Should The Next U.S. President Prioritize Deterrence or Reassurance of China?

Over the past year, U.S.-China relations have seen slight improvement, in part driven by the U.S. desire for stability leading up to the Presidential election. Regardless of whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump wins the election, the new President will have to make a crucial decision: maintain this fragile period of stability, or press forward with more competitive measures to push back against China's rise. The decision will hinge on a policy debate that balances the need to deter Chinese aggression with the importance of reassuring China about U.S. long-term intentions, particularly regarding sensitive issues like Taiwan.

Should the new U.S. administration double down on tougher deterrence, including military hard power and denying China access to advanced technology? Or should it instead seek reassurance, aiming to collaborate with China on global issues such as climate change?

Listen to an Oxford Debate co-organized by Asia Society Policy Institute and Asia Society Switzerland and held on September 17, 2024, on the motion “The next U.S. administration must reassure China, not just deter it”.

Presenting clear-cut, time-constrained, well-thought-out arguments are:

• Yun Sun, Director of the China Program at the Stimson Center
• Rorry Daniels, Managing Director, Asia Society Policy Institute
• James Crabtree, TOY Senior Fellow at Asia Society Switzerland and at the Asia Society Policy Institute
• Jason Hsu, former Taiwanese Legislator and Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School

Learn more about the speakers on the event's website and watch the video of the entire debate here.

Our Oxford Debate series offers insights into complex issues, presented in short and clear arguments. Find all the debates here.

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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland. 
Season 7, Bonus Episode 1 - Published: September 18, 2024
Host, editor/producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland