Tai Initiative

Connect with the 202nd anniversary of the May Fourth Movement with our April Update -

The Tai Initiative April Update The Tai Initiative is an organization dedicated to promoting a trusting relationship between America and China on the subnational level. We educate the public and empower leaders to make lasting changes that improve successful communication between the United States of America and the People’s Rep...

This course will be partnering with the Tai Initiative's Student Fellowship program for 2020-2021. If you know any young professionals or city officials thinking about China and needing some solid fundamental understanding of this complex topic, please share the news of this fully online course with them!

Find your fortune at EvCC this fall! How much do you actually know about China? (Fortune cookies are actually American, BTW). Find out more by registering for Global Studies 188 Fall 2020. Taught by a 30-year practitioner of America-China relations, the course examines multiple dimensions of the complex and important role China plays in this 21st century world.
https://bit.ly/2EGpiRX

Make sure you tune in to the live broadcast today where Mr. Liu Yawei will present the leadership work and style of President Jimmy Carter as it relates to his relationship with the PRC. Liu Yawei will also reflect on how leadership in/of an NGO lacking direct sovereignty can still impact the leadership character of a nation. Click on the link below to get access to the broadcast that will be starting at 1pm!

Jimmy Carter's Post-Presedential China Impact - Tai Initiative Mr. Liu Yawei, China Program Director of the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, will present the leadership work and style of President Jimmy Carter as it relates to his relationship with the PRC. During Carter’s Presidency the PRC was only just beginning to open up. As in many areas of his life, ...

China Daily recently published an article examining the effects of upcoming tariffs in which they interviewed and quoted TI Director Ben Leffel

Tariff ripple effects worry experts - World - Chinadaily.com.cn China’s new tariffs on US agricultural products will have implications for urban residents on the West Coast, not just rural communities, experts say.

USC also had Ben Leffel write this piece in the lead-up to the City Diplomacy Summit. The subject matter of the summit he attended is relevant for TI work insofar as it's subnational diplomacy/exchange-related. He learned a lot about the new international practices being used by city governments, as well as their needs, all of these things which will be covered in the summary report that Sohaela and Ben produce over the next week for USC. Be on the look out for that post so you can read all about the important information that went on during the summit.

California's Leadership Featured in New CPD Report | USC Center on Public Diplomacy CPD's newest policy report, "Subnational Diplomacy, Climate Governance & Californian Global Leadership," examines the emerging landscape of bottom-up global climate governance, stemming from such subnational levels as the State of California.

Our very own Ben Leffel attended the USC City Diplomacy Summit last week along with Senior Foreign Service Officer Conrad Turner (Right) and Mayor, Scotty Colson (Left). Conrad and Scotty were among 19 other Mayoral reps managing foreign affairs at this excellent Summit, where leaders shared knowledge and strategized on how better to engage in global governance, commerce, human services, and not least climate change. Ben Leffel was appointed as Rapporteur for this event, along side Sohaela Amiri (RAND Corporation), given his work in city diplomacy.

Dr. Koo’s article on trade war speaks accurately about the value of avoiding conflict. At the Tai Initiative, we believe this is better stated as a PRC-USA trade war. China and America are two civilizations who’s people can rise above these National difficulties.

Treating China as an adversary is not in America’s interest Asian news hub covering geo-political news and current affairs across Asia

Announcing a Fall 2018 Fellowship! We also take a moment to review for you most of the history-changing events of the past year. What does it all mean?

Congratulations to TI Director of Research Ben Leffel on recently publishing a comprehensive new study on city-diplomacy!
Especially exciting is his honor of co-authoring with Dr. Michele Acuto, Director of City Leadership Initiative at the University College of London.

The study was originally published in Global Society. Read it here: http://taiinitiative.org/new-study-foundations-cities-global-governance/