On May 22, USCET partnered with the Women’s Foreign Policy Group (WFPG) to present “Past, Present, and Future of U.S.-China Policy” as part of USCET’s China Connection series. The event was moderated by Wenchi Yu, host of DC Insiders at TaiwanPlus, the conversation featured Mercy Kuo, Senior Contributing Author at The Diplomat, and Yun Sun, Director of the China Program at the Stimson Center. Together, they provided thoughtful and honest insights into the evolving dynamics of U.S.-China relations, while highlighting the remarkable contributions and career paths of Asian American women in this critical policy space.
“Diplomacy used to be a masculine space”
Wenchi Yu began the conversation by sharing her own cross-cultural journey, from growing up in Asia to serving in the U.S. government, and how identity and lived experience shaped her perspective on foreign policy, particularly cross-Strait relations. She then invited the speakers to share more about their backgrounds.
Yun Sun, an ethnic Manchu born in China, recounted her early desire to become a diplomat and how gender-based barriers led her to policy research, where her cultural fluency and analytical skills now help bridge understanding between the U.S. and China. Mercy Kuo reflected on being the daughter of immigrants and how reading about trailblazing Asian American women like Ambassador Bloch inspired her to pursue a career in diplomacy and international affairs.
“Women as active agents in global security and prosperity”
The conversation then turned to the current U.S.-China policy landscape. When asked what’s missing from today’s discourse, Yun noted the declining tolerance for diverse viewpoints and stressed the importance of understanding policy challenges from the opposing side. Mercy called for a more articulated strategic vision to guide the future of U.S.-China relations.
As for today’s media environment, both panelists emphasized the value of original sources and critical, multilingual analysis.
Looking ahead, Yun highlighted incremental progress in ongoing negotiations around issues such as fentanyl and trade, while Mercy pointed to microtrends in technology, AI, space, and digital diplomacy as defining future strategic competition.
In line with China Connections’s focus on the next generation, Wenchi invited both speakers to share advice for young professionals. They emphasized the importance of language proficiency, lived experience, and cultural understanding. Mercy urged students to study abroad and “always speak the truth,” drawing on her own research trips to China and the importance of people-to-people connections. Yun emphasized analytical rigor and language proficiency, especially in light of declining Chinese language study in the U.S
“Go to China, make friends, always speak the truth”
The event drew over sixty attendees who posed thoughtful questions on a range of topics during Q&A. Audience members asked about career planning, security concerns, and the future of U.S.-China dialogue.
The speakers noted that while security risks can vary across sectors, careers in business or NGOs often offer greater flexibility. On reducing misunderstandings, Mercy underscored the power of storytelling and cultural exchange to humanize diplomacy. Both speakers encouraged students to explore areas beyond traditional geopolitical competition, such as climate issues, women’s empowerment, and work in the non-governmental sector, while also acknowledging that great power narratives are often difficult to avoid.
To close, Wenchi reminded the audience not to let fear deter them from pursuing their passions and meaningful work, even in challenging political environments, as such climates are constantly evolving. At the conclusion of the formal presentation, audience members and speakers stayed to enjoy a light reception and informal networking.
USCET looks forward to continuing our series by bringing more thought leaders into conversation with our Washington, D.C. community, and fostering more profound understanding of China for the next generation.
Moderator
Wenchi Yu is a global affairs advisor and business operator specializing in cross-border and market access strategies between Asia and the United States. She is currently the host of DC Insiders at TaiwanPlus, where she leads discussions on U.S.-Taiwan relations and international diplomacy. Additionally, she serves as an international affairs commentator for TVBS News—a Taipei-headquartered media outlet with a global Chinese-language audience. Her business experience includes roles at high-growth global technology companies, where she advises on public policy, social impact, and public relations, as well as at Goldman Sachs, where she led strategic philanthropy and stakeholder engagement in Asia.
Before joining the private sector, she worked in the US Department of State and US Congress. She started her career in the non-profit sector. Her writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Council on Foreign Relations blogs, Caixin, and the Forbes. She is a Nonresident Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an Asia 21 Advisory Board member of Asia Society. She has an M.A. in international relations from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in political science from National Taiwan University.
Speaker Biography
Mercy A. Kuo is Senior Contributing Author at The Diplomat. She was formerly executive vice president at a U.S. business risk intelligence consultancy, where she advised Fortune 500 companies on geopolitical risk.
Dr. Kuo has held executive leadership positions as president and executive director of the Washington State China Relations Council in Seattle, managing director and research director at the Committee of 100, a U.S.-China relations leadership organization in New York City, and director of the Southeast Asia and Strategic Asia programs at a U.S. foreign policy think tank. She previously served as an all-source analyst specializing in Northeast and Southeast Asian political, security, and military issues at the Central Intelligence Agency.
Dr. Kuo provides subject-matter expertise on U.S.-China relations, Chinese foreign policy, China-EU-NATO dynamics, and the impact of geopolitical risk on business at international and national academic, business, investment, and government forums. She holds a Ph.D. in modern history from Oxford University and is a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Yun Sun is a Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the East Asia Program and Director of the China Program at the Stimson Center. Her expertise is in Chinese foreign policy, U.S.-China relations and China’s relations with neighboring countries and authoritarian regimes.
From 2011 to early 2014, she was a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, jointly appointed by the Foreign Policy Program and the Global Development Program, where she focused on Chinese national security decision-making processes and China-Africa relations. From 2008 to 2011, Yun was the China Analyst for the International Crisis Group based in Beijing, specializing on China’s foreign policy towards conflict countries and the developing world. Prior to ICG, she worked on U.S.-Asia relations in Washington, DC for five years. Yun earned her master’s degree in international policy and practice from George Washington University, as well as an MA in Asia Pacific studies and a BA in international relations from Foreign Affairs College in Beijing.
China Connections
Why should Americans be interested in China? USCET launches China Connections, a new monthly series hosting discussions with experts to explore their work, gain insights into current events, and learn what a career in the China field looks like today. These events highlight individuals with unique expertise on China to provide students, young professionals, and members of the public a deeper understanding of current events and increase American student interest in pursuing a focus on China. These events are mostly held in person at George Washington University with online engagement.