Chinese Encounters with America tells the stories of twelve women and men whose American experiences transformed their lives and influenced Chinas trajectory.
Chinese Encounters with America tells the stories of twelve women and men whose American experiences transformed their lives and influenced Chinas trajectory, with a particular focus on the period after Beijing and Washington established full diplomatic relations in 1979. Each chapter recounts how these Chinese citizens interpreted America and adapted their understanding to bolster Chinas quest for modernization.
Their professions range from diplomacy, business, and science to sports, education, and the arts, but their distinctive stories are united by shared questions: Why did they go the United States, and why did they return to China? What difference did their encounters with America make in their lives and careers? What do their experiences tell us about the complexities of Sino-American interactions?
At a time when US-China relations are contentious, this book challenges the idea that American and Chinese interests and values are incompatible. It shows that personal encounters have been instrumental in finding common ground, even when there are differences and disagreements. Through vivid and engaging profiles, Chinese Encounters with America offers a fresh, nuanced understanding of the worlds most pivotal relationship.
Recenzijos
Chinese Encounters with America offers a timely reminder that geopolitics involves not only the interests of competing nations, but the experiences of outstanding individuals whose personal struggles and perceptions of other cultures can influence history. -- Robert Daly, director of the Wilson Centers Kissinger Institute on China and the United States The chronicles of these Chinese individuals powerfully demonstrate how their interactions with Americans and exposure to American society can profoundly and beneficially shape the trajectories of relations between nations. -- Gary Locke, former US Ambassador to China and Governor of Washington State A deeper, more human perspective on the complex and often contentious US-China relationship. Going beyond politics and policies, this book tells the stories of remarkable Chinese men and women whose American encounters transformed their lives and shaped their influence in China. -- Yingyi Ma, author of Ambitious and Anxious: How Chinese College Students Succeed and Struggle in American Higher Education Since the late 1970s, China's reform and opening up has been closely intertwined with the steady expansion of Sino-American relations. Chinese Encounters with America vividly and insightfully recounts stories of key Chinese figures who were deeply involved in this transformative journey. -- Chen Jian, author of Zhou Enlai: A Life A must-read for those who are concerned about the future of this all-important relationship. It reminds us of the complexity of contemporary China and shows that individuals who experienced American engagement also exemplified China's patriotism. -- Mary Brown Bullock, educator and scholar of US-China relations
Preface and Acknowledgments
Timeline
Introduction: A Tale of Two Americas, by Terry Lautz
Part I. Cold War and Reconciliation
1. Ji Chaozhu : Interpreter and Diplomat, by Charles W. Hayford
2. Xie Xide : Scientist and Educator, by Deborah Davis and Richard Madsen
3. Zi Zhongyun : Public Intellectual, by Steven I. Levine
Part II. Reform and Engagement
4. Wang Jisi : America Watcher, by David M. Lampton
5. Marjorie Yang Mun Tak : Entrepreneur and Innovator, by William C.
Kirby
6. Zhang Ye : Civil Society Leader, by Elizabeth Knup
7. Lang Ping : Sports Icon, by Susan Brownell
8. Yang Meiqi : Modern Dance Pioneer, by Emily Wilcox
Part III. Globalization and Cooperation
9. Deng Xing Wang : Plant Biologist, by Abigail E. Coplin
10. Hung Huang : Social Media Celebrity, by Melinda Liu
11. Ma Tianjie : Environmentalist, by Lili Pike
12. Gong Tianpeng : Musical Prodigy, by Sheila Melvin and Jindong Cai
Conclusion: The Paradox of America, by Terry Lautz
Contributors
Index
Deborah Davis is professor emerita of sociology at Yale University, distinguished visiting professor at Fudan University, and visiting faculty member of the Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University. Her books include Wives, Husbands, and Lovers: Marriage and Sexuality in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Urban China (2014, coedited with Sara L. Friedman).
Terry Lautz is the author of John Birch: A Life (2016) and Americans in China: Encounters with the Peoples Republic (2022). He is the former vice president and secretary of the Luce Foundation and has served as the board chair of the Harvard-Yenching Institute, Lingnan Foundation, and Yale-China Association.
