Congressional Gold Medal for WWII Chinese American Veterans Initiative
Although the Chinese American community has always strived to be good citizens, history has shown that they have not been treated fairly and need to let their Congressional leaders know that their service to our country needs to be recognized. Like many minorities, Chinese Americans overcame discrimination to serve their country bravely and honorably and we need to encourage the Congress to act favorably on this proposal to commemorate the service of these Chinese American veterans.
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Garden of Harmonious Beauty opens at Arboretum
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By Judy Hohmann, contributor
The first-ever Chinese Garden in Minnesota opened officially to great international fanfare and a watery welcome on Sept. 18, at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen.
Amidst mild rain showers, the “Garden of Harmonious Beauty” showcased a blend of Chinese cultural elements of architecture, rocks, water and plants — integrating artistry with nature. The new Chinese Garden celebrated the completion of Phase 2 design and construction with global partners, donors and supporters from the Arboretum and Chinese-American community. Guests previewed a customized pond and garden path, gated viewing platform, moon gate entry, peony pavilion, peony and plants garden, and trio of Qinling Mountain rocks from Shaanxi Provincial Government in central China.
Dignitaries included University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler, who spoke of the long-standing sister state relationship between Shannxi Province and the State of Minnesota. In fact, Kaler stated the 103-year relationship of China and the University of Minnesota — with the Pan brothers and friend from Shanghai, who made their way in 1914, from the land of terra cotta soldiers to the land of 10,000 lakes — to study engineering and mining technology at the U. Currently, there are more than 5,000 alumni living in China, and, over the years, more than 8,000 students from China have earned University of Minnesota degrees. Right now, nearly 3,000 Chinese students are on campus.
Shi Chengjun, deputy director general of the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government spoke on behalf of the Shaanxi Friendship Delegation; and Liu Jun, Deputy Consul General of the Chinese Consulate in Chicago, Ill., also shared remarks about the continuing garden partnership with the Arboretum garden and University.
From the Chinese-American community, Hoyt Hsiao provided a donor’s perspective on behalf of his family’s lead donor role for the Chinese garden path, named for his parents, Fred and Jennie Hsiao. Kaimay Yuen Terry, who with her husband Dr Joseph Terry, funded the moon gate, recognized the Chinese American Association of Minnesota and the many community supporters of the Chinese Garden. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation President Todd Wagner then invited the event guests to join in a toast and ribbon cutting, and to explore the new garden.
Closing the program was a performance by the Shaanxi Provincial Folk Orchestra playing traditional Chinese musical instruments. A “family photo” of the extremely talented musicians, dignitaries and community supporters was taken at the conclusion, representing the community brought together by the new Chinese Garden. The Chinese Garden opened to all Arboretum members and visitors in late September.
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The Second War with Japan, Part II
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By Pat Welsh, contributor
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor changed everything for the foreign interests in China. Foreign concessions in Shanghai ended as Japanese troops arrested and interned all foreigners in China’s cities living under their occupation. They were no longer neutrals; they became enemy aliens.
In February 1942, Japan invaded Burma (now known as Myanmar). At first, Japan had no intention of taking Burma, except Burma seemed to be an easy acquisition as the country was only lightly defended by the British. Then too, seizing Burma would cut off a supply route to China as well as be a real threat against India.
In Washington D.C.. Lieutenant General Joseph W. Stilwell received orders that would, over four years, initiate a very different Chinese relationship with America. Stilwell was to command some Chinese troops operating in Burma. In any case, both General George Marshall in Washington and Chiang both viewed Stilwell operating as Chiang’s junior partner. Under Chiang and his uneasy relationship with Stilwell, Chiang had both the United States and the British Empire as allies against Japan.
Montana ranchers seek partnerships to send US beef into Chinese markets
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Xinhua, Sept. 13, 2017
[BOZEMAN, United States] - "We're very excited that China removed a ban on US beef imports," said Fred Wacker, a third-generation rancher of Miles City in the northwestern US state of Montana, where there're about three heads of cattle for every person.
Two months ago, as part of the 100-day action plan to boost economic cooperation between the United States and China, the two countries reached a deal to reopen Chinese markets for US beef.
China banned US beef imports in 2003 amid concerns over mad cow disease. After the lifting of the ban, ranchers in Montana like Wacker are eager to tap the huge potential of Chinese markets, which have around 300 million middle class consumers.
However, Montana currently doesn't have a large processing plant to handle beef exports to China. Most US meat producers that have been approved to export beef to China are located in the Midwestern states of Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas.
Chinese government cracking down on bitcoin trading
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The subject line of one recent email read, ”I invested $20 in bitcoin – see how much I made in one week” Well … the coin (pun intended!) can flip both ways. You can lose big time in bitcoins in one week also!
The price of bitcoin dropped from $4.971 on Sept. 1 to about $3,226 on Sept. 14. What happened?
Australia’s Financial Review quoted a source who said China used to have “the most favorable approach to bitcoin,” but almost overnight, it became the most unfriendly.
The 19th plenary session is scheduled to begin on Oct. 18 when new leaders for the next five years are to be picked. A lot is at stake for the Chinese Communist Party. Perhaps the clampdown on bitcoin trading is one way to ensure social and financial stability leading up to the political powwow.
Congressional Gold Medal for WWII Chinese American Veterans
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By retired Army Maj. Gen. Bill Chen
The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the Congress and is the highest civilian award in the United States. It is awarded to persons "who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field long after the achievement.”
On May 4, 2017, bills were introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate for the award of the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the Chinese American veterans of World War II. Representatives Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) were lead co-sponsors of H.R. 2358 on the House side; and Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) were lead co-sponsors of S. 1050 on the Senate side.
The bills were the result of a campaign organized by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.) to recognize Chinese American servicemen and servicewomen who volunteered or were drafted when the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was still in place – they fought for their country in the face of discrimination and injustice. Established in 1895, C.A.C.A. is the oldest Asian American civil rights organization in America.
The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States and proscribed entry of a specific ethnic group. The Act made it illegal for Chinese laborers to immigrate to the United States and limited the Chinese population in America.
At the start of World War II, there were approximately 78,000 Chinese Americans living on the United States mainland and 29,000 living in Hawaii. Despite the anti-Chinese discrimination at the time, some 20,000 Chinese Americans served in the U.S. Armed Forces -- a high percentage of the total Chinese American population. Approximately 40 percent of those who served were not citizens of the United States.
Chinese Americans made important contributions to the World War II effort. About 25 percent served in the U.S. Army Air Force (former name of the U.S. Air Force). The remainder served in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces in all theaters of war.
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