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Since the normalization of relations over four decades ago, U.S.-China relations have evolved dramatically, with increased interaction in fields such as education, culture, trade, and politics. As each country grapples with how to manage the relationship, each must cultivate and train new representatives for this responsibility.
Effective stewardship requires a foundation of knowledge and understanding of each other’s language, history, and culture.
As U.S. interests in Asia have grown, initiatives encouraging study abroad and people-to-people exchange with China have proliferated. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have traveled to Mainland China, Taiwan, and other Chinese-speaking communities to study and work, returning to the United States with both Chinese-language skills and the sort of insights that can only be gained from navigating day-to-day life in another culture.
Both major U.S. political parties agree that deeper engagement with the Asia-Pacific is essential for the United States’ future prosperity, peace, and security. Harnessing the expertise of bilingual Americans with experience studying and living in Chinese-speaking societies is key to the success of that endeavor. It is our belief that fostering this broad and diverse talent pool should be a national priority.