On Thursday, October 5, 2023, the China Power Project held its eighth annual conference. The full-day event featured five debates, as well as opening keynote remarks by Dr. Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs at the United States Department of Defense. Below, you can navigate to videos of the conference and find transcripts of each session. You can also see the results of audience polls from before and after each debate.
Morning Sessions
9:30 am – 10:10 am: Keynote Remarks
Dr. Ely Ratner
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, United States Department of Defense
Read a transcript of Dr. Ratner’s keynote remarks.
10:10 am – 10:30 am: Break
10:30 am – 11:40 pm: Debate
Proposition: The United States and China are making progress in creating a “floor” in U.S.-China relations to manage tensions and crises.
FOR: Mr. Rick Waters
Managing Director, China Practice, Eurasia Group
AGAINST: Mr. Dan Blumenthal
Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Read a transcript of the debate.
11:40 am - 11:55 am: Break
11:55 am - 1:05 pm: Discussion
Proposition: Xi Jinping has signaled that reunification with Taiwan is a legacy issue that he must achieve during his term in office.
SPEAKER 1: Ms. Bonnie Glaser
Managing Director, Indo-Pacific Program, German Marshall Fund
SPEAKER 2: Mr. Chad Sbragia
Research Staff Member, Institute for Defense Analysis; Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, Department of Defense
Read a transcript of the debate.
Afternoon Sessions
1:30 pm - 2:40 pm: Debate
Proposition: China is more likely to blockade Taiwan than invade the island in the next ten years.
FOR: Mr. Lonnie Henley
Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute
AGAINST: Dr. Phil Saunders
Director, Center for the Chinese Military Affairs, National Defense University
Read a transcript of the debate.
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm: Break
3:00 pm - 4:25 pm: Debate
Proposition: The United States and China are locked in a new Cold War.
FOR: Dr. Michael Beckley
Director, Asia Program, Foreign Policy Research Institute; Associate Professor, Tufts University; Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
AGAINST: Dr. Arne Westad
Professor, Jackson School of Global Affairs, Yale University
Read a transcript of the debate.
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Debate
Proposition: China’s accelerated expansion of its nuclear arsenal represents a shift in China’s nuclear strategy and doctrine.
FOR: Dr. Tong Zhao
Senior Fellow, Nuclear Policy Program and Carnegie China, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
AGAINST: Dr. Fiona Cunningham
Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Read a transcript of the debate.