Lecture Abstract:

The Xi Jinping leadership has brought tremendous change to China, and he is seen by many insiders as somebody who “talks like Deng, but acts like Mao.” He has laid out ambitious changes and global power aspiration for China, but faces strong headwinds of resistance at home born of vested political and economic interests, and a political system that naturally abhors change and uncertainty.  At the three-year mark of his leadership, enough time and activity has transpired to provide a report card on how the Xi regime works, how it differs from its predecessor, and how decisions are likely to be made in the future.

During the speech, Randal Phillips will cover a detailed look at how the vested interests in China affect all policymaking, how Xi Jinping makes decisions and where he has focused his power, and what this means for China’s future political and economic stability.

About the Speaker:

RANDAL PHILLIPS is Managing Partner for Asia of the Mintz Group, and correspondingly manages the Group’s activities across Asia. Randy spent 28 years with the Central Intelligence Agency’s National Clandestine Service, most recently serving as the Chief CIA representative in China. He has an extensive background in foreign field operations, policy and program management, and leadership development. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Bahasa Indonesian.

Randy has lived and travelled extensively throughout China and elsewhere in Asia for the U.S. Government. Additionally, he has managed worldwide and regional programs from Washington. Randy has extensive relationships with officials and business leaders throughout the continent, and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

Randy has deep expertise on issues relative to Asia, with particular emphasis on China. This includes an intimate knowledge of the full range of political, economic, trade, investment and security issues involving China, from a bilateral as well as a multilateral perspective. Randy has extensive experience unravelling a variety of complex matters involving finance, trade and fraud.

Randy has a B.A. in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs from Miami University, and a Masters of International Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.