The Spotlight Finds Jason Wu
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/fashion/25WU.html

If you were to open a business in any of those Little Saigons, and put the communist flag in front of your store…most likely you’re not going to meet many friendly Vietnamese people. Some of the Vietnamese will also protest if the Communist flag is beign used to represent VIetnam. However, ask any person of Vietnamese descent if they are offended if they are called “Vietnamese”. I would say no. Are they going to complain and asked to be be something called like “Saigonese?” similar to how people from Hong Kong would rather be called something like Hong Kongnese rather than Chinese? .

I’m not saying don’t say Taiwan or Taiwanese, I’m simply saying the Taiwan people of today can and are considered as Chinese. I’m simply also saying the people of Hong Kong, can and are considered as Chinese. Just like the South Vietnamese of Vietnam, can and are considered as Vietnamese. The people of South Korea can and are considered as Korean. To expand that as well, the people of the Philippines can and are considered as Asian.

To Jun: Bích is a Vietnamese name, just like Phúc is as well. Kinh is the ethnic group that originates from Vietnam. Since Phở seems to be the most popular Vietnamese food, I chose to combine all 3. I will also use Phở Kinh Yue, as Yue would also be showing tribute to not only the Kinh but also the Yue of Vietnam.

Steve: I agree with your opinion, but I also see there’s a lot of internval rivarly and hate between Asians. It’s become so ridiculous that you have certain groups in USA that are extremely offended by the term, “ASIAN” i.e. Filipino-Americans, and will use ignorant stereotypes to justify that they are not Asian. Some examples would be “Hey! we don’t have slanted eyes!….hey! Our island is in the Pacific! hey! we’re brown”. Since you know it seems many people believe that Asian is exclusive to East Asians, or in particular only Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans.

Steve: I understand how you would rather be known as Taiwanese, I really do and I’m not saying don’t call yourself Taiwanese either. I also have family and friends from Taiwan as well and I don’t care if they would rather be called Taiwanese. It’s just my opinion that people of today, from Taiwan, can and are considered as Chinese.

I would like to conclude this with a quote from the movie, Cool Runnings.

“If we look Jamaicain, walk Jamaican, talk Jamaicain, and is Jamaican. Then we sure as hell bobsled Jamaican.”

Similarly, Taiwanese suffer a similar fate here and abroad. Despite communities in Taiwan and across the world claiming Taiwanese identity, we are all lumped into ‘Chinese’. My claiming Taiwanese does not take anything away from those who identify as Chinese. But those who insist I am Chinese don’t even allow me to exist. What prompted the original post was that, similarly, mainstream media often doesn’t allow ‘Taiwan’ or the contesting of Taiwan to exist either. It’s ‘Taiwan Province’ or the even more ridiculous ‘Chinese Taipei’ (find that on a map) which MSNBC used in describing Jason Wu’s roots.

In a country where a bi-racial man can self-identify, be seen as, valued for his identity enough to be elected to the highest office in this country, should not the same principles be extended to those everywhere?

and
is “Phở Kinh Bích” a real name?
its Viet, im assuming if it is?
Im in no win situation asking this question, it proves im either stupid or ignorant…
but if it is a real name, its totally badass

Note, I’m not disagreeing that most Taiwanese shouldn’t or can’t also be called Chinese, I just think there’s room for both designations, and people can call themselves whatever makes them comfortable.