Rethinking China: Evidence, Assumptions, and the Future of U.S.

In this episode of Mapping Global China Conversations, we speak with Huang Zhengyu, former President of the Committee of 100. Drawing on decades of experience at the intersection of technology, policymaking, and U.S.–China relations, Huang reflects on how American assumptions about China have shaped economic policy, national security, and the lives of Chinese Americans. The conversation centers on his forthcoming book, Rethinking China, which challenges dominant narratives and calls for evidence-based policymaking after a decade of strategic competition. We discuss:

• How fear-driven assumptions distort U.S. policy toward China
• The consequences of inflated economic and security narratives
• Intellectual property, trade, national security, and AI as arenas of competition
• Lessons from Vietnam, Taiwan, and past U.S. foreign policy decisions
• Why talent, openness, and evidence—not escalation—remain America’s core strengths