China’s spreading global presence in efforts to quell war and instability beyond its borders impacts peace and conflict dynamics across the world. Beijing’s leaders have hosted peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, participated in international meetings on the Syrian civil war and increasingly deploy Chinese peacekeepers to African conflicts. The U.S. Institute of Peace and Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies hosted a daylong conference on March 22 examining China’s impact—positive or negative—on local and international efforts to reduce violent conflict.

China has called for greater counterterrorism cooperation in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.  Its companies are investing in numerous “Belt and Road” infrastructure projects that may boost development and stability in fragile states, or conversely, may benefit the corporations without bringing tangible benefits for local populations. The approach by Beijing also can significantly advance or detract from U.S. interests and global peacebuilding norms.

Scholars and policy experts examined China’s role in a range of conflicts, looking at the local and regional implications of actions in Afghanistan and Pakistan and in the countries of the Middle East and Africa. One panel discussed the major strategic challenges to the United States posed by North Korea and Russia, and how China’s role may affect or complicate U.S. policies towards these countries. The panelists also evaluated the policy implications for the Trump administration. Follow the conversation on Twitter with #ChinaGUUSIP. 

Updated Agenda

8:30am-9:00am: Registration and Breakfast

9:00am-9:15am: Welcome

  • Ambassador William B. Taylor
    Executive Vice President, U.S. Institute of Peace
  • Thomas Banchoff
    Vice President for Global Engagement, Georgetown University

9:15am-10:30am: Panel One - China’s Peacebuilding Role in Afghanistan and Pakistan

This panel will examine Beijing’s growing engagement on both counterinsurgency and counterterrorism issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including China’s active participation in the Quadrilateral Coordination Group that aimed to facilitate peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

  • I-wei Jennifer Chang
    Program Specialist, China Program, U.S. Institute of Peace, Moderator
  • Andrew Small
    Senior Transatlantic Fellow, Asia Program, German Marshall Fund of the United States
  • Lan Jiang
    Professor and Deputy Director, Center of Pakistan Studies, China West Normal University
  • Ahmad Khalid Majidyar
    Fellow and Director, IranObserved Project, Middle East Institute
  • Lisa Curtis
    Senior Research Fellow on South Asia, Asian Studies Center, Heritage Foundation

10:30am-10:45am: Break

10:45am-12:00: Panel Two - China’s Approach to Conflict and Terrorism in Africa\

This panel will assess China’s peacebuilding role in ongoing conflicts in Africa, including Nigeria and South Sudan. Panelists will assess China’s economic investments, developmental assistance, and security contributions to the region.

  • Ambassador Princeton Lyman
    Senior Advisor for Middle East and Africa, U.S. Institute of Peace, Moderator
  • Yun Sun
    Senior Associate, East Asia Program, Stimson Center
  • Joshua Eisenman
    Assistant Professor of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, Senior Fellow for China Studies, American Foreign Policy Council 
  • Raymond Gilpin
    Dean, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University

12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch Keynote Address by Dennis Wilder on “Building U.S.-China Strategic Trust”

Dennis Wilder is former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for East Asian Affairs at the National Security Council under President George W. Bush (2005-2009).  He is a Professor of Practice in the Asian Studies Program and Senior Fellow at the Initiative for US-China Dialogue on Global Issues. Professor Wilder has advised various agencies on shaping U.S. policy toward East Asia. 

1:00pm-2:15pm: Panel Three – Chinese Diplomacy in Middle East Conflicts  

This panel will address China’s diplomacy on peace and stability in the Middle East, including its role in the Iranian nuclear issue and the Syrian civil war. 

  • Colin Kahl
    Associate Professor, Center for Security Studies, Georgetown University, Moderator
  • Carrie Liu Currier
    Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Asian Studies, Texas Christian University 
  • Sun Degang
    Professor and Deputy Director, Middle East Studies Institute, Shanghai International Studies University 
  • Randa Slim
    Director, Initiative for Track II Dialogues, Middle East Institute 

2:15pm-2:30pm: Break

2:30pm-3:45pm: Panel Four – China and Global Strategic Challenges: North Korea and Russia

This panel will discuss China’s current relationships with North Korea and Russia and potential U.S.-China cooperation to coordinate policies and approaches towards these two countries. 

  • Jennifer Staats
    Director, China Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace, Moderator
  • Victor Cha
    Senior Advisor and Korea Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies; Director of Asian Studies and D.S. Song Chair, Department of Government and School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
  • Richard Weitz
    Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Political-Military Studies, Hudson Institute
  • Ren Xiao
    Professor, Institute of International Studies, Fudan University 
  • Andrew Kuchins
    Senior Fellow, Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
  • 3:45pm-4:15pm: Concluding Remarks: Policy Recommendations for the U.S. 
  • Jennifer Staats
    Director, China Program, U.S. Institute of Peace
  • David S. Maxwell
    Associate Director, Center for Security Studies, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University 

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