
Philip Cunningham
Independent Scholar
Jan 19, 2023
Qin Gang just left his position as Beijing’s top envoy to the U.S., as he has been named China’s new Foreign Minister. As his role changes, there’s no better time to reflect on his tenure in the U.S., his commitment to bettering the China-U.S. relationship, and his, at times, easygoing engagement with the American public.
Dec 14, 2022
Once a spirited rivalry between the U.S. and Soviet Union, space exploration is now a two-way race between the U.S. and China. But initiatives like China’s Shenzhou program and the U.S.’ SpaceX, among other private industry programs, are challenging the duopoly that bureaucrats in Washington and Moscow once had on all space exploration.
Dec 02, 2022
From student activist, to journalist, to a top diplomat, Jaime Florcruz is the man for the job. Given his unique and impressive history working and studying in China, and his expertise on America, it’s hard to imagine a better appointment for balancing the interests of both Manila and Beijing while not alienating Washington.
Nov 11, 2022
The nature of scholar-to-scholar exchange between Chinese and American academics and students has evolved over the years. But as bilateral relations between China and the U.S. continue to deteriorate, it’s important to consider thoughts from past Chinese scholars who spent time in the U.S. And if we want to experience any kind of diplomatic breakthrough, we must remember that we’re often blinded by what our own society deems as right.
Oct 14, 2022
The last few years have shown us that it’s perhaps more important than ever to take the time to seek out truth before jumping to conclusions about complicated issues. Some scholars like Jeffrey Sachs are asking the hard questions to find the truth - and they shouldn’t be scrutinized or discredited when some of their conclusions overlap with Beijing.
Oct 03, 2022
The now ceased-China Initiative ushered in the resurgence of questioning the loyalty of foreign scientists and scholars. And similar to past outcomes, the U.S. has lost many brilliant minds that were working to contribute to the global good at our companies and universities.
Sep 19, 2022
NASA has made stellar achievements. But as cooperation both internally and internationally have decreased, among rocket launch setbacks, it may be time for the U.S. to look to China for advice.
Sep 06, 2022
Not all conflict can be avoided through better understanding, but promoting cultural exchange is a great place to start mending relations. And as China-U.S. relations spiral, promoting study abroad opportunities, many seeking to return to normal after the pandemic, is perhaps more important than ever before.
Aug 10, 2022
It’s imperative that the new “low” in U.S.-China relations doesn’t become the new normal. And understanding the historical connotations of the relationship, particularly regarding Taiwan, is imperative for paving the way for a better, more diplomatic future.
Jul 25, 2022
The news of Shinzo Abe’s assassination rocked the world for a brief moment, and opened the doors for some unseemly reactions from China’s public, but within the context of Sino-Japanese history one may have expected worse.