The PLA at Home and Abroad - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

pact that a single determined individual can have on
U.S. policy. With the passing of Jim Lilley in October
2009, the United States lost one of its most dedicated
public servants and an extremely talented China hand.
And I lost an old and loyal friend.
While Jim, of course, needs no introduction to the
contributors to this volume and many readers, it is
worth mentioning some of the highlights of his extremely
eventful life and long history of selfless service
to this country. Jim was a China hand literally
from the day he was born in Shandong Province and
grew up speaking Chinese. Jim’s career of government
service began in the military and continued in the intelligence
community, with a major focus on China.
Later, he shifted to a career as a diplomat. In the early
1980s Jim took the post of chief of the American Institute
in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. Embassy in Taipei.
Shortly thereafter, he ably served as U.S. ambassador
in two Asian capitals at times of considerable political
upheaval—for 3 years in Seoul, Korea, followed by 2
years in Beijing. The latter posting was during my administration
and took place at an especially difficult
time in America’s relationship with China during the
tragedy of Tiananmen Square and its aftermath. Simply
put, Jim did an outstanding job.
After such a distinguished career, Jim richly deserved
a restful retirement. But leaving government
service in 1991 did not mean sitting back in a rocking
chair. Jim lived in the Washington area, where he
remained an active participant in policy debates on
China and Korea and a keen sponsor and lively participant
in this conference series.
While Jim never got to see this volume or attend
last year’s conference, I am confident that he would
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