Join us for a free one-day workshop for educators at the Japanese American National Museum, hosted by the USC U.S.-China Institute and the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia. This workshop will include a guided tour of the beloved exhibition Common Ground: The Heart of Community, slated to close permanently in January 2025. Following the tour, learn strategies for engaging students in the primary source artifacts, images, and documents found in JANM’s vast collection and discover classroom-ready resources to support teaching and learning about the Japanese American experience.
Deng Xiaoping, "Sino-American relations must be improved," Dec. 10, 1989
Your visit to China at this time is very important. Although there are various disputes,
problems and differences between China and the United States, relations between the two
countries must eventually be improved. That is required for world peace and stability. It
is our common wish to solve as quickly as possible the problems that have arisen
between us since June, so that new progress can be made in our relations.
I have retired, and this interview is no longer part of my duties. However, you are the
special envoy of my friend President Bush, and it is only reasonable that I should meet
you.
China is of special international importance; what happens here can affect world stability
and security. If there were disturbances in China, that would be a big problem that could
have repercussions elsewhere. It would be a misfortune not only for China but also for
the United States.
China cannot be a threat to the United States, and the United States should not consider
China as a threatening rival. We have never done anything to harm the United States. In
the 17 years since 1972, the general situation in the world has been relatively stable. One
important reason for this is that Sino-U.S. relations have developed. China and the United
States should not fight each other - I'm not talking just about a real war but also about a
war of words. We should not encourage that. As I have said on many occasions, China
cannot copy the system of the United States. It is up to the Americans to say whether
their system is good or bad, and we do not interfere.
In relations between two countries, each side should respect the other and consider the
other's interests as much as possible. That is the way to settle disputes. Nothing will be
accomplished if each country considers only its own interests. But if both sides make
concessions, they can reach a good settlement acceptable to both. It will require efforts by
both China and the United States to restore good relations. This must not be put off too
long, or it would be damaging for both sides.
I hope that as special envoy you will tell President Bush that there is a retired old man in
China who is concerned about the improvement of Sino-U.S. relations.
Featured Articles
Please join us for the Grad Mixer! Hosted by USC Annenberg Office of International Affairs, Enjoy food, drink and conversation with fellow students across USC Annenberg. Graduate students from any field are welcome to join, so it is a great opportunity to meet fellow students with IR/foreign policy-related research topics and interests.
RSVP link: https://forms.gle/1zer188RE9dCS6Ho6
Events
Hosted by USC Annenberg Office of International Affairs, enjoy food, drink and conversation with fellow international students.
Join us for an in-person conversation on Thursday, November 7th at 4pm with author David M. Lampton as he discusses his new book, Living U.S.-China Relations: From Cold War to Cold War. The book examines the history of U.S.-China relations across eight U.S. presidential administrations.