Focus This Week: 07/07/2023 - July 7, 2023

July 07, 2023

Focus This Week

A community space to discuss the China-U.S. relationship and beyond.

Dear Focus Readers,

We hope all our readers in the U.S. had a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday.

This week, we're paying close attention to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's trip to China, which follows Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meeting last month with Xi Jinping in Beijing. Over the next few days, Yellen will engage with Chinese officials, economic experts, and business leaders, in hopes of easing tensions and "work[ing] together to address global challenges." Tech competition is also likely to be a hot topic, as the visit comes a day after China announced export controls on two raw materials critical to the global chipmaking industry, which many analysts view as a response to U.S.-imposed restrictions on advanced chips.

In other news, as China-U.S. cultural exchanges continue to reignite, CUSEF is pleased to welcome a student delegation from Princeton University to our Hong Kong offices this week. We believe these initiatives play a pivotal role in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation, paving the way for a brighter future in the bilateral relationship.

Below, you can catch up on our top content from the last week on several high-level issues including competitive collaboration between China and the U.S., India's position in the global balance of power, C hina's role in the Ukraine war, and more.

We encourage you to continue sharing your feedback with us and to join the conversation.

- Team Focus

Focus Insights

Video: How can China and the U.S. achieve sustainable competition?

Dr. Keyu Jin of the London School of Economics and Political Science argues that the new era of competitive collaboration between the U.S. and China could be a sustainable model for the future, but it requires open dialogue.

Where does India stand in the global balance of power?

Harvard University Professor Dr. Joseph Nye discusses the history and strengthening of the India-U.S. alignment, but emphasizes that an alliance against China doesn't seem to be in the future.

What will it take to have a better bilateral relationship?

Yi Fan, a Beijing-based political commentator, says that Blinken's Beijing visit alone isn't enough to thaw relations, and that it's time for the Biden administration to be consistent.

What are the impacts of modernizing the alliance between the U.S. and the Philippines?

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, a research fellow at the Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, looks at the new bilateral defense guidelines issued by the Philippines and the U.S. He says while this will help modernize the alliance, it can't replace diplomacy when addressing differences.

Quote of the Week

"China's focus should be to more accurately frame its own interests, take flexible and pragmatic steps and let Europeans play a bigger role in the peaceful resolution of the crisis."

Xiao Bin

Deputy Secretary-general, Center for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies, in "Ukraine's Road to Peace"

Beyond Our Shores

Want to learn more about how technology is impacting the U.S.-China relationship? Check out this recent report from the Carter Center, "Finding Firmer Ground: The Role of High Technology in U.S.-China Relations." In this report, the authors, who include past Focus contributor, Sara Hsu, a clinical associate professor of supply chain management at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, review major new technologies, discuss the issues at stake between the U.S. and China, and describe ways that both countries can find firmer ground to coexist peacefully. They specifically examine artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data and privacy, semiconductors, and cyberattacks, and conclude with suggestions for constructive dialogue.

Discover More

A look into cultural stories from our affiliate platform, The China Current.

Qinghai Lake | Kyle Obermann

Watch Video

The China Current's Nature Contributor, Kyle Obermann, takes a look at Qinghai Lake, once dubbed "the most beautiful lake in China." But beyond its beauty, it's also an example of how China is working on ecological conservation in its most precious natural areas.

Community Connections

Join our digital community. Stay connected to China-US Focus by following us and sharing this newsletter on social media platforms.

Question of the Week

In our Focus Insights section, we shared a video from Dr. Keyu Jin on competitive collaboration between China and the U.S.

We want to hear from you: What are the pros and cons of international competition? How do you think China and the U.S. specifically can achieve sustainable competitive collaboration?

Submit your thoughts to useditor@chinausfocus.com for a chance to be featured in next week's Focus This Week.

Interested in submitting an op-ed to China-US Focus? Contact
useditor@chinausfocus.com for more info.

20/F Yardley Commercial Building, 3 Connaught Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

About Focus This Week

Prepared by China-US Focus editorial teams in Hong Kong and New York, this weekly newsletter offers you snap shots of latest trends and developments emerging from China and the U.S. every week. It is a community space to exchange thoughts and ideas about the China-U.S. relationship and beyond.

Email Address

Your Name

2023-06-30 Focus This Week: Davos in Tianjin
2023-06-23 Focus This Week: Antony Blinken in Beijing
2023-06-16 Focus This Week: Military Ties in Retreat
2023-06-08 Focus This Week: How do we keep engagement on track?