On January 14, 2024, the CISS Youth of the Tsinghua University Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) held the second annual “American Observation Conference.” The event brought together eight expert scholars, including authors from American Observation, CISS researchers, and academic committee members of the American Observation column. They reviewed and summarized the achievements of the American Observation column in 2023, discussing topics such as U.S. domestic politics and U.S.-China relations, U.S. foreign policy, U.S. economy and technology, and U.S. military security. Awards were also presented for outstanding contributions to the column. The conference was attended by media guests from Xinhua News Agency, The Paper, and Southern Weekly.

Opening Remarks by Professor Da Wei, Director of CISS

The conference was hosted by Huang Ying, Secretary-General of the CISS Youth. Opening remarks were delivered by CISS Director Da Wei, Deputy Director Xiao Qian, and Assistant Researcher Sun Chenghao, the editor-in-chief of American Observation. Following this, Tan Yannan, Deputy Secretary-General of CISS Youth and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of American Observation, presented an annual summary of the column’s achievements in 2023.

Since its inception in December 2021, the American Observation column has published 98 articles. In 2023 alone, the column received over 200 submissions, edited more than 100 articles, and published 41 pieces, with a total readership exceeding 40,000. The articles covered important bilateral relations such as U.S.-Israel and U.S.-South Korea, as well as key regions including Africa, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific. Tan Yannan also outlined the future direction of the column, emphasizing that it will continue to balance academic rigor and policy relevance under the guidance of CISS, maintaining its foundational, innovative, cutting-edge, professional, and informative nature. The column aims to provide high-quality original content on U.S.-related issues and foster a youth academic community in the field of U.S. studies.

The thematic discussion session was moderated by Zhao Shuyun, Head of the Academic Department of CISS Youth. Fifteen authors from American Observation and members of CISS Youth shared their perspectives on “The U.S. in My Eyes,” focusing on four areas: U.S. domestic politics and U.S.-China relations, U.S. foreign policy, U.S. economy and technology, and U.S. military security.

U.S. Domestic Politics and U.S.-China Relations: Zhang Chenghao, Yan Tianyue, and three other students discussed topics such as party division and political polarization in the U.S., political participation of ordinary citizens versus political elites, the prospects for improved U.S.-China relations under California Governor Gavin Newsom, the impact of Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell's views on U.S.-China relations, and a preview of the 2024 Republican primary. In the expert commentary session, Zhang Tengjun, Deputy Director of the Institute of American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, praised the authors for their innovative topics and perspectives but noted room for further deepening and expanding their research.

U.S. Foreign Policy: Huang Kaiyue, Ge Zekun, and Gou He analyzed the Biden administration’s diplomatic moves in the Western Balkans, the role of U.S. foreign aid agencies in Pacific Island nations’ strategies, and U.S. policy in the current Israel- Palestine conflict. In the expert commentary session, Gong Ting, Associate Researcher at the Institute of American Studies, highlighted the value of the topics discussed and suggested considering the potential impact of a Trump presidency on

A conference in session

U.S. Economy and Technology: Han Renbin examined the signs, progress, and effects of U.S. manufacturing reshoring from the perspective of “Bidenomics,” suggesting that the U.S. might maintain indirect ties with China through trade with countries like Vietnam and Mexico. Yin Haocheng focused on fiscal policy and welfare issues in the context of the upcoming election. Li Yang and Liu Yuan explored cutting-edge topics such as ChatGPT, the U.S. election, and U.S.-China cooperation in artificial intelligence. In the expert commentary session, Yang Shuiqing, Assistant Researcher at the Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, commended the speakers for their insights. She suggested that Han Renbin could use different analytical frameworks to delve deeper into key areas like semiconductors and new energy. She also agreed with Yin Haocheng’s analysis of fiscal deficits and recommended integrating related topics, such as fiscal quadrant issues and government shutdowns, into a broader framework.

U.S. Military Security: Yan Jinyi discussed the reasons for and realities behind U.S. military production capacity and inventory shortages in the context of the Ukraine crisis. Zhang Yao explored the trends and limits of the U.S. security architecture in the Asia-Pacific, while Liu Yitong analyzed the “China threat theory” in the U.S. context, questioning whether external threats necessarily lead to a “rally around the flag” effect. In the expert commentary session, Zhang Yifei, Associate Researcher at the Institute of American Studies, suggested that Yan Jinyi consider the cognitive dimension in her analysis, noting that the U.S. not only misleads other countries but also, to some extent, misleads itself.

During the awards and sharing session, the teachers presented awards and read citations, and the winners delivered acceptance speeches. Finally, An Gang, a special expert at CISS and editor of World Affairs magazine, delivered the closing remarks. He congratulated the successful conclusion of the “American Observation Conference” and expressed hope that future events could be held in person. He also encouraged the young scholars to produce more impressive work that leaves a lasting impression on readers and showcases their potential. An Gang urged the youth to conduct useful research that bridges policy and theoretical studies and to always keep the readers in mind when writing, avoiding overly esoteric or inaccessible styles.

Closing Remarks by An Gang, Special Expert at the Tsinghua University Center for International Security and Strategy and Editor of “World Affairs” Magazine

American Observation is a column dedicated to observing the United States, supported by the Youth Branch of the Chinese Association of American Studies and launched by the CISS Youth of the Tsinghua University Center for International Security and Strategy. The column features both foundational research and in-depth analysis of U.S.-related issues. For submission requirements and contact information, please refer to the American Observation long-term call for papers.

Accepted articles will receive competitive remuneration (RMB 400-500 per article), and authors will have the opportunity to participate in CISS internship programs and CISS Youth’s follow-up activities. Outstanding articles will be recommended to influential media platforms, and some have already been republished by platforms such as China-US Focus and The Paper.