Joint Statement Calling for the Immediate Release of Michael Kovrig

China’s rise is the most consequential geopolitical trend of our time and managing the U.S.-China relationship will remain the foremost diplomatic challenge for many years to come. Independent policy research institutions can play an affirmative role in the U.S.-China relationship, framing the major policy debates, providing analysis from a variety of perspectives and disciplines, and offering innovative ideas and initiatives to mitigate conflict and enhance cooperation.

At this moment of testing for the bilateral relationship – defined by growing differences and suspicions between our governments – we believe these efforts and the partnerships we’ve built with counterparts in China over many years are more important than ever. This is why we are particularly concerned by the detention of one of our colleagues, Michael Kovrig, a Canadian national working for the International Crisis Group. Michael's arrest has a chilling effect on all those who are committed to advance constructive U.S.-China relations. We urge China to release Michael so that he can return to his family.  

All signatories are signing in their personal capacity, affiliations are provided for reference only.

• John R. Allen, General, USMC (Ret.)
• Antony Blinken, Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement    
• Nicholas Burns, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School
• Ambassador William J. Burns, former Deputy Secretary of State
• Derek Chollet, Executive Vice President, The German Marshall Fund of the US
• Richard Fontaine, Chief Executive Officer, Center for a New American Security
• James Levinsohn, Director Jackson Institute for Global Affairs Yale University
• Robert Malley, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group
• Danielle Pletka, Vice President at the American Enterprise Institute
• Daniel R. Porterfield, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Aspen Institute
• Orville Schell, Arthur Ross Director, Center on US-China Relations, Asia Society
• Ambassador Josette Sheeran
• Anne-Marie Slaughter, Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University
• Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress
• Kenneth Weinstein, President & CEO, Hudson Institute