Susan Thornton, former senior U.S. diplomat, returns to the Sinica Podcast this week. This conversation was recorded during the Princeton U.S.-China Coalition virtual event on August 1, 2020. Kaiser and Susan discuss the value of American diplomacy with China and if such engagement can help salvage what remains of a deeply strained bilateral relationship between China and the United States. 

9:27: Swapping diplomacy for machismo at the State Department

23:06: The sharp falloff in candidates entering the U.S. Foreign Service

28:29: Fatalism and China

34:08: Distrust and vilify, Washington’s new China policy

Recommendations:

Susan: Mr. X and the Pacific: George F. Kennan and American Policy in East Asia, by Paul J. Heer. 

Kaiser: The TV show Better Call Saul, available on Netflix.

This podcast was edited and produced by Kaiser Kuo and Jason MacRonald.

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