“To effectively craft American policy toward China, the United States must ensure access to the best information about China and a pipeline of top talent with the requisite expertise to interpret it.”
On February 27, 2025, USCET Executive Director Rosie Levine presented her paper, “Investing in America’s China Expertise: Lessons from the CSCPRC,” during the Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations’ webinar, Safeguarding Research and Educational Exchange. The discussion, moderated by Amy Gadsden, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, also featured Naima Green-Riley, a Penn Project scholar at Princeton University. Rosie emphasized the importance of expanding U.S. educational opportunities in China and underscored the critical role of NGOs as facilitators of U.S.-China academic exchanges.
At a time when U.S.-China relations are increasingly complex, the need for informed analysis and policy expertise has never been more pressing. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) remains central to the U.S. foreign policy agenda, and yet, barriers to academic exchange threaten the development of the next generation of China experts. Since 2018, tightening political controls under Xi Jinping have placed new constraints on Chinese academic institutions, while growing concerns in the U.S. over espionage, intellectual property theft, and foreign influence operations have led to the suspension of key U.S.-China educational programs. The number of American students studying in China has plummeted, with only about 1,000 currently in the country—many of whom are in highly selective programs, leaving fewer opportunities for broader engagement, particularly at the undergraduate level.
The Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations selected top scholars through a highly competitive fellowship program to provide policy-relevant insights and strengthen U.S. capacity in key areas, including Research, Education & Academic Freedom—the category in which Rosie Levine is a Project Fellow.
Rosie Levine’s research draws lessons from past U.S.-China educational exchanges, particularly the experience of the Committee on Scholarly Communication with the People’s Republic of China (CSCPRC), to offer a framework for revitalizing academic engagement. Established in 1966 by the National Academy of Sciences, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Social Science Research Council, CSCPRC played a crucial role in normalizing U.S.-China academic exchanges in the 1970s and supported over 700 American scholars in China between 1978 and 1996. Through funding fellowships, recruiting scholars across diverse fields, and arranging host institutions, the CSCPRC model successfully facilitated academic and scientific exchanges even during politically sensitive periods.
Building on this history, Rosie outlined three policy recommendations for strengthening U.S.-China educational engagement today:
1. Creating Opportunities for Study and Research in China
With limited opportunities for American students and scholars in China, Rosie calls on the U.S. government to invest in programs that provide a viable alternative to China-sponsored initiatives. While some U.S. government programs exist, many remain suspended—such as the Fulbright Program—further restricting access. By reinvesting in independent, U.S.-funded fellowships, the U.S. can ensure that participants engage in study and research aligned with American values and policy priorities.
2. Advocating for Robust and Substantive Access
Meaningful engagement requires more than just access—it necessitates participation from a diverse range of scholars, including those studying politically sensitive topics. The CSCPRC model offers a useful precedent: by assigning “scholar escorts” to serve as translators and negotiating the designation of “open” research sites—such as Zouping County—CSCPRC facilitated research on China’s governance system while ensuring access to academic resources. Rosie suggests renewing this model by designating new open research sites for social science study, implementing standardized scholar escort programs, and creating dedicated U.S.-sponsored initiatives for experts conducting short-term research in China.
3. Prioritizing Safety for Students and Scholars
Given concerns over detentions, exit bans, and visa restrictions, ensuring the safety of students and scholars in China is essential. While U.S. travel advisories remain cautious, there have been no reported cases of student detentions, indicating a lower risk for educational exchanges. Rosie recommends implementing pre-departure security briefings, providing guidance on relevant Chinese laws and regulations, and equipping students with risk-awareness training to mitigate potential threats. Addressing these concerns directly can help reassure American students and scholars that academic exchange remains both safe and valuable.
Beyond these principles, Rosie also highlights the indispensable role of non-governmental organizations in bridging the gap between Washington and Beijing. CSCPRC’s quasi-governmental status allowed it to negotiate with China while advocating for American academic interests, such as the inclusion of social scientists in fellowship programs—a demand that was ultimately accepted by Chinese authorities. This precedent suggests that empowering NGOs and semi-official channels could help facilitate future academic exchanges, even amid diplomatic tensions. Additionally, Rosie calls for regular State of the Field surveys to assess the landscape of U.S.-China academic exchange and guide policymaker decisions.
The CSCPRC model offers a roadmap for rebuilding and sustaining long-term academic engagement between the U.S. and China. While financial instability led to CSCPRC’s dissolution, its legacy demonstrates that stable, well-funded academic exchange programs can self-sustain over time and play a critical role in diplomacy. As the U.S. navigates its complex relationship with China, investing in the next generation of China experts is not just an academic priority—it is a strategic necessity.
The role of CSCPRC in establishing critical educational exchanges and serving as mediators between two nations ideologically and politically at odds was a central theme in Rosie’s paper. Building on this legacy, USCET remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering meaningful academic engagement, ensuring that education continues to bridge divides, promote collaboration, and pave the way for a more constructive future in U.S.-China relations.