China Town Hall 2026 - Local Edition
-----
Register: https://uci.zoom.us/meeting/register/MP1vHP64R-e8Q1oKjJmwMQ#/registration
---
Convened annually by the National Committee on the U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR), the China Town Hall is a national initiative that provides a snapshot of the current U.S.–China relationship and examines how that relationship reverberates at the local level—across our communities, institutions, and broader public life. Since its launch in 2007, CTH has connected audiences nationwide with U.S. policymakers and thought leaders, bringing this important conversation to campuses and civic spaces across the country. This year, the China Town Hall will feature a webcasted conversation between Stephen Biegun (former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State) and Sarah Beran (former Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and former Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs at the White House National Security Council), bringing senior diplomatic and policy perspectives to the discussion.
The Long U.S.-China Institute will once again host a local town hall program, featuring the live national webcast followed by a local discussion moderated by UC Irvine faculty Samantha Vortherms (political science), with guest speaker Cory Combs (Trivium China).
About the Local Speakers:
Samantha Vortherms is an associate professor of political science at UC Irvine and
a National Committee on U.S.-China Relations Public Intellectuals Program (PIP) Fellow.
Her research examines Chinese politics, governance, and state–society relations, with
a focus on how institutions and local actors shape policy implementation and development
outcomes in contemporary China.
Cory Combs is the associate director at Trivium China, where he leads research on climate, energy, and industrial policy. He advises governments and multinational firms on China’s decarbonization and industrial upgrading strategies and previously worked on clean energy technology commercialization at the U.S. Department of Energy.
-----