NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON UNITED STATES - CHINA RELATIONS NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON UNITED STATES - CHINA RELATIONS 71 West 23rd Street, 19th Floor New York, NY 10010-4102 ANNUAL REPORT 2003 www.ncuscr.org B O ARD OF D IRECTORS* N A TIONAL C OMMITTEE ON U NITED S TATES- C HINA R ELATIONS Chair Virginia Kamsky he National Committee on United Carla A. Hills Thomas H. Kean TStates-China Relations is a nonprofit Geraldine S. Kunstadter educational organization that encourages Vice Chairmen David M. Lampton understanding of China and the United William M. Daley Nicholas R. Lardy States among citizens of both countries. Lee H. Hamilton Kenneth Lieberthal The Committee focuses its exchange, William R. Rhodes Henry Luce III educational and policy activities on J. Stapleton Roy Elizabeth S. MacMillan international relations, economic James R. Sasser Richard H. Matzke development and management, Ezra F. Vogel Kathryn Mohrman governance and legal affairs, education Douglas P. Murray administration, environmental and other Treasurer Elizabeth J. Perry global issues, and the media, addressing Herbert J. Hansell Thomas R. Pickering these issues with respect to the People’s Joseph W. Prueher Republic, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan. Secretary Henry P. Sailer The Committee’s programs draw strength Kathryn D. Christopherson Matt Salmon from its members, who now number Nicholas V. Scheele nearly 700 Americans from all parts of Michael H. Armacost James R. Schlesinger the country and about 70 corporations Nancy Kassebaum Baker David K.Y. Tang and professional firms. They represent Julia Chang Bloch Nancy Bernkopf Tucker many viewpoints, but share the belief Mary Brown Bullock I. Peter Wolff that productive U.S.-China relations Gareth C.C. Chang Madeleine Zelin require ongoing public education, face-to- Thomas J. Christensen face contact and forthright exchange of Edward T. Cloonan Chairmen Emeriti ideas. Jerome A. Cohen Doak Barnett (d.) Ken W. Cole W. Michael Blumenthal Barber B. Conable, Jr.1 Barber B. Conable, Jr. (d) Charles J. Conroy Alexander Eckstein (d.) Ralph A. Cossa Lucian W. Pye Douglas N. Daft Robert A. Scalapino Gary Dirks Raymond P. Shafer Martin S. Feldstein Charles W. Yost (d.) Barbara H. Franklin William E. Frenzel Directors Emeriti Peter F. Geithner Caroline L. Ahmanson Sam Gibbons Robert O. Anderson Bates Gill Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. Thomas M. Gorrie Carl F. Stover Harry Harding Jamie P. Horsley David A. Jones, Jr. *Effective December 5, 2002 – November 12, 2003 John T. Kamm 1Died November 2003 Calligraphy by Daniel Greenberg 1 L ETTER FROM THE C HAIR AND P RESIDENT hat the people of the United States a program that dealt with another public the United States. Elections in Taiwan Tand China are interconnected and health scourge – HIV/AIDS – by giving scheduled for early 2004 promised interdependent was made clear in prominent Chinese activists heightened tension in cross-Strait numerous ways in 2003. The most opportunities to learn firsthand how relations, and the National Committee important indicator – trade between the community-based organizations in the therefore convened a meeting of Carla A. Hills two countries – expanded by 23.2% to United States deal with it. American experts in August 2003 to take Chair $191.7 billion dollars. Holdings of U.S. stock of the situation and examine what, Treasury notes by the PRC (excluding Our programs in 2003 also dealt with if anything, the United States should do Hong Kong SAR) grew 33.4% to $158 societal health. Corruption, like disease, differently. This and other sensitive billion. But it was the discovery of a is a problem that plagues all societies in questions were examined in a meeting mysterious new epidemic called SARS varying degrees. China’s “opening and between the Chinese Foundation for (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) reform” has created enormous economic International and Strategic Studies that made it clear that human contact growth and better lives for hundreds of (CFISS), headed by former Vice Premier John L. Holden was also very much a part of Sino- millions of her citizens, but it has also Qian Qichen, and the Stanford-Harvard President American relations. resulted in a rapid rise in corruption. We Preventive Defense Project (PDP), led by were pleased to be able to offer specialists former Secretary of Defense William For several months SARS halted a great from China’s Ministry of Supervision the Perry. The quality of participants and deal of economic activity within China opportunity to witness how the United depth of interaction of both of these and filled newspapers and airwaves with States, at federal, state and local levels, programs resulted in highly productive dire speculation about whether China deals with corruption. The main discussions, and bore witness to the would become a wasteland and global “takeaway” for the delegation was that it unique value of the National Committee industrialists would move production is not possible for the government to as a catalyst for understanding both from China to India and other countries. effectively supervise itself; civil society among Americans, and between On April 20, 2003 the government of and the media must play a significant role Americans and Chinese. China dismissed its minister of health as well. and the mayor of Beijing, marking an Our work would not be possible without important milestone in the new, younger SARS wreaked havoc with the scheduling the energetic and effective involvement of – and more open – leadership of President of our activities this year. Ultimately, an extraordinary Board of Directors, an Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. thanks to understanding funders and active membership, and a capable and When it finally became clear that it had partners, none of them had to be dedicated staff. Nor would it be possible not returned with the cooler, drier canceled. We were able to conduct our without the support of a number of weather of winter, for most people SARS four important multi-year programs in American foundations and corporations, faded quickly from memory like a bad 2003, the U.S.-China Teachers Exchange who are able to look over the horizon and dream. Program, the Foreign Policy Colloquium, invest wisely in the future. And it would the Time Warner Internship Program and not be possible without United States The National Committee responded to the Young Leaders Forum, each of which government programs that bring SARS through prudent steps to minimize is an important investment in the future Americans and Chinese together in risks to participants in our programs, and of U.S.-China relations. common enterprises that build bridges to through two programs that directly a better future. To all of these supporters addressed the disease’s ramifications and The status of Taiwan remains a question and friends we extend our most sincere technical means to deal with public that threatens peace and prosperity in gratitude. health crises. In 2003 we also conducted East Asia, and is thus of key concern to 2 3 2003 EXCHANGES AND C ONFERENCES he National Committee’s 2003 implications for U.S. policy in the region. participants that significant changes primarily focused on North Korea; cross- Tconferences and exchanges reflect In August 2003, with the Taiwan could be unnecessarily destabilizing. Strait relations; and the effect of domestic our commitment to addressing cutting- presidential campaign gearing up and political situations in the United States, edge issues such as anti-corruption, with a new set of leaders in the PRC, the Thomas J. Christensen, professor of Taiwan, and the PRC on Asia-Pacific nuclear weapons proliferation and SARS time was ripe to re-examine cross-Strait politics and international affairs, regional affairs. – and to do so using a variety of formats relations and re-evaluate the effectiveness authored the conference report, which ranging from videoconferences to study of U.S. policy. Thirty specialists in was published as part of the National The Chinese delegation was led by former tours and internships. One of the keys to political, security, social and economic Committee’s China Policy Series. The Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian the success of these programs is the issues took part in the program “New report is posted on the National Qichen. Delegation members were generous contributions of time and Challenges and Opportunities in the Committee’s website; bound copies are former Central Party School head Zheng expertise from our network of directors, Taiwan Strait,” held August 8-10 at the available upon request. Bijian; Chen Xiaogong, Central Foreign members, friends and specialists. We Rockefeller Brothers Fund’s Pocantico Affairs Office; Zhan Maohai, China extend our sincere appreciation to the Conference Center. Support for the conference was provided Institute for International Strategic countless people who helped us develop by the Ford Foundation and the Studies; Qin Xiao, China Merchants and implement the conferences and The conference was designed to Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Group Ltd. and China Merchants Bank; exchanges described below. encourage an exchange of information Cui Liru, Institute of World Information; and ideas, rather than to generate Strategic Security Conference Chen Zhiya, CFISS; Zhang Tuosheng, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS consensus, and indeed, the different CFISS; Zheng Zeguang, Ministry of disciplines and perspectives of The National Committee has forged an Foreign Affairs, Yue Xiaoyang, Ministry of China’s growing economic, political and participants fueled an energized debate. effective partnership with the Preventive Foreign Affairs; Wang Jisi, Chinese military strength is now a common topic The discussions were enhanced by the Defense Project (PDP), the innovative Academy of Social Sciences; Yuan Ming, of discussion among both policy inclusion of business leaders active in and influential program conceived and Peking University; Huang Jiashu, Renmin specialists and the general public. The both Taiwan and the PRC, who provided led by former Secretary of Defense University; Huang Renwei, Shanghai following National Committee programs an “on-the-ground” perspective on how William J.