Locked In: Former US Ambassador Visits China 10 Years Later
On November 20, AmCham China hosted an exclusive, off-the-record roundtable discussion with former US Ambassador to China Gary Locke, where he provided unique insights into the evolving US-China relationship and the implications for commerce and investment. The event was attended exclusively by AmCham China’s Chairman’s Circle members and Policy+ subscribers and was moderated by former AmCham China Chair William Zarit, now Senior Counselor with The Cohen Group. Zarit, a former colleague of Ambassador Locke’s at the US Embassy in Beijing, shares his thoughts on his long-term friend, including the Ambassador’s environmental legacy in China and his current role as Chair of the Committee of 100.
Photo by Jin Peng
When did you first meet Ambassador Gary Locke, and how have you worked with him over the years?
Bill Zarit: Ambassador Locke was appointed Secretary of Commerce when I was at headquarters overseeing East Asia Pacific for the Foreign Commercial Service. At the time, I was about five levels below him, so we didn’t have much direct contact until 2008, when I accompanied him to the opening of the US Pavilion groundbreaking at the World Expo in Shanghai. That’s when I started getting to know him. The next year, in 2009, I moved to China as Minister Counselor in the Commercial Section, overseeing the Department of Commerce’s activities in the region.
During his time as Secretary, he visited China several times, leading trade delegations and attending the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade. Then, in 2011, I got an early morning call from Ambassador Jon Huntsman, who shared that Gary Locke had been appointed as the next Ambassador to China. I was thrilled because I knew Locke was deeply focused on commercial affairs. From 2011 to 2014, we worked closely together. We criss-crossed China, meeting government officials, business leaders, and others, which made for a very productive and exciting time.
Let’s talk about US-China relations in broad terms. How would you compare then to now?
Bill Zarit: It was a very different world. During Ambassador Locke’s tenure, he prioritized US exports and foreign investment because of their impact on job creation. The commercial relationship was thriving. From 2011 to 2014, US exports to China grew 25%, from $100 billion to $125 billion, and Chinese investment in the US nearly tripled. Locke also launched SelectUSA to attract foreign investment.
Contrast that with today: US companies are exporting less to China, and Chinese investments in the US face many challenges, including less encouragement at various government levels. It’s a very different, more strained environment now.
What lessons from Ambassador Locke’s tenure remain relevant today, especially given the current geopolitical and economic challenges?
Bill Zarit: The biggest lesson would be communication – whether that’s government-to-government, government-to-business, business-to-business, or people-to-people. During Locke’s time, there were numerous official and unofficial channels for dialogue. He consistently met with Chinese government officials, business leaders, and US stakeholders, maintaining open lines of communication.
Today, this level of engagement is harder to achieve, as the environment has shifted significantly. However, I believe every effort must be made to foster and expand communication channels. It’s critical for healthy US-China relations. Personally, I’ve shifted my focus to US-China people-to-people relations, which is something I highlighted in my recent TEDx talk.
One of the areas that Ambassador Locke set out to tackle on his arrival in China was the issue of wait times for visas. Tell us about how he managed to overhaul the system.
Bill Zarit: When Locke arrived as Ambassador, visa wait times for Chinese businesspeople were sometimes months-long, which was a barrier to US job creation and economic benefits. He identified this as a priority and worked with embassy staff and Washington to set clear goals, provide resources, and empower the visa section team to resolve the issue.
Through his leadership, wait times dropped dramatically, from months to just days. While the visa section staff deserve immense credit, Locke’s leadership style – setting priorities, empowering his team, and applying focused pressure – was key to the success.
Photo by Jin Peng
Let’s move to air quality. This is often regarded as one of the most impactful diplomatic achievements by the US in China. Can you walk us through what happened?
Bill Zarit: The issue of Beijing’s air quality was first brought to the forefront by Ambassador Locke’s predecessor, Ambassador Jon Huntsman. At that time, Embassy families were deeply concerned about “crazy bad” air quality, which often exceeded the 500 level on air quality indices. During his tenure, Ambassador Locke made it one of his priorities to ensure the issue received attention and that everyone, including the Chinese public, was informed.
He worked with the State Department’s Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) section to get the necessary equipment installed to monitor and publicly share air quality data. It wasn’t easy – there were countless obstacles – but with determination and collaboration, the Embassy began posting daily readings on its website and Twitter. This transparency not only raised awareness but also influenced long-term policy changes in China. Today, every city in China reports its air quality.
Finally, let’s discuss Locke’s current role as Chair of the Committee of 100. What’s the significance of this organization, and how is he shaping its mission?
Bill Zarit: The Committee of 100 is a nonprofit organization of prominent Chinese Americans from various fields, founded in 1989 by figures like I.M. Pei and Yo-Yo Ma. It has a dual mission: to promote the participation of Chinese Americans in US society and to foster constructive US-China relations.
Ambassador Locke is passionate about improving organizational efficiency and has been focusing the Committee’s efforts on addressing anti-China sentiment in the US. This backlash is a major concern for Chinese Americans, and he sees it as the area where the Committee can have the greatest impact right now. He’s channeling the group’s resources to address these challenges while maintaining its broader mission.
Is there anything else you’d like to add about Locke, either as a colleague, friend, or leader?
Bill Zarit: Ambassador Locke’s leadership style stands out. He sets clear, achievable goals, empowers his team to figure out the best ways to achieve them, and tirelessly promotes those goals. He’s been incredibly effective in every role he’s taken on, whether as Governor, Secretary of Commerce, or Ambassador.
On a personal note, he’s a loyal friend, and I value that deeply.
This article is from the AmCham China Quarterly Magazine (Issue 4, 2024). To access the entire publication for free, sign up on our member portal here.