant House, and a Founding Partner of the Ava Advisory Group. Copies of The Hidden History of Burma: Race, Capitalism, and the Crisis of Democracy in the 21st Century will be available for purchase at the event. This event was made possible through general support to CSIS.

This episode explores Europe’s evolving approach toward including Chinese telecommunications companies in its 5G infrastructure. Our guest, Dr. Janka Oertel, explains the security risks behind allowing Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE to supply 5G technology to Europe, as well as the potential economic and political risks of shutting them out. Dr. Oertel also describes how Europe’s attitude toward Chinese technology differs from other countries like the US and Japan, and assesses the feasibility of Europe putting forth a uniform policy on 5G security. Dr. Janka Oertel is a senior fellow in the Asia program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States’ Berlin office. Dr. Oertel primarily works on transatlantic China policy, Chinese foreign policy, and security in East Asia. She holds a PhD from the University of Jena, focusing on Chinese policies within the United Nations.

This bonus episode comes from CSIS's Beyond Parallel Living History video series. We invite former South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Song Min-soon to discuss global efforts to denuclearize North Korea during the six-party talks. Minister Song was the director general for North American affairs and chief delegate during the six-party talks in 2005. He played a key role in the September 2005 multilateral denuclearization agreement with North Korea, involving the U.S., Japan, South Korea, China and Russia.

Technology was once viewed as a liberating tool for individuals living under authoritarian regimes, yet today, illiberal governments around the world are developing, acquiring, and utilizing technologies to strengthen political control over their population. Perhaps more than any other authoritarian country, China is experimenting with new methods of integrating technology into its system of governance, with its near-total surveillance state in the western region of Xinjiang being the most extreme example.  Please join the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies and the CSIS Human Rights Initiative for a discussion of how technology is changing the way the CCP governs China. The event will feature panelists Josh Chin and Kate O’Keeffe of The Wall Street Journal, and Christina Larson of the Associated Press.This event is made possible through CSIS general support funds.

This episode of the ChinaPower Podcast is a crossover episode with “Hong Kong on the Brink,” hosted by Jude Blanchette. Mr. Blanchette interviews Bonnie Glaser about the protests in Hong Kong and their impact on Taiwan’s own relations with mainland China. Ms. Glaser explains how the continued unrest might affect Taiwan’s upcoming January 2020 presidential election. She also expands on how views in Taiwan have evolved since the November 2018 local elections and the start of the Hong Kong protests in summer 2019. Ms. Glaser then evaluates the potential for rethinking cross-Strait policy if “one country, two systems” appears to have failed in Hong Kong. Jude Blanchette holds the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS, and is also a senior advisor at Crumpton Group, a geopolitical risk advisory based in Arlington, Virginia. Mr. Blanchette serves on the board of the American Mandarin Society and is a public intellectual fellow at the National Committee on United States-China relations.

Mike is joined by Dr. Kath Hicks, Henry Kissinger Chair, Senior Vice President, and Director of the International Security Program at CSIS, for a discussion of how "gray zone" tactics factor into grand strategy in Asia. In unpacking the effect of gray zone tactics on strategy, Mike and Kath define the parameters of gray zone tactics and the domains in which they are most effective. With these assumptions in mind, what will the knock-on effects of gray zone tactics be on theories of coercion, victory, and defense planning in Asia? What parts of the U.S. government have historically been most effective at adapting to gray zone competition? Mike and Kath further discuss Kath's journey through the Department of Defense and her advice for young women hoping to become defense professionals. Download full transcript here.

In this episode, Jude invites CSIS Director of the China Power Project Bonnie Glaser. They discuss how the ongoing events in Hong Kong are impacting Taiwan’s own relations with mainland China, as well as how the continued unrest can affect Taiwan’s presidential elections coming up in January 2020.

This episode explores the current dynamics between China and India in light of Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi’s second informal summit in October 2019. Our guest, Dr. Tanvi Madan, analyzes the outcomes of this meeting and the key issues impacting the bilateral relationship. Dr. Madan explains India’s views on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and use of detention facilities in Xinjiang, as well as how U.S. policy toward India factors in to China-India relations. She also addresses continued points of contention like the Kashmir region and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Dr. Tanvi Madan is director of The India Project and a senior fellow for the Project on International Order and Strategy in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. Dr. Madan’s work explores Indian foreign policy, focusing particularly on India's relations with China and the United States. She also researches the intersection between Indian energy policies and its foreign and security policies.

In this episode, Jude invites Professor Victoria Hui, associate professor in the department of political science at the University of Notre Dame. Drawing on her academic work on global protest movements, Professor Hui analyzes the forces that are shaping Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, as well as the causes and consequences of the cycles of violence between protesters and the Hong Kong police.

This week, we return to India's ambitious agenda for improving electrification and energy access across its 29 states. Kartikeya Singh (CSIS) is joined by Indra Keshari (Resident Commissioner and former Power Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh), and Huda Jaffer (Lead Designer, SELCO Foundation). They discuss how state governments and civil society organizations continue to improve electricity access in India.   For more on Madhya Pradesh: Engaging with India’s Electrification Agenda: Powering Madhya Pradesh  Click here for more on the CSIS U.S.-India State and Urban Initiative.  

In this episode, Mike interviews Steve Hadley, former national security advisor and a principal of RiceHadleyGates, a strategic consulting firm. Steve shares his journey from starting out as a young lawyer with an interest in history and strategy to the senior national security position in the White House. Mike and Steve then dive deep into the debate on U.S.-China competition. Is the Washington panic on China out of step with how the rest of the country views China? How can we best encapsulate the current state of the relationship? Are China’s domestic politics or foreign policy shapeable? Download full transcript here.

Among the growing sources of tension between the US and China, an underexplored topic is the potential for ideological competition. In addition to battle for trade, technological, and military superiority, will the two countries find themselves locked in a clash of values as well? Please join the Freeman Chair in China Studies on October 21 for an in-depth discussion on the role of ideology in the US-China strategic rivalry. The event will feature panelists Toshi Yoshihara, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments; Jessica Chen Weiss, Associate Professor of Government at Cornell University; Dan Tobin, China Studies Faculty at the National Intelligence University; and Andrew Mertha, George and Sadie Hyman Professor and Director of China Studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Jude Blanchette, Freeman Chair in China Studies, will moderate the panel and Q&A with the audience.  This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

Many of the most pressing development challenges lie in Africa and South Asia. These regions face significant infrastructure gaps, weak governance, and unmet social needs. However, these regions also account for some of the highest rates of population and economic growth in the world, with unexploited possibilities for private sector development. Though these regions have several viable investment opportunities, many of them are not coming to fruition for a variety of reasons. One reason for the failure of private capital mobilization is that investors perceive these risks to be too high. Those seeking to attract foreign investors are sometimes unable to escape the limitations of the sovereign credit ratings received by their country. Moreover, local capital markets are underdeveloped, often inhibited by excessive perceived and real risks. Bilateral and multilateral development agencies use guarantees to reduce investors’ exposure to risks and attract private capital to developing countries. While guarantees are not a silver-bullet solution to mobilizing private capital into the developing world,  there are markets where the availability of the right guarantee product will enable investments that would otherwise have been blocked because the risks involved simply exceed market tolerances or regulations limit investors’ ability to bear the risk. Bilateral development agencies and development finance institutions (DFIs) have the flexibility to be more innovative in this space.  In partnership with the CDC Group, CSIS conducted a study on innovative uses of financial guarantees to leverage private capital in lower-middle-income and low-income countries. This event will feature the launch of the report and a discussion on what bilateral aid agencies and development finance institutions can do to scale up the use of guarantees. This event is made possible by the generous support of the CDC Group.

The CSIS Japan Chair cordially invites you to"Japan’s Infrastructure Development Strategy: Supporting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific" Welcoming remarks by John J. Hamre, President and CEO, CSIS Remarks by Tadashi Maeda, Governor, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Followed by a discussion moderated by  Michael J. Green, Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown UniversityThis event is made possible by general support to CSIS. 

In this episode, Dan is joined by Rick Rossow, CSIS Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, as they host two senior bureaucrats from the Indian state of Kerala, Tom Jose and Sanjeev Kaushik. They all discuss how Kerala is becoming a force to be reckoned with and how infrastructure development can take them to the next level. Additionally, they explain why transportation, water, and solid waste management are of high priority for the state; and the role of various development partners in financing Kerala's infrastructure plans.

Please join CSIS as we preview key issues that will be on the agenda for leaders participating in November’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and East Asia Summit (EAS), as well as broader trends in multilateral structures in the Asia-Pacific. 9:20 a.m. - Welcoming Remarks  Dr. Amy Searight Senior Adviser and Director, Southeast Asia Program Center for Strategic and International Studies  Opening Keynote  Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) Chair, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Foreign Affairs U.S. House of Representatives  Introduction: Monica Hardy Whaley President National Center for APEC  10:00 a.m. - Beyond the Bogor Goals: APEC’s Role in a Turbulent Economic Atmosphere  Sandra Oudkirk U.S. Senior Official for APEC and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs U.S. Department of State  H.E. Rosemary Banks Ambassador Embassy of New Zealand Richard Cantor Chief of Credit Risk Moody’s Corporation  Ito Sadanori Special Advisor to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan and Director, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) New York Moderator: William Reinsch Senior Adviser and Scholl Chair in International Business Center for Strategic and International Studies  Coffee Break- 11:15 a.m.  11:30 a.m. - Strategic Priorities for the East Asia Summit  Boosara Kanchanalai Minister Royal Thai Embassy  David Nakamura White House Reporter The Washington Post                                    Malcolm Cook Senior Fellow ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute  Dhruva Jaishankar Director of the US Initiative Observer Research Foundation  Moderator:Dr. Amy E. Searight Senior Adviser and Director, Southeast Asia Program Center for Strategic and International Studies  12:45 p.m. - Lunch Served  2:00 p.m. - Armchair Discussion  Takehiko Nakao President Asian Development Bank  Moderator:Matthew P. Goodman Senior Vice President and Simon Chair in Political Economy Center for Strategic and International Studies The conference is made possible with support from the Government of Japan, the National Center for APEC, and the Asian Development Bank.

In this episode, Jude invites Ben Bland, director of the Southeast Asia Project at the Lowy Institute in Australia and author of Generation HK: Seeking Identity in China's Shadow. They discuss the on-going protests and increasing violence in Hong Kong, as well as the controversy with the National Basketball Association and what it means for U.S.-China international business relations.

In this episode, the Trade Guys answer listener questions from the Centers for International Business Education and Research directors event hosted by the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business in September.  Download the full transcript here.

Climate change is upon us. In places like Nepal, where two-thirds of the labor force rely on agriculture to earn a living, the impacts of rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and protracted droughts are becoming especially severe. The U.S. government is expanding its investment in programs that build climate resilience, but how can we ensure these investments are inclusive and beneficial to the most vulnerable populations?   Please join us for a panel discussion and the launch of our newest report, Dry Hills, Full Ponds: Climate Change, Resilience, and Agriculture in Nepal, which highlights promising approaches to placing the most vulnerable at the center of resilience-building efforts.This event is made possible through the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This episode explores the landscape of China’s civilian and commercial space efforts in recent years. Our guest, Dr. Alanna Krolikowski, analyzes China’s recent achievements in space, including the landing of a rover on the far side of the moon and the first successful launch of a satellite by a private Chinese company. She also examines the relationship between the government, state-owned enterprises, and private companies in China’s space industry and how the growing civilian sector fits into China’s larger space ambitions. Dr. Alanna Krolikowski is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Her research focuses on global policy efforts relating to activities at technological frontiers, including outer space, U.S.-China trade in high-technology items, and China’s pursuit of national scientific and technological modernization.

In this episode, Mike sits down with Eric Sayers, adjunct senior fellow for the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, and Zack Cooper, research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, two rising conservative Asia strategic thinkers. Building on the previous episodes on the Democrats’ Asia strategy, the three discuss the nature of the U.S. strategic competition with China, growing isolationism among some Republican thinkers, and the roles of government, values, and principles for future Republican administration’s Asia grand strategy. Download full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew speak with Jude Blanchette, the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS. Jude brings us up to date on the demonstrations in Hong Kong that escalated on October 1st, the same day of the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. Jude explains what the future might hold for Hong Kong protesters, as well as how everything could affect the U.S. and China relationship. Download the full transcript here.

Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was sworn in as the External Affairs Minister of India on May 30, 2019. He is widely considered as one of India’s foremost foreign policy leaders and was recently honored with the Padma Shri award, one of the highest civilian awards given in India. In his  41-year diplomatic career, Dr. Jaishankar served as India’s Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2018, Ambassador to the United States from 2013 to 2015, Ambassador to China from 2009 to 2013, High Commissioner to Singapore from 2007 to 2009, and Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2000 to 2004. He also served in other diplomatic assignments in India’s Embassies in Moscow, Colombo, Budapest, and Tokyo as well in the Ministry of External Affairs and the President’s Secretariat.This event is made possible by general funding to CSIS.

Kartikeya Singh (CSIS) chats with Vikram Kapur (Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu) about the dramatic changes facing the state’s electric power sector, ranging from rapid growth in renewables to plans for electric vehicle infrastructure.  Click here for more on the CSIS U.S.-India State and Urban Initiative.  

The United States is deeply concerned about China’s economic rise for both economic and national security reasons. An implicit assumption of this concern is the view that China’s state–led innovation system is a successful alternative to the more market-driven system in the United States and the West. To what extent is this assumption correct? Leading China economists Loren Brandt (University of Toronto) and Thomas Rawski (University of Pittsburgh) present the findings from their latest book, Policy, Regulation, and Innovation in China’s Electricity and Telecom Industries. They and several contributors address this big question by analyzing Chinese industrial policy and the actual performance of Chinese companies in two sectors central to China’s innovation drive.   Please join the Freeman Chair in China Studies on September 26 as Brandt and Rawski present their findings, which identify both the strengths and weaknesses of Chinese efforts, and discuss the implications for China’s economic trajectory and possible American policy responses. Following their presentation, Jane Nakano, Senior Fellow in CSIS Energy and National Security Program, will provide initial commentary. Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, will moderate Q&A with the audience.   Copies of Brandt and Rawski's book will be available for sale at the event. This event is made possible through general support to CSIS. 

Please join the CSIS China Power Project and the Americas Program on Thursday, September 26 at 10:00 am for a discussion of the evolving role of Taiwan in promoting growth and development in Latin America and the Caribbean.  The event will feature a keynote presentation by Timothy Hsiang, Secretary General of Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), followed by a panel discussion focused on how coordinated efforts of Taiwan, the United States, multilateral development banks, and like-minded partners can contribute to addressing more effectively some of the serious development challenges faced by countries in the Western Hemisphere, including critical infrastructure needs, applications of technology and AI, as well as serious security and governance issues.  Taiwan’s strong commitment to principles of democracy and free market economics helps to underline the important role that Taiwan plays in development assistance efforts in the Western Hemisphere.   Keynote Remarks by: Timothy Hsiang, Secretary General of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF)   Introductory Remarks by: Stanley Kao, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), and Kevin O’Reilly, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.   Panel Discussion featuring: Kristie Pellecchia, Senior Advisor for the Western Hemisphere at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)Bernardo Rico, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, United States Agency for International DevelopmentAlexander Tah-Ray Yui, Director-General, Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, TaiwanChiew Chang, Representative, New York Representative Office, Central Bank of TaiwanScott MacDonald, CSIS Americas Senior Associate; expert on relations between Asia and Latin America This event was made possible through general support to CSIS.

Please join the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics on September 25 for a discussion on the state of American business in China featuring a talented panel of American business executives operating in China. AmCham Shanghai President Ker Gibbs will present the results of the chamber's 2019 China Business Report, a business climate survey of the chamber's members. Gibbs will then join a panel discussion with Pilar Dieter, Senior Partner at YCP Solidiance, Ltd.; Don Williams, Managing Partner & Chief Representative at Sheppard Mullin Shanghai; and Qiang Lyu, Divisional Vice President at Abbott Laboratories. Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, will moderate a discussion on the opportunities and challenges facing the American business community in China and the relative effectiveness of alternative policy approaches the United States could take to promote a truly mutually beneficial relationship.This event was made possible through general support to CSIS.  

In this episode, Jude is joined by five special guests. Nathan Law, Denise Ho, Joshua Wong, Jeffrey Ngo, and Brian Leung all sit in to discuss their recent visit to Capitol Hill, where they advocated for the passing of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019. They also raise questions about the future of the protests as they lead up to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st. Nathan Law is a founding chair of Demosistō, a Hong Kong-based pro-democracy organization. Denise Ho is a renowned Cantopop singer and advocate for democracy and LGBTQ rights in Hong Kong. Joshua Wong is the secretary general of Demosistō. Jeffrey Ngo is the chief researcher and a standing committee member of Demosistō; he is currently pursuing a PhD at Georgetown University. Brian Leung is a democracy activist of Hong Kong and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Washington. We also invited People's Republic of China-U.S. Ambassador Cui Tiankai to take part in an additional episode of Hong Kong on the Brink, to which the embassy declined.

In January 2020 Taiwan will hold elections for the president and the legislature. Campaigning for the presidency has long since commenced, and the two main political parties, the KMT and DPP, have selected their candidates. Please join the Freeman Chair in China Studies on September 12th for a discussion on the election dynamics on the island. The event will feature an in-depth analysis of polling data and campaign strategies by Nathan Batto, Associate Research Fellow in the Institute of Political Science of the Academia Sinica, Taiwan’s premier research institution. Following Batto’s presentation, initial commentary will be given by Susan Lawrence, Specialist in Asian Affairs at the Congressional Research Service. The event, which will conclude with audience Q&A, will be moderated by Scott Kennedy, Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics.  This event is funded with support from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States.

China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific is discussed often but what about its growing influence in Eurasia? What political and economic roles does China play in the region and what are the implications? Please join CSIS and George Washington University’s Program on New Approaches to Research and Security in Eurasia (PONARS Eurasia) for a two panel event focused on China’s expanding role in Eurasia. Agenda 1:15 pm   Opening Remarks Jeffrey Mankoff, Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program, CSIS 1:30-3:00 pm   Seminar One: The China Factor in EurasiaModeratorJeffrey Mankoff, Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program, CSIS PanelistsHilary Appel, Claremont McKenna College “Are Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin Partners? Interpreting The Russia-China Rapprochement”Elizabeth Wishnick, Montclair State University “Putin and Xi: Ice Cream Buddies and Tandem Strongmen”Stephen Kaplan, George Washington University “Chinese and Russian Creditors in Venezuela: Oil Collapse and Political Survival” DiscussantJonathan Hillman, Senior Fellow, Simon Chair in Political Economy, and Director, Reconnecting Asia Project, CSIS  Coffee Break   3:00-3:15 pm  3:15 to 4:45 pm   Seminar Two: China’s Growing Role in Central Asia and the South CaucasusModeratorHenry Hale, George Washington University PanelistsEric McGlinchey, George Mason University “Questioning Sinophobia in Central Asia”Sebastien Peyrouse, George Washington University  “On the Road to Failure? The Challenges of China’s Soft Power Policy in Central Asia (And Beyond)”Anar Valiyev, ADA University, Baku “Azerbaijan Through The Prism of OBOR: Chinese Interests in the Region” DiscussantMariya Omelicheva, Professor of National Security Strategy, National Defense University This event was made possible through general support to CSIS.  

China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific is discussed often but what about its growing influence in Eurasia? What political and economic roles does China play in the region and what are the implications? Please join CSIS and George Washington University’s Program on New Approaches to Research and Security in Eurasia (PONARS Eurasia) for a two panel event focused on China’s expanding role in Eurasia. Agenda 1:15 pm   Opening Remarks Jeffrey Mankoff, Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program, CSIS 1:30-3:00 pm   Seminar One: The China Factor in EurasiaModeratorJeffrey Mankoff, Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program, CSIS PanelistsHilary Appel, Claremont McKenna College “Are Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin Partners? Interpreting The Russia-China Rapprochement”Elizabeth Wishnick, Montclair State University “Putin and Xi: Ice Cream Buddies and Tandem Strongmen”Stephen Kaplan, George Washington University “Chinese and Russian Creditors in Venezuela: Oil Collapse and Political Survival” DiscussantJonathan Hillman, Senior Fellow, Simon Chair in Political Economy, and Director, Reconnecting Asia Project, CSIS  Coffee Break   3:00-3:15 pm  3:15 to 4:45 pm   Seminar Two: China’s Growing Role in Central Asia and the South CaucasusModeratorHenry Hale, George Washington University PanelistsEric McGlinchey, George Mason University “Questioning Sinophobia in Central Asia”Sebastien Peyrouse, George Washington University  “On the Road to Failure? The Challenges of China’s Soft Power Policy in Central Asia (And Beyond)”Anar Valiyev, ADA University, Baku “Azerbaijan Through The Prism of OBOR: Chinese Interests in the Region” DiscussantMariya Omelicheva, Professor of National Security Strategy, National Defense University This event was made possible through general support to CSIS.