Chinese Encounters with America

Chinese Encounters with America tells the stories of twelve women and men whose American experiences transformed their lives and influenced China’s trajectory.

Chinese Encounters with America offers a timely reminder that geopolitics involves not only the interests of competing nations, but the experiences of outstanding individuals whose personal struggles and perceptions of other cultures can influence history.

The chronicles of these Chinese individuals powerfully demonstrate how their interactions with Americans and exposure to American society can profoundly and beneficially shape the trajectories of relations between nations.

A deeper, more human perspective on the complex and often contentious US-China relationship. Going beyond politics and policies, this book tells the stories of remarkable Chinese men and women whose American encounters transformed their lives and shaped their influence in China.

Since the late 1970s, China's reform and opening up has been closely intertwined with the steady expansion of Sino-American relations. Chinese Encounters with America vividly and insightfully recounts stories of key Chinese figures who were deeply involved in this transformative journey.

A must-read for those who are concerned about the future of this all-important relationship. It reminds us of the complexity of contemporary China and shows that individuals who experienced American engagement also exemplified China's patriotism.

Deborah Davis is professor emerita of sociology at Yale University, distinguished visiting professor at Fudan University, and visiting faculty member of the Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University. Her books include Wives, Husbands, and Lovers: Marriage and Sexuality in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Urban China (2014, coedited with Sara L. Friedman).

Terry Lautz is the author of John Birch: A Life (2016) and Americans in China: Encounters with the People’s Republic (2022). He is the former vice president and secretary of the Luce Foundation and has served as the board chair of the Harvard-Yenching Institute, Lingnan Foundation, and Yale-China Association.