Last year the US government imposed semiconductor export controls on China amid concerns that the country was using civilian technology for military purposes. Elizabeth Larus writes that these and other measures such as the denial of license applications by the US Commerce Department and nuclear nonproliferation controls have put US trade, investment, and defense industry lobbyists at odds with national security hawks in Washington. Read more.

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum, offered the (virtual) guest lecture “Is the US Abandoning the One China Policy?” to Young Leaders Fellows of the Pacific Forum on September 26. Professor Larus explained that the US ‘one China’ policy confuses Beijing, which follows a ‘one China’ principle, resulting in misunderstandings and tensions in US-China relations. She also explained that despite Beijing’s misgivings, US support for Taiwan, including arms sales, does not violate the US ‘one China’ policy. Misstatements by US presidents concerning US military support for Taiwan further confuses Beijing.

Larus in other news:

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus, an adjunct fellow at Pacific Forum, commented to WION News that the expansion of the BRICS club of emerging economies benefits China. Most of the new members are participants of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, who are likely to support China in any initiatives Beijing favors. Larus also stated that Chinese leader Xi Jinping desires to turn the club into an intergovernmental forum able to challenge the G7 group of Western governments. Watch the segment.

• Larus Comments to BBC Chinese on Arms Transfers to Taiwan: Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum, commented to BBC Chinese on Biden’s transfer of US military arms to Taiwan using Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA). Professor Larus indicated that providing Taiwan with defensive weapons is consistent with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which legally requires the US to help Taiwan defend itself. However, this is the first time that a US president has transferred arms to Taiwan using PDA, allowing the US to pull weapons directly from Department of Defense inventories. Professor Larus claimed that China certainly will retaliate against Taiwan for Biden’s move. August 1, 2023. Read more.
• Is it time for the US to abandon its one China Policy?: Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and 2022 Pew Davis Fellow for Peace at Middlebury College, offered the bilingual guest lecture “美國取消一個中國政策的時候到了嗎？” (“Is it time for the US to abandon its one China Policy?”) to faculty and students at the Middlebury College Chinese Language School, August 1, 2023. Professor Larus explained the origins of the policy, taking care to distinguish it from Beijing’s one China principle. The difference between the US policy and China’s principle has been the cause of much confusion and disagreement between the two countries. Professor Larus also explained why it is becoming harder for Washington and Beijing to agree to disagree over the status of Taiwan.

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus, who also is an adjunct fellow at Pacific Forum, an expert on China issues at the Pacific Forum, an American diplomatic think tank, told BBC Chinese that although the plan to use the PDA military transfer to Taiwan is in line with the US One China Policy, it shows that The U.S. seeks a peaceful resolution of Taiwan’s status, but that could hinder progress in U.S.-China relations. Read more.

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus, who also is an adjunct fellow at Pacific Forum, commented July 27 to German broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Taiwan’s 2023 Han Kuang military exercise and Wan An drills. Professor Larus indicated that this year’s exercise included air raid drills in which residents were directed to shelters. Despite these attempts at readiness, Taiwan is still unprepared for a military attack from China. Professor Larus also indicated that Chinese fighter jets now regularly cross the unofficial median line in the Taiwan Strait in an attempt to influence the Taiwan 2024 presidential election campaign, which is currently in full swing on the island. Professor Larus’ comments begin at 3 minutes into the program.

Other recent news mentions for Larus include:

Larus Comments on Arabic News on Secretary Yellen’s Visit to Beijing (Asharq Arabic News)
Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Fellow at the Pacific Forum, commented to Asharq Arabic news that US business is putting tremendous pressure on the Biden administration to improve relations with China. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is seen as the Cabinet member most favorably disposed to China. Despite her efforts, however, a trade war, tit-for-tat sanctions, investigation of foreign due diligence firms in China, civil-military fusion, and Biden’s reference to Xi Jinping as a dictator, mean that most US businesses will continue to face headwinds in China. Watch the segment.

Larus Discusses Taiwan with German Scholars
Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum, discussed scenarios for the 2024 Taiwan presidential election at an invitation only roundtable in Munich, Germany on June 15, 2023. Professor Larus and the scholars agreed that the results of the elections, regardless of outcome, will significantly affect US-China relations.

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum, appeared on Al Jazeera’s July 10, 2023 Inside Story news talk program to discuss U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen’s visit to Beijing and US-China relations. Professor Larus stated that US firms are putting tremendous pressure on the Biden administration to foster a stable environment in which to do business with and in China. To repair US-China relations, both Washington and Beijing need to work to manage, rather than solve, irreconcilable differences.

https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2023/7/10/repairing-relations-between-the-us-and-china

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Fellow at the Pacific Forum, commented to BBC Chinese on the advent of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Beijing. Professor Larus indicated low expectations for the visit, stating that Washington and Beijing still disagree on key issues, including China’s increased military activity near Taiwan, disputes in the South China Sea, China’s support of Russia in the Ukraine war, trade and intellectual property disputes, and U.S. limits on the export of sensitive technology to China. She indicated that the Biden administration desired the meeting more than China’s leaders, a fact that was not lost on Beijing. Blinken cancelled his planned trip to Beijing after China’s spy balloon drifted over the U.S. It has taken several months to get the bilateral talks back on track, and largely at the U.S. initiative, making Blinken appear more as a supplicant than as an equal. Professor Larus stressed, however, that the two powers need to talk, particularly to avoid misunderstandings or accidents near Taiwan. Read more.

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs, commented in the Financial Times that Washington views China’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IIU) fishing as a national security concern: fishing fleets deplete stocks and deprive coastal communities of critical food sources, but also can be pressed to supplement the maritime militia that supports China’s navy, coast guard & maritime police. Read more.