The Evening: China Asks for Rollback, Vaccine Passport, Phil Zone and More

March 17, 2021

China to ask U.S. to roll back Trump Policies

Beijing plans to press Washington to reverse many of the policies targeting China introduced during the Trump presidency in the first face-to-face meeting of senior U.S. and China officials since President Biden’s election, as the WSJ reports.

Europe’s Vaccination Passports

The European Union on Wednesday launched a closely watched effort to create a joint vaccination passport for its more than 440 million citizens and residents known as “digital green certificates,” as the Washington Post reports.

Biden says “tough” to meet May 1 deadline for Afghanistan troop pullout

President Joe Biden said in an interview broadcast on Wednesday that it will be “tough” for him to meet a May 1 deadline to withdraw the last troops from Afghanistan, as Reuters reports.

Executive Education

Navigating U.S. Foreign Assistance features a hands-on study of the latest trends and techniques today’s international development and humanitarian leaders need to successfully maximize their impact. Through seminars, case studies, and a culminating crisis simulation, participants will join a diverse network of industry professionals and pair their own unique experience with CSIS’s rich array of coaching resources. Register here.

Coronavirus Crisis Update

The Coronavirus Crisis Update podcast brings you the latest updates and analysis from CSIS experts and the leaders directing the global response. Past guests include NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, IHME Director Dr. Chris Murray, Covid-19 Advisory Group members Dr. Luciana Borio and Dr. Celine Gounder, chef Jose Andres, and more. Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

Video Shorts

Check out CSIS’s new series of video shorts: “Data Unpacked,” Testify,” “What's Happening,” “Preview,” and “High Resolution.” And don’t forget to subscribe to the CSIS YouTube Channel!

In That Number

33000

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 33000 for the first time Wednesday after the Federal Reserve pledged to maintain its easy-money policies as the U.S. economy recovers from the damage of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: WSJ

Critical Quote

“Whether it is senseless violence that we've seen play out in our streets, or more targeted violence like we saw yesterday, a crime against any community is a crime against us all.”

— Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms

iDeas Lab

There has been growing concern about the threat of domestic terrorism, with extremists motivated by political, racial, ethnic, economic, health, and other grievances. The CSIS Transational Threats Project used data to provide new analysis on the domestic terrorist threat in the United States.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

(Photo credit: Ko Seong-Joon/AFP/Getty Images.)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (R) talks with South Korean Minister of Defense Suh Wook as they inspect an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Ministry of National Defense on March 17, 2021 in Seoul, South Korea.

Recommended Reading

“Covid-19 and Global Food Security: One Year Later,” by CSIS’ Chase Sova.

This Town Tomorrow

Tomorrow, at 10:00 a.m., the CSIS Strategic Technologies Program hosts a conversation on accelerating 5G in the United States.

Also, at 10:15 a.m., join CSIS and the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) for a special panel on transatlantic security cooperation and security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.

Last, at 2:45 p.m., CSIS welcomes Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) as they explore the challenges facing the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, from national level maritime policy to naval concept development and program design.

Video

Yesterday, CSIS President John J. Hamre and CSIS Senior Advisers Walter G. Copan and Andrei Iancu convened for the launch of the Renewing American Innovation Project. They discussed how government, industry, and academia can work together in patent reform, standards-setting, greater IP protection, and elsewhere to build the long-term strategy the U.S. needs to win this global technological competition. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

This week's episode re-evaluates the U.S. China strategy. How can the United States integrate India and the QUAD into its strategy? What does success look like in five years, ten years, and beyond?

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

“He’s come to take his children home.”

I know you all want to see more of the Terrapin Family Band after yesterday’s tribute to Phil Lesh for his 81st birthday. Here's Phil performing with Terrapin when he was just 77 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd1tNNp-oBo.