Featuring a live webcast by Ambassador Susan Rice

Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Susan Rice headshot

Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (2009-2013) and national security advisor (2013-2017)

The University of New Hampshire is the state's host site for the eleventh annual China Town Hall, an international event that will focus on Sino-American relations and feature the former National Security Adviser, Ambassador Susan Rice.

"China Town Hall: Local Connections, National Reflections" is a national day of programming designed to provide Americans across the United States and beyond the opportunity to discuss these issues with leading experts. The eleventh annual China Town Hall will be held at UNH at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, in Richards Auditorium, Murkland Hall.

The event is free and open to the public.

The event features a live webcast by Rice, who was President Obama’s U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (2009-2013) and his national security advisor (2013-2017).  Rice also served as U.S. assistant secretary of state for African Affairs and senior director for African Affairs at the National Security Council. Her decades of public service and critical role in developing and executing the Obama administration's policies towards China make her perspective on the relationship especially relevant during this uncertain time in the bilateral relationship.

"During her tenure as President Obama’s national security advisor, Dr. Rice sought a more pragmatic relationship with China that focused on cooperation on climate change, peacekeeping and non-proliferation" said China scholar Chris Reardon, associate professor of political science and cofounder of UNH's Asian studies program, who will moderate the event.

After the live webcast, Lyle J. Goldstein will speak about China and North Korea and reflect on Rice’s comments. He is an associate professor in the China Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College who has published several books on China’s maritime policies as well articles in China Quarterly, International Security, IISS Survival, Marine Policy, Contemporary Southeast Asia, Journal of Strategic Studies and U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings. In a Sept. 17 NPR interview, Goldstein argued that the U.S. should consider China's suggestion to halt military exercises with South Korea in exchange for North Korea freezing its nuclear and missile tests. He suggests that Russia or China could send troops to North Korea to provide a security guarantee that might help to convince Pyongyang it doesn't need nukes. 

The China Town Hall is sponsored by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and UNH's department of political science and Asian studies program.

UNH is a leader in Asian studies in the state. The university is home to the state's only Confucius Institute, a nonprofit educational institution that promotes Chinese language and culture. The university offers an undergraduate Asian studies program that provides students with advanced Chinese language classes and a deep knowledge about Asian peoples and their experiences in the United States. UNH's MBA programs include an intensive, 10-day international business residency program in China. During the summer, UNH hosts the STARTALK Chinese Language Summer Camp, an immersive, nonresidential program for middle and high school students focused on Chinese cultural and linguistic activities, including Mandarin Chinese preparation.

Contributors: 
Susan Dumais '88 '02G | College of Liberal Arts