Furman to host conference on China’s rising power

The conference will provide a forum to learn about U.S.-Chinese relations amid rising tensions over a recent naval confrontation in the South China Sea, and the Chinese government’s recent statements of concern about the value of their investments in U.S. Treasury debt.

Staff Report
Published March 25, 2009

Furman University will host a two-day national conference on China’s growing global power and influence.

“This comes at a time when relations between the U.S. and China are tense,” said Don Gordon, director of the Riley Institute at Furman. “We’re trying to bring the world to Greenville and to South Carolina through this and other conferences.”

A recent naval confrontation in the South China Sea and statements from the Chinese government about the value of its investments in U.S. Treasury debt have brought U.S.-China relations to the forefront. Kate Palmer Kaup, chair of Asian Studies at Furman, said the conference, titled “China’s Global Rise: International Relations in an Era of Change,” will provide a forum for learning about the two countries’ relationship.

Furman will host the conference April 7-8 at the Younts Conference Center. Minister Xie Feng, deputy chief of mission from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., will deliver the opening keynote address. The closing keynote address will be delivered by Stapleton Roy, former U.S. ambassador to China

The conference is being sponsored by the Riley Institute and the school’s Asian Studies Department, in association with the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations’ Public Intellectuals Program.

During the two-day conference, leading scholars and policymakers will discuss a variety of issues, including:

Prospects of military conflict in the Taiwan Straits.
The rise of Chinese influence throughout Asia.
The role of China’s military in shaping the nation’s foreign policy.
Chinese reaction to the economic crisis.
Factors shaping the United States’ China policy.
Scenarios for dealing with North Korea.

Experts also may explore topics such as protecting the environment, combating human trafficking and preventing the spread of pandemic diseases.

There is no charge to attend the conference, and the public is welcome at the entire conference or at individual sessions of their choosing, Gordon said. To download the schedule, click here.