Dear Readers,
The US-China relationship is widely recognized as the most important bilateral relationship in the 21st century. Both countries dominate the world in terms of economic output, military spending, and even in carbon emission. In particular, the meteoric rise of China in the past few decades—which has lifted over 600 million people out of poverty and propelled China to become the world’s second largest economy after the US—ranks among the most important world developments in history. In fact, China recently overtook the US as the world’s leading trading partner and is expected to overtake Canada as America’s top trading partner in the coming years. President Obama urged China to play by the rules while Governor Romney pledged to label China as a currency manipulator on his first day in office. Nonetheless, not everyone agrees that China is a threat. Stephen Roach, our magazine advisor and former Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, argues that America’s problems are not caused by China and that China’s rise presents tremendous opportunities for America’s economic recovery and future prosperity. Economics aside, America and China have to cooperate to solve the world’s most urgent problems, whether it is nuclear proliferation or climate change. Given the stakes involved, it is essential that America treat China as a reliable partner and responsible stakeholder so as to promote win-win benefits and geopolitical stability. In the words of new Secretary of State John Kerry, “the simple fact is that we need China, and China needs us. We have to get this relationship right.”
There are promising signs of increased dialogue and exchange of ideas between the two nations. On the international level, the annual US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue was set up by Presidents Obama and Hu Jintao in 2009. But the next generation of leaders from both countries also needs to understand each other better. As students at Yale College, we have sensed the increased interest in China on campus over the past few years, exemplified by the increased number of classes on China and record number of students learning Mandarin Chinese. But the dearth of any student publications on China means that students lack a platform to discuss China-related issues and US-China relations. This inspired us to start this magazine—“China Hands.”
“China Hands” was originally a term for 19th century merchants in the treaty ports of China, but gradually evolved to reflect anyone with an expert knowledge of the language, culture, and people of China. By naming our magazine “China Hands,” we strive to deliver the most insightful and perceptive stories about China and help you, the reader, become the next generation of “China Hands.” In this first issue of the magazine, we aim to address some of the key issues relating to China’s development and its relationship with the rest of the world. Napoleon Bonaparte once remarked, “Let China sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world.” With the world becoming increasingly interconnected and globalized, it is imperative that we understand a country that represents one-sixth of humanity and one of the world’s oldest civilizations. We hope that you enjoy the articles in the first issue of our magazine, and encourage you to contribute to the betterment of US-China relations in the future. Founding Team
China Hands
