Chinese Encounters with America
Journeys That Shaped the Future of China
Deborah Davis editor Terry Lautz editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Columbia University Press
Published:27th May '25
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Chinese Encounters with America tells the stories of twelve women and men whose American experiences transformed their lives and influenced China’s 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 China’s 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 world’s most pivotal relationship.
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 Center’s 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
ISBN: 9780231217194
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
392 pages