China Field Notes – with Scott Kennedy

On this episode of China Field Notes, Scott Kennedy speaks with Yuan Haiying, one of the pioneers of the government affairs profession in China. Yuan explains the origins of the industry, how it has changed and evolved throughout his career, how the field help Chinese and foreign multinational companies navigate current geopolitical challenges, and the profession’s future. Yuan then provides his outlook on the recently concluded Third Plenum economic conference and other opportunities and challenges in China’s economy today. Yuan Haiying founded Yuan Associates in February 2004, and since then he and the firm have become major players in China’s growing government affairs industry. Yuan has thirty years of experience in the Chinese Government, including senior diplomatic postings in Washington D.C., as China’s Agriculture Attaché, and in Rome, as the Alternate Representative to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. He has been involved in negotiations on numerous bilateral and multilateral agreements in the areas of trade, investment, agriculture, forestry, fishery and environmental protection. For his efforts, he received an Outstanding Contribution Certificate from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Outstanding Contribution Awards from the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In China, Yuan was the Director of the Ministry of Forestry’s Department of International Cooperation. After retiring from public service, Yuan worked as a Senior Vice President at Edelman Public Relations and as a Vice President at APCO Worldwide. Yuan chaired the Government Affairs Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce and the China Quality Brands Protection Committee (QBPC) of the Chinese Government Cooperation Committee.

On this episode of China Field Notes, Scott Kennedy speaks with Jack Chang, one of the world’s foremost experts on Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. They discuss the industry in-depth, from the original policies that led to the establishment of companies like TSMC and UMC to disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The conversation then shifts to the current semiconductor landscape, including the challenges of U.S.-China tensions, increasing overseas investments, and debates about the meaning of supply chain resilience. Finally, they discuss future industry trends, including shifts to more advanced nodes and the exploration of alternative semiconductor materials like germanium. Dr. Jack C. Chang recently retired from the Industry, Science and Technology International Strategy Center of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Chutung, Taiwan, after 34 years of service. Most recently, he was senior strategy executive director for sustainability. During his tenure at ITRI, Chang served as principal investigator of various technology, policy & market research projects from public and private sectors. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the Graduate Institute of Patent of the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology in Taipei.

On this episode of China Field Notes, Scott Kennedy speaks with Yu Tiejun, Professor and President of Peking University’s Institute of International and Strategic Studies (IISS). This conversation accompanies a new report and event culminating a two-year initiative of the CSIS Trustee Chair and IISS to avoid U.S.-China scholarly decoupling and restore ties amongst scholars, students, universities and think tanks. Yu and Kennedy recount the benefits and surprises of their exchanges between Beijing and Washington, the background that led to Yu to study international affairs, the role of IISS in China, and the importance of renewed collaboration in the current environment.

On this special episode of China Field Notes, Scott Kennedy is joined by Trustee Chair Senior Fellow Ilaria Mazzocco for a timely conversation with Li Shuo, Director of the new China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute. Li joins Scott and Ilaria at the tail end of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. They discuss how Li became passionate about the environment and climate issues, the pros and cons of China’s “all of the above” energy strategy, US-China climate cooperation, and China’s evolving role in global climate governance.

Join Scott Kennedy for a timely conversation with veteran Hong Kong public servant Regina Ip Lau Suk Yee. They discuss Ip’s career in public service, from her days in the bureaucracy to her leadership of the New People’s Party, the nature of the city’s relationship with Beijing after the introduction of the National Security Law, its future in international organizations such as APEC, United States policy toward Hong Kong, and more. The Honorable Mrs. Regina Ip Lau Suk Yee is currently a Legislative Council Member, Chairperson of the New People's Party, the Savantas Policy Institute, and the Maritime Silk Road Society as well as Court Member of the University of Hong Kong. Mrs. Ip joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong civil service in September 1975 and worked in a wide range of policy areas, including home affairs, security, trade, and industry. She rose through the ranks to Director of Bureau in May 2000. She served as Secretary for Security from August 1998 to July 2003. She has been a Legislative Council Member returned by geographical constituency through direct elections since 2008. Mrs. Ip was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2021.

On this episode, Scott talks with Michael Hart, President of AmCham China, based in Beijing. He has over 20 years of experience living and working in mainland China. Scott and Michael discuss the role and history of AmCham China, and how American businesses are navigating increased tensions between the U.S. and China.

Wu Xinbo, one of China’s sharpest international relations experts, offers his perspective on why relations have gone from being “mature” to being beset by tensions on all levels.