The recent visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan was not well-received by Beijing at all.
In retaliation, the People’s Republic of China dramatically scaled up military exercises in the Taiwan Strait. It canceled eight key dialogs with the U.S. It banned export of natural sand to the island state and halted imports of agricultural and fish products from Taiwan.
In “Tensions over Taiwan,” three experts at The University of Wisconsin shed light on the economic and strategic implications of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry globally should Taiwan be governed by the PRC.
Well worth watching.
Perhaps the choice of venue for the first Biden administration official meeting with the Chinese - Anchorage, Alaska, where average mid-March temperature runs below freezing - is a precursor to how things will go: frosty!
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By Elaine Dunn, April 2021
For this writer, memories of growing up in Hong Kong in the ‘60s consist of much fun, freedom and feckless activities. This was a decade when Hong Kong grew in wealth and population at an unprecedented rate. Still, back then, probably most HK citizens knew things would be quite different when the territorial lease from China is up and the British colony goes back to China.
(Broken mask from sacrificial pit No. 5)
By Elaine Dunn, April 2021
On March 20, the Chinese National Cultural Heritage Administration released important archaeological findings from the 3,000-year-old Sanxingdui archaeological site. It said the artifacts could provide new insights on the ancient Shu (蜀, 1250-1100 B.C.) state, now part of Sichuan Province, in southwest China.
By Ed Shew, contributor
Every group that has immigrated to America has struggled to fit in while battling the hatred and discrimination from those already established here. First there was the late-19th century “Yellow Peril” and later xenophobic myths that promoted the false ideas that Asians were disease carriers, a threat to the nation and could never truly become American.
According to the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) Preamble:
[NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2021] – Committee of 100 (C100), the nonprofit leadership organization of Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts announced a landmark study on the historic contributions of Chinese Americans to the fabric of American society.
By Elaine Dunn, March 2021
March 8 is International Women’s Day. Since 1911, women the world over have been honored for their achievements, be it in the cultural, economic, educational, historical, political or social fields on this day.
This article by Sarah Lemagie, reprinted with permission from the Minneapolis Foundation, first appeared in the foundation’s website on Dec.7, 2020.
When the pandemic struck Minnesota this spring, Pearl Bergad reached out to her two sons and their wives: We’ve built up a pretty substantial reserve in our Donor Advised Fund at the Minneapolis Foundation, she pointed out. Let’s do something with it now.
Add a commentReviewed by J.D. Mabbot, contributor
Niklas Hageback’s “The Downfall of China or CCP 3.0?” is an insightful look at inside the policies of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that will decide whether it will face an impending downfall, or yet again can manage to transform itself radically and weather the storm.
Greetings:
Now that Joseph R. Biden has been inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States, the country needs to unite again after experiencing a tumultuous period under the previous administration leading to a tragic demonstration at the nation’s capital on Jan. 6.
By Elaine Dunn, February 2021
Whether the 2022 Winter Olympics will take place as planned in Beijing or not (China Insight, January 2021) is anyone’s guess at this point, but to the many hopeful participants, their training and laser-sharp focus are on getting to one of the three medal-winning podiums in their event in whatever city it may take place.
The Chinese American WWII Veterans Recognition Project enters its fifth year with great anticipation for the award ceremony of the Congressional Gold Medal to more than 3,000 veterans who have applied for, and confirmed for this honor.
It is unfortunate the pandemic had caused the project to be extended into 2021 - a full year longer than planned despite the efforts of vigilant volunteers and prudent stewards. No matter, the modified in-person presentation plan from capable Chinese American Citizens Alliance committee members and donor-supporter community will all be worth it when it does take place.
By William Zajicek, contributor
Xiang Jiang Pavilion
The St. Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden, located in Phalen Park, Saint Paul, is seeking additional funds ($160,000) to complete Phase I of the garden construction and begin Phase II.
By Elaine Dunn, February 2021
Typical couplets pasted on doorway for Chinese New Year
Feb. 12 will be start of the Year of the Ox, which, according to Chinese tradition, is a symbol for wealth. So … here are a few tips on how to ring the year in the Chinese way.
By Greg Hugh
It has been a long and uncertain journey, but Chinese American veterans who served their country in World War II were finally awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on Dec. 9, 2020.
Efforts to enact the Congressional Gold Medal Act for these Chinese American veterans first began in December 2016. An exploratory committee led by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA) set out to secure the support of members of Congress. The bill, first introduced to the Senate and the House of Representatives in May 2017, was ultimately passed on and signed by President Donald Trump Dec. 20, 2018.
While air travel is still risky health-wise and lockdowns are common, here is a chance for us to “travel” and see New York City’s Chinatown.
The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) and the Center for Jewish History (CJH) are co-hosting a new online exhibition, “An Unlikely Photojournalist: Emile Bocian in Chinatown,” at https://exhibits.cjh.org/bocian.
By Elaine Dunn
The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing opened with great fanfare. It was China’s debut on the world stage, an opportunity to showcase its history, culture and its athletes to a global audience. Fast forward to the 2022 Winter Olympics. Once again, Beijing will be the venue. However, circumstances are quite different.
China’s 2021 holiday schedule will, per tradition, include two week-long holidays: Chinese New Year, aka Spring Festival, which will take place Feb. 11-17; and the National Day Holiday, Oct. 1-7.
On Nov. 11, a netizen posted an image of an apparel size chart seen at a Taiwanese chain store in China, saying, “I was shocked when I saw this size chart at a RT-Mart today. Am I completely rotten?” That image and post went viral and it enraged the online community, causing the company’s China Division to issue a public apology the following day.
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