U.S.-China Relations: Avoiding the Thucydides Trap or Spiraling Towards it?

Academics and policy makers across the globe who have an eye on US-China relations express worry over the inevitability of conflict, of the Thucydides’ Trap. The Thucydides’ Trap is a deadly pattern of structural stress that results when a rising power challenges a ruling one. Over the past 500 years, the conditions required to meet the Thucydides Trap have occurred sixteen times, and the result was war in twelve of them. In today’s context, as an unstoppable China meets an immovable America, are we spiraling towards an inevitable conflict between these two great powers, or is there a way to avoid it?

With this question in mind, YCAPS’ Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue will host Dr. Ji Miao, a Senior Research Fellow at the Trilateral Cooperation Studies Center’s Institute of Asian Studies, at the China Foreign Affairs University to speak on the current state of US-China Relations from the Chinese perspective and if it is possible to avoid the Thucydides Trap or if we are indeed doomed to repeat history.. The discussion will be moderated by Stephen NAGY, YCAP’s Director of Policy Studies.

Please use this link to register via Zoom.
You will need the link and passcode provided in the confirmation email.

Speakers:

Dr. Miao Ji is Associate professor and Senior research fellow from the Institute of Asian Studies, and China-Japan-Korea Trilateral Cooperation Studies Center, China Foreign Affairs University. He also serves as research fellow of the China National Collaborative Innovation Center for Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights. He holds a doctor’s degree in international relations from School of International Studies, Renmin University of China and Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University, Japan. His research interests include Japan politics, China’s political decision-making, Asian regionalism and regional integration, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. He has published widely in scholarly journals, newspapers, and Internet-based media, with intensive involvement in policy studies and consultation and Track 2 diplomacy in East Asia. He is academic associate with the Program on US-Japan Relations, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University 2022-2023.

Webinar Cost: Free of charge

Moderator: Dr. Stephen Nagy
Format: This event will be off-the-record. Questions are encouraged.

Registration: Required via this Link.