Robert S. Ross

Robert S. Ross

Professor, Boston College

Robert S. Ross is a Professor of Political Science at Boston College and Associate at the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University. His research focuses on Chinese security policy and defence policy, East Asian security, and US-China relations. His publications include Chinese Security Policy: Structure, Power, and Politics; China’s Ascent: Power, Security, and the Future of International Politics; and New Directions in the Study of Chinese Foreign Policy. His other major works include Normalization of U.S.-China Relations: An International History; Great Wall and Empty Fortress: China’s Search for Security; Negotiating Cooperation: U.S.-China Relations, 1969-1989; and The Indochina Tangle: China’s Vietnam Policy, 1975-1979.

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as he meets with US President Joe Biden at the Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, US, on 15 November 2023. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

It's all about power: US-China relations set to remain rocky in 2024

Despite an amicable summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in San Francisco recently, the essence of the US-China conflict of interest does not change, says US academic Robert Ross. This means that the outlook for US-China relations in the new year remains paved with difficulties, as both powers continue to joust in a battle to win.
Visitors near a screen displaying an image of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Museum of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, China, 3 September 2022. (Florence Lo/Reuters)

[Future of China] Xi Jinping and the world: Retrospect and prospect

As the 20th Party Congress approaches, US academic Robert S. Ross assesses China’s foreign policy record over the last ten years and weighs up China’s foreign policy priorities in the likely third term of President Xi Jinping’s leadership. This is the last in a five-part series of articles on the future of China.