Technological competition between the United States (US) and China is multifaceted, encompassing issues of security, economics, and politics. In the face of this competition, countries and businesses across Asia and around the world strive to manage risk. This panel of experts from the government sector, private industries, and academia examines issues such as US-Chinese discussions on Artificial Intelligence in the wake of the Xi-Biden Woodside Summit; managing competition and finding areas of cooperation; technology and security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region; and how companies are seeking to build resilience in semi-conductor global supply chains and navigate geopolitical risks writ large.
Please note the panel and discussion will be held under Chatham House Rules.
This event is organised by Yale-NUS College, in partnership with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, and supported by the Tan Chin Tuan Chinese Culture & Civilisation Programme.
Speakers
Mr Andrew Makridis
Schmidt Senior Fellow, Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs; former Chief Operating Officer of the Central Intelligence Agency
Andrew Makridis is a Senior Fellow at the Yale Jackson School. He retired from the Central Intelligence Agency at the end of 2022 after four years as its Chief Operating Officer—the number three position at CIA—culminating a 37-year career at the centre of the key national security challenges facing the US. Andy is known within CIA for being an outstanding leader and mentor. He was the first recipient of CIA’s George H.W. Bush award for leadership. He is a recipient of the John A. McCone award for engineering excellence, the CIA Intelligence Medal and three CIA Directors each honoured him with the Director’s award. Andy is a three-time recipient of the Presidential Rank Award— the nation’s highest honour for civilian service.
Associate Professor Li Chen
Associate Professor and Director of International Security and Strategy Programme, Renmin University of China
Li Chen is an Associate Professor, and director of International Security and Strategy Programme at the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China. He teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses on Asia-Pacific security, international history and strategic studies at Renmin University of China. Assoc Prof Li’s research interests include modern military and strategic history, international history, contemporary military strategy, and China-US military security relations, on which he has published scholarly articles in leading journals including the Journal of Strategic Studies as well as policy briefings. He received his PhD from the University of Cambridge and Master degrees from the London School of Economics Department of International History and Peking University School of International Studies.
Mr Ted Wittenstein
Executive Director of International Security Studies, Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs
Edward (“Ted”) Wittenstein is a Lecturer in Global Affairs and the Executive Director of International Security Studies, a research and teaching hub of the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. In that capacity, he helps oversee a number of programmes dedicated to international history and global security, including the Schmidt Program on Artificial Intelligence, Emerging Technologies, and National Power; the Johnson Center for the Study of American Diplomacy; and the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy. A former diplomat and intelligence professional, Ted teaches undergraduate, graduate, and law courses on intelligence, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and national security decision-making. He also serves as Co-Director of the Yale Cyber Leadership Forum, a Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School, and a visiting faculty fellow at Yale Law School’s Center for Global Legal Challenges.
Ted is a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School. Prior to returning to work for Yale, he held a variety of positions at the US Department of Defense, Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Department of State.
Assistant Professor Wu Di
Assistant Professor of International History, Renmin University of China
Wu Di is an Assistant Professor of International History and Strategy at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China (RUC). He also serves as the Coordinator of the RUC History and Politics Programme. He holds degrees from Renmin University of China, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of Oxford. His research interests include the history of wars and world politics, amphibious warfare, military diplomacy, and transatlantic security relations.
Mr Ziad Haider
Partner, Global Director of Geopolitical Risk, McKinsey & Co
Ziad Haider leads McKinsey & Co’s internal efforts on managing geopolitical risk; counsels clients on how to build out capabilities and frameworks to understand, monitor, and mitigate geopolitical risks; and is one of the firm’s principal thought leaders around building geopolitical resilience.
Prior to joining McKinsey, Ziad served in a range of senior roles in the US government, supporting US businesses globally on managing market access, political, and regulatory risks, and conducting strategic planning around Asia and geo-economics. He previously practised international law specialising in sanctions and investment disputes and worked with human rights organisations across Asia. His writings on international affairs have appeared in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and the Nikkei Asia among others.
Ziad serves on the board of advisors of the International Rescue Committee, a leading global humanitarian and development organisation, and is a senior advisor with the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).
Moderator
Ms Angela Sapp Mancini
Partner, Head of APAC Markets, Control Risks
Angela Mancini is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), formerly with Deloitte & Touche, and has worked in financial services and economic development for 20 years. She has been posted in Russia, Indonesia, and Egypt, and has worked in India, China, Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Her technical specialties are economic development, governance, anti-money laundering policies and audits, anti-corruption, compliance and financial risk management consulting. Prior to this role, she was based in New York City where she supervised Control Risks’ Client Management function for the US East Coast and eastern Canada, and led Control Risks’ Financial Services practice in the Americas.
Angela holds a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University. She is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member and former Vice Chair of the Council for Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA) and a Truman National Security Fellow. She has published a number of articles on economic development governance and security in emerging markets and has lectured on business risks in emerging markets and AML/FCPA (Anti-Money Laundering / Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) issues.
