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East Asia

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A Global Imperative

Report outlines a progressive approach to U.S.-China relations in the 21st century.

Other East Asia Features

November 20, 2009

Announcements of U.S.-China Cooperation Create a Path to Copenhagen Success

Agreements announced in Beijing this week show that international negotiations are still alive and well, write Julian L. Wong and Andrew Light. By Julian L. Wong, Andrew Light
November 18, 2009

Summing Up the U.S.-China Summit

President Obama persuades China to take some important baby steps toward meaningful international cooperation, writes Nina Hachigian. By Nina Hachigian
November 12, 2009

The Next Phase

Trip report from a delegation to China led by John Podesta and findings on the future of U.S.-China relations.
November 9, 2009

China's Evolving Engagement

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Nina Hachigian discussed China's new position as a global power at a CAP event.
November 6, 2009

China’s New Engagement in the International System

Report from Nina Hachigian explores China's relationship to the international system and role in tackling transnational threats. By Nina Hachigian, Winny Chen, Christopher Beddor
November 4, 2009

A Roadmap for U.S.–China Collaboration on Carbon Capture and Sequestration

Fact sheet outlines how the United States and China will mutually benefit from collaboration on carbon capture and sequestration.
November 4, 2009

Cooperation Is the Key

A proposal from John D. Podesta, Andrew Light, and Julian L. Wong on U.S.-China collaboration on climate technology. By John Podesta, Andrew Light, Julian L. Wong
September 30, 2009

A Birthday Wish List

Julian L. Wong on China's climate challenge and the next 60 years on its 60th anniversary. By Julian L. Wong
September 30, 2009

What in the World Is China?

At 60, the People's Republic has evolved into a conscientious global player, except when it isn't, writes Nina Hachigian in the LA Times. By Nina Hachigian
September 25, 2009

Hu Speaks—What Next?

President Hu Jintao of China announced that China will build on existing domestic climate change policies as embodied in its National Climate Change Programme and current Five Year Plan to step up its efforts on energy efficiency, development of low-carbon energy such as renewables and nuclear, and increase of forestry cover. By Julian L. Wong, Isabel Hilton
August 20, 2009

Peaking Duck

New report shows that China is taking action on climate change; the United States must work with China on joint acceleration, writes Julian Wong. By Julian L. Wong
July 27, 2009

He SED, She SED

Today’s Strategic & Economic Dialogue with China marks an important shift by the Obama administration toward global cooperation, writes Nina Hachigian. By Nina Hachigian
July 27, 2009

The SE&Ds of Change

Nina Hachigian previews in The New Republic China's first extended sit-down with the Obama administration at the Strategic & Economic Dialogue. By Nina Hachigian
July 16, 2009

Ensuring and Enhancing U.S. Competitiveness While Moving Toward a Clean-Energy Economy

CAP Action's Julian L. Wong testifies before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works about moving toward a clean-energy economy. By Julian L. Wong
July 8, 2009

Street Fighting

China’s president was set to meet global leaders in Italy, but had to return home to deal with riots in Xinjiang, write Winny Chen, Colin Cookman, and Chris Beddor. By Winny Chen, Colin Cookman, Chris Beddor
July 6, 2009

Ask the Expert: U.S.-China Climate Cooperation

Julian Wong discusses what China is doing to combat global warming and how the United States and China can work together on climate issues. By Julian L. Wong
June 16, 2009

Statement by Professor Pan Jiahua

Pan Jiahua of the Research Centre for Sustainable Development at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences responds to statements by Sen. F. James. Sensenbrenner (R-WI). By Pan Jiahua
June 16, 2009

Sensenbrenner Distorts Climate Facts

Chinese economist Pan Jiahua claims in an exclusive interview that the way Sensenbrenner abused his statements is unethical, write Andrew Light and Julian L. Wong. By Andrew Light, Julian L. Wong
June 4, 2009

Moving Forward Together on Climate Change

Climate Envoy Todd Stern discusses at a CAP event his upcoming trip to China, and why the United States and China must work together on global warming.
June 3, 2009

Cooperating with China in Latin America

The United States should find ways to turn China’s growing presence in Latin America and the Caribbean into an opportunity, writes Stephanie Miller. By Stephanie Miller
June 3, 2009

Climate Progress in China

Julian Wong and Andrew Light detail China's recent investments in clean energy and efficiency. By Julian L. Wong, Andrew Light
June 3, 2009

What Does a Smaller World Mean for Human Rights?

Twenty years after Tiananmen Square, promoting individual freedom in China is still a challenge, write Nina Hachigian and Bill Schulz. By Nina Hachigian, William F. Schulz
June 2, 2009

North Korea and the Chinese Giant

North Korea’s nuclear testing threatens regional stability, and the Chinese are furious. Now it’s up to the Obama administration to balance solutions with China, writes Winny Chen. By Winny Chen
May 4, 2009

Ask the Expert: China, the United States, and the Economic Crisis

Winny Chen discusses China's response to the economic crisis and how it can benefit the United States. By Winny Chen
April 23, 2009

The Other Big Stimulus

China is serious about spending its way through the global economic downturn, observes Winny Chen. This is good news for the global economy. By Winny Chen
April 20, 2009

We Must Seize the Energy Opportunity or Slip Further Behind

Ben Furnas gives a primer on the United States' global competition in green technology investments. By Ben Furnas
April 8, 2009

Seeking Pathways for U.S.-China Cooperation on Energy and Climate Change

In a speech in China last week, John Podesta proposed seeking new pathways for collaboration between the United States and China to solve the twin challenges of energy security and climate change. By John Podesta
April 1, 2009

Should We Be Grateful to China for Buying U.S. Treasuries?

Scott Lilly discusses the U.S.-China trade imbalance, why China's investment strategies are unsustainable, and what we should expect in the future. By Scott Lilly
February 25, 2009

Why Hillary Clinton Got It Right on China

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's recent comments about human rights in China have dismayed many human rights activists. Might they be overreacting? "Successive [U.S.] administrations and Chinese governments have been poised back and forth on these issues, and we have to continue to press them. But our pressing on those issues can't interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis, and the security crisis" the secretary told reporters. On what grounds could a responsible observer -- even one devoted to human rights, like myself -- disagree with those observations? By William F. Schulz
February 19, 2009

Clinton must press China on rights

When Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton touches down in Beijing this week she will face an authoritarian Chinese government wringing their hands over a remarkably brazen online petition for human rights and an end to autocratic rule that is circulating among its citizens. By William F. Schulz, Sarah Dreier, Winny Chen
February 10, 2009

A To-Do List for Clinton's China Trip

The secretary of State should push for Beijing's help on the economy, nuclear proliferation, climate change, and pandemic disease, writes Nina Hachigian. By Nina Hachigian
January 30, 2009

Pushing for Improved Human Rights in China

Yesterday the Center for American Progress convened a panel to discuss a new report by William Schulz on how the United States can promote human rights in China.
January 29, 2009

Strategic Persistence

Report from William Schulz details how the United States can work to help improve human rights in China. By William F. Schulz
January 29, 2009

Ask the Expert: Working with China on Human Rights

William Schulz on his new report and how and why we should promote human rights in China. By William F. Schulz
January 28, 2009

The Importance of U.S.-China Relations

Amid a global economic downturn, the United States and China need to embrace common causes to speed sustainable international economic growth, write Winny Chen and Nina Hachigian. By Winny Chen, Nina Hachigian
January 13, 2009

WHO Can Stop an Epidemic

The WHO is an encouraging, and too rare, example of countries getting over their differences to solve a common problem. The WHO is underfunded and needs reform, but it stands between us and some lethal future pandemic, writes Nina Hachigian. By Nina Hachigian
December 10, 2008

Maintaining a Dialogue in Tough Economic Times

Winny Chen takes a look at the Strategic Economic Dialogue between the United States and China and offers suggestions for the incoming administration. By Winny Chen
November 12, 2008

China Steps Up Prior to Group of 20 Meeting

China enters this week’s G20 with cash in had and poised to become a strong player in global policymaking, write Nina Hachigian, Sabina Dewan, and Winny Chen. By Nina Hachigian, Sabina Dewan, Winny Chen
September 30, 2008

China's Deadly Investments

Tomorrow, China assumes the Presidency of the U.N. Security Council, a position that it last held in July 2007 when it led the authorization of a U.N. peacekeeping force for Darfur. At that time, Beijing appeared to be responding to a global campaign by activists, in advance of the Olympics, to shame China into using its influence to address human rights crises in locales in which it has significant economic investments. But China's actions have belied its rhetoric, and it has continued to protect its favorite deadly dictators in places like Darfur, Burma, and Zimbabwe. A revised strategy must put greater focus on China's wallet. By John Prendergast, David Sullivan
September 12, 2008

Getting China Right

With the Olympics behind us, and the U.S. elections ahead, we are entering a potentially challenging time for U.S.-China relations. Given the numerous serious policy differences between the United States and China—on human rights, trade and currency, and Sudan, to name a few—getting China right from day one will be a key challenge for the next U.S. administration. By Nina Hachigian, Michael Schiffer
August 15, 2008

Establishing U.S.-China Relations

A new report puts energy and environment at the center of a new administration’s focus on the United States and China.
August 11, 2008

Blowback

China’s approach to doing business with despots is remarkably ad hoc, commodity-driven, and short-sighted.
August 8, 2008

Successful Bid, then Second Thoughts

"John, it was destiny." Those were the words spoken to me by a young staffer to the Beijing Olympic bid as we walked in Moscow's Gorky Park the day after the membership of the International Olympic Committee had voted to give the 2008 Summer Olympics to China. We had worked together as part of the public relations team supporting the bid. A recent college graduate, I had innocently remarked how surprised I was the bid had succeeded. My walking partner then instructed me in the power of Chinese nationalism and patience. It was part of the education in international politics and the Chinese worldview I received working for the Beijing bid. By John Gans
August 7, 2008

Climate War Games

Tackling climate change will require the U.S. and China to move beyond their historic impasse on reducing emissions, explain Hachigian and Sussman. By Nina Hachigian, Robert M. Sussman
August 4, 2008

Cleaning Up for the Olympics

Bob Sussman on the severity of China's pollution problem, what it's doing on pollution and global warming, and how the United States can help. By Robert M. Sussman
May 14, 2008

The Right Way to Pressure Beijing

Human rights groups are rightly outraged about China’s abysmal record. But it is foolhardy to treat a rising superpower like a tin-pot dictatorship. By William F. Schulz
May 2, 2008

Warming Ties

Robust U.S.-Sino cooperation must be an integral part of any successful energy and climate strategy in the 21st century, write Peter Ogden and Matt Rogier. By Peter Ogden, Matt Rogier
April 29, 2008

The Right Way to Pressure Beijing

When the U.S. Congress recently passed a resolution calling on Beijing to end its repression of dissent in Tibet and open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, a Chinese spokesperson declared that the resolution had “seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.” Nor was this the first time the Chinese had expressed emotional distress at some political gesture. Everyone from the Icelandic singer Björk, who shouted “Tibet! Tibet!” at the end of a concert in Shanghai, to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who met with the Dalai Lama in Ottawa, has been accused of hurting the feelings of the Chinese. Indeed, the Chinese might be the only people who regard the rantings of CNN’s Jack Cafferty, who referred to the Chinese government as “goons and thugs,” as worth taking seriously. Nerves this sensitive bespeak either a severe case of adolescent angst or a revealing insight into national character, or both. It is hard to imagine Vladimir Putin or Robert Mugabe, or George W. Bush for that matter, confessing to having hurt feelings about anything, much less the kind of symbolic ephemera that seem to regularly rile the Chinese. By William F. Schulz
April 28, 2008

Nationalism v. International Protest

Winny Chen on what we should expect when the Olympic torch arrives in China? And what China and the United States can do in the lead-up to the Olympics. By Winny Chen
April 17, 2008

Resist the Attempt to Hold the Olympics Hostage

The first big domino fell last week in the grassroots movement in Europe and America calling for a boycott the Beijing Olympics over China's human-rights record. Britain's prime minister, Gordon Brown, has announced he would not attend the Opening Ceremonies. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton quickly issued a statement praising his decision and calling on President Bush to stay away, too. Meanwhile, the Olympic torch was in San Francisco, ducking into dark warehouses and fleeing down back alleys to evade protesters. By Nina Hachigian

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Where We Stand on National Security

CAP’s national security approach embodies progressive traditions that have protected our nation and nurtured our democratic ideals and freedom at home and abroad. Our policy priorities secure our country from attack and protect our national security interests abroad by ensuring our military forces are capable and ready, and our democratic alliances are strong and enduring. We understand that integrated military, diplomatic, and economic power guided by progressive ideals makes us safer and more prosperous.