The Institute of Philippine Culture and the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies
cordially invite you
to the book launch of
THE RISE OF CHINA:
THREE ESSAYS ON CHINA’S ECONOMY AND ʽSOFT’ POWER
by
Joseph Anthony Y. Lim, PhD
Professor, Department of Economics
Ateneo de Manila University
Ellen H. Palanca, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Department of Economics and Chinese Studies Program
Ateneo de Manila University
Director, Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University
Benito O. Lim
Professor, Chinese Studies Program
Ateneo de Manila University
and a lecture on
CHINA’S ʽNEW SILK ROAD STRATEGY’ AND THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
by
Chito Sta. Romana
President, Philippine Association for Chinese Studies
Former Beijing Bureau Chief, ABC NEWS (USA)
Professorial Lecturer, UP Asian Center
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Faber Hall 101
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
About the book
The Rise of China: Three Essays on China’s Economy and ʽSoft’ Power is Volume 11 (2015) of the Chinese Studies Journal, published by the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies. The research for the essays was made possible through a grant obtained by the authors under the Merit Research Awards Program of the Institute of Philippine Culture, School of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University.
In his Foreword, Filomeno V. Aguilar, Jr., PhD describes this book’s significance thus:
“Filipinos need to understand China, just as Chinese need to understand the Philippines. Lately this imperative has floundered in the sea of territorial disputes between the two states. In this light, this volume acquires great salience. From the Philippine side it aims to contribute to an understanding of China, particularly the spectacular growth of its economy and the implications of this outstanding economic performance for Chinese society, politics, and foreign policy.
“The authors in this volume have been engaged in Chinese studies for many years. Theirs is the expertise to marshal economic data, make them comprehensible to non-economists, and thus offer a perceptive and up-to-date reading of China and its variegated economy and the foreseeable challenges it faces ahead. The authors point to the inextricably globalized economy of China, with countries in East and Southeast Asia—and increasingly in Latin America and Africa—implicated in its production and trade dynamics. Together with economic growth has evolved a vision of China’s role in the world, articulated specifically in terms of “development assistance” to needy states in the global South.”
About the lecture of Mr. Chito Sta. Romana
The disputes between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea involve issues of territorial sovereignty, maritime jurisdiction and economic resources. But these issues have been complicated by the escalating geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China in East Asia. Moreover, China has embarked in a massive island-building project in the West Philippine Sea. It has also unveiled a ʽsoft power’ strategy that includes the ʽNew Silk Road’ initiative and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Bank, an approach that promotes regional economic cooperation and offers an array of incentives to neighboring countries to convince them that it is more beneficial to cooperate with China than to challenge it. But whether this approach will succeed in the case of the Philippines remains to be seen since the island reclamation in disputed waters has resulted in fear among Filipino leaders and the public, which has undermined China’s efforts at diplomatic and economic engagement with the Philippines.
Program
4:00 − 4:30 pm: REGISTRATION
4:30 − 4:35 pm: OPENING CEREMONIES
§ Philippine National Anthem
§ Welcome remarks (by Marita Castro Guevara, PhD, Director, Institute of Philippine Culture)
§ Introduction of the book authors
4:35 – 4:40 pm: INTRODUCTION OF THE GUEST LECTURER
(by Ellen H. Palanca, PhD, Director, Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University)
4:40 − 5:25 pm: LECTURE ON “CHINA’S ʽNEW SILK ROAD STRATEGY’
AND THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA” BY MR. CHITO STA. ROMANA
(President, Philippine Association for Chinese Studies)
5:25 – 5:50 pm: OPEN FORUM
5:50 – 6:00 pm: BOOK LAUNCH / PRESENTATION OF BOOK COPIES
(A RECEPTION, BOOK SALE, and BOOK SIGNING will follow. At the launch, the book will be sold at a discounted price of PhP 250 [regular price: PhP 300]).
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For inquiries or confirmation of your attendance, please contact the Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC) at (+63 2) 426-6001 ext. 4651 loc. 213, or (+63 2) 426 6067 loc. 213. You may also send an email to <ipc.soss@ateneo.edu>.