Susan Shirk Discusses China's Looming Presence

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published May 15, 2007 at 9:29 AM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

The rise of China's economy in recent years certainly has the world's attention. But is China a threat or an asset to the U.S.? Susan Shirk, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible f

Alison St John (Guest Host): San Diego is in a unique position to know that China is a looming presence for the United States. Current relations are friendly, but it's noteworthy that the U.S. Navy is building up a major presence on the west coast and in San Diego Bay in particular, to keep an eye on the Pacific Rim.

Our guest in studio, Susan Shirk first went to China in 1971 when she was a student and actually shook hands with Chinese Premier at the time, Zou Enlai.

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Shirk subsequently became Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for U.S. relations with China from 1997-2000. She is currently director of UCSD's Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, and a professor at the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies.

Susan Shirk will sign her new book, China -- Fragile Superpower: How's China's Internal Politics Could Derail Its Peaceful Rise, tonight, May 15, at 7:30 p.m. at Warwick's in La Jolla, 7812 Girard Ave.

Guest

Susan L. Shirk, author and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for U.S. relations with China. She is also the current director of the University of California's Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC) , and a professor at UCSD's Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies.