Read a summary of this event here.

The second installment of our "How Did We Get Here?" series, featuring Dr. James Tong, Professor and Director of the Center for East Asian Studies at UCLA.

Dr. Tong will explore the history of disputes in the South China Sea and the period of U.S.-China relations from the Clinton administration to the present. He will place the territorial disputes in the larger perspective of the Obama administration's "Pivot to Asia" policy, old and new regional alliances between the United States and ASEAN nations, and domestic politics in the United States such as public opinion, the U.S. Congress, and media coverage.

The "How Did We Get Here?" series aims to provide a broader historical perspective on issues that currently dominate the front page and give attendees context they can use to process international developments. This installment will cover Chinese posturing in the South China Sea and a history of disputes in the region, including freedom of navigation law, Chinese buildup of islands and military bases, and why the waterway is so valuable to everyone from China and the United States to Britain and Vietnam. 

Future events in the series will cover Russian aggression in Eastern Europe and the Caucus region. The first installment covered the Middle East.

Featuring:

Dr. James Tong, Professor in Political Science, UCLA

James Tong works in Comparative Politics, specializing in Chinese Politics and political violence. He was the Director for Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Political Science from 1994-97, and also served as the director of the Center for East Asian Studies. Read more.