U.S.-China Economic & Security Review Commission
Field Investigation on “China as an Emerging Regional and Technology Power: Implications for U.S. Economic and Security Interests”
La Jolla, CA
Good Morning. On behalf of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, I would like to welcome you to our two-day field investigation here at the University of California, San Diego.
Our Commission – the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission – was established by the U.S. Congress to investigate the national security implications of our trade and economic relationship with China. The members of the Commission were appointed by the Republican and Democratic leaders of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. In setting out our mandate, the Congress directed us to take a broad view of national security to include an assessment of how our economic relationship with China is impacting U.S. economic and security interests.
This is the Commission’s second field investigation outside of Washington, DC. Our first was on January 30th in Columbia, South Carolina where we examined the impact of trade with China on the U.S. manufacturing base. We heard powerful, personal perspectives on this issue from representatives of South Carolina industries, workers and communities that are experiencing significant economic dislocations – indeed, a crisis – in the face of China’s rapid manufacturing growth, particularly in textiles, apparel, and steel.
The Commission has traveled to Southern California to hear views on China’s capabilities in the production and development of high-tech goods and services – particularly in the area of biotechnology, nanotechnology, telecommunications, energy, computing, and information technology. These industries pose a different array of economic and security challenges from those highlighted in South Carolina.
The goal of our field investigation is to examine closely the changing trade and investment patterns in the East Asian region due to China’s economic growth. Crucial to this issue is China’s emergence as a major player in the production of high-tech goods and services and its increasing involvement in advanced research and development in many fields. Assessing the implications of these developments – for both U.S. economic and national security interests – is at the heart of the Commission’s mandate.
Our two-day field investigation in Southern California was catalyzed by my colleague Ambassador Robert Ellsworth, and I’d like to thank him on behalf of the Commission for developing such an important and timely event. I would also like to extend the Commission’s appreciation to Dean Cowhey, Professor Shirk, and all the others at the Graduate School of International Relations/Pacific Studies who worked so hard to make this on-site visit possible. Through your good work we have assembled an impressive and distinguished gathering of experts to help facilitate our understanding of an important component of China’s economic development and U.S.-China relations. I would also invite the participants and our audience to visit our website at www.uscc.gov for more information on the broad-based work of the Commission.
I will now turn over the proceedings to our Vice Chairman, Dick D’Amato, and Ambassador Robert Ellsworth, who will co-chair today’s hearing.