Prof. Wang Jisi on Trump and US Foreign Policy (Part 1)

"When it comes to international affairs, I have so far seen no evidence that Trump is following any kind of plan, or indeed that he actually has one."

Professor Wang Jisi (王缉思) is one of China’s most respected international relations scholars, whose views have shaped a long line of Chinese scholars, diplomats and policymakers. After spending a decade working in the countryside as a sent-down youth during and just after the Cultural Revolution, Wang went on to build a distinguished academic career spanning more than four decades—marked by his moderate, internationalist and liberal-leaning outlook. Now 76, he continues to serve as an important bridge between China and the United States, advocating tirelessly for dialogue, trust-building and cooperation.

He and the editorial team at the Contemporary American Review (当代美国评论) have kindly allowed this newsletter to share extensive excerpts from his latest interview, published last month. Perhaps its most striking feature is Wang’s deep dismay over the state of American society and politics. Unlike some of his more hawkish peers, whose tone often veers towards schadenfreude and nationalisti…