Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues

With a strengthening relationship between each country’s educated population, the question is not how strong our our bond will become, but in what disciplines. The two countries boast the world’s largest economies while investing the most into their militaries. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders even cited China as the only viable link to a peaceful solution with North Korea. Beyond our well known economic and political ties to China, however, is the often overlooked sector of global health.

“Do you have to wear a mask every day?” “Aren’t you afraid of food poisoning?” “What if you get the flu?” The questions I received from American friends and family regarding my two-month trip to Shanghai reeked of stereotypes, misconceptions, and a lack of information. They suggested a correlation between an American perspective on China and poor health.

Yes, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome from poor air quality killed hundreds and infected thousands in China. But America could face respiratory illness issues with the new U.S. administration promoting the coal industry that is largely responsible for the low air quality indexes found in China’s industrial northeast. Both countries have not only powerful hands in the game of global health, but a lot on the table in terms of potential losses.

As suggested by its name, global health is not limited to just two countries. China and the United States are distinct, however, in that they lead the world in research and development. In 2011, the United States alone accounted for 30 percent of the global R & D, with China contributing the second largest proportion at 15 percent. In 2011, the $75 and $82 billion that went into basic and applied research in the United States, respectively, was mostly funneled to universities and colleges. This reiterates the significance of Chinese and American students studying and conducting research at one another’s universities.

Affirmation of these countries’ influence in global health does not require one to wait until the coming generations take reign. Already, each country has made major contributions. As the two biggest polluters, they led the charge for the world to unite under the landmark Paris Climate Agreement. The United States is the number one global donor to Africa, and China recently broke into the top 10 list. China was even “one of the first countries to provide a significant amount of financial, technical and human resources to the three African countries that were affected by the Ebola outbreak in 2014.”

In the case of Africa, we again see the important role that universities play in these international relationships. The new China-Harvard-Africa Network invites public health leaders from both sides of the discussion to Boston. The multilateral agreement exhibits the kind of progress young Americans are spearheading. We are making strides for the sake of strengthened diplomacy between China and the United States through humanitarian intervention with African investment.

Although their roles in global health are undoubtedly important, current work by China and the United States is insufficient. The significance of the Paris Agreement has been hampered by America’s recent withdrawal. President Trump let his campaign promise of saving America’s coal industry influence critical foreign policy.

Similarly, China let domestic policy hinder progress in global health by prohibiting Taiwanese representatives from attending this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. The reason: President Tsai Ing-wen’s refusal to publicly recognize a One China Policy. Taiwan has the highest health standards in all of Asia. The World Health Organization even adopted their hepatitis B vaccination into its immunization program. Moreover, the United States is currently conducting Zika and dengue fever related research through the American Institute in Taiwan. It is important that the United States urge China to permit Taiwanese participation in such conventions as the WHA, regardless of issues with domestic policy. Both China and the United States must assist one another in keeping global health a top priority on their agendas.

The Paris Agreement, Africa, and Taiwan only begin the list of opportunities for the United States and China to make lasting contributions to the global community. Should the two countries take advantage of their regional hegemony and influence in Africa, they could accelerate our pursuit of a healthier, more peaceful world. Primary steps include recognizing the importance of science and the objective goals that do not fluctuate with election season and domestic goals. As the rising generations become more intertwined, new avenues of collaboration will take shape. Global health ought to dominate the agendas of Chinese and American leaders.

Michael Mullaney is a junior at Georgetown University (C'19) majoring in government with minors in Spanish and Chinese.