Description: The lecture will begin with a review of the guiding principles and key assumptions that the Obama administration used to inform its approach to the bilateral relationship between China and the USA. This review will be followed by a discussion about the key trends that emerged in the relationship.  Mr. Hass will share a few anecdotes from meetings with China's leadership to illustrate the broader themes of the talk.  

Bio: Ryan Hass is a career Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State.  From 2013-2017, Ryan served as the Director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia at the National Security Council (NSC) Staff.  In this role, he advised the President and senior White House officials on all aspects of U.S. policy toward China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, and coordinated on formulation and implementation of U.S. policy among U.S. government departments and agencies.

Prior to joining NSC, Ryan served as a Political Officer in U.S. Embassy Beijing, where he earned the State Department Director General’s award for impact and originality in reporting, an award given annually to the officer whose reporting had the greatest impact on the formulation of U.S. foreign policy.  Ryan also has served in Embassy Seoul and Embassy Ulaanbaatar, and domestically in the State Department Office of Taiwan Coordination. 

Ryan was born and raised in Washington state.  He graduated from the University of Washington and attended the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies prior to joining the State Department.  He is married to his college sweetheart, Meredith Sumpter, and together they have four children, Helen, Reed, Byron, and Henry.    

Director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia - National Security Staff and Foreign Service Officer - US Department of State