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Zhiqun Zhu, visiting assistant professor of government, published a letter to the editor about Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the U.S. in The Christian Science Monitor.  Zhu said, "Competing national interests determine that the two countries will become neither strategic partners nor strategic competitors. The best we can hope for is a pragmatic relationship in which the two countries continue to cooperate on issues of mutual concern and agree to disagree on issues such as human rights and Taiwan."

Lucio Petroccione, the composer commissioned to write a piece for the Hamilton College Orchestra, was interviewed about the work on WIBX 950 radio. The composition, Kill Devil Hill, celebrates the 100th anniversary of powered flight and premiered on Thursday, Dec. 11 during the orchestra's concert.

Zhiqun Zhu, visiting assistant professor of government, was quoted in a story that appeared on CBS Marketwatch about Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meeting with President Bush.  Zhu said, "On almost all fronts, the two sides are getting close. I wouldn't call them allies, but definitely not enemies anymore."

Cheng Li, the William R. Kenan Professor of Government, commented on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's U.S. visit in an interview with Washington Observer, a Chinese-language e-weekly on U.S. foreign policy, domestic politics and defense issues.  Li said Premier Wen's four-day U.S. visit is an important opportunity for China to establish better relations with the U.S. by reaching new agreements between China's new generation of leaders and top-level U.S. government officials. "This U.S. visit shows that China is regarded as a major economic power and is one of America's top allies on the world stage," Li said. He added that the U.S. hopes to see China keep its promises regarding international trade and to "actively help support America's war on terrorism."

Zhiqun Zhu, visiting assistant professor of government, was interviewed by Cybercast News Service for an article about Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the U.S.  Zhu, a former U.S. diplomatic official in Shanghai, said, "If Wen does not return home with  U.S. promise to rein in the Taiwanese independence movement," Beijing will consider his visit a failure.

Cheng Li, the William R. Kenan Professor of Government, comments on Premier Wen Jiabao's U.S. visit live on BBC Radio World Service. (Between 3:30 and 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8 on the BBC World Service. Click on "Audio: Newshour" to listen with Real Player.) Wen is on a four-day visit to the U.S. that will include a meeting with President George Bush at the White House on Tuesday.  Topics to be discussed include Taiwan, North Korea and trade issues.

Frank Sciacca, associate professor of Russian and professor for the sophomore seminar on 1968, along with Matt Stewart '06, appeared on WCNY TV's "HOUR CNY," with George Kilpatrick on Dec. 9. The sophomore seminar class organized the "1968:So You Want a Revolution" exhibition at Emerson Gallery. Sciacca and Stewart brought Life magazines, posters and political buttons to illustrate on air some of the items in the show. The point of the exhibition is to demonstrate how the political and social forces of the era contributed to the cultural evolution that culminated in 1968.

Zhiqun Zhu, visiting assistant professor of government, was interviewed on BBC "The World Today" on Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's current visit to the U.S. and U.S.-China relations. Zhu said Taiwan and trade will be two distinct issues on the Prime Minister's agenda. Zhu expected Wen to ask President Bush to issue a clear-cut statement opposing Taiwanese independence. Failing that, Wen would press the American government to curb Taiwan's movement toward formal independence from China. On the trade issue, he said, "Prime Minister Wen is expected to explain China's positions. Wen may argue that trade is global and trade imbalance between China and the U.S. is structural."

Zhiqun Zhu, visiting assistant professor of government, was interviewed on BBC "The World Today" about Taiwanese president Chen Shuibian's decision to hold a referendum on China's missiles in March 2004.  Zhu pointed out that though this particular topic may not evoke an immediate military response from Chinese mainland, it is unnecessarily provocative.  He said it opens the door for future, more dangerous referendums and suggested that the Chinese mainland may simply ask, what can you offer in return if we withdraw the missiles?  "The United States will probably not oppose this specific Taiwanese referendum since at various times, the U.S. has also asked the PRC to reduce tensions across the Taiwan Strait by reducing the number of Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan, said Zhu.  "But the dilemma is, pro-independence politicians in Taiwan will interpret U.S. inaction to rein in further provocations as America's tacit support for their dangerous policy," he explained.

An interview with Associate Professor of English Catherine Gunther Kodat will air on WIBX 950AM on Thursday and Friday, December 4 and 5. Kodat was interviewed about The Nutcracker ballet, which will be performed locally on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7, at the Stanley Theatre in Utica. Kodat's interview is scheduled to air on Thursday, Dec. 4 during the 5 p.m. news hour, and again on Friday, Dec. 5, during the morning news. Kodat, a former dance critic for The Baltimore Sun and Dance Magazine, has conducted research on 20th-century American ballet and modern dance.