By Jillian Risberg 

With such a fluid time of deep bitterness in US-China relations, 13 diverse voices from across the globe weigh in, to make for a powerful publishing experience. 

Earl Carr is editor of the new book, From Trump to Biden and Beyond: Reimagining US–China Relations. 

“It can make a broad impact on people who desperately need an informed view about China and the most important bilateral relationship in the world — United States and China,” Carr says he is thankful for the platform. 

His experts, including former Japanese diplomat Junya Ishii and Dr. Kwei-Bo Huang (served at Taiwan National Security Council) cover a variety of topics and regions: from Latin America and the Caribbean, to East Asia, to the Middle East, to the continent of Africa.  

They all wanted to pen a piece that would be relevant even a year or two later.

If the Chief Global Strategist advised Pres. Biden on how to rectify policy gaps — he says to look at the pinnacle of the Cold War between US and Russia, they couldn’t agree on who should possess nuclear weapons, but agreed to eradicate Polio. 

It was the first time US scientists worked constructively with scientists from Russia, as well as through the United Nations.

“When we have a common vision and purpose we do more with respect to policy,” says the CEO/author. “It makes sense for us to set up environmental technology cooperation between the United States and China, a clear area where both have a vested interest.”

According to the thought leader, there are other ways where we can cooperate… on global health issues and transnational crime. 

Carr says cooperation and competition have always defined US/China relations, since its inception in diplomatic relations in 1979. 

“The United States needs to engage China in a carefully calibrated (way) to manage effectively both cooperation and competition,” the global strategist says whenever there is more emphasis on one or the other something goes awry. 

Carr says the last years of the Trump administration were about: ‘let’s focus on a trade war with China.’

Emphasis on the competitive aspects is a disservice to American business people, working in China and our farmers, whose products get taxes levied on them. All are caught up in a trade war. 

“The trade war was initiated under the pretext it would decrease our trade deficit with China,” says the author. “After four years we found our trade deficit with China only got larger, and we are currently at one of our largest trade deficits ever.”

It means a lot to Carr to share From Trump to Biden with the public. 

“China has always used parity with the US, not only to legitimize the Chinese Communist Party but also for China’s own modernization development,” the global strategist says this parity first played out in the 1960s, when China strived/achieved to be a nuclear power on par with the US. 

“Today, China has over 1,000 nuclear warheads in their arsenal. You saw this parity take place in the 1980s; China wanted to be accepted in the World Trade Organization, which it did, and now that parity plays out in the realm of 5G, artificial intelligence and big data.”

He observed China over the last 25+ years, and Carr says there is this notion of parity and its importance to Chinese foreign policy establishment.

China has invested significantly in the continent of Africa (infrastructure projects, lending/investment opportunities), according to the thought leader because they got the demographics right when the US and Western Europe got it wrong. He says of countries that develop to middle income, there’s potential for Africa. 

“Similar to the Caribbean and Latin America, whereas the US had historically regarded central and Latin America as its own ‘backyard.’ The Chinese went in a formidable way, signing MOUs (memorandums of understanding) along the Belt and Road Initiative, which resonated with countries,” says Carr. 

He has also noticed an imbalance. 

There are 10,000 (the number continues to decline) American students who study in China each year, while 290,000 Chinese students study in the US.  

“If we want to have more experts who understand China — a bridge between the United States and China — we need to be able to invest effectively,” the global strategist says he’s a  proponent of American students studying abroad. “Because they come back fundamentally changed and vise/versa… good for the United States and China.” 

The book’s contributors also found a roughly eight percent decline in US Embassies diplomatic presence abroad, with a seven percent increase for China’s diplomatic efforts abroad. 

“And what are the broader implications for our soft power because our diplomatic posts play such an important role, in terms of economics, culture, and politics,” says Carr.  

According to the global strategist, how we shape and engage China is imperative, not just for his kid’s generation — but grandkids and great-grandkids.

He fondly recalls studying abroad in China, circa 1998. 

“I would sneak into the Chinese dorms (they separated Chinese/foreign students)… and talk with the students all night,” the author says they were hungry to find out about American presidents and the judicial process. “Powerful (exchange) because oftentimes I was the only American they had ever interacted with.” 

Carr is proud of his Chinese heritage, while an equally proud American.

He is both black (his father’s from Jamaica) and half Chinese (on his mom’s side)… born in Panama, raised in New York City. 

“Being an effective bridge between the US and China, sharing information and perspectives with policy makers (so they can) make informed decisions — is something I’m really proud of,” says the thought leader.   

At the helm of his first title (indicative of cultures that represent Carr and his personal narrative) was an intense nine-month journey.

“When you write from 11 at night to 2 am (for months) and still work a full-time job — this is like my COVID project in a way,” the author says he was blessed when publisher Palgrave Macmillan read one of his publications in Forbes and reached out. 

It’s been a surreal experience. 

“The book has led to me starting my own company and a book tour around the US and globally,” the thought leader says it’s published in over 30+ US (and world) libraries, including Jamaica, Netherlands, Europe, Israel.

He is inspired by late Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s words. 

“I hope Americans understand that US foreign policy is fundamentally linked to domestic policy,” the global strategist says it’s key to living in this globalized, interconnected community.

From Trump to Biden and Beyond: Reimagining US–China Relations first ed. 2021 is available on Amazon.com.