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Award-winning writer Richard Halloran spoke at a luncheon of the Carthage Business and Professional Coalition on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The private luncheon was held in the Todd Wehr Center.

Mr. Halloran and his wife, Fumiko Mori Halloran, spent several days on campus as Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows through the Council of Independent Colleges. Both have extensive experience in East Asian affairs, and they shared their expertise with students and faculty members.

Richard Halloran, columnist and freelance writer, is featured guest at Oct. 23, 2013, Carthage Bu... In his talk, Mr. Halloran categorized the themes that China’s behavior follows in world affairs and described the internal impact of its policies — such as the one-child limit. He stressed the need for the United States to properly manage relations with the growing Asian power.

“How we and the Chinese get along or don’t get along will affect how several generations to come will live,” he said.

Mr. Halloran laid out various schools of thought on how the U.S. should treat China. He eschewed the views of the “panda huggers” who believe that all things China are good, and the “dragon slayers,” who believe the nation is a Fumiko Mori Halloran, writer and journalist, is featured guest at Oct. 23, 2013, Carthage Busines... repressive, evil superpower. Instead, he recommended cooperating with China whenever possible while drawing a line when necessary.

Acknowledging the attractiveness of the emerging market, he advised business leaders to learn about the culture and understand the influence of both the Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army. After the talk, the Hallorans answered questions from the audience.

Mr. Halloran did three tours as a foreign correspondent in East Asia for Business Week, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, each based in Tokyo, and continues to write a column titled “The Rising East.” He was a military correspondent for The New York Times for 10 years in Washington and has covered diplomacy, economics, and energy. In military service, he was a paratrooper and served in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Ms. Mori Halloran initially wrote about America in Japanese for audiences in the land of her birth. More recently, she has written about the land of her ancestors in English for audiences in her adopted home of America. Before becoming a writer, she served as senior political analyst at the Japan Economic Institute in Washington, program officer at the Japan Center for International Exchange in Tokyo, and bibliographer at the Japan Documentation Center of the East Asia Institute at Columbia University.

The Carthage Business and Professional Coalition comprises the leading business, civic, professional, and governmental leaders in southeastern Wisconsin. Members meet regularly for luncheons that feature guest speakers and discussion. To become a member, or to obtain more information, please contact Paul Hegland at phegland@carthage.edu or 262-551-5708.