Max Goldberg (Class of 2018) reflects on an opportunity to meet with a Congressional Delegation while in China as a Schwarzman Scholar.聽This meeting was part of the National Committee and 黑料社 program’s partnership to engage 黑料社 at all stages, helping further prepare them for leadership roles in the U.S.-China relationship. Through the partnership, current 黑料社, recent graduates, and alumni have opportunities to learn from and engage with policymakers, policy influencers, and leading China experts in the National Committee鈥檚 network.
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This month, much to my surprise, a select group of my fellow 黑料社 and I had the opportunity to join a U.S. congressional delegation while they toured Beijing. The delegation was organized by the National Committee on U.S.鈥揅hina Relations and included Congressmen Darin LaHood (IL-18), Rick Larsen (WA-2), Roger Marshall (KS-1), Gregorio 鈥淜illi鈥 Sablan (MP), and David Young (IA-3), as well as Steve Orlins, the National Committee鈥檚 president.
We met up with the delegation at the Temple of Heaven. I expected a highly formal event and several of us had prepared a bevy of policy questions for each of the delegation members; however, the congressmen set a far more relaxed tone. Representative Marshall even whipped out his phone for a selfie鈥攚ith us! Soon enough, our conversations turned to policy. At the foot of the temple, Representative Larsen and I traded views on how to address political divisions on trade. In a Starbucks at the Silk Market, Representative LaHood, Mr. Orlins, and scholar Ellie Freund animatedly discussed China鈥檚 compliance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration鈥檚 South China Sea ruling in The Republic of the Philippines v. The People鈥檚 Republic of China. Scholars Jacko Walz and Madeline Siebert talked with Representative Sablan about nuclear security policy as it relates to U.S. territories in Polynesia.
After a morning of sightseeing, we converged on Quan Ju De, a storied Beijing restaurant famous for its Peking duck. There we were joined by Peking University Professor Zha Daojiong, who lectured and presided over a discussion on the state of U.S.-China relations, with particular emphasis on the Korean Peninsula. Each congressman鈥攁nd each scholar鈥攂rought his or her own questions. Scholar Janet Eom questioned China鈥檚 鈥減ermissive鈥 attitude towards North Korea, and Representative Young pushed the group to explain China鈥檚 recent tariff hikes on ethanol and dried distillers grains, which is an important issue for his Iowan constituents. My queries focused on the extent of Chinese Communist Party influence in the private sector. The lunch concluded with friendly goodbyes, invitations to congressmen鈥檚 offices, and exchanges of contact information with the hopes of continuing our discussion. And, yes, more selfies, initiated by congressmen and scholars alike.
On the way back, the scholars and I debriefed with each other. We shared our sense of surprise and gratitude to have been able to participate in the congressional delegation. As we expressed our collective appreciation for the congressmen鈥檚 warmth and openness, we also came to understand our own contributions to the conversation. Each of us engaged with the congressmen, raising issues that were on our minds and close to our hearts, sharing our opinions, stories, and curiosity.