Principled Interdependence: How to Maintain America’s High-Tech Advantages over China

Although both Washington and Beijing have explicitly said they oppose decoupling of our two societies, both are actually still pursuing policies to attenuate connectivity along a number of dimensions in order to mitigate a variety of risks they see arising from such connections. The result could lead to a substantial reduction in bilateral ties as well as a possible fragmentation of the global economy. This presentation seeks to achieve several goals: 1) Take stock of how much decoupling has occurred to date; 2) Re-evaluate the risks and opportunities that come from being highly connected and de-coupled; and 3) Consider how an alternative approach, "principled interdependence," may be a more effective strategy than decoupling to manage the US's relationship with China.

About the speaker: Scott Kennedy is senior adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). A leading authority on Chinese economic policy, Kennedy has been traveling to China for over 30 years. His specific areas of expertise include industrial policy, technology innovation, business lobbying, U.S.-China commercial relations, and global governance.