There have been some positive developments in bilateral exchanges of late in cultural and academic circles — and between local officials. But what are the obstacles that continue to plague people-to-people exchanges? What measures need to be taken by the two sides to further improve such exchanges? What changes will the U.S. election and transfer of power bring to such exchanges? Jia Qingguo, a Peking University professor and director of the Peking University Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding, was interviewed by China-US Focus for answers.
China-US Focus:
Professor Jia, as a special guest expert of the Xiangshan Forum, you discussed the Global South today. China has been consolidating cooperation with Global South countries in recent years, and striving for their support on critical issues. What’s your take on our people-to-people exchanges with Global South nations?
Jia Qingguo:
China’s enhancement of people-to-people exchanges with Global South nations is a mega trend. As China’s status and influence increase worldwide, Chinese interests are globalizing, promoting people-to-people exchanges with the Global South — especially developing nations. It is indispensable for us to play a bigger role in world affairs and better preserve our own interests. I just mentioned the significance of exchanges between Chinese and American youths, which concern both countries’ futures. Exchanges with African and Latin American students, with those from other developing nations or Global South countries, also concern our future.
China-US Focus:
Unlike China’s relations with Global South countries, against the backdrop of fierce major power competition and confrontation, people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States have yet to reach their pre-pandemic level. What are the main obstacles to bilateral exchanges?
Jia Qingguo:
There are multiple obstacles. First, deteriorating bilateral relations, including economic and trade issues, have directly affected the prospects for American students to study or seek internships or employment in China. Poor bilateral ties make some American students worry that, after studying in China, they may not pass a U.S. security check when they seek to work for the U.S. government. Concerns about career prospects, as well as about safety and political security, have all affected some American students’ enthusiasm for studying in China.
Second, some of China’s pandemic prevention and control measures were maliciously sensationalized by some media outlets, leaving people uncertain about safety in China. They also worry about the national security and anti-espionage laws China has enacted, such as what qualifies as a state secret, what involves national security and what kind of information-gathering constitutes spying. They call for definitions and detailed rules for implementation.
In addition, there is still considerable room for us to improve when it comes to the services we provide for foreigners to travel, live and work in China. Online payments have developed rapidly and have been adopted universally in China, but foreign nationals face various inconveniences in cab-hailing, shopping and social media usage. For example, procedures for foreigners to open accounts at Chinese banks are complicated. They can’t use their own bank cards for WeChat payments. English-language services for some Chinese e-commerce software remains inadequate, which also more or less affects foreign nationals traveling or studying in China.
Finally, people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States resumed after the pandemic, but flights are few and demand and supply have been twisted, resulting in very high travel costs. This may also be a reason for the drastic drop in the number of people coming to China to study or travel.
China-US Focus:
China has been emphasizing strengthening bilateral people-to-people exchanges, at the policy level, has the U.S. side taken any steps to promote such exchanges?
Jia Qingguo:
During the Trump presidency, the U.S. looked at bilateral people-to-people exchanges more from the political and security angles. That administration was against such exchanges with China, believing they were a security risk. The Trump faction still this idea, while the Biden administration is in favor of such exchanges. Of course, because of domestic political considerations Biden has yet to abandon some measures inherited from the Trump days after assuming office. The U.S. State Department has issued travel alerts targeting China, labeling it as unsafe for travel. This practice has to a certain extent led some uninformed Americans to mistakenly assume it is not safe to travel to China.
China-US Focus:
You just mentioned Trump. Some of his confidants, such as Robert Lighthizer, are still obsessed with playing the ideology card to prevent students with CCP connections from studying in the US, or barring Chinese scholars from the U.S. from bilateral exchanges. If Trump returns to power, what would be impact on bilateral people-to-people exchanges?
Jia Qingguo:
If Trump wins, it’s very likely that such exchanges will suffer serious setbacks. Judging from his performance during his last term, as well as by the recent statements of those around him, he very possibly will overemphasize security risks while handling China-U.S. relations.
While talking about the bilateral relationship recently, a former senior U.S. official accused China of deliberately making some moves that threaten U.S. security. He argued that Chinese people bought a lot of land in the United States over the years and expressed the belief that the Chinese government is buying U.S. land in a strategic manner for intelligence and other purposes.Some Republican members of Congress have made similar statements. Therefore, once Trump returns, overemphasis on security and over-politicization will severely undermine people-to-people exchanges.
China-US Focus:
Then if Harris wins, will there be fewer constraints on people-to-people exchanges?
Jia Qingguo:
The probability is high for Harris to sustain some of the Biden administration’s practices. From her perspective, promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and the U.S. serves U.S. interests, it may help the U.S. attract talent, promote American values and facilitate stability and collaboration between the two sides.
Of course — considering the undesirable state of the relationship — US security agencies show increasing influence on policymaking and implementation, which will have certain negative impacts on people-to-people exchanges. Harris or her administration would not have full control over some issues. Some Chinese scholars remain blacklisted by the U.S. side and couldn’t get a U.S. visa, or could face protracted interrogation at U.S. ports of entry, such as airports. Such troubles have to do with the mindset of some U.S. government agencies, which may not see any change in the short term for political reasons.
China-US Focus:
So the trend of more limited people-to-people exchanges between China and the U.S. may not change in the next five to 10 years?
Jia Qingguo:
I can’t say how many years. But it won’t change in the short term, because U.S. policies are like a gigantic ship: Changing course will not be easy. It entails countless rounds of discussions and debates, and fundamental policy changes would be impossible until changes take place at the cognitive level. But once changes are made, it will take a fairly long time to return to a previous course.
China-US Focus:
From our country’s perspective, what should we do to promote people-to-people exchanges?
Jia Qingguo:
We have to do the right things and actively push for China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges, which is conducive to reducing mutual misgivings, increasing mutual trust and enhancing collaboration. As President Xi Jinping said, there are 1,000 reasons for handling China-U.S. relations well, but there is not a single reason for ruining them. Promoting people-to-people exchanges is a very important aspect of handling China-U.S. relations. These exchanges, especially involving young students, are very important. This concerns the future of China-U.S. relations. Only when the two countries’ younger generations know and understand each other and become friends can the bilateral relationship have a better future.
