Analyzing China’s Digital Ambitions
The Washington State China Relations Fund, the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), and the Washington State China Relations Council will partner to present a discussion of China’s digital strategy and the security implications of China’s growing digital influence.
NBR recently released a new report entitled China’s Digital Ambitions: A Global Strategy to Supplant the Liberal Order. The report argues China has diagnosed that the emergence of data as a factor of production is catalyzing a new industrial revolution, which Chinese policymakers view as a competitive opportunity to leapfrog to leadership of the international system. It analyzes how they move from this diagnosis to the implementation of a comprehensive global strategy seeking to increase China’s control of and influence over the global digital environment. This strategy seeks to replace the current liberal and decentralized digital architecture with a China-dominated, state-centric one that will create the foundation for a new type of geopolitical power and enhance China’s global influence.
PANELISTS
Emily de La Bruyère is a nonresident fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research and co-founder of Horizon Advisory, a consulting firm focusing on the implications of China’s competitive approach to geopolitics. She has extensive Chinese language research experience and has pioneered novel data collection and analysis tools tailored to Beijing’s strategic and institutional structures. Her work is at the cutting edge of U.S. analysis on China’s military-civil fusion strategy and platform geopolitics, as well as their implications for global security and the economic order.
Michael Wills is Executive Vice President at NBR. He manages all aspects of NBR’s financial and business operations, including program and business development and corporate strategic planning, and serves as secretary to the Board of Directors. He also oversees NBR’s Next Generation fellowship programs and corporate briefing series, helps lead the Strategic Asia program, and serves on the editorial advisory committee of the Asia Policy journal. Prior to his current position at NBR, he was vice president of strategy and finance (from 2016 to 2017), vice president of research and operations (from 2008 to 2015), and director of the Strategic Asia and Southeast Asia Studies Programs (from 2000 to 2007).
MODERATOR
Nor Coquillard is currently the Executive Director of the Washington State China Relations Council, where he oversees the activities of the Council as well as the Washington State China Relations Fund. Mr. Coquillard spent 35 years living and working in Asia. During his 18 years in Shanghai, he served as the Country President for Cargill Incorporated’s China businesses, and as the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai in 2008 and 2009. During his time in China, Mr. Coquillard provided leadership to several of international non-profit organizations as well as CEO leadership groups.
Speakers
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J. Norwell CoquillardExecutive Director, Washington State China Relations Council -
Emily de La BruyèreNonresident Fellow, NBR; Co-Founder, Horizon Advisory -
Michael WillsExecutive Vice President, NBR
