Kissinger Institute

@USAsiaPacific 's Asst. Secretary Stilwell: "Three myths come to light" on US China relationship : -Engagement with the PRC will lead to liberalization - CCP goal is simply to remain in power - Ideology no longer matters

Stilwell: "The relationship in the administration's objective on China is one of strategic competition. That is simply a realization that if you're playing ping-pong and one side is competing and the other is cooperating...the side that is competing defines the relationship"

Stilwell recalls being handed a book of Xi Jinping's governence of China in 2014. "The concepts are fundamentally different, and understanding where the Chinese Communist Party is important"

Stilwell finds that governments deriving consent from the governed is key difference between US, Chinese govt's ideological values.

Stilwell: "A weakness for being an open system, we're learning, leaves you open to things like adverse messaging. We don't have a propaganda arm," finds diverse voices to be a strength.

On announcement of new policy on Chinese diplomats engaging with education and research in U.S., Stilwell says: "the goal is not to cut off communication, but to lower barriers to communication so that both sides can hold discussions"

Following up on question on potential Chinese government responses, Stilwell: "If you compare experiences in NGO and academic access and operation in the PRC, you can see the disparity" in treatment.