China and the Asia-Pacific

China & the Asia-Pacific Region – The new US Focus

II. Utah Valley University Chinese Studies Conference (UVUCSC II)

March Thu 7 – Fri 8, 2013, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Lakeview Room (Library)

Description

On November 17, 2011, president Obama announced that the Asia-Pacific region was now a top priority for the US. On January 5, 2012, president Obama announced that the US military will switch its focus to the Asia-Pacific region and on June 2, declared that the US will shift the bulk of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as part of new strategic focus on Asia, will secure trade routes and will help Japan with counter-missiles. The US challenge the rising regional power of China, as illustrated recently with China’s disputes with Japan and the Philippines on islands.

It shows also how economically important China has become to the US, both as global manufacturer and as a selling market. Will China overcome the US and prove that her model of an exploitive and corrupt economy which restricts people’s freedoms is more successful than a liberal economy based on laws and copyright protection?

This conference invites experts from different fields to discuss China’s role in Asia and the world, her special relation with the US and how this effects Utah and the China-related study programs at UVU, including language teaching. Local business leaders with China-ties will identify expectations towards graduates, what they need to learn if they want to succeed in the China-related job-market. UVU professors will report on concrete examples how they helped graduates to build start-up companies in China and how they played matchmakers between Chinese and Utah businesses.

The conference will also explore the transitional Chinese identity at the beginning of the 21st century. It will report about the environmental impact of China on the region and on the world, on ethnic dissent, human right violations and problems to come to terms with the past.

Scope and target groups

This interdisciplinary conference will bring together speakers from UVU and neighboring universities. On the basis of experiences of the inaugural Chinese Studies Conference in March 2012, it is expected that around 50 student volunteers will help and participate as well as another 30 interested members of the UVU and regional community. The main goal of the conference is to raise awareness of China-related study programs among the UVU community.

Preliminary Program

Panels This is a tentative list of possible topics and suggested panels. Music has been requested from the Chinese-Western band Matteo.

1. Asian and global effects of Chinese environmental policy

Panel Chair: Dr. Hong Pang (confirmed)

2. The US perspective on Developing Business in China and Asia

1. Changing preferences in China for local manufacturers squeezing foreign companies.

2. Improving IP protections in China.

3. Low cost manufacturing shifting away from China.

4. Infrastructure improvements offering and facilitating Asian business opportunities.

Panel Chairs: Dr. David McArthur (confirmed), Dr. Kent Millington (confirmed)

3. Chinese 21st Century Identity in transition

Panel Chair: Dr. Martin Woesler (confirmed)

Speaker: Baochai Chiang, Director of the Center of Taiwan Literature , Zhongzheng University , Jiayi , Taiwan

4. The Cross-Asian Turk Connection: Ethnic tensions in Northeast China

Panel Chair: Baktybek Abdrisaev, History/Political Science, UVU (confirmed)

5. Chinese cities and transnational spaces

Panel Chair: Dr. Sam Liang (confirmed)

6. Human rights violations in China and Asia

Panel Chair: Dr. William Cobb (confirmed)

7. China and Asia : No coming to terms with the past and rising tensions about islands

Panel Chair: Dr. Michael Minch (confirmed)

Speaker: Geoff Cockerham (confirmed)

8. Foreign Media and Press Freedom in China and Asia

Panel Chair: N.N.

9. Chinese Language Education in the US

Panel Chair: N.N.

10. What Utah business expects from UVU graduates to be ready for the China- /Asia-related job market (joint panel with lecture series)

Panel Chair: Dr. Jon Westover (confirmed)

Organization

The organizing committee consists of the panel chairs, Mark Olson from IDST and is chaired by Dr. Martin Woesler. The organization is highly transparent, with a Wiki website where everybody can shape the conference and bring in their ideas and other contributions.

Volunteers

• Multicultural Club at UVU (part of the 150 students who signed up in total)
• Chinese Lunch Club at UVU (part of the 50 students who signed up in total)
• Quaid Atkinson
• Josh Brandeberry
• James Campbell
• Mat Christensen
• Tara Froisland (March 8 only)
• Daniel Jensen (March 8 only)
• Alex Johnson
• Licia Kim
• Vickie Lee
• Telmar Lochridge
• Lance Reeves (March 7 only)
• Emanuel Rivas
• Hannah Robinson
• Justin Schow
• Christopher Wiltsie
• Kami Winterton (March 8 only)
• Melanie Woodbury