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The Next Bound in US-China Relations
29 Apr 2021

RSIS co-organised a virtual roundtable discussion on 29 April 2021 with the China’s Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and the US-based Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). Titled “The Next Bound in US-China Relations”, the discussion drew together distinguished scholars from universities and think tanks in the three countries.

The topics discussed were the first 100 days of the Joe Biden administration, US-China cooperation and the outlook for ASEAN’s relations with both powers. It was widely expected that the Biden administration’s China policy will not be substantively different from that of the Trump administration. However, the participants felt that there was still room for both China and the United States to cooperate despite their differences.

Opening remarks were presented by Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, Executive Deputy Chairman of RSIS; Mr Teo Eng Dih, Deputy Secretary (Policy) in Singapore’s Ministry of Defence; Dr John J. Hamre, President and CEO of CSIS; and Dr Wang Huiyao, CCG Founder and President. The roundtable discussion consisted of five speaker presentations and a question-and-answer session moderated by Professor Joseph Liow, Dean of the NTU College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Distinguished speakers included Mr He Yafei, former Vice-Minister of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Professor Wang Gungwu, University Professor of the National University of Singapore; Professor Cui Liru, Senior Advisor and former President of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations; Dr Michael J. Green, CSIS Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair; and Dr Kori Schake, Director of Foreign and Defence Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

The virtual discussion was timely and the organisers are glad to have played a role in facilitating conversation between academics from the two major powers. The discussants exchanged candid views on US-China relations. It is hoped that such academic exchanges will continue to encourage greater dialogue and cooperation between the United States and China in areas of common interest.

Distinguished participants from think tanks and universities in Singapore, China and the United States included Mr He Yafei [former Vice-Minister for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs]; Dr Wang Huiyao [Founder and President, Center for China and Globalization]; Dr Michael J. Green [Center for Strategic and International Studies]; Prof Cui Liru [Senior Advisor and former President, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations]; Professor David Shambaugh [George Washington University] and Dr Kori Schake [American Enterprise Institute].
(L-R): Mr Bert Hofman [Director, NUS EAI]; Mr Choi Shing Kwok [Director, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute]; Professor Joseph Liow, [Dean, NTU CoHASS]; Mr Teo Eng Dih [Deputy Secretary (Policy), Singapore MINDEF]; Ambassador Ong Keng Yong [Executive Deputy Chairman, RSIS]; Professor Wang Gungwu [University Professor, NUS]; Professor Danny Quah [Dean, LKYSPP, NUS] and Professor Khong Yuen Foong [Vice Dean (Policy and Research), LKYSPP, NUS]
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