U.S.: China Relations in 2019: A Year in Review - Experts on Hong Kong Protests, Trade Frictions and Trump Tariffs, Chinese Military Activities and Modernization, Regional Security Issues with Taiwan

This authoritative report with the input of nine esteemed experts has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. A hearing on September 4, 2019 reviewed key developments in the U.S.-China relationship in 2019. Panel 1 evaluated developments in China's political economy and the impact of U.S.-China trade frictions on the Chinese economy. Panel 2 assessed the implications of Chinese military activities and modernization in 2019 for the United States and U.S. allies and partners. Panel 3 reviewed the implications of economic, political, and security developments between China and Taiwan for regional security, and explore the escalating situation in Hong Kong.

This compilation includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Contents: A. Panel I: Shifting Dynamics in the U.S.-China Economic Relationship * 1. Victor Shih, Ho Miu Lam Chair in China and Pacific Relations, Associate Professor, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy * 2. Andrew Polk, Co-Founder, Trivium China * 3. Elizabeth Economy, C.V. Starr Senior Fellow and Director for Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations * B. Panel II: Shifting Dynamics in the U.S.-China Security Relationship * 4. Oriana Skylar Mastro, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute; Assistant Professor of Security Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University * 5. Andrew Krepinevich Jr., Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute; Adjunct Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security; President and COO, Solarium LLC * 6. Michael Green, Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies; Director, Asian Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University * C. Panel III: China's Relations with Taiwan and Hong Kong * 7. Bonnie Glaser, Senior Adviser for Asia and Director, China Power Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies * 8. Syaru Shirley Lin, Lecturer, Politics, University of Virginia; Adjunct Associate Professor, Global Political Economy, Chinese University of Hong Kong * 9. Victoria Tin-bor Hui, Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame Department of Political Science.

When the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established in law under the principle of "one country, two systems," Beijing authorities explicitly guaranteed a high degree of political, economic, legal and financial autonomy. The Basic Law, which has governed Hong Kong since 1997, unequivocally protected freedom of movement, conscience, communications, and privacy; indeed, the term "inviolable" was applied to assurances that no citizen would be subject to unlawful arrest, detention or imprisonment. Perhaps most importantly, Beijing pledged Hong Kong citizens would enjoy universal suffrage in the selection of their political leadership. Hong Kong's citizens trusted that democratic elections would be the ultimate guardian of their human and political rights. Beijing has reversed, denied, and delayed each of its legal commitments bringing millions of Hong Kong's citizens into the streets. In the pasts few months, over 1,100 people have been arrested for exercising their legal rights. Now, Beijing and its appointed leaders are falsely blaming and attacking the victims of its surveillance and strangulation policy.

This year has been one of extreme volatility in the relationship between the U.S. and China. Change and unpredictability have been so significant since we began our hearings this year that Commissioners thought it would be valuable to revisit and explore some key topics in the economic and security realms.