The Mark Palmer Forum: China’s Global Challenge to Democratic Freedom October 24 Event
The Hudson Institute and Freedom House’s Mark Palmer Forum for the Advancement of Democracy held a conference on China’s global challenge to democratic freedom. Three panel discussions brought together experts and activists to share cutting edge research, analyze recent trends, and consider potential responses.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under General Secretary Xi Jinping has put enormous financial and political resources into expanding its influence abroad. Xi has elevated the importance of United Front activities, which rely on co-opting the Chinese diaspora and building relationships with Western enablers.
In democracies, CCP influence operations target politicians, business people, academia, the media, and the Chinese diaspora. CCP and Chinese government funding has also intruded into the realm of ideas, influencing think tanks, academia, newspapers, and other media outlets. The CCP, by changing how democracies speak and think about China, is attempting to make “the world safe” for its ongoing efforts to deepen its authoritarianism at home and extend its influence internationally.
The Mark Palmer Forum for the Advancement of Democracy honors the legacy of Ambassador Mark Palmer, long-time Freedom House trustee and vice chairman. The Palmer Forum includes an annual conference with leading policymakers and experts, and programs by human rights defenders and leading digital activists, exploring ways to improve global prospects for strengthening human rights and democracy.
Speakers
Kenneth R. Weinstein Speaker
President and CEO, Hudson Institute
Michael J. Abramowitz Speaker
President, Freedom House
Jonas Parello-Plesner Speaker
Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
Sarah Cook Speaker
Senior Research Analyst, East Asia, Freedom House
Juan Pablo Cardenal Speaker
Researcher, Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America’s Advisory Council
Laura Rosenberger Speaker
Director, Alliance for Securing Democracy and Senior Fellow, German Marshall Fund
Carolyn Bartholomew Speaker
Vice Chair, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Xiao Qiang Speaker
Adjunct Professor, School of Information, University of California, Berkeley
Jan Jekielek Speaker
Producer, NTD Television and Senior Editor, The Epoch Times
Peter Mattis Speaker
Research Fellow, China Studies, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and Contributing Editor, War on the Rocks
Bay Fang Speaker
Executive Editor, Radio Free Asia
Josh Rogin Speaker
Columnist, Global Opinions, Washington Post and Political Analyst, CNN
Rachelle Peterson Speaker
Policy Director, National Association of Scholars
Dr. Teng Biao Speaker
Visiting Scholar, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard University
Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian Speaker
Former Security Reporter, The Daily Beast
Perry Link Speaker
Professor Emeritus, East Asian Studies, Princeton University
Isaac Stone Fish Speaker
Senior Fellow, Center on U.S.-China Relations, Asia Society
Michael Pillsbury Speaker
Senior Fellow and Director, Chinese Strategy, Hudson Institute
