美中全球议题对话项目

Participating in the U.S.-China Student Dialogue offered a deeply enriching and thought-provoking experience. This year’s dialogue focused on critical issues shaping the future of U.S.-China relations, including global governance, climate change, and technological competition. Against the backdrop of the contentious U.S. election cycle, the discussions provided a unique opportunity to hear perspectives from Chinese peers on expectations for the second Trump administration. Interestingly, despite the current fractured state of the bilateral relationship, there was significant alignment between students from Georgetown and Peking University regarding the anticipated implications of such an administration. While the consensus predicted a continued negative trajectory for U.S.-China relations, the ability of the group to engage in candid and meaningful dialogue was both encouraging and inspiring. The shared commitment to fostering understanding underscored the importance of these exchanges.

In one session, the group explored the future of the U.S.-China impasse in the Asia-Pacific region, debating whether the relationship would remain static or become more or less confrontational. Naturally, discussions touched on core bilateral issues such as the potential for a renewed trade war, stricter semiconductor export controls, and rising tensions over Taiwan. However, the conversation also broadened to include the roles of regional players like Japan, India, South Korea, and the Philippines. Additionally, the group drew connections between global conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the situation in Gaza, to illustrate how developments in Europe and the Middle East could influence Beijing-Washington dynamics. These insights highlighted the group’s recognition of the interconnectedness of regional events and their impact on global stability, as well as the growing importance of middle powers in shaping the region’s future.

Throughout the three sessions, we examined how fundamentally different U.S. and Chinese perceptions of security and peace are driving the two countries toward confrontation. Despite these divergent views, there was a shared belief that neither Beijing nor Washington desires a “self-fulfilling prophecy” of inevitable conflict. The group largely assessed the prospects for a direct military confrontation as low. While we agreed that the core dynamics of the U.S.-China bilateral relationship are unlikely to shift in the near-to-mid term, there was unanimous conviction in the value of building connections and fostering understanding today. Such efforts, we believed, hold the potential to unlock future opportunities for cooperation on crucial global challenges.

It is a sobering reality that opportunities for cross-border exchange with China are becoming increasingly rare in the United States. I am profoundly grateful to have participated in this dialogue, which provided a platform to engage with Chinese peers and explore avenues for building a more collaborative foundation for bilateral relations. The discussions made it clear that all participants shared a sense of collective responsibility to envision a future where a constructive U.S.-China relationship could contribute to regional and global public goods. Initiatives like the U.S.-China Student Dialogue are indispensable in nurturing that vision and laying the groundwork for a more cooperative future.

Jada Fraser (G'25) is a second-year graduate student in the Asian Studies Program at Georgetown University.