April 12, 2005 Professor Robert G. Sutter To Discuss His Book "China's Rise in Asia on April 19

Robert G. Sutter, a specialist in Asian and Pacific Affairs and American foreign policy, will discuss and sign his new book, “China’s Rise in Asia: Promises and Perils,” at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 19, in the Mary Pickford Theater on the third floor of the Library’s James Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue S.E., Washington, D.C. The presentation is co-sponsored by the Library’s Science, Technology and Business Division, the Federal Research Division and the Asian Division. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required.

In his lecture, Sutter will provide his assessment of China's expanding influence in Asia in the post-Cold War period, explore the ramifications of China’s rise to prominence on American interests, and provide a detailed analysis of China's historical and contemporary relations with other Asian countries. Sutter also will discuss how his study shows that U.S. power and influence continue to dominate Asia and play a critical role in defining whether China embraces a cooperative or confrontational approach.

Sutter’s specialty in foreign policy and Asian and Pacific Affairs spans a 30-year career in government. He received a Ph.D. in history and East Asian languages from Harvard University and held a variety of analytical and supervisory positions with the Library of Congress for more than 20 years, including senior specialist in international politics for the Congressional Research Service.

After leaving the Library of Congress, Sutter served for two years as the national intelligence officer for East Asia and the Pacific at the National Intelligence Council. He also worked with the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of State and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In August 2001, he became a visiting professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Sutter has published 12 books, numerous articles and several hundred government reports dealing with contemporary East Asian and Pacific countries and their relations with the United States.