Professor Bedeski, who has been elected to head up the next ISCSC Annual Meeting in South Korea, holds the title of Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science at the University of Victoria. He also is both an Affiliate Professor at the Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, and an Honorary Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Institute of Asian Research.

The president of the Asian Politics and History Association until 2025, he was formerly the President of the Japan Studies Association of Canada. Further, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree by the Mongolia Academy of Science, and he received the Mongolian Presidential Medal for his academic achievements. 

Professor Bedeski is an expert on the structure and formation of the Asian state in China, Japan, and Korea. Thus, he was selected as the first non-Japanese research fellow at the National Institute for Defense Studies in Tokyo. Significantly, as a Visiting Professor he also has held the prestigious Aung San Suu Kyi Endowed Chair in Asian Democracy at the University of Louisville, Kentucky.

 

For this lecture, entitled The Complexities of China-USA relations: Three Approaches for the Trump Administration, Dr. Bedeski was introduced by Dr. Bonnie Lee, the Director of Knowledge Engagement for the ISCSC and host of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the ISCSC at her home university. Dr. Lee is full Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Lethbridge in Canada and a Research Affiliate of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy there.  She lectures and conducts workshops on addictions and couple therapy internationally. 

In his remarks, Professor Bedeski examined the complex dynamics of contemporary Sino-American relations, with special emphasis on Chinese military and trade expansion. He suggested three potential approaches for the Trump government: 

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1. First, there is the possibility of continuing the existing globalization orientation on the part of the United States, with cooperative passivity regarding Chinese growth.  He said that this implies a weakening of American sovereignty, which he described as including open borders. 

2. The second option is President Trump's call for a “revival” of the nation-state concept and for concomitant pushback against Chinese threats to American national security.  This involves tariffs and strengthening of national defense and border security. 

3. The third choice is a return to a more traditional balance of power approach, with recognition of China's national interests and acknowledgement of their rapid growth in modernization and industrialization. He believes that this broader appreciation -- accepting that the U.S. and China having different interests -- will help avoid future conflicts.

4. ​The lecture, which was presented orally and supported with a copy of the remarks outlined, was greeted with extensive audience questioning and comments.

 

This Fall-Winter Knowledge Exchange series featured our four-part book discussion of Lee Kuan Yew’s memoir documenting his building of the Republic of Singapore:  From Third World to First, the Singapore Story:  1965 to 2000 – Singapore and the Asian Economic Boom. We concluded the season with Dr. Bedeski’s talk and discussion on the options of China-US policies facing the Trump Administration.

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Dr. Bonnie Lee announced at the end of the session that the Book Club will feature a Fall  discussion series on another book in the wings. Stay tuned!

 

Members are invited to submit topics for this Knowledge Exchange series!

 

The audience thanked Professor Bedeski for his presentation and congratulated Dr. Lee for organizing the year’s activities and for chairing the year so thoughtfully and effectively.