” A University of Akron professor spoke about the state of contemporary China and Sino-American relations on Tuesday night. Dr. Walter Hixson gave the lecture at the Student Union Theater as part of UA’s ongoing China Week. The title of the lecture Walls, Haze, Hope and Fear: Contemporary China and Sino-American Relations Today covered topics concerning modern day China.”
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A University of Akron professor spoke about the state of contemporary China and Sino-American relations on Tuesday night.

Dr. Walter Hixson gave the lecture at the Student Union Theater as part of UA’s ongoing China Week. The title of the lecture Walls, Haze, Hope and Fear: Contemporary China and Sino-American Relations Today covered topics concerning modern day China.

Hixson spoke about how China is becoming a capitalistic nation. No country has ever had the fantastic growth that China has had, Hixson said. He continued by saying that China will need to continue growing about 8 percent a year to keep things humming. However, he did mention that because of the growth, pollution is generating a haze over the country. Haze is something you see in every city. It’s polluted to put it simply, he said.

The history of China and Chinese citizens was also talked about throughout the lecture. Hixson believes that the pride of Chinese people is at an all-time high. The reason for their great pride [now] is because in the past China has been extremely weak, Hixson said. The patriotism of Chinese people was also discussed and Hixson said that although the history of China is complicated, tourists who visit China today will see a prideful country. He said that currently in China there is a high degree of support for the government, but the people of China do push the government and sometimes demand action.

Three Chinese T taboos were also mentioned throughout the lecture. They are Taiwan, Tibet and Tiananmen. Hixson said that the Chinese government generally avoids each one of these topics of conversation.

In 2009, Hixson taught in Beijing as a Fulbright lecturer at the China Foreign Affairs University. He has been a UA Interim Department Chair since 2006, an instructor at various universities since 1982 and has written a number of books. His latest book The Myth of American Diplomacy: National Identity and U.S. Foreign Policy came out in 2008.

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