Tuesday, April 15 | 4:00 – 5:00 pm in Room 505, Elliott School of International Affairs, Washington DC
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.
Join USCET for a conversation with Emily Feng to discuss her new book, Let Only Red Flowers Bloom. Through her writing, Feng illuminates the human dimension of China’s authoritarian turn through intimate portraits of resistance: she reveals the personal struggles of a Uyghur family torn apart by mass detention, human rights lawyers confronting overwhelming obstacles, an Inner Mongolian teacher’s difficult cultural choices, and Hong Kong dissidents seeking freedom abroad—all maintaining dignity despite oppression. From Beijing and Taipei, Feng has reported on China amid extraordinary challenges: pervasive surveillance, visa restrictions, rising risks for sources, and an increasingly closed society. Despite these obstacles, Feng’s work strives to humanize Chinese citizens and deepen Americans’ understanding of life in today’s China. How can American audiences gain a nuanced understanding of contemporary China?
Join us on April 15, 4:00 – 5:00 PM, to discuss her book, the future of journalism in China, and the challenges faced in reporting on China today.
Speaker Biography
Emily Feng is an award-winning correspondent for NPR covering China, Taiwan and the Asia Pacific, reporting on topics from semiconductors to social trends. She joined NPR in 2019 and contributes to NPR’s newsmagazines, newscasts, podcasts, and digital platforms. Previously, she was a foreign correspondent for the Financial Times, covering human rights and technology.
Feng’s reporting has taken her from coal mines to remote villages, earning numerous accolades, including the 2024 Hugo Shong Reporting Asia Award, the 2023 Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize, and the 2022 Shorenstein Journalism Award. She has also won multiple Human Rights Press and Gracie Awards. A Duke University graduate, she holds a dual B.A. in Asian and Middle Eastern studies and public policy.