Distinguished Lecture: Navigating the Future of US-China Relations 

The Chinese American woman who asked the last question is typical of many in the US, she doesn't know anything about today's China. She only knows what her parents or grandparents generation told her, information which is now 50 or almost 100 years out of date. Thornton answered diplomatically but accurately. I've been to China a number of times; his comments are accurate - the average Chinese citizen knows much more about us than the average American knows about China, and their information about us is accurate. The cure that Thornton suggests is also right on; go visit China, talk to ordinary Chinese, see for yourself. Don't believe any country's propaganda; even a simple tourist visit for two weeks will be an eye opener.

All the questions that woman asked at ~54 min. were straight out of CIA propaganda playbook. John handled it politely without directly calling out the lies.

A truly great mind who understands China. A rare one. A sane voice in crazy USA.

I am in complete agreement with John Thornton. I am an American who lived in China for four years, and have studied the history, politics, culture and trends of Chinese engagement in international business for over ten years, as well as studying Mandarin and watching historical dramas in Chinese. The future of humanity depends on a constructive relationship between the U.S. and China. It's that stark. However, it's also a great opportunity for Americans to engage in the rich, complex legacy of Chinese culture and to experience the wonders of this great country. My son followed me to China and married a very interesting young woman from Shandong Province. I now have an adorable Chinese-American granddaughter and a grandson on the way. I found the details of Xi JiPing's early life illuminating. Thank you for explaining what the One Road, One Belt initiative actually entails, and the high ideals of a peaceful world, common prosperity, harmony between man and nature. Your explanation of the strategy of Chinese to learn from other people is enlightening. I am very happy that you advised the Chinese to communicate their story in English, as you are entirely right that even so-called China experts often fail to understand the complexities of China. As an ESL teacher, I've seen how the Chinese have updated their language teaching methods, learning from American, Australian, British, Canadian and teachers from New Zealand who have brought the latest methods of teaching English (based on linguistics research) into their education system. All Chinese children study English. We might make some progress in our relations if all American children were to study Chinese.

Happy to see how the Guest Speaker rebut the last "Chinese" audience who think too highly on herself being "understand" of the present China and want to "save" the people in China from CPC.

A Chinese audience said, United States is against the comminist party and not its people. Let me give her a real example to consider. I have a friend in China, an ordinary person who runs a small factory. He sells cups to United States. A few months ago, his customer from United States told him that they are going to cut their orders by 1/3 next year because his factory is in China. Is this kind of behavior against the CCP or its people?

Mr. Thornton is so knowledgeable about China, but more impressed, he is such a decent person, a great human being.

Just want to make sure that everyone understands, the Chinese woman who asked the question doesn’t not represent vast majority of Chinese around the world. She has some ax to grind for sure. But she is clearly misguided and blinded by common stereotypes and misperceptions. John Thornton is so insightful that it’s good for everyone to pay attention to what he says!

I've worked in china since '15 and pretty much everything Thornton expresses lines up with my personal experiences and interactions.

As an American living in China, this is EXACTLY the kind of thinking that is required to productively move forward.

What a gem! This is someone.who really knows China! Make other so called China experts amateurs! I'm glad I came across this lecture!

Finally, a speaker who truly knows about China and the Chinese society

John Thornton is by far the best person in the west that can explain China from a Chinese perspective.

John is one of the good guys And there are good guys with his kind of professional and material success.

A very interesting and also important talk from the West with comprehensive explanation of Xi's vision and also the distrusted views currently propagated to the world by many current western leaders.

Fascinating. There is a big difference in being able to speak Chinese and being able to understand what is actually being said. High form Chinese is all about that subtext. John Thornton really is not some Kevin Rudd type of phoney confirmed. His 4 person XJP dinner, Kerry tidbit, and his recounting his son's school report is really interesting in that context (confirms some current and future things).

The speaker is honest, but not many people will believe him.

A most educational and enlightening talk. Trying to imagine what a dinner chat between John Thornton, Ray Dalio, Jeffrey Sachs and Joseph Stiglitz would be like. Who can set it up?

Thank you John for speaking the truth in this most difficult time. The US-China relationship must be improved for the benefits of all.

Salute to the professor, many thanks for your wisdom, I truly hope the western world especially the USA can hear your voice.

I hope we have and need to have more clear, impartial man like Mr. Thornton to know more and speak about, not only China, but the rest of our world as well. We Americans, in general, are too egocentric and thinks the world "should" revolve around us.

Mr. John knows China modern reform history ,Chinese culture and politics, so his speech is very good for American people， Both countries can work together again, peace for the world ❤🎉

Simply one of the best global analysis on politics ever to be published for this generation and the future.

Well said! 1.Chinese are good learners: i have first hand experience during the 90s, that the Chinese Central government sent out leadership group to Europe to listen, observe how Western European Government, Society works. i was a student in Western Europe and Organized the logistics for them. The visit grew from Central government down provincial governments, learning. 2. China thought systems are not restricted by the Marxism and leninism thought systems because China had a long history. So it can go beyond marxism and leninism. The last 300 years before the commencement of yixian Sun's constitutional state movement, China was occupied by non-Han nomads. Only because this group of nomads were willing to adopt some Chinese Culture including some thought systems, the Chinese thought systems got extended further 300 years. Despite Qing fell soon after the peak, much of the Chinese Traditional thought school preserved. When Qing dynasty fell, Chinese/China lost direction. Because, Chinese did not want to go back to feudalism/monarch; but with no experience of industrializing the country (capitalism) , no experience of constitutional monarch, or constitutional state, while some of the people returned from overseas (including yixian Sun) , China started experiments. Marxism and Leninism were an option available at the time. The country slided into one of the poorest country. The idea of Marxism and Leninism (ML) were to help the poor. It suited the situation. The CPC took ML path but to find a way to make a return of China had made ups and downs until today. Jiang kaichek (Taiwan) took Constitution/Democracy. Therefore, China has more thought schools than only Marxism and Leninism.

CGTN and other online Chinese newspapers, plus online discussions not dominated by Western speakers, are helping me educate myself about China. That's how i ended up at this youtube presentation. More to follow. So fun and inspirational to discover new perspectives.🧡

Falun Gong in the audience.

After having lived in China for almost 3 decades, China is not a economy of communism. It’s more capitalist than most western economies. Thornton and Sachs are of the same rank in wisdom, intellectual and honesty.

so Glad there still a platform for some one like John to share his view...

Absolutely eye opening lecture. I very much appreciate the honesty and the insider perspective. I hope we can get more rational voices like this to the fore.

It is not an easy matter in the US and west now to to say anything true about China. The speaker is brave. The lies about HongKong, Taiwan and Xinjiang have destroyed the respect and admiration of a lot of Chinese people to the west, which had lasted for the past 30 more years.

Such a wise man, should lead the foreign policy with China for the best interest of the whole world. Kudos to John Thornton

Hawkish interpretation leads to conflict. In Deng's will, he reminded his people to work hard, develop and improve the strength of our nation. We have to do it humbly and quietly. This originated as a virtuous Chinese ancient culture. But the western hawkish media said, Deng asked his people to strengthen the nation secretely.

J Thornton is so much more knowledgeable on China than K Rudd

Do not expect the US to slow down on its hostility. They and the UK will keep doubling down. As was mentioned in Liz Truss statement. They are obviously trying to thwart China's progress and rise no matter what.

An insightful observer of Chinese culture and China's political and economic systems, and their developments.

As asean Chinese, i would like to pen down some of the answers. 1. About joining the English language community, first of all, this is not the first language and it's a language that is very different Chinese system, so it is hard for Chinese (educated with Chinese sytem) to express well. Secondly, Chinese like to act than speak, usually would like to get the results tell itself, however it will be hard to survive against most criticisms. Thirdly, there have been many biased/false commentaries about anything of Chinese, such as the data, the works, the behaviours, etc, and making Chinese difficult to get the right attentions. Regarding Hong Kong, i believe the manage of the place after its return is always acting as a show case to unification of Taiwan, however there are parties (including Taiwanese and foreigners) who are against unification, actually doing a lot of sabotage, including brain washing the young hongkongnese through the education. So much so that one would think the 1 country 2 systems had failed by itslf.

He is a good guy. I’m afraid what he said would never reach those in power in the US, or even it does it would fall on deaf ears. Right now politicians in the US are discussing relationships with China in an echo chamber. They are having this groupthink which reinforces each other hawkish attitude toward China.

Such a man with wisdom.

Wow the story about the BRI is enlightening

This is very helpful to hear related to China! Good background related to Chinese leadership.

The economic models used by China and USA are totally different. This is why they cannot agree. The economic model of China is based on the hard work and ingenuity of its people coupled with trade and peaceful cooperation with other countries. This is the model that makes China rich and, at the same time, allows China to help other countries to become rich also. The Belt and Road Initiative is an example of how China interacts with other countries that benefits all the countries that participate in it. On the other hand, the economic model used by USA to become rich is based on stealing the wealth of other countries, using brute force (military power) and other devious means such as lies, cheats, sanctions, blackmail, coercion, etc. to carry out its thefts. It is a gangster-like economic model that benefits USA at the expense of the countries that are its victims. Furthermore, such economic model inevitably means constant violence, wars, destruction and murders.

The best presentation of the current US China situation I have heard yet. John has a fantastic understanding of China and especially for an oversea Chinese Canadian like myself. Enjoyed the presentation immensely.

The university exchange number is not 10 to 1, but 1000 to 1.

Thank you for presenting this voice. The western world needs to hear this perspective because unfortunately, there is not enough interest nor trust in Chinese media even when it clearly illustrates high values, impressive achievement and a wonderful thirst for world cooperation, prosperity and peace.

one point to be made. china didnt manage hong kong. it was the hong kong government that said they would handle it themselves which is why the chinese military police did not enter hong kong. if you remember they stayed beyond the boarder of hong kong. hong kong since being returned to china has continued to remain an autonomous region of china. also anyone who's been to xinjiang knows the genocide narrative is lies. how can there be a case to be made for genocide if the uyghur population is growing year over year and people are free to practice their religion and culture in xinjiang?

The CCP was patient w/ Hong Kong, allowing 6 months of sit down protest. It didn't make any difference by continuing this protest but only bothered the financial district. After 6 months of sit down, it was appropriate to remove people. The same happened w/ Tianamen square protest which lasted 6 months. The authorities got tired and had to clean out the crowd.

Excellent insightful true understanding and assessment re China. Thank you John Thornton!

Mr Thorton's understanding of chinese thinking is far better than Mr.Kevin's

To all Americans watching this video, enjoy your life in China. I am enjoying my life in the states and wish these two countries have a brighter future.

I came to know a young Chinese scientist quite well (who now teaches in the U.S.), who had attended an elite high school whose students came from all over his city. They were the most intelligent in their schools, so earned entrance into the elite high school. He told me that this system was common throughout China. Yes, China has a meritocracy. That's not to say there isn't corruption within that meritocracy.

One of the best speech i had ever listen to

Mr.John Thorton is a true intellectual with integrity

Unbelievably good lecture!

His speech is an excellent speech,because he let both countries people know each other ❤❤🎉🎉

The media question was interesting. China don't see media spin as a priority. Spin is only important when you're trying to convince people to believe a lie

It's crazy that the US was officially offered to participate in the 1 Belt 1 Road jointly.

Thornton is amazing in providing a fair portrait of China. What a talk!

Thanks for spending the time to create and share this content awareness/perspective

China: Let's be friends US: No EU: Maybe Russia: Yes Global South: Yes Russia: Let's be friends US: No EU: No China: Yes Global South: Yes

People in America can change political party but can't change policy. 1941's to present, one policy & still two political party. People in China can't change their political party but they can change policy. 1949's to present, China change policy 3 times.

I agree that people-people relationships are very important. If Americans were to build strong sister city relationships between the U.S. and China, it could facilitate this.

I agree with Mr. Thornton's view, It is how America responds to China's rise that matters. Premier Zurongji was the architect of China's reform and transformation. China strives for prosperity and harmony in the world, not dominance.

The truth of the hostility between China and USA is that China doesn't want to make an enemy of USA. She has been taking all kinds of propaganda bashing her nonstop from the West. Trade war was started by USA. Tech war was started by USA. Hundreds of China's tech companies are banned or sanctioned by the States, including detaining the CFO Meng of Huawei. USA was actively destabilizing Hong Kong and Xinjiang all these times. So what did China do to USA in return? As of now, large US tech companies like Apple, Qualcomm, Nvidia, Texas instruments, Lam Research etc., they all do very well in China. Chinese still love to buy Apple IPhone when their own Huawei can't sell any in the States and most allied countries. So you cannot blame China for the sour relationship when USA is dominated by anti-China politicians and when its propaganda machines, the MSM are brainwashing average Americans to dislike China day in and day out.

Such a great mind, and a real wise person. What he said is absolute true about China

The ethnic Chinese lady at the end is a joke, tried to play smart but got destroyed

The last questioner, who claimed to be a Chinese, attempted to paint the usual western media narrative before posing the question was swiftly debunked by the professor.

Reflecting from audience responses and questions, his speech seems be viewed as “fascinating” and “captivating” like a sci-fi fiction. The 3 questions presumably asked by college students can be regarded as naive and delusional by Chinese college students. Not only they don’t know much about China but also not much about the US. Chinese college students would answer the question about Hong Kong and Taiwan by referring to US NGO operations using propaganda and bribery to incite unrests, protests, riots, win elections or overthrow existing governments. Watch Stephen Kinzer describing his book how the CIA overthrew the Iran prime minister in 1953. In the following decades up to the present similar methods have been applied around the world. There are plenty of NGO activities in not only HK and Taiwan but also Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, S Korea, India, Australia, countries surrounding China to undermine China’ Belt and Road and economic dominance in the region. They also promote tensions and proxy wars with China over Taiwan for war profiteering-defence budgets, nukes budgets, arms exports, oil prices and commodities prices; drawing in Japan, S Korea and hopefully NATO. Proxy wars will allow the US opportunities to get other countries decoupled from China and get their economic assets sucked into the US, such as the Chip industry. Finally, the reason why US students are so far off from the norm is because of propaganda by the US government. Watch Bernie Sanders addresses Oxford University.

As an Australian born Chinese, I lost braincells listening to that last question

That chinese lady's comments were totally wrong !

An outstanding talk by an American who has intimate, firsthand knowledge of both US and China at the highest level. Sadly most Americans will never understand him.

That female Asian questioner is completely whitewashed. Mr Thornton's response was perfect.

Excellent！

So profound and impressive lecture!

That Chinese lady is anti China, prob Falun Gong member out to smear China. A chinese will never say CCP.

That lady at the end that asked the question sounds like someone who was completely brainwashed.

John thronton 確實比Kevin Rud更加了解中國。雖然Kevin 會說中文。

Most insightful discussions/ analysis.

Awesome breath of fresh air.

Thank you very much for such a honest, just and wise talk on China. Intelligent, and unbiased. But I guess a lot of people will get angry at him for such a talk since it doesn’t fit their views of China and Chinese leaders. My hope is US and China will get along and create better things for the world. I have a lot confidence in China’s wisdom and strength in dealing with the challenges of a tantrum throwing America in the face of the rise of a multipolar world. It’s going to be a lot of turbulence ahead though.

Great lecture.

What a speech. Thanks

If I still have any doubt about Xi's sincerity of helping the people, this lecture removed every one of it. Thank you for the enlightenment. Listen to the clip from 14:25 till 20:25

Vow, a very enlightening talk. Biden and Xi had held three video conferences since 2021. The first two meetings were derailed by the (possibly faulty) US intelligence that China would provide military assistances, the third meeting was interrupted by the Pelosi visit to Taiwan.

I am Western educated and now working in China. This is a particularly good discussion that reflects the real Chinese way of thinking. The American understanding of China is simply not correct.

Thank you for sharing, excellent new info!

An insightful talk. Hope American Politicians can learn from this talk.

I used to think the same as the female audience, that the success of chinese economy is because of chinese people and not the CCP. But when i looked at Brazil or Argentina for example, before Deng took place, they were more wealthy and better developped than china. And i think its fair to say that Chinese citizen has higher QoL. How errogant of her and me to think its done by the people of china, as Brazilians and Argentinians people are just as capable and just as hardworking if not more.

We will never get this discussion from big universities in Canada. We would be labeled pro-evil. Universities in the US are still top rank in the world.

最后一个ethic chinese好典，“经济发展是靠中国人民的勤劳和美国的慷慨。。。美国是反中国共产党，不是反中国人民。。。”真的好典

Wow - so good. A must watch.

I’ve met people like the Chinese lady who claims the Chinese economic success has nothing to do with the CCP. How can you possibly make this claim, knowing china’s economic system is highly managed by its government, and government spending and policies form the outlook of the Chinese economy? I mean everyone calls China “communist” for a good reason, and you Must give credit (or blame) to the performance of the Chinese economy.

Basically the Chinese government is very people oriented government who puts the needs and benefits of her people at first priority and everything the government does is according to this principle. The U.S. government is very corporate oriented government that careless about the needs and benefits of the majority of people. In the U.S., you have the empty and meaningless freedom and democracy that serves little or none real benefit to the mass majority of the people of the country. That is the fundamental difference between China and the U.S. and the U.S. government cannot accept that difference from China because the US is so used to its sole superpower and world domination position and any country that is about to catch up is seen as a threat to the US even China has no intention of taking over the US.

Very educational! Taiwan is not a country… it is just a province of China.

Excellent insight. An eye opener

Excellent talk, pure and simple to understand.

Thank you Sir John Thornton

Question : Who is the party confronting the other ? Who is the party aggressively and ‘uglily’ showing the muscle because they think they are powerful and might be sidelined soon ?

Holly.... this is the guy who knows China for the best.

American will tell you straight in the face. At 55:00, the lady claimed to be ethnic Chinese get roasted by the guest speaker. In fact, we have a description for this particular group called frogs under a well. The entire class must have laughed at her silently.

This conversation was truly informative for me, as I have been working for the Ukrainian defence and didn't have much spare time to learn about China. China is not in the centre of Ukrainian news stream and we do not know much about its goals and accomplishments. The grim image of a world power silently and covertly supporting Russia, which attacked us in a violent way, is a very important factor that spoils the image and perception of China in the Ukrainian society. I am not in a position to teach the Chinese but if they want a peaceful world, they need to promote it in real life, not in their imagination. Russian regime is war-mongering and aggressive and its exploits have nothing in common with the principles of Chinese modernisation, as put here by Mr. Thornton. I hope China and Ukraine will become close partners for the mutual benefit. If China so wishes, it must help us stop the war.