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I was listening to KQED last night and came across the very interesting program discussing Taiwan, “Missiles, Money and the Mainland: The Taiwan Dilemma.” With all the talk about China these days with the Beijing Olympics coming up, it was nice to hear about Taiwan being discussed and its tenuous relationship with the People’s Republic of China:
“For six decades, Taiwan’s political status has been unresolved. In that time, the small island’s economic dynamism has made it a major player in the global market. But its economic success hasn’t translated into political clout on the international stage. As China’s sphere of influence expands, the island it considers a rogue province is losing friends. Taipei’s occasional gestures towards independence have stroked the ire of China, and the US has backed its democratic ally. But with the potential for serious conflict in the Taiwan Strait between nuclear powers, each side is treading carefully.”
You can listen/download the 50+ minute program here (.mp3)
What really caught my ear was when the program discussed when then Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui (Cornell Ph.d.’68) visited Cornell in June 1995 to give a speech during reunion weekend. As a Taiwanese-American and Cornell alum, I was filled with pride that Lee Teng-hui was able to give his speech, “Always in My Heart.” I would have attended reunion weekend had it not been for my brother’s college graduation that same weekend.
The program reminded me that after Lee Teng-hui gave the speech and returned to Taiwan, mainland China started conducting military exercises and firing missiles in the direction of Taiwan. This lead the United States to send in a second aircraft carrier group to pass through the Taiwan Straits to not only reassure the U.S.’s defense of Taiwan but also warn China to tone things done, which it did.
If you’re at all interested in Taiwan, the program is worth listening to.
No Comments | Posted in: Current Events, Observations, Politics
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Well, another split decision between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential nomination as Clinton wins Indiana last night and Obama wins North Carolina. But more importantly for the 8Asians audience, who wins when it comes to each candidate’s statements on the month of May - Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month ? I say Hillary Clinton.
Earlier this month, The White House, as well as Hillary Clinton and Barack Oabama put out their statements on APA Heritage month (interestingly, John McCain did not (or I couldn’t find it) - though he did put out a statement for Passover.) As someone who covers a lot of Asian American politics issues for 8Asians, this is my take on Clinton’s and Obama’s statements. (Note: I am currently a Clinton supporter, but will support Obama if he wins the nomination, though I definitely respect McCain’s service to our country. This is my own person opinion and does not reflect anybody else associated with 8Asians, which is committed to being non-partisan and endorses no one.)
In her statement, Clinton discusses many of the issues facing Asian Americans, including: restoring veterans’ benefits to Filipino veterans who were called into service and fought under the United States flag during World War II, universal health care amongst a broad diversity of groups represented under the monolithic category of “Asian Americans”, affordable higher education (noting that many have succeeded academically, many as well have not) and immigration reform addressing the backlog of family visas. Finally, Clinton states that 20% of her staff is Asian American. If you ask me, that’s pretty awesome and impressive - especially considering she’s not representing Hawaii or California, but New York).
As for Obama’s statement on APA Heritage month, it’s fairly generic. Obama discuses that he has family members (like his half-sister) who are of Asian decent and that he grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia. He then outlines the challenges we as a nation face, including the wars in Iran & Iraq, the environment, quality and accessible (reducing language & cultural barriers) health care, affordable higher education, renewable energy, programs for minority-owned small businesses, comprehensive immigration reform, restoring the rule of law and regional security in Asia. He goes on to thank his Asian American volunteers who’ve helped his campaign in so many ways. If you ask me, Obama’s list of challenges were addressable to all Americans, not necessarily to any specific needs of the Asian American community, which is too bad considering Obama is addressing the Asian American community!
Last year, I had met California State Controller John Chiang (D) prior to Chiang endorsing Clinton, and asked him who he was going to endorse. As the highest elected Asian American politician in state government in the United States (as well as a Californian politician), Chiang’s endorsement was highly sought after by all the major candidates. Chiang said he had met and spoken with Clinton, Edwards and Obama and they all knew the issues well - 2 or 3 levels deep, but Chiang said what impressed him the most was that Clinton knew all the issues 8 levels deep and was deeply impressed by her knowledge and smarts. I’ve known John Chiang before he was state controller, voted for him and value his opinion and endorsement. For whatever reason, Asian Americans have overwhelmingly been voting for Clinton in the Democratic primaries. At least from Clinton’s APA Heritage Month statement, Clinton has shown that she is aware of Asian Americans’ specific issues as well as has plenty of Asian American representation on her staff.
Me & John Chiang
At the end of the day though, I think that both Clinton and Obama will address the needs of both Asian Americans and all Americans a lot better than the Republicans and Senator John McCain. If you know me, you know I am counting down the days until George W. Bush is out of office at http://www.backwardsbush.com.
No Comments | Posted in: Current Events, Observations, Politics
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I most recently wrote about about Governor ‘Bobby’ Jindal of Louisiana in March in, “McCain’s Surprise: VP ‘Bobby’ Jindal ?” Well, Jindal was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this past Monday night, no doubt to answer the speculations that he may be McCain’s running mate. This is the first time I’ve ever seen him speak - and I have never seen an Indian American with a Southern / Louisiana accent before!
From what I had read and blogged about him (Indian-American Congressman Elected Louisiana’s Governor, In a Southern State, Immigrants’ Son Takes Over, Indian-American to be leading Louisana Governor candidate), he seemed to be quite a bright person, but in his interview with Leno, he also comes across as a regular guy, and I can definitely see how he won over voters.
No Comments | Posted in: Entertainment, Observations, Politics
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Filipino Veterans have been neglected for nearly 60 years since World War II. And the US Senate finally passes a bill boosting veteran benefits, including those for Filipino Veterans.
Supporters of the controversial provision said it would overturn a 60-year-old law and give 18,000 Filipino veterans of World War II who live abroad a roughly US$300-a-month pension.
Sadly, it’s a bit too late for the majority of Filipino Veterans who have passed on.
I was five when I learned of my grandfather’s story during World War II. A local San Francisco Bay Area news reporter, Wendy Tokuda, came to interview my grandfather about his experience. It was during this television interview that I learned of my grandfather’s bravery. My grandfather enlisted when he was 18 to fight against the Japanese in World War II. He was a cook in the Navy, because at that time most minorities were given these types of jobs. But it wasn’t the job that became so interesting for the news reporter. It was what the Navy asked my grandfather to do. In 1945, they ordered him and a number of other soldiers to stand on the bow of their ship and look at the water. They were told to look at the ocean along the horizon. A few minutes later, a bright light flashed and a mushroom cloud formed. The navy conducted tests on my grandfather to study the affects of nuclear blasts and radiation on their soldiers.
I understood why my grandfather wore thick glass-bottled lenses. I understood why he had trouble seeing his later years in life. But I never understood why he was still so proud to have served in the Navy, after what the military and government had done. To his last dying day he was proud to be a Filipino Veteran. He looked upon his duty with honor, without remorse or regret.
The bill’s passing is honorable, and it’s welcomed. But for most it’s a bit too late. But even if it came many years after, I’m sure if my grandfather was here today, he would still stand and salute and would have been ever so proud to have served.
5 Comments | Posted in: Current Events, Politics
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There have been a lot of demonstrations in London, Paris, San Francisco and in other places in the world as the Olympic Torch relay makes its way to its eventual destination in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. As part of the protest against China, specifically for the events regarding Tibet in March, French Prime Minisiter Nicolas Sarkozy will not be attending the Olympic opening ceremonies. As a consequence, The New York Times reported recently that:
“On Friday and Saturday, protesters gathered in front of a half-dozen outlets of the French retailer Carrefour, including a demonstration in the central city of Wuhan that reportedly drew several thousand people, according to Agence France-Presse. On Saturday, about 50 demonstrators carrying banners held a brief rally at the French Embassy here before the police shooed them away… In the past, the government has encouraged nationalistic outbursts and then quashed them when passions grew too inflamed — or when the protests had achieved the political purpose officials envisioned.”
I was just thinking while reading the article, when the Chinese government becomes a bit concerned about nationalistic feelings going a bit overboard, that this reminded me of what happened with the Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution. Of course, we are nowhere near that situation but thought I’d mentioned it to get your attention. In a country where where not all speech is welcomed, it’s refreshing to see Chinese protesting and expressing their opinions publicly. Though I am wondering why the protests took so long to take place, given that the torch relay in Paris was April 9th… Maybe there will be protests against British and American retailers soon as well?
2 Comments | Posted in: Current Events, Observations, Politics
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Yesterday in Los Angeles, over 1,000 Chinese/Chinese-Americans protested in front of CNN’s Los Angeles office (as reported in The Los Angeles Times). Why do you ask? Well, if you haven’t been following this brewing “controversy,” CNN’s Jack Cafferty commented on April 9th during the airing of “The Situation Room”:
“We continue to import their [China's] junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export . . . jobs to places where you can pay workers a dollar a month to turn out the stuff that we’re buying from Wal-Mart. So I think our relationship with China has certainly changed. I think they’re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they’ve been for the last 50 years.”
CNN later said Cafferty’s comments were directed at the Chinese government, not the Chinese people. To be honest, being called “goons and thugs” I don’t think is all that constructive, but I don’t think it is as horrible as the protesters have made it seem (China and the Chinese have been called much worse…) But, I do understand the growing concern of the demonization of China. I’ve written before about how this reminds me of the criticisms raised during Japan’s “rise” in the mid-to-late 1980’s.
Certainly, there are many valid concerns regarding a variety of China-related issues, including most recently, Tibet. Obviously, with the 2008 Beijing Olympics approaching rapidly, bringing up any China-related issues makes sense to those groups trying to bring visibility to their cause.
If the United States were hosting the Olympics this summer, I am sure there would be plenty of protests of our continued involvement in Iraq, as well as a host of other issues by many different countries, including our many allies. I’m all for free speech and certainly was glad to see other countries and its citizens protesting America’s foreign policy and war mongering prior to Bush’s decision for a preemptive war into Iraq (I’ve *always* been against the war).
18 Comments | Posted in: Current Events, Observations, Politics
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On the radio the other day (4/15/08), I heard on KQED a radio piece on The World (and in In The New York Times today -”Chinese Student in U.S. Is Caught in Confrontation“), discussing a situation regarding Grace Wang, a Chinese freshman student at Duke University. [Listen here: starts at minute 25:50]
Only a dozen or so pro-Tibet demonstrators turned out last Wednesday for a protest, but were overwhelmed by several hundred pro-mainland Chinese students. Wang walked into the protest as she existed the dining hall and walked right into the middle of the demonstration (see YouTube video above). Wang was trying to get both sides to talk, but got caught up in situation. Afterwards, according to Duke’s “The Chronicle” in “Student gets threats after China protest“:
“After the protests, the student’s personal information, including her name, phone number and Chinese identity number were posted to the Duke Chinese Scholars and Students Association (DCSSA) Web site, according to documents obtained by The Chronicle. Photographs and a video of the student from the rally have also been posted on several popular Chinese-language forums… The student’s parents have also been targeted. Their contact information was posted on several popular Chinese-language Internet forums. Some Internet sources said their home was attacked, though the student said she has been unable to confirm this with her parents, who declined to discuss the issue when she contacted them via e-mail.”
Actually, Wang’s information was emailed in the DCSSA email listserv. The DCSSA said that someone on their list abused their privilege and they whole heartedly condemn the release of Wong’s information and the University was happy with their quick condemnation. The radio piece goes on to explain how the Chinese government has encouraged extreme nationalism amongst Chinese students studying abroad.
This reminded me of an Op-Ed piece in The New York Times the other day, “China’s Loyal Youth:”
“Educated young people are usually the best positioned in society to bridge cultures, so it’s important to examine the thinking of those in China. The most striking thing is that, almost without exception, they feel rightfully proud of their country’s accomplishments in the three decades since economic reforms began. And their pride and patriotism often find expression in an unquestioning support of their government, especially regarding Tibet….Barring major changes in China’s education system or economy, Westerners are not going to find allies among the vast majority of Chinese on key issues like Tibet, Darfur and the environment for some time. If the debate over Tibet turns this summer’s contests in Beijing into the Human Rights Games, as seems inevitable, Western ticket-holders expecting to find Chinese angry at their government will instead find Chinese angry at them.”
I agree. One might think that mainland Chinese students, especially those living and studying abroad here in the United States, would be exposed and automatically accept a Western-point-of-view. But that is a bit naive to think. For the Chinese under 30, the world that they have been brought up in has been their oyster. China’s rise and culmination to the Olympic games is China’s defining moment and coming out party to the world, and they have a right to be proud. But over time, the Chinese youth will hopefully come to understand why the world often protests against the Chinese government (and not the Chinese people). One can love a country and still criticize it - and if fact, that is the tough love that many Americans today are practicing with their government. Let’s hope cooler heads prevail as we approach the August 8th, 2008.
27 Comments | Posted in: Current Events, Observations, Politics
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Paul Koontz, who was the first VP of marketing at Netscape, gets the once in a lifetime opportunity to go visit North Korea…. with his two kids. He presents a satirical point of view, which is very refreshing, also the anecdotal aspect of this presentation points out many serious problems with infrastructure, propaganda and the self-promoting regime that has been in power.
1 Comment | Posted in: Observations, Politics, WTF
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