MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Victoria Chonn Ching
Members are at the heart of what we do which is why we want to amplify their work and profile. Every week we are spotlighting one of our members. This week we are spotlighting Victoria Chonn Ching.
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What is the name of your organization?
Victoria Chonn Ching: University of Southern California.
What is the focus of your professional work?
Victoria Chonn Ching: I work in the field of International Political Economy and research cross-Pacific interactions, more specifically the relationship between Latin American countries and China, and how these dynamics can also affect the region's relationship with the U.S.
Why the focus on international affairs?
Victoria Chonn Ching: My aim is to better understand and have constructive discussions about how Latin American countries conduct their economic foreign policy with important players like China, and the impact these interactions can also have at the domestic level (in other words, within each country).
What are you working on these days?
Victoria Chonn Ching: My current work can be described in two levels: First, I'm examining the concept of agency in Latin American countries as they increase their global participation, in particular with China. Second, I examine how this participation can also be defined and determined by domestic actors. For example, a Latin American government can negotiate the participation of a Chinese firm in an investment project, but the final outcome and success of this project is not determined solely by the government of that country or the economic capacity of that Chinese firm. Other domestic actors can also play a role, including local governments, agencies, civil society, communities, etc. It can be a series of complex and multi-level exchanges!
What made you join the Pacific Council?
Victoria Chonn Ching: I wanted to be part of an organization with a diverse group of experts who are interested in global affairs as well as in generating knowledge and creating bridges across industries and geographically.
What’s your biggest takeaway?
Victoria Chonn Ching: We are all experts in what we do and, together, we can contribute to our communities and the world in general.
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You can connect to Victoria Chonn Ching on Twitter. Fill in this form to appear on our magazine and social media platforms to share what you do.
