U.S.-China Subnational Diplomacy: A Conversation with Dr. Kyle Jaros and Dr. Sara Newland
Feb 14, 2025
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Dr. Kyle Jaros, an expert in urban and regional development, and Dr. Sara Newland, a scholar of local politics in China and Taiwan, discuss the shifting dynamics of U.S.-China subnational diplomacy. They highlight the increasing politicization of local relations, with local officials mirroring national sentiments on Taiwan issues, contributing to rising Sinophobia. Despite these tensions, they note opportunities for cooperation, particularly through university student exchanges. They emphasize the need for continued human-to-human connections and resource education for local leaders.
Subnational U.S.-China diplomacy has become increasingly politicized, with local leaders aligning their positions on China with national security concerns.
Despite rising tensions, certain regions continue to pursue economic partnerships and educational exchanges, reflecting the resilience of local ties with China.
Federal support is crucial for local officials navigating U.S.-China relations, providing resources to mitigate risks while promoting constructive engagement.
Deep dives
Evolving Subnational Relations
U.S. states and cities have historically maintained ties with Chinese provinces through mechanisms like sister city relationships and trade delegations. Over the past five years, these relationships have transformed from low-key engagement into more politicized interactions driven by security concerns and political motivations. Local leaders are increasingly weighing the potential economic benefits against the risks of malign influence or espionage. As a result, some have proactively rekindled diplomatic relations even within a hostile national atmosphere, showcasing the agency of state and local officials in navigating complex U.S.-China relations.
The Impact of Political Dynamics
The role of local and state-level actors in U.S.-China relations has become more pronounced, with individuals such as governors and state treasurers actively engaging in discussions surrounding China policy. This has seen a significant uptick in anti-China legislation from some red states, while blue states tend to maintain a more cautious approach. Despite some partisan divides, there remains a spectrum of attitudes towards engagement with China at the state level, with some regions continuing to pursue educational and economic partnerships. The overall environment, however, has grown increasingly tense, prompting local actors to reassess their strategies regarding Chinese engagement.
Trade and Economic Engagement
While U.S.-China national relations have soured, subnational economic ties, including trade and educational partnerships, have shown resilience. States have historically leveraged trade with China, and certain regions, like Iowa, continue to rely heavily on these economic connections due to agricultural dependencies. However, official visits by state leaders have sharply declined, particularly post-COVID, which has stymied bilateral engagement efforts. Despite a reduction in diplomatic visits, significant trade volumes and investments between U.S. states and China persist, indicating that economic interdependence remains a critical aspect of these relationships.
Changing Landscape of Educational Partnerships
The landscape of educational cooperation between U.S. and Chinese institutions has shifted dramatically, with a notable decline in Chinese student enrollment in U.S. universities and the closure of Confucius Institutes. Heightened concerns over intellectual property security and pressures from the federal government have created hesitance among universities to maintain prior levels of collaboration with Chinese counterparts. Additionally, national sentiments against China have been echoed in state policies, leading to increased restrictions on educational exchanges. These developments not only affect educational outcomes but also the long-term understanding and relationship-building between future generations from both nations.
Navigating Future Engagement
As subnational actors reevaluate their relations with China, there is a pressing need for federal support to ensure these engagements remain informed and safe. Encouragingly, many local officials express a desire for resources that help them navigate the complexities of cross-border relations. By fostering better communication and establishing knowledge-sharing platforms, U.S. policymakers can help mitigate risks while recognizing the potential benefits of these varied relationships. The emphasis should shift from viewing local engagement as inherently vulnerable to acknowledging its role in shaping a more nuanced and constructive U.S.-China relationship, highlighting the importance of maintaining open dialogue amidst rising tensions.
In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Kyle Jaros and Dr. Sara Newland join us to explore the evolution of U.S.-China subnational diplomacy. They begin by examining the history and current landscape of US-China relations at the subnational level. They point out specifically that throughout the last five years, U.S.-China relations at the subnational level have become increasingly politicized. Dr. Newland explains that we are seeing a trickledown effect of local politicians weighing in on Taiwan and China issues, setting up local caucuses that mimic those in congress and notes that these actions are contributing to increased Sinophobia within U.S. local communities. Dr. Jaros further explains that in recent years, longstanding subnational ties with China have started winding down, with state and local leaders more hesitant to visit China, meet with Chinese officials, or welcome Chinese investments. They note this hesitation originates both from federal policy and from an increasingly hawkish stance at the sub-national level. However, both guests underscore that there are still areas of cooperation between U.S. and China on the local level, with one example being student exchange programs through universities. Dr. Jaros notes that it is important to continue human to human contacts with China and to be careful not to dehumanize the other side. Finally, Dr. Newland stresses the importance of the U.S. federal government creation of resources to educate local leaders on how to engage effectively with Chinese leaders.
Kyle A. Jaros is an associate professor at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, where he studies the politics of urban and regional development and governance and subnational foreign affairs, with a particular focus on China. He is the author of China’s Urban Champions: The Politics of Spatial Development and has contributed extensively to leading China studies and social science journals. Dr. Jaros holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from Harvard University and an A.B. in public and international affairs, along with a certificate in Chinese language and culture, from Princeton University. He also earned a graduate certificate in Chinese studies from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center.
Sara Newland is associate professor of government at Smith College. She is a scholar of local politics in China and Taiwan, with a research focus on how local officials operate both as domestic policymakers and as participants in international relations. Her work on local governance and public service provision has been featured in The China Quarterly and Governance, and her recent research explores subnational diplomacy, particularly the role of state and local officials in shaping U.S.-China-Taiwan relations. Dr. Newland holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from UC Berkeley and a B.A. from Wellesley College.
Together, Dr. Jaros and Dr. Newland spent the past year as visiting fellows at the Truman Center for National Policy on a project examining city-level US-China relations. The white paper they have authored based on this research will be released in late February. They are also co-authoring a book on U.S.-China subnational diplomacy in an era of growing great power competition.
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