Food Diplomacy in US-China Relations: Returning to the Fundamentals

• In Event: Deciphering Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy: New Empirical Analysis

Abstract

“Food and diplomacy” is an immensely interesting but understudied topic in international relations. How can food help improve relations between the United States and China? This is a rarely asked question when the two countries are engaged in intense competition and the bilateral relationship has hit the lowest point in decades.

This paper traces the history of cultural exchanges between China and the United States, from American merchants bringing home Chinese tableware and tea in the late 18th century to President Nixon's appreciation of Chinese cuisine during his historic trip to China in 1972, and from the Bush family’s connection with a Chinese restaurant near Washington, DC to Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen’s 2023 “mushroom diplomacy” in Beijing. The goal of the paper is to explore how cultural exchanges, culinary diplomacy in particular, helped the bilateral relationship historically and what lessons can be drawn for the contemporary period.

Inspired by the common pursuit of fundamental human needs and fascination with each other’s culture, we look at the unique role of food in facilitating bilateral relations. We hope to shed light on how to manage the complex US-China relationship today by shifting our attention away from “high politics” to “low politics.” Mutual appreciation of culture and food helped bring the two countries together in the past. Despite many challenges and difficulties today, fundamental interest in food, culture, and human security has the potential to bring the two countries together again.

Author

• Zhiqun Zhu, Bucknell University