ChinaInsight Fostering business and cultural harmony between China and the U.S. VOL. 16 NO. 4 April 2017 Going for gold

China Briefs, p. 3

News, p. 3

Wang Rui (C) of China competes during the World Women's Curling Championship round-robin match against Denmark in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2017. China won 7-5. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) p. 10

Business & Economics State exports drop 4 percent to US$19 billion in 2016 • Minnesota exports of goods (includ- Fig. 1. Exports from 35 states dropped in 2016 region ($516 million, down 15 Arts & Culture, p. 8, 16 ing agricultural, mining and manufactured percent) in 2016 products) were valued at $19 billion in 2016, representing a drop of 4 percent between Strong growth in food 2015 and 2016. U.S. exports decreased 3 and chemical areas, percent during the same period. base metal goods and • Minnesota exported 1,044 different aircraft products detailed products (4-digit HS codes) to 207 • Exports of cereals jumped countries in 2016. The state’s exports sup- 60 percent to $312 million. ported almost 120,000 jobs in Minnesota The largest gains were to China in 2015. ($32 million, up 2,253 percent – • Exports to the majority of states (35) fell mainly due to grain sorghum), Society, p. 13 in 2016, in part due to the continued strong Italy ($27 million, up 1,106 U.S. dollar. percent - mainly due to wheat) • Minnesota manufactured exports fell 5 and Costa Rica ($22 million, up percent to $18 billion in 2016, while U.S. In This Issue Decline 0% Growth from less than $6,200 – mainly manufactured exports fell 4 percent. due to corn/maize). Arts & Culture 8,9,16 • Export growth in aircraft/spacecraft Book review 12 Mixed performances across somewhat in 2016, growing by 30 percent – primarily aircraft products – jumped 9 major markets, strong growth to $185 million. Growth was especially percent to $507 million in 2016. France, Business & Economics 4 in Africa strong in Algeria (up 559 percent), Ethiopia Canada and New Zealand accounted for 49 Community 7 • Exports to Asia were unchanged be- (up 1,161 percent) and Morocco (up 119 percent of these sales. Gains to Canada (up Education 5 tween 2015 and 2016 at $6.4 billion, and percent). 94 percent), U.K. (up 91 percent) and Korea Government & Politics 13, 14, 15 slightly exceeded those to North America, • Exports to Europe fell 5 percent to $4.4 (up 986 percent) exceeded declines to the Health & Home 10 billion. The United Kingdom (up 6 percent), Netherlands, Singapore and New Zealand. which dropped 7 percent to $6.4 billion. History 6 In Asia, export gains to Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands (up 9 percent), Italy (up 6 • Singapore ($46 million, up 188 percent) News 3 Taiwan and Indonesia mitigated significant percent) and Luxembourg (up 170 percent led the growth in sales of organic chemicals declines to Japan, the Philippines, Thailand to $10 million) had positive performances. ($147 million, up 39 percent). Exports to People 7 and India. In North America, exports fell to • The state’s exports declined to Central Taiwan, United Kingdom, Korea and Ger- Pronouncements 2 both Canada ($4 billion, down 9 percent) and South America ($956 million, down 6 many increased between $2 million and $3 Society 13 and Mexico ($2.3 billion, down 2 percent). percent), the Middle East ($391 million, Travel 11, 15 • The state’s exports to Africa rebounded down 9 percent) and the Australia-Pacific Continues on Page 4 PAGE 2 / April 2017 pronouncements www.chinainsight.info

Publisher’s Pronouncements ChinaInsight wishes of growth and many children. Paper Dreams of Harry Chin” at the History Greetings, Prior to Easter, April 4 is Qingming (or Theatre (pg. 16). Since it’s no fun doing Publisher: Although spring has officially arrived, Ching Ming) Festival, also known as Tomb- spring cleaning and too early to get out and Gregory J. Hugh we are not yet completely out of the woods. Sweeping Day. It is a traditional Chinese do any gardening, get out and enjoy some [email protected] As this issue of China Insight goes to press, festival and is the day Chinese remember of these activities. basketball fans are experiencing the culmi- their departed ones by visiting their graves At this time, we are also considering nation of March Madness with the National and making offerings. Traditionally, they adding a cartoon section that we ran for Manager of Championship Game played on April 3. clean and sweep the graves, ancestor wor- several years and are looking for a volunteer Operations/Circulation: Easter will be celebrated by Christians ship, make offerings of food and flowers to take on this assignment. Please contact Richard He on Sunday, April 16, throughout the world. and burn joss paper. Besides remembrance me if you are interested or know a graphic [email protected] It is celebrated in China with some pas- of the deceased, people also enjoy antici- artist who would like to provide cartoons sion and enthusiasm as well. Beyond the pation of spring on this day. Flying kites for our consideration. Staff Writers: religious implications, Easter has much is also an important custom enjoyed by As always, please let us know if there Greg Hugh significance in the Chinese culture. Eggs, many people, young and old, during the are any topics you would like us to cover, [email protected] rabbits and baby chicks form the symbols of Qingming Festival. The uniqueness of kite or if there are any other ways we can better the festival in China, which is quite similar flying during the Qingming Festival lies in serve the community. All of us at China Elaine Dunn to the traditions of Western countries. On that kites are not only flown during the day Insight wish you a Happy Easter and thank [email protected] this day, Chinese people paint Easter eggs. but also in the evening. Little colorful and you for your continued support. These eggs are painted in a unique way by illuminated lanterns are tied to the string of Contributors: first draining them and then finely painting the kite, which look like flickering stars in Sincerely, Xianping He with intricate images of depicting women, the night sky. [email protected] sceneries and other beautiful designs. Jade To help you combat “cabin fever,” there and woods are smoothed and carved into are a few events like the free 16th Annual Ange Hwang shapes of eggs to symbolize the "dragon Bob and Kim Griffin Building U.S.-China Gregory J. Hugh [email protected] egg." All these are then given as gifts in Bridges Lecture (pg.7) and the play “The Publisher – CEO Maren Longbella [email protected]

Joe Pearman [email protected]

FREE Chang Wang SUBSCRIPTIONS [email protected] Getting to know you … Who are you? What articles do you enjoy reading? Patrick Welsh [email protected] China Insight would like to ensure our contents match your interests. Please take a few minutes to complete this poll so we can update out reader demographics. For your trouble, the first 10 respondents each month will receive a free annual Production Editor: subscription to China Insight. Winners will be notified by email. Teresa Khamlusa [email protected] Entry Form Please send me free China Insight for a year if I am one of the first 10 respondents this month. Honorary: The top two articles that interested me most in this issue are Jennifer Nordin, Editor Emeritus Page Article title [email protected]

Page Article title About ChinaInsight I would like to see more articles on ChinaInsight is a monthly English language newspaper fostering business Employment Status student self-employed retired Age 19 & under 41 - 60 Gender Male and cultural harmony between China 20 - 40 60 + Female and the U.S. other (please specify)

Employment Sector education government private industry Ethnicity Asian Caucasian Hispanic ChinaInsight is a Member of The African American Other Minnesota Chapter of the Asian other (please specify) American Journalists Association Name (AAJA). First Last Address Email Street City State Zip Submissions & Correspondence One entry per month. Please return entry to: ChinaInsight welcomes guest articles China Insight 750 Mainstreet, #230, Hopkins, MN 55343 and letters to the editor. Correspondence should be addressed to:

Editor, ChinaInsight 750 Mainstreet, #230 Insight Hopkins, MN 55343 Guaranteed Tel: 612-723-4872 ChinaInsight [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM Letters to the editor become the property 10 issues - $24 for a domestic subscription and $40 for of ChinaInsight and may be edited for international. length and published. Articles will not be published without the express consent Please make check payable to ChinaInsight, 750 Mainstreet, YES you could run to the of the author. #230 Hopkins, MN 55343 store and pick up a copy, but did you know you can have NOTICE TO READERS: The Name______views expressed in articles are the ChinaInsight delivered directly author’s and not necessarily those Address______to your mailbox? City/State/Zip______of ChinaInsight. Authors may have A subscription costs a mere a business relationship with the Phone______$24 and brings a full year (10 companies or businesses they discuss. Email______issues) of new understanding Company______about today’s China, Title______from language to business opportunities. Copyright 2017 ChinaInsight, Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.chinainsight.info news April 2017 / PAGE 3 China Briefs Grody to the max Reluctant groom® This will give you pause to use chili oil at a Chinese restaurant again! A Guangdong Province restaurant was caught on under- cover investigative TV collecting leftover hotpot soup from customers in a bucket. A the end of the day, the chili oil floating on top was scooped out and mixed with fresh soup base or served to other customers directly. The cook said this practice makes the soup taste better. Eeeeuw! ♦

A bride in wedding gown was seen dragging her groom off to their wed- ding, in chains. Story was the groom went missing on the festive day and Kid Rock’s trade war the bride went hunting him down with chains! When he was found, she cuffed Even though no one takes celeb antics and chained him up dragging him along seriously much these days, Kid Rock’s on the street. video promotion of his own line of BBQ # Very auspicious start to a strong mar- # grill might not sit well with the Chinese. 1 # riage! 8 6 A woman launched the Chinese grill in the 3 air with a trebuchet; the musician blasted By the numbers # Distracted bride # the grill with a 50-caliber bullet. When the 4 Where to look when your bride goes 10 # # 2 grill was on the ground, he said, “In your missing? While the wedding party was 7 face, China!” ♦ getting ready, a game-addicted bride How much to get married? already in wedding gown went down the CNN reported in 2015 that the average street to an internet café to indulge herself cost of a wedding in the U.S., excluding in her favourite video game. When the the honeymoon, was US$25,200. Unfor- groom found her and begged her to get tunately, the cost in China is soaring also to the ceremony, he couldn’t get her to Online tomb with average of US$20,000, despite the fact budge. The father-in-law was seen on that the average Chinese still makes only a video to slap the groom, saying he “could sweeping fraction of their peers in America. not control your bride.” Finally, the Qingming Festival, the day Chinese go Exchanging betrothal gifts between the groom and two groomsmen dragged the to sweep the tomb of their ancestors, is April groom’s and bride’s families have been bride off, screaming and crying. 4 this year. For many who cannot get back going on for centuries and cause of many Another not-too-happy start to a rocky to visit their ancestral grave to pay respects unpleasant family relations. It also is a huge marriage. to their ancestors, there is now a WeChat part of the cost of marriage in China, more app for people to post a message on a spe- so in the northern part of the country. As Blissful harmony cial WeChat account. The message will be wealth spills over to rural areas, more brides A 58-year-old Guizhou Province man displayed on an electronic screen in front are demanding cars and houses, causing figured out how to live happily ever after of the tomb. Perhaps the dead will also get the poor groom (and his family) to go into following his divorce and a series of bad a message alert on their papier mâché mo- debt. The shortage of women because of dates and relationships. He bought imself biles? There also are websites where users the three-decade One Child Policy makes it a sex doll in 2014, but not for it’s intended can build elaborate web shrines complete possible for women to make these unreason- purpose. with images of candles, joss sticks, bouquets able demands! He ttreated the doll as a daughter and and other worldly luxury items such as cars, US$145,000 is the average “bride price” sibling for his son. He bought four more TVs, mobile devices and new houses! ♦ in big cities such as Shanghai, the highest and received two as gifts. He grooms in the country. “Bride price” there had re- and exercises the dolls, and lets them sit mained more or less steady. In Guangdong in the passenger seat when he goes for Province, it had dropped by 90 percent in drives. His now 18-year-old son is used the past 35 years, with the current average to sitting in the back seat of the car! By all TP dispenser of a paltry USD3,000. accounts, he is a loving father to his eight 871,308 USD is the record-setting “children,” who get along well. Now you’ve heard it all! Apparently betrothal cash gift a groom in Fujian Prov- locals have been frequenting four-star pub- ince paid in February 2016. In return, the Gruesome selfie lic toilets at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven bride’s parents gave the groom’s family One of the hottest display at annual to snatch up as much toilet paper as they US$1,452,000 and a private jet. Art Basel Hong Kong in March was a could carry, costing the city a tune of 30 30,000 USD is the average cash gift replica of Chairman Mao Zedong’s corpse rolls per toilet per day. So now the public a Beijing groom is expected to present his in a clear coffin – similar to the real thing toilets in Beijing’s Temple of Heaven have future in-laws to “secure” his bride. It will in Beijing. Attendees took full advantage face recognition hardware installed that will pay for an apartment for his future wife, if and snapped away with their selfies with dispense 60cm (approx 6 squares of TP to he is lucky! Mao. The display is the work of a Chi- each visitor and a repeat visitor can only get 22,000 USD is the average cash gift a nese artist. paper once every nine minutes. ♦ Hebei Province groom is expected to present his future in-laws. The gift should be made Chinese names up of 10,000 five-Yuan bills, 1,000 100-yuan Airbnb is finding out it may be easier bills and an additional stash of 50-Yuan bills. to start operating in China than coming Pinterest no more 18,850 USD is going rate in certain up with a decent Chinese name. To have rural areas, though it can be as low as 9,000 a name that translates well, reflect brand Since March 8, the popular site people in poverty-stricken areas, as reported by accurately and sounds somewhat like its use to catalog /share photos of their interests People’s Daily in early 2017. English name is not easy. Airbnb picked and ideas has been blocked in China. Pin- 1,800 USD is the average per capita dis- 爱彼迎 (aibiying), which literally means terest is among a list of other social media posable income for rural residents in China. “Love mutual welcome.” Chinese neti- networks running afoul of the Chinese gov- 79.7 percent of a 2016 survey respon- zens were quick to point out the name ernment and no one knows why. Chinese us- dents in a city in Shandong Province believe is hard to say and “sounds plain weird.” ers mainly used the app for pinning wedding the cost of traditional betrothal gifts need One actually provided a superior sug- gowns, hairstyles and fashion. Speculation to be reduced. Ten percent of these survey gestion, 爱比邻 (aibilin, literally “love is the government’s ban is to give Chinese respondents believe the government need to neighbor”). ♦ tech companies a competitive advantage. ♦ step in and address this problem. ♦ PAGE 4 / April 2017 business & economics www.chinainsight.info US ambassador to China nominee pledges to promote agricultural exports to China Xinhua, Feb. 24, 2017

[WASHINGTON] -- Iowa Governor beef "soon." China halted beef imports was a deal-maker and businessman. Terry Branstad, US President Donald from the United States in 2003 to prevent "Long time ago, he wrote a book called Trump's pick for Ambassador to China, said the spread of mad cow disease. the Art of the Deal. He is a businessmen, on Thursday that he would work to ensure "Mad cow disease is long since gone in and the best deal is a win-win situation," the the continued growth of U.S. agricultural this country, and there is no reason why the governor said, referring to Trump's bestsell- exports to China when he begins his new Chinese should continue to restrict Ameri- ing book first published in 1987. job, particularly reopening the Chinese can beef," he said. "I want to serve it in the "I'm hopeful at the end of the day that the market for American beef. embassy, and I certainly want to do what I president and his administration will work "The U.S.-China relationship offers can to try to convince the Chinese leadership to improve bilateral agreements and in fact many opportunities to continue to grow Terry Branstad to do that sooner rather than later." enhance our ability to export," he said. "So agricultural exports" to China, Branstad China has already imported more U.S. Branstad also said he would leverage his it's a matter of trying to negotiate the best said at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's soybeans than all the rest of the world "longstanding relationship" with Chinese of- deals for America, but in a way that's going annual Agricultural Outlook Forum. "I look combined, and the world's second-largest ficials to gain Beijing's quicker approval of to be a win-win for trading partners as well." forward to being an advocate for all agricul- economy has become a major importer of genetically modified U.S. corn traits, believ- Branstad, 70, is the longest-serving tural exports in this new role." American pork as well, the governor said, ing that the "friendship and trust" could help governor in the U.S., who also has long U.S. agricultural exports to China have noting that "multi-billion dollar soybean bring down some of the barriers to increase nurtured a close relationship with China and grown more than 200 percent over the past contracts between the United States and bilateral agricultural trade. has visited China multiple times. He served decade and China was the United States' China have become a commonplace." Asked about Trump's "American First" as the governor of Iowa in 1983-1999, and second-largest international market in In terms of his priorities as U.S. Am- trade policy, Branstad downplayed the po- again since 2011. He was nominated by 2015, according to the U.S. Department of bassador to China, Branstad said he hoped tential trade disputes between the U.S. and Trump to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Agriculture. China to reopen the market for American other countries, emphasizing that Trump China in December 2016. ♦ Tile company set for State exports Continued from Page 1 US production lines million. creased demand for orthopedic and artificial By Li Wenfeng, China Daily, March 17, 2017 • Exports of miscellaneous base metal body parts, optical fibers and measuring products grew 46 percent to $124 million. instruments, which plunged by more than Guangdong Wonderful Ceramics Co, The savings in these aspects help offset This growth was mainly due to increased $180 million, combined, in 2016. Although a leading ceramic tiles producer in China, the more expensive construction cost in demand for metal hinges/mounting parts sales of optic/medical goods fell sharply to has become the first Chinese company in Tennessee, which comes at three times that from Mexico ($54 million, up 281 percent). multiple markets, including Japan, Belgium, this sector to invest abroad, with a $172 in Dongguan and include certifications, • Mexico (up 74 percent) and Singapore and Canada – three of the top five markets million project under way in Tennessee in environmental compliance and labor. (up 85 percent) led growth for miscellaneous – they grew to Singapore, the Netherlands the United States. Labor in Tennessee, which is in short chemicals ($222 million, up 12 percent), and Costa Rica. The first of the four production lines is supply, is 6 times more costly than in while China (up 16 percent) and Mexico • Sales of machinery slid 10 percent to scheduled to go into operation in April, with Dongguan. (up 30 percent) led growth in stone/plaster/ $3.1 billion as a result of steep declines, the building of the rest subject to the sales However, with highly automated equip- cement goods. ranging from $20 million to $105 million, from the first line, according to He Jiye, ment imported from Italy and higher ef- • Other food areas experiencing strong in each China, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, a top executive of the company based in ficiency, a production line in Tennessee growth included fats and oils ($108 million, Australia and Germany. Demand for spray- Dongguan, Guangdong province. requires 20 supervisory and workers, com- up 17 percent), meat ($330 million, up 5 ing equipment, centrifuges/filters, office The investment is made to better tap pared with 40 workers in China at best. A percent), baked products ($101 million, up machine parts, and machines for working the U.S. ceramic tiles market—the world's line is capable of producing 9,000 square 12 percent), sugar and confectionary ($49 with rubber or plastics fell sharply. second-largest after China—with the Chi- meters of tiles a day. million, up 29 percent) and dairy, eggs and • Exports of miscellaneous grains and nese market standing at 400 billion yuan He Jiye said: "The U.S. facility can serve honey ($97 million, up 15 percent). seeds (two-thirds of which were soybeans) ($58.08 billion) a year. About 70 percent of as a bridgehead for integrating advanced • Other chemical areas with expanded fell 10 percent to $295 million, as sales to the U.S. demand is met by imports, he said. technologies from the U.S. and Europe and exports included inks and dyes ($91 million, Mexico, Japan, France, Vietnam, Colombia Local production helps address the upgrading the domestic facility to promote up 33 percent), essential oils and cosmetics and Belgium dropped a combined $86 mil- lengthy and costly transport from U.S. sea technological progress." ($117 million, up 21 percent), and soaps and lion. However, sales in China ($48 million, ports, where China-made tiles are unloaded, In its 10 new lines on the newly acquired waxes ($91 million, up 14 percent). up 1,052 percent) and Costa Rica ($25 mil- to various destinations. land in Xiegang town, Dongguan, the • Exports of optic/medical goods, fell 5 lion, up 359 percent) had impressive gains. ♦ The operation cost advantages in Leba- company is installing the most advanced percent to $3.5 billion, largely due to de- non, Tennessee, also make the investment equipment in China to produce large tiles, worthy, he said. including those of 1.8 meters in length. Fig. 2. Minnesota’s top 10 export markets, 2016 The price for buying land in the U.S. Guangdong Wonderful also runs facili- state is lower than in the Pearl River Delta ties in Qingyuan in Guangdong province, area in Guangdong province. Chongqing municipality and Jiangxi prov- Natural gas and power costs, which ince. account for a large part of the production The U.S. is competitive in costs of raw cost, are 3.3 times and 1.8 times cheaper materials, water, electricity and rental, with in Tennessee. highly efficient logistics, said Cao Xiaping, Cheaper truck fuel and the absence of a finance professor with Lingnan College, road tolls reduce the cost of transporting Sun Yatsen University in Guangzhou. ♦ raw materials by road.

Fig. 3. Minnesota’s top 10 exported product groups, 2016 Minnesota Quarterly Export Statistics is the most current resource available for tracking the state’s export trends and is prepared for the Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) by the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Economic Analysis Unit (Thu-Mai Ho- Kim, 651-259-7180). The quarterly and annual statistics reports primarily cover export data based on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (Schedule B), collected by the Census Bureau at the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) and distributed by IHS Markit. Reports are available on DEED’s website at “Export and Trade Statistics”: http://mn.gov/deed/data/export-stats/. Note that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) publishes alternate annual agricultural export estimates based on different methodology. For 2015, the USDA estimated that Min- nesota exported $6.3 billion in agricultural products, ranking fourth highest among all states. www.chinainsight.info education April 2017 / PAGE 5 CAAM Dance Theater offers summer camps By Maren Longbella, contributor

Campers working on the final pose for a dance they had just learned.

Looking for a different type of summer herbal medicine area” was yet another field camp for the kids? Check out CAAM Chi- trip, Tami said. “They talked to the herbal- nese Dance Theater’s summer camp for boy ist there and he told them about remedies.” and girls. It offers a combination of artistic Arts and crafts reflect the culture, too. and cultural experience. This year’s camp, “We had to pick out two flowers and we like those held the past 20 years, will involve had to talk about them,” Maddie said. “We plenty of opportunities for both. There are had to write a poem about the flowers. What two sites, one in Hopkins (June 12-30) and their meaning is.” another in Roseville (August 11-21). Instructor Ying Li even showed campers Participants will learn new dances and how to make dumplings. what goes along with dancing. This year’s camp will incorporate “We work on flexibility,” said Maddie ceramics and embroidery, which figured Londgren, 13, of Apple Valley, who attended largely in CAAM CDT’s 2017 Chinese New camp last summer and in years past. Year production, “The Keepsakes: A Love “We did a bunch of tumbling,” said Story.” Campers will get a chance to see Marie Galligan, 14, of Roseville, a veteran what happens back stage when they visit camper, too. the O’Shaughnessy auditorium, where the Amaris Tu, 11, of Shoreview said her show is performed. favorite part was learning a dance that And that’s just the beginning. involved her two best friends and then per- “(CAAM CDT’s summer camp) is dif- Universities explore forming it at the end of camp. ferent from most of the camps out there and For Julianne Mason, 12, of St. Paul, it’s always worth trying something new,” learning the dances was her favorite part, Tami said. unique features under too. For Marie, it was “just being there” and being with friends. 'double first-class' plan Participants do not need to know how to dance. Along with veteran teachers Ying By Jiang Xingguang, China Daily, March 15, 2017 Li and Lili Teng, who is also the artistic director of CAAM CDT and its principal, Colleges and universities should explore ways to improve. older campers help younger campers get and find their own ways in becoming first- Since 2016, around 200 million yuan comfortable with choreography - and their class universities, said Zheng Xiaojing, ($29 million) has been put into building surroundings. The age range is from 5 to president of Xidian University and a CPPCC first-class projects, breaking the barriers 15 years old. National Committee member. among schools and disciplines and sup- “Don’t be afraid,” Annika Olson, 11, The two sessions -- the annual gather- porting those world-class ground-breaking of Wyoming, Minn., advises those who are ings of the nation's top legislature and its projects, which are strategic and forward- new to the experience. “At first, you might top political advisory body-- started in early looking, according to Zheng. not know anyone, but you’ll get to know March. The NPC session opened on March Academic leaders can challenge them- them really fast.” 5, two days after the CPPCC National Com- selves and gain experience in these proj- Annika has attended camp the past two mittee session got underway. Some 5,000 ects, and improve the influence of some years. Her mother, Tami Molitor, chose it participants from the NPC and the CPPCC disciplines. In return, their new theories because Annika was new to CAAM CDT National Committee are attending the event. and achievements can expand the vision of dance classes. “I wanted to give her more "To achieve the goal of building 'double undergraduate students and help to foster experience,” Tami said, “and expose her to first-class' universities, institutes of higher innovative thinking, according to Zheng. Camp counselor Elena Youngsdale worked Chinese culture.” learning must improve their quality and As regards management improvement, with campers at last year’s camp. Marie agrees that summer camp is a strengthen their distinctive features," said Zheng said that non-teaching departments great way to learn more about Chinese Zheng, who's also an academician of the and offices should provide better services to dance. “It’s a good place to start,” she said. The west metro session will be held June Chinese Academy of Science. teachers and students. “(But) you get to see more than just dance. 12-30 at Hopkins High School, 2400 Lind- The term “double first-class” refers to An expert on environmental mechanics You get to see Chinese culture as well.” bergh Drive, Minnetonka. The east metro "world-class university" and "world-class and electromagneto-solid mechanics, Zheng The three-week sessions include field session will be Aug. 11-21 at Roseville discipline," were approved by China's was elected an academician of the Chinese trips. Past trips have included visits to the Lutheran Church, 1215 Roselawn Ave. W., deepening reform lead group in 2016 as a Academy of Science in 2009. Minneapolis Institute of Art, Chinese market Roseville. Campers can attend one, two or new impetus for the development of China's In recent years, Xidian University has and senior center. all three weeks or both sessions. higher education sector. been implementing an Internationalization “We went on a treasure hunt,” Amaris The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Zheng said that industry-based colleges Initiative Program to improve the cultivation said, “and looked for artifacts. Most of them Cost is $240 per week with a 10 percent dis- and universities are an important part of the of international connections and upgrade were from China.” count for the second week and a 20 percent national university system, and an integral education levels. To date, the school has Campers also went to Kangle Chi- discount for the third. Pre- and after-camp part of the "double first-class" university established cooperative relationships with nese Senior Center in Edina, where they care (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) is available for concept. over 100 universities and institutions in interviewed some of the seniors and then an additional fee. She added that her university, which is more than 80 countries, according to its reflected on that experience through writ- To register, visit caamcdt.org. ♦ renowned for electronic science and tech- official website. ♦ ing. Visiting a Chinese market “that had an nology, has been actively exploring unique PAGE 6 / April 2017 history www.chinainsight.info Early years of the Chinese Communist Party By Pat Welsh, contributor

In 1921, the young Communist Party Western interests feared the growing power lead. Mao chose to disregard Stalin’s advice had to deal with the rise of other political of labor unions with their strikes. Moreover, while centering his efforts on winning over parties. In its second national conference in the communist-proposed agrarian reforms China’s peasantry and establishing a rebel- 1922, there was a proposal that the party ally threatened to upset the entire system of ru- lion from the rural areas. itself with Sun Yat-sen and the Kuomintang ral commerce and landholding upon which In August 1928, Mao was ordered to take (KMT). Sun, however, rejected it. Chiang had become dependent. the revolution to his native Hunan Province Shortly afterwards, the Comintern’s The stage was set for the sudden and and seize Changsha. When Mao arrived, he Hendricius Sneeviliet (better known as final split between the communists and realized that the Party there was seriously “Maring”) met with the Chinese Com- Chiang’s KMT. On April 12, 1927, at four weakened because of losses suffered from munist Central Committee at West Lake o’clock in the morning, a bugle blast from the Changsha Massacre the previous year. outside Hangzhou. Maring was interested Chiang’s headquarters at the foreign min- Fearing that his forces were too thin in Hu- in Sun’s connections with the growing istry bureau signaled a gunboat at anchor nan, Mao disobeyed this directive from the labor movement in southern China and his off Nantao, Shanghai, to give a blast off its Central Committee to make preparations in Chiang Kai-shek growing relationships with China’s business siren. This was the signal for the Shanghai southern Hunan as well. Mao nonetheless community. He proposed the communists movement behind it. coup against the communists to begin. A began his uprising in Changsha on Sept. 9. simply enter the KMT and use its loose or- On the day that Lenin died in 1924, the cooperative effort among police, soldiers, From failure of Mao’s Second Regiment ganizational structure as a means to develop First National Congress of the KMT adopted the green and red underworld gangs of to hold territory gained and the treachery their own propaganda and contacts among a new program and reorganization. Harold Shanghai and other agents began to round on the part of Mao’s Fourth Regiment, the the workers and peasants. Isaacs, in his book “The Tragedy of the up, disarm and execute suspected and real Changsha uprising was called off. Mao then The Chinese Communist Party chair, Chinese Revolution" (Stanford University communists. The offices of labor unions, assembled about 1,000 men, the remnants of Chen Duxiu, had reservations about this Press, 1962) stated that the new KMT was headquarters of the working class organi- his First and Third Regiments and led them move because he doubted the KMT’s ef- transformed into a rough copy of the Rus- zations, private homes of communists and, up to Jinggangshan on the border between fectiveness and he disagreed with Sun’s sian Bolshevik (Communist) Party. Bolshe- finally, the offices of the Commercial Press Hunan and Jiangxi where he established his reservations about the KMT using mass vik methods of agitation and propaganda movements as a political tool. Finally, the were introduced. Bolshevik money and staff Communist Party decided that their mem- advisors enabled the creation of the Wham- bers could enter the KMT as individuals in poa Military Academy outside Guangzhou hopes of winning over the Southern workers in 1924. Later that year, Russian military who had already affiliated themselves with supplies were unloaded there as the KMT the Kuomintang. armies were forming. Communist agents Before his death in 1925, Sun was con- and supplies played key roles in the success sidering a Russian alliance. Beginning in of Chiang Kai-shek’s Northern Expedition 1918, the Soviet government had renounced to unite all of China. territories and privileges granted to Russia Why then was there the sudden split under previous “unequal treaties” that a between the KMT and the Communists? weak Chinese government had been forced In 1923 when Chiang was in Russia meet- to accept. Sun welcomed the willingness of ing with senior Soviet officials, he came to the Soviet government to provide financing believe that while China could learn from and military assistance. He also had been Russia’s experience, certain events in the keenly disappointed in the lack of Western Soviet Union had warned him that the social government’s interest in his movement. upheaval after the revolution was not in In January 1923, the Soviet government China’s interest. Chiang had strong nation- Shangahi Massacre 1927 sent Ambassador Adolph Antonius Joffe to alistic beliefs that were deeply offended by meet with Sun. Out of this meeting came a Russia’s treatment of non-Russian minori- were raided. A reign of terror had suddenly first base of operations. joint statement that conditions in China was ties within the Soviet Union. He also had appeared. Within days, similar attacks oc- An undisclosed “Comrade Ma” de- not ready for the successful establishment developed a strong dislike of the Russians. curred in Fuzhou, Nanchang, Guangzhou, nounced Mao claiming cowardly betrayal of socialism or communism. Both agreed Upon his return, Chiang had to wait for Changsha, Ningbo, Xiamen and Shantou. of party authorities in Hunan. He claimed that China’s greatest need was the achieve- about three years because he needed Russian After the Shanghai coup, there was a that if Mao had attacked Changsha, his ment of a nation under one government, funds and military equipment. He also had brief pause within the Communist Party uprising would have been successful. The with all of China’s territory freed from to develop peasant support within China. In while the surviving communists decided Central Committee then demanded Mao foreign concessions. Between Joffe and 1926, his Northern Expedition to unite all of what to do next. From both Stalin and Com- attack Changsha again. Mao never acted Sun it was assumed that the Chinese com- China had put Chiang in contact with a new munist Party Chair Chen Duxiu, there was on these orders. In November, the Central munists would devote themselves to the job source of aid, China’s emerging business an effort to conciliate the KMT in Wuhan Committee relieved Mao from his posts of making themselves a worthy ally of the and industrial leaders. He courted the as- and an attempt to continue cooperation with on both the Central Committee and on the Kuomintang. That month, Michael Borodin sistance of close personal friends, Shanghai the left-leaning members of the KMT. There Hunan Provincial Committee. also came to China as an advisor to Sun. bankers, ex-warlords, Whampoa military was also an attempt to establish communist Mao, of course, still had a colorful future Borodin wanted to coordinate the work of colleagues and a few able and dedicated control of at the grass roots of China’s ahead of him. In my next offering I will the Communist Party with that of the KMT. men. The support of China’s business elite rural communities. Stalin had ordered the discuss Mao’s next steps. ♦ Borodin also hoped that the KMT would be and landowners proved strong enough to Chinese Communist Party to talk with the the central force of a national revolution. He free Chiang from his dependence on the Kuomintang about land reform. The Chi- wanted the KMT to be a more disciplined nese Communists, however, decided that Soviets. About Pat Welsh party organization with a powerful mass Chiang’s new sources of support and talking to the KMT about land reform was like “playing a lute to entertain a cow”. In 2009 while teaching English at In 1927 in-fighting within the Commu- Sichuan University, Welsh was asked to Call for Articles… nist Party produced a split between the Party give a speech where he was introduced Chair Chen on one side and party members to the audience as a “pioneer of Chi- ChinaInsight is a local newspaper fostering U.S.-China cultural and who favored developing the party connec- nese American relations” as a result of business harmony. tions with China’s peasantry on the other. his cooperative work in international The anti-communist purges undertaken in banking during the Deng Xiaoping era. We are interested in publishing articles that engage audiences in America. several big cities by Chiang had discredited For more than 65 years, Welsh has been Potential topics range from understanding daily life in China (or for Chinese Chen and Stalin in that both promoted poli- learning Chinese and has used this in America) to discussions of business markets from both an American or cies centering the party’s efforts on China’s knowledge both professionally and per- Chinese viewpoint. urban workers. Also discredited was Stalin’s sonally to enhance his understanding of idea of subverting the KMT from within by Chinese and Asian affairs. He currently If you would like to contribute an article, please contact Greg Hugh at the communists. The ultimate result was the resides in Georgia and occasionally (952) 472-4757 or e-mail [email protected]. removal of Chen from his leadership roles. lectures on China to classes in World At the same time, a new faction arose within History and World Literature. the Party that Mao Zedong would eventually www.chinainsight.info community April 2017 / PAGE 7

People Top 10 richest Chinese on Hurun’s list 2017 China Daily, March 9, 2017

Wang Jianlin, chairman of Chinese No. 5 Li Shau-kee conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group, remains Age: 89 the richest man in China, with a fortune of Wealth: 166 billion yuan 205 billion yuan ($30 billion), according to Company: Henderson Land Development the Hurun Global Rich List 2017 released Co on Tuesday. Jack Ma, the head of the e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, was the second richest, with a fortune of 200 bil- lion yuan. The IPO of Chinese leading delivery and logistics firm SF Express Group Co in February made Wang Wei, the CEO of the company, the third-richest man in China, with wealth surging fivefold to 186 billion yuan. No. 4 Li Ka-shing Here is a list of the top 10 richest Chi- Age: 89 nese, with two tied in ninth place. Wealth: 175 billion yuan Company: Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd No. 9 Henry Cheng family Age: 69 Wealth: 105 bil- lion yuan Company: New World Develop- ment Co, Chow Tai Fook Enter- prises Ltd No. 3 Wang Wei No. 9 Yao Zhen- Age: 46 hua Wealth: 186 University of Age: 47 billion yuan Wealth: 105 billion Company: yuan SF Express Minnesota’s Company: Ba- Group Co oneng Group Confucius Institute No. 2 Jack Ma family Age: 53 No. 8 Zong Qinghou family Wealth: 200 billion yuan hosted China Day Age: 72 Company: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Ant On Feb. 16 students and teachers from student performed "Butterfly Lovers" on Wealth: 112 billion yuan Financial Services Group seven Minnesota and Wisconsin high cello, and International School of Minnesota Company: Hangzhou Wahaha Group schools attended the Confucius Institute’s students sang and performed a piece on the China Day at Ted Mann Concert Hall, guzheng. University of Minnesota. With a theme of Speakers at China Day included Dr. “Connecting Globally Through Chinese Christine Marran, chair of University's Music,” the event featured a performance Asian Languages and Literatures Depart- by the group Butterfly, made up of local ment (ALL), who gave an overview of what Chinese pipa soloist Gao Hong, along with ALL offers; Dr. Ling Wang, Chinese direc- vainika and veena virtuoso Nirmala Ra- tor of Language Instruction in ALL and di- jaseka, and cellist Michelle Kenney. rector of Chinese Language for the Chinese No. 1 Wang Jianlin family The event began with a solo perfor- Flagship program at the University, who mance and keynote by Hong, who shared provided insights about Chinese language No. 7 Ding Lei Age: 63 her journey of mastering the pipa, traveling learning opportunities at the University; and Age: 46 Wealth: 205 billion yuan the world, and discovering the power that Flagship student Daniel Huset, who shared Wealth: 125 billion yuan Company: Dalian Wanda Group language and music have in creating cross- his experience in the program. Company: NetEase Inc cultural connections. The audience was en- The Confucius Institute at the Univer- thralled by her performance, which included sity of Minnesota was created to promote a demonstration of the pipa mimicking the the study of Chinese language and culture sounds of raindrops and laughter. Included throughout Minnesota. It is a collaborative in Hong’s keynote was the performance of initiative between the University of Min- her first composition, "Flying Dragon." nesota, the Hanban/Confucius Institute The group then performed several origi- Headquarters, and Capital Normal Univer- nal compositions and asked the audience sity in Beijing. It is one of 110 Confucius for suggestions for an impromptu song. A Institutes in the U.S. and 500 worldwide. student suggested “Pink Mountain” and the Confucius Institutes are named for the No. 6 Pony Ma artists obliged a beautiful song inspired by Chinese philosopher known for encouraging Age: 46 a mountain’s foggy pink peaks. deep independent thought and the study of Wealth: 152 billion Several student performances were also the outside world. ♦ yuan featured: Wayzata High School students Company: Tencent sung "Pengyou,” a Hudson High School Inc PAGE 8 / April 2017 arts & culture www.chinainsight.info “Age of Empires: Chinese Art of the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 B.C.–A.D. 220)” Where: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Date: April 3–July 16, 2017

“When you see your face reflected here, this mirror will dispel all harms and woes. May the Central Kingdom [China] be peaceful and secure, and prosper for generations and generations to come, by following the great law that governs all.”—excerpt from an inscription written on the back of a mirror on view in the exhibition

A major international loan exhibition featuring more than 160 ancient Chinese works of art — including renowned ter- racotta army warriors — will go on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art begin- ning April 3. Synthesizing new in-depth research and archaeological discoveries of the last 50 years, the landmark exhibition “Age of Empires: Chinese Art of the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 B.C.– A.D. 220)” will explore the unprecedented role of art in creating a new and lasting Chinese cultural identity. The works in the exhibition — extremely rare ceramics, metalwork, textiles, sculpture, painting, calligraphy, and architectural models — are drawn exclusively from 32 museums and archaeological institutions in the People’s Republic of China, and a major- ity of the works have never before been seen in the West. The exhibition will also examine ancient China’s relationship with the outside world. Thomas P. Campbell, director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, stated: “It is a great pleasure for us to present this magnificent assemblage of treasures from China. A project of such scale and scope

Continued on Page 9

the cusp of his transition to working exclu- sively in video, Zhang observed, "People “Zhang Peili: Record. Repeat.” never ask what in this world is not subject to constraints in some way (no one doubts the legitimacy of such constraints). Why is at The Art Institute of Chicago art an exception? Is art doomed to provide Where: The Art Institute of Chicago (111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago) only entertainment?" Date: Through July 9, 2017 The repetitive act of breaking and gluing back together of the mirror is what launched Zhang onto the art scene in 1988. He has Considered the first Chi- inspired many artists in China, but this ex- nese artist to work in video, hibit is his first in America. Zhang Peili (born 1957) is This exhibition traces the development a pioneering figure in the of his practice from his earliest experi- history of contemporary art. ments with video in the late 1980s to new Zhang's distinctive videos digital formats in the 2000s. His first video, focus on the repetition of “30x30” (1988), records Zhang repeatedly actions — breaking a mirror, breaking and mending a mirror, confronting reading, washing, looking the viewer with a mundane yet nonsensical out the window, and dancing activity not regularly seen on television. — that are familiar yet ren- “Document on Hygiene No. 3” (1991), a dered disorienting through new acquisition, anchors the exhibition. Zhang's use of perspective, For the first time since 1991, this video of close-ups, and framing. Zhang's prolonged washing of a chicken is Although the cumulative displayed according to its original, spatial meaning of these routine installation. “A Scene in Black and White actions seems elusive at Unfolded Four Times” (2007), a video in- first, his works often raise stallation that is responsive to the viewer, questions of power and sub- explores the juxtaposition of images and version. Emerging from his their relationship to the space occupied by critique of systems of repre- the viewer. The exhibition continues in the sentation and art making in Donna and Howard Stone Gallery for Film, his early paintings and con- Video, and New Media, where Zhang's ceptual artworks, his videos remixed versions of Mao-era heroic film upset our understanding of dramas are screened. the roles of art and enter- Accompanying the exhibition is a bilin- tainment in contemporary gual catalogue, the museum's first produced life. Writing in 1989, on in English and Mandarin. ♦ www.chinainsight.info arts & culture April 2017 / PAGE 9 Age of Empires Continued from page 8 could not be realized without the strong teams that together demonstrate the dynas- support and cooperation of lending orga- ty’s formidable military power. Even more nizations and their staffs. As the largest striking is the recently discovered semi-nude - - and most important display of Chinese art performer whose anatomical accuracy, un- GRAND A DAY to be held in the United States in 2017, the precedented in Chinese art, brings to mind exhibition establishes a new milestone in Greco-Roman sculpture first introduced into U.S.-China cultural exchange.” Asia by Alexander the Great. “This exhibition is the culmination GIVEAWAY of our long history of collaboration with Section 2: Han Dynasty, Part 1 China that began in 1980,” said Maxwell, The Han dynasty’s consolidation of the K. Hearn, Douglas Dillon Chairman of The Qin empire and the extraordinary era of Met’s Department of Asian Art. “We thank prosperity that this ushered in is the focus of especially China’s State Council, Ministry the exhibition’s second section. With a vast of Culture and State Administration of territory to rule, Han emperors maintained Cultural Heritage, as well as both the U. S. a centralized administration and shared Department of State and China’s Ministry of authority with relatives and former allies. Foreign Affairs, for their steadfast support The power and wealth enjoyed by the Han and guidance.” elite are vividly conveyed by an array of Jason Sun, Brooke Russell Astor Cura- ornate ritual vessels, sets of musical instru- tor of Chinese Art in The Met’s Department ments, refined lacquerware, and colorful of Asian Art, stated: “The Han Empire silk textiles. A striking example of the Han represents the ‘classical’ era of Chinese love of spectacle and exoticism is conveyed civilization, coinciding in importance and by a meticulously rendered sculpture of a in time with Greco-Roman civilization rhinoceros that was clearly modeled on a in the West. Like the Roman Empire, living animal offered as tribute for the royal the Han state brought together people of menagerie. WIN YOUR SHARE OF diverse backgrounds under a centralized Believing that the soul could continue to government that fostered a new ‘Chinese’ enjoy in the afterlife all of the pleasures of identity. Even today, most Chinese refer to the living, Han elite went to extraordinary themselves as the ‘Han people’ — the single lengths to insure the well-being of their $30,000 largest ethnic group in the world. Thanks to souls, creating tombs that resembled under- new scholarship as well as the extraordinary ground palaces. The exhibition features a DRAWINGS HELD EVERY DAY IN APRIL AT 11AM, 6PM & 11PM artifacts unearthed by archaeologists in the burial suit for a Han princess made of more past 50 years, this exhibition offers many than 2,000 jade pieces (jade was believed to new art-historical, cultural, and political in- purify and preserve the body from corrup- RunAces.com sights. I’m delighted that “Age of Empires” tion). This section also includes many pre- can introduce this largely unknown era of cious objects that were used to furnish the Chinese civilization to our global audience.” tombs as well as an array of tomb figurines that took the place of living attendants to This section also demonstrates that pottery lamp with multiple branches hold- About the Qin and Han serve the deceased in perpetuity. A second while Han rule nominally extended over ing birds, animals, and supernatural beings Dynasties group of terracotta and wooden warriors — a variety of ethnic groups in southwestern provide glimpses of a heavenly world, while China, these groups managed to retain their a large stone tomb gateway depicts the tomb The unification of China by the short- smaller in size than the Qin figures but of distinctive identities and regional traditions. occupants being guided by immortals to a lived Qin dynasty (221–206 B.C.) and the equal artistic significance — underscores The Dian people, living in present-day Yun- celestial realm. All of these works predate centuries-long Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. the growing importance of cavalry for com- nan Province, for example, created distinc- the arrival in China of Buddhist concepts 220) fundamentally reshaped art and culture bating nomadic tribes as well as projecting tive and highly developed bronzes in the of paradise. and established political paradigms and power into Central Asia. The prime reason form of cowry shell containers and ornament A large gilt-bronze mirror made at the intellectual institutions that guided dynastic for the expeditions was to secure supplies of plaques. Some masterpieces depicting vivid peak of Han power will provide a fitting rulership for the next 2,000 years. They have West Asian “heavenly horses,” exemplified scenes of festivals and sacrificial rituals will coda to the exhibition. The back of the continued to be influential to the present day. here by a large stallion cast in bronze. be on view. mirror is embellished with a raised design Introducing an era of political stability The exhibition closes with an examina- of dragons, birds, and turtles amid swirling and prosperity across an area much larger Section 3: Han Dynasty, Part 2 tion of the numinous world of deities, spirits, clouds and a long inscription, expressing the than that of the Roman Empire at its peak, The final section of the exhibition will and the afterlife. Fantastic images of the spirit of the age, when people from all parts the Han dynasty bound together its empire reveal the diversity of art and material cul- Queen Mother of the West and the half-hu- of the empire began to identify themselves through a network of roads and a centralized ture within the varied regions of the empire man, half-serpent creator deities Fu Xi and as citizens of the Central Kingdom — the administrative system that promulgated a around the first century, especially in those Nu Wa open a window onto Han religious Chinese name for “China” — as their com- unified legal code and standardized cur- border areas that were most directly influ- practices. Both a fabulous bronze “money mon homeland. This is the ultimate legacy rency, weights and measures, and, most enced by the objects and people arriving tree” sculpture, on which a staggering of the Qin and Han dynasties. ♦ importantly, a consistent written language. from the rest of Asia and Europe. number of coins “grow,” and a tall painted These changes—first introduced under the The highlights of this section — a monu- Qin — fostered a “golden age” in art, ar- mental stone sculpture of a crouching lion, chitecture, technology, and literature while a creature not native to China; a towering introducing lasting changes to society, the stone fluted column with dragons raised in economy, religion, and political thought. relief; and a fluted silver box — all point Cartoonist Wanted to the influence of Persian and Hellenistic Works in the exhibition art. Two gold belt buckles — one with bril- Great opportunity to gain experience in creating liant granulation and the other ornamented Section 1: Qin Dynasty cartoons for a monthly newspaper serving the Transformational advances in art and with inlaid gems — and a gilt bronze horse culture accomplished during the Qin frontlet with a fantastic animal in openwork community for 14-plus years. and Han dynasties are vividly conveyed were inspired by nomadic art of the northern steppes. throughout the exhibition. Most remarkable Must be able to meet deadlines, to take creative is the sudden appearance of monumental Maritime trade brought China abundant figural art as revealed by excavations at the supplies of spices, gemstones, glassware, initiative and to be a team player. A strong interest in mausoleum of the first Qin emperor (d. 210 and metalwork from South and Southeast Chinese culture and business matters will be an asset. B.C.), which unearthed a life-size army of Asia during the period. The exhibition 7,000 terracotta warriors. illustrates this luxury trade with necklaces The exhibition opens with a spectacular made of amethyst, aquamarine, beryl, and This is classified as a volunteer position. Send resume group of these warriors, some of the real rock crystal as well as a group of small, ani- to Greg Hugh at [email protected] or call mal sculptures in carnelian and multifaceted weapons with which they were armed, and 612-723-4873 replicas of two half-life-size bronze chariot gold beads. PAGE 10 / April 2017 health & home www.chinainsight.info Bicultural Healthy Living Framework developed by Asian Media Access By Ange Hwang and Xianping He

Background allowed for interpretation in their consults portant in developing the ability to empow- and bicultural identity consider peoples’ Since 2009, Asian Media Access with doctors and nurses, and lack of trans- er the patients to feel connected and take geographical displacement. Most people (AMA), a nonprofit community educa- portation overall. ownership of their own treatment around the world will combine their local tion agency, has been working on the With these barriers, AMA has been 4) Bicultural stakeholders and interest identity with an identity linked to the glob- health disparities affecting communities seeking various ways for minority groups groups have little voice in the develop- al culture. This phenomenon is particularly of people of color in North Minneapolis. to improve access to health care systems, ment, implementation and evaluation of relevant in adolescents, as contemporary Through the years, we have witnessed the increase/improve the clinical and commu- health care policies. Policies fail to estab- urban teenagers worldwide tend to follow difficulties people in our community, es- nity linkage, and to develop a Bicultural lish relationships among critical, systemic the global trends, instead of maintaining pecially those with a multicultural back- Healthy Living Framework. thinking and cultural elements, and they connections to their ancestral cultures ground, face when trying to obtain proper Owing to our current health care sys- are not using a multicultural approach. AMA’s Bicultural Healthy Living healthcare. Many people have revealed tem’s lack of culturally diverse approaches Therefore, AMA has taken on the ini- Framework helps to support a healthy life- feelings of embarrassment and confusion to medicine, bicultural individuals and tiative to design the Bicultural Healthy style, no matter the cultural circumstance. when applying for government healthcare families often run into the following road- Living Framework to overcome the above Bicultural healthy living promotes the un- programs. Furthermore, the treatment they blocks to proper health-care. barriers. derstanding that society is comprised of receive from these programs and the hospi- 1) Health care professionals do not be- fluid cultural communities, rooted in vol- tals involved often feels disingenuous. It is lief cultural-based medicine has enough Innovative approach untary engagements. Bicultural healthy not uncommon for patients to feel skeptical science to be put into practice. Worldwide, the idea of cultural diver- living is: of medical professionals and their advice, 2) Language barriers hinder exploring sity has been evolving within and across An attitude supported by an under- especially those patients with diverse cul- new and creative ways for the treatment communities, and it is continuously being standing of multiple levels of cultural iden- tural backgrounds. of diverse cultures. Health care providers shaped by human mobility and aspirations. tity, and the potential for a ‘collective iden- Minorities from cultures that approach consider it more of a burden than an oppor- Biculturalism is a lifestyle: people who tity,’ which transcends individual cultural, medicine in ways other than Western medi- tunity to learn a different language or ways have mastered the rules and norms of their religious, ethnic or other differences cine as practiced in the U.S. Furthermore, of other cultures... new culture without abandoning their own An understanding to support people language proves to be a huge barrier when 3) Integration of alternative medicine language, values and social support sys- of color from an asset-based approach by trying to access medical services. The and traditional healing practices have lim- tems. It is the act of adopting new ideas identifying the cultural implications and increasing need for written and verbal ited exploration for their potential for wid- and customs from different walks of life, skills from their diverse life experiences communication in languages other than er application, therefore the complemen- without abandoning that which you cur- and translate them into success, instead English exceeds existing availability of in- tarities between indigenous knowledge and rently have. Cultures that have embraced of a deficit approach that starts from what terpreters and culturally aware staff. It is scientific evidences are yet to be fully dis- this concept include, the American Indi- people don’t have hard enough to obtain medical assistance covered. Although most health care docu- ans, who encourage their youth to be like A deep knowledge of bicultural healthy in your native language, let alone a for- ments acknowledge cultural diversity and "Little Turtle," who needed to know how living through universal values such as jus- eign one. Many other problems related to intercultural dialogue as important to the to move both in water and on land. In Chi- tice, equality, dignity and respect healthcare access include: lack of access patients’ treatment, these are not practiced. nese philosophy, there is a belief in the bal- A group of cognitive skills to think crit- to a local pharmacy, lack of culturally-ap- The lack of connection between treatment ance between yin (“shady side”) and yang ically, systemically and creatively, includ- propriate nursing homes, the need for time and the patient’s cultural background is im- (“sunny side”), and the need this duality in ing adopting a multi-perspective approach creating a holistic existence. By looking at that recognizes the different cultures, per- our worlds through multiple perspectives, spectives and angles of issues; we are more likely to obtain a greater un- A group of non-cognitive skills includ- derstanding. ing social skills, such as empathy, resil- It is a way of living, understanding, act- iency and conflict resolution, communi- ing and relating oneself to others and the cation skills and aptitudes for networking environment in space and in time, based and interacting with people of different on universal values, through respect for backgrounds, origins, cultures and per- diversity and pluralism. In this context, in- spectives; and dividuals’ day-to-day decisions connect to A group of behavioral capacities to their root culture as well as the other cul- act collaboratively and responsibly to find tures around them, and vice versa. cross-cultural solutions for local/regional/ Until recently, biculturalism was con- national/global challenges, and to strive for sidered the assimilation of ethnic minorities the collective good. into a mainstream cultural environment. Next month’s article will be on claim- However, new concepts of biculturalism ing your biculturalism. ♦

News From Page 1 World women’s curling China became the first Asian team to 7-5 lead made the difference. China then win a curling world championship in 2009, went on to run Denmark out of stones in beating Sweden 8-6 for the women’s title. the last end and this result leaves Denmark Will they be able to repeat the feat this year at the bottom of the table, still looking for on home turf? their first win. The battle for play-off positions for the Yan Zhou; lead, China, said after their 2017 CPT World Women’s Curling Cham- win over Denmark, “The big change this pionship heat up amongst the 12 competing time was that we just played one rock at a Member Associations in the remaining time. This win was really good for us. We seven sessions of round-robin in the Capital feel a little pressure for sure [playing in Gymnasium, Beijing, China, March 18-26. front of a home crowd], but we’re enjoying On March 20, the Chinese team beat this tournament and hope it makes a good the S. Korean team 7-6. On March 21, the promotion for curling in China.” Chinese team recorded its second win so Unfortunately for the Chinese, the team far when they beat Denmark by 7-5 in this lost its subsequent games with Scotland, session. This was a tight game throughout, U.S., Sweden and Russia. Better luck next with the teams tied on level scores three year! ♦ times – at 2-2 after three ends, 3-3 after five ends, and 5-5 after seven. But, a crucial steal of one point in the ninth by China to take a www.chinainsight.info travel April 2017 / PAGE 11

3946601_20051

10x7

bw

Financial options for every phase of your life

Whether you want to save for the future, secure a personal loan, utilize exclusive online and telephone banking services, or enjoy the convenience of our ATMs and many locations, we are here for you. Call, click, or stop by and talk with a banker. If you would like to open an account over the phone, call 1-800-932-6736 any time (or 1-800-311-9311 for service in Spanish).

wellsfargo.com

All loans are subject to application, credit qualification, and income verification. © 2017 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (3946601_20051)

Beijing – heart & soul of old and new China By Bill Brown, China Today, Nov. 30, 2016

We were shocked five years ago when Dongcheng District has 2,476 protected our eldest son, Shannon, who had lived in ancient trees, as well as tens of thousands Xiamen most of his life, moved with his planted by volunteers. I specially love the Xiamenese wife Miki to Beijing. But we white ash, painted maple, Japanese Pagoda couldn’t really blame him. We too have trees (which are native to China and Korea fallen in love with this 3,000-year-old city but not Japan), and gingko trees. I was sur- that is the heart and soul of both old and prised to read that gingko helps the memory, new China. but I can’t remember where. We first visited Beijing in 1992 but After greening every inch of land, didn’t really explore the city until the sum- Beijing went vertical, with rooftop gardens mer of 1994, when we drove through Beijing Bill Brown against the backdrop of Beijing’s and lush vines on buildings, overpasses Bill Brown and his sons with their “Best on our 40,000 km trip to Tibet and back. The Drum Tower. and pedestrian crossings. This widespread Singing Family” trophies. Xiamen to Beijing leg took 10 exhausting greening and protection of both cultural days. Today, it’s only a two-day drive or a In addition to iconic sites such as the and natural heritage gives Beijing a unique In 2022, Beijing will become the first three-hour flight which puts Beijing right Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and beauty which changes with each season. city to have hosted both the Summer and in our backyard. Tian’anmen Square, Beijing has almost In the summer, we enjoy Beijing Zoo Winter Olympics, which is not surprising. Even after dozens of visits, sometimes 150 galleries and museums, but who needs and its giant pandas, roller skating, and The city is as much fun in winter as in for weeks at a time, we’ve yet to run out the latter when Beijing itself is a gigantic flying kites in the parks and listening to summer. We especially enjoy skating and of places to explore. Beijing has one of open-air museum? I could spend weeks retirees sing Beijing Opera and play the sledding on its frozen lakes, and thawing out the world’s greatest concentrations of his- just exploring the 1,463 hectare historical erhu (an ancient Chinese string instrument). by huddling around a steaming hot pot full toric and cultural attractions, including six buffer zone around the Forbidden City. The erhu only has two strings instead of the of veggies and paper-thin slices of frozen UNESCO World Heritage Sites. My favorite sites include Imperial College violin’s four, but after hearing one played, I beef and mutton – though our favorite dish, Our favorite, of course, is the Great (Guozijian) Street, the classic courtyards realized two more strings would be superflu- year-round, is Beijing Roast Duck. Wall. It is said that you’re not a true Chi- and hutong, and the 800-meter-long, ous – like “painting feet on a snake,” as the In 1330, Beijing duck was recorded in a nese man until you’ve climbed the Great 800-year-old Southern Drum and Bell Lane Chinese put it. cookbook by Hu Sihui, the imperial doctor, Wall. If that’s true, I’m more Chinese than (Nanluogu Xiang). In 2008, Time magazine My sons and I enjoy Beijing Opera, with and in 1416, the Bianyifang Restaurant be- most locals because I drove either across or rated the lane as one of Asia’s Top 25 must- its singing, dancing and stylized combat, and gan serving Beijing duck and chicken. To- through the Wall a dozen times on our trip see sites. we won the “Best Singing Family” trophy in day, the Xianyukou Bianyifang Restaurant west. Each time I thought I’d seen it for With more than 21 million people a BJTV opera competition. Friends in Xia- claims to be descended from the original, the last time, the Wall reared up, slinking crammed into a city that has so much history, men were immensely proud until I told them but they face stiff competition from the like a serpent across mountains and deserts Beijing must be creative in balancing mod- we were the only family that had competed, until petering out in the lonely wasteland of ernization with protection of both cultural but one friend laughed, “You scared off the Gansu’s Jiayu Pass (Jiayu Guan). and natural heritage. For example, Beijing’s competition!” Continued on Page 13 PAGE 12 / April 2017 book review www.chinainsight.info “Barbarian Lost: Travels in the New China” by Alexandre Trudeau Reviewed by John Bauer, Asian Review of Books, Nov. 26, 2016

Author: Alexandre Trudeau One might be forgiven for thinking “Oh try the feelings of alienation a traveler’s Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers no, not another book on modern China… feelings of alienation will be more marked Publication date: September 2016 What could anyone possibly have left to say and much more difficult to overcome than Hard cover: 304 pages about it?” But Alexandre Trudeau does not in, say, a trip to France. That is where simply write about what he observes, but, Trudeau’s guide, Vivien, comes in. But Alexandre Trudeau is a travel- like all good travel-writers, shows us what Trudeau sees China through the eyes of his ler, filmmaker and journalist. Over effect the journey had on him. And he does guide Vivien as well as his own; and she the past decade and a half, his films so without thrusting himself into the fore- plays a large part in the way he copes with and reports on issues of geopolitical ground; there is no large talking head loudly what he encounters and its effect on his own importance have been seen and read proclaiming “look at me” in the foreground way of looking at the world. He can bounce by millions of Canadians. Trudeau and with tiny buildings in the background ideas off her, and even disagree with her; was a trusted witness in Baghdad as incidentally pointing to a foreign location. for example, he won’t let her show him the the bombs brought shock and awe. We do however get a picture of Trudeau Little Three Gorges, an area not destroyed He charted out the intimate realities himself and what Canadian journalist John by the Three Gorges dam, and they some- on both sides of the Israeli security Fraser calls his “enthusiasm and restless times argue about politics, though always in barrier, explored the pluralism of inquisitiveness,” but always with China a civilized way. They discuss such things Canadian identity, stood up for the itself front and center. His technique, which as corruption, the punishment of wayward rights of arbitrarily imprisoned largely works, is to feature, as a contrast officials, and even the Communist Party terror suspects in Canada, tracked and reality check, the views of Vivien, a itself, to which Vivien appears to belong, youth-driven democratic awaken- Chinese journalist accompanying him on his though not uncritically. ings in the Balkans, shed light on the travels and who, in many ways, personifies Vivien represents the new China, the origins of unrest in Darfur, Liberia the China he is exploring. At the end of the young and educated part of its populace, and Haiti and deconstructed the book we are told that she is going to study but, even as she embraces change, she does Canadian peace-keeping legacy 50 in the United States, has a fiancé with a job not forget her past. Trudeau demonstrates years after Pearson’s Nobel. Born in Europe and may well leave China perma- that he has read up on Chinese history and into one of the country’s most promi- nently. When Trudeau questions her about that he is, insofar as a “barbarian” can be, nent political families, Alexandre that, she replies, “The things that matter stay familiar with Chinese culture; in no way is has been familiar to Canadians with us wherever we are. What I need from he xenophobic, and he embraces China for since birth by his nickname, Sacha. China is already with me.” what it is, not what he, as a westerner, would Trudeau lives in Montreal with his That sentence (if in fact she really said like it to be. He even argues for some of wife and three young children. it) is a good summation of the main theme the things that some in the West deplore; of the book, the new China trying to find a one-party government and some form of way forward from the old China without oversight in regard to Hong Kong are just pushing it away altogether; post-Deng China two examples of this, but he may well be may have had some success socially and playing devil’s advocate in order to elicit a economically, but culturally the Chinese response. He even talks the usually fiercely found out that they still needed what they critical Ai Wewei into agreeing that the Bei- already had, namely their history, philoso- jing Olympics might have actually been a phy and literature. good thing for China. And he understands Trudeau is a Canadian journalist and that for many Chinese, there is a belief that Wanted: film-maker; he has spent time in the Middle they “deserve everything a Canadian has.” East, where he witnessed the American They are not, in other words, simply a nation attack on Baghdad, and he has written on of conformist sheep. the Arab-Israeli relationship. He has also The book does not pretend to be philo- ONLINE worked in Darfur, Liberia and Haiti, and has sophical or profound, which is probably English Lanuage written extensively about Canadian involve- why (and, in Canada, with recognition of ment in various peacekeeping efforts. its author) it will succeed with a general Teachers In the book, he rather disingenuously audience. The narrator is cheerful, chatty, refers to the fact that his father was “a politi- and well-informed, at least insofar as a cian;” he was, in fact, Prime Minister Pierre “barbarian” can be well-informed about Would you like to help Chinese students Trudeau, and the author’s brother Justin is China. There are, of course, better books (Gr. 6-12) polish their spoken and written English skills (and, occasionally, history/ the current Prime Minister of Canada. How- on China than this, but Trudeau is an engag- literature)? We are hiring experienced na- ever, the reference to the father is not meant ing guide to modern China, and his book a tive. English-speaking teachers to teach to attract attention; Pierre Trudeau had been good starting-place for anyone interested in ESL (different levels) or high school U.S. to China in 1949 and 1973, and in 1990 he this rising super-power, as it is perceptive history or literature. revisited it, this time with Alexandre, who enough to suggest that our preconceptions Teach from our Twin Cities cloud- had always dreamed of going there. It was about this vast and diverse nation are often classroom set up or your home office. the year following the Tiananmen Square wildly inaccurate. If that was all it did, it Teaching will usually take place in the incident and Canada had cut diplomatic ties would be doing a great service to its readers, evenings (6–10 p.m.), early mornings with China, but the visit nonetheless whetted but it manages to be readable and acces- (6–8 a.m.) or weekends. Number of hours Alexandre’s appetite. Alexandre went to sible, too. ♦ are flexible. Rates are from $15-$40/hr China again in 2006 and 2008; on the last based on the course requirements and teachers’ experience. trip, he was greeted by the artist Ai Weiwei with the words, “Long-term resident here? Teaching experience is required. Teaching license is preferred, but not necessary. Or just passing through?” About the reviewer The book revolves around the tension in John Bauer recently retired as If interested, please contact Richard at 612-987-6540 or [email protected]. China between past and present, not just the associate professor of Humanities at old imperial past, but also the more recent the University College of the North past, the Mao era and what immediately fol- in The Pas, Manitoba, Canada, and lowed it. China is no longer mysterious or has taught at universities in Canada, inaccessible, but, as Trudeau notes, it’s very Nigeria and Japan. He specializes in much “inwardly directed” and has “a deep early modern travel-literature (espe- detachment from western ways”, which, cially Asian travel) and 17th-century together with a formidable language barrier, intellectual history. His latest book makes it a frustrating country to navigate or is an edition of Sir Thomas Herbert’s to understand. “Travels in Africa, Persia and Asia He recognizes that in such a vast coun- the Great” (2012). www.chinainsight.info society April 2017 / PAGE 13

$600 billion. More than 300,000 Chinese Vietnam that lasted less than four weeks. students are studying in U.S. colleges and Most Americans like to believe their Americans' opinion universities and an increasing number of politicians that the U.S. keeps the peace Chinese tourists are coming to the U.S. in the world, but they may not realize that And U.S. brands, from General Motors cars China has never done anything to jeopardize of China on the rise, to Starbucks coffee, have a huge presence world peace as the U.S. has done in Iraq, in China and are popular among Chinese Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. survey finds consumers. U.S. politicians like to accuse other gov- Since the favorability in the Gallup and ernments of manipulating public opinion, By Chen Weihua, China Daily, Feb. 27, 2017 Pew surveys refers mainly to the govern- but what people have seen in U.S. presiden- ment rather than its people, there is no doubt tial campaigns and speeches by U.S. leaders People who are concerned about China’s According to Pew surveys, Chinese un- that the negative views expressed by U.S. is their superb skill and desperate efforts to relatively low favorability rating among favorable views of the U.S. remained below leaders, politicians and news media about manipulate public opinion, including by Americans may breathe a sigh of relief from 50 percent for most of Barack Obama’s the Chinese government played a key role repeatedly telling lies. the latest Gallup poll. presidency. in shaping the public opinion of Americans. For example, U.S. President Donald The report released last Thursday shows In the same Gallup poll this month, For example, few might remember a Trump last Thursday continued to accuse that 50 percent of Americans say they have China’s favorability rating is higher than time that President Barack Obama went on China of being a currency manipulator, a favorable opinion of China, up from 44 Saudi Arabia (31 percent) and Russia (28 national TV to speak positively of China. despite the fact that U.S. economists and percent in 2016 and 41 percent in 2012. The percent), but lower than Mexico (64 percent) Even when he talked about China’s active Wall Street practitioners all believe this is poll, conducted Feb 1-5 among 1,035 adults and surprisingly slightly lower than Cuba role on climate change issues, he tried to tell not factual. Ordinary Americans who only aged 18 and older, claims it is the highest in (51 percent). Canada, the U.S. northern Americans that it was he who pressured the listen to their political leaders are likely to the last three decades, but still lower than neighbor, received the highest favorability Chinese government and inspired it to do so. be misled on the issue, and thus polled with the late 1980s. rating of 92 percent. China was mentioned in almost every an unfavorable view of China. This result somewhat contradicts a Pew While the Gallup poll shows that more one of Obama’s State of the Union ad- The relatively low favorability rating Center survey conducted in January and Democrats than Republicans held a favor- dresses, but only as a bogeyman, bullying of Americans towards China and Russia released on Feb 10. It found that 65 percent able view of China and Pew Center surveys small countries, disrespecting and break- largely conforms to the frequent negative say China is either an adversary (22 percent) over the years show that young people had a ing international rules, stealing intellectual rhetoric of their political leaders and news or a serious problem (43 percent) while only better view of China than the older genera- property and engaging in cyberattacks. media. about a third (31 percent) say China is not tion did, there has been no detailed expla- The rhetoric from the U.S. Congress and The latest Gallup poll is indeed a good a problem. nation in the surveys of why about half of news media is almost the same. China has sign, yet it calls on politicians and news A separate spring 2016 Pew survey Americans and Chinese had negative views often been described as a belligerent na- media to speak and report more responsibly showed that a majority (55 percent) of toward the other country. tion and a country that challenges the U.S. and objectively while bidding to boost their Americans held an unfavorable opinion of It is disturbing that such a relatively high and wants to dominate the world — this own popularity and ratings. ♦ China. The negative views of China in the unfavorable view appears at a time when despite the fact that China has not engaged U.S. increased by 26 percentage points from China and the U.S. have become more inter- in military conflict with any other country 2006 to 2016. dependent. Two-way trade is approaching since 1979, when it had a border war with

Politics & Government Shenyang China to raise 2017 defense budget by street around 7 percent: spokesperson cleaner [BEIJING, March 4, Xinhua] -- China's Fu Ying, spokesper- Concerning disputes between China 2017 defense budget will expand by about son for the fifth ses- and neighboring countries, Fu said China puts 37 kids 7 percent, a spokesperson for the annual sion of China’s 12th advocates dialogue and peaceful solutions session of the country's top legislature said National People’s in addressing those issues. Saturday. Congress (NPC) "But in the meantime, we must also have through "China's military capacity building will (Xinhua/Jin Li- the capability to defend our sovereignty, our be continued. This is the requirement for wang) rights and interests," she said. school safeguarding our national sovereignty and "In particular, we must guard against security," Fu Ying, spokesperson for the outside forces from interfering with such 12th National People's Congress (NPC) an- issues," Fu said without elaborating. nual session, told a press conference. "The enhancement of China's capabili- The new increase could be the country's soldier is considerably lower than that of ties is conducive to safeguarding regional slowest defense budget rise in at least a other major countries. peace and stability, not the contrary," she decade. The country's entire defense spending continued. Last year, the country's defense budget last year accounted for less than a quarter According to Fu, China and some rose by 7.6 percent to 954 billion yuan of that of the United States. ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian (about 138 billion U.S. dollars), breaking Last month, U.S. President Donald Nations) countries have already returned a multi-year run of double-digit increases. Trump pledged to further strengthen his to dialogue and consultation, and tensions The country's 2016 economic growth country's military buildup. in the South China Sea have shown trends registered a nearly three-decade low of 6.7 In his first address to Congress after of easing. Beijing Youth Daily recently reported percent. However, the rate still outpaced taking office, Trump proposed a huge "As to the future development [of the that a 56-year-old street cleaner from most other major economies. 54-billion-U.S. dollar surge in the country's settlement of these disputes], I think we also Shenyang had contributed more than Premier Li Keqiang will unveil the military spending, up 10 percent from the need to take into account the intentions on US$24,700 over a 30-year period to put government's GDP target for this year on previous year. the U.S. side," she said, calling the United 37 impoverished kids through school on a Sunday. The exact figure for the new de- Fu also noted that China's defense States' actions in the South China Sea a monthly salary of US$340. fense budget is also expected to be released spending accounts for only about 1.3 per- "weather vane" for the region. When the street cleaner’s father died in in a budget report the same day. cent of the country's GDP, compared with Fu went on to say that concerns over 1976, he and his mother made it through the At the press conference, Fu said China's NATO members' pledge to dedicate at least navigational freedom in the South China tough times with the help and generosity defense budget in recent years has been in 2 percent of GDP to defense. Sea are misleading and uncalled for. of neighbors and friends. That made a big line with China's economic development "You should ask them what their inten- "In essence ... Washington is perhaps impression on the young man, who vowed and defense needs. tions are," Fu told reporters, adding that concerned that China could catch up with to repay their kindness. Her words were echoed by Major Gen- China has "never inflicted harm on other or surpass the United States in terms of The kind-hearted street cleaner lived eral Chen Zhou, who said China's defense countries." capability," she said, noting that there is frugally and worked two sanitation jobs, budget increase is reasonable and moderate "Of all the conflicts and wars in the still a huge gap between the two countries. leaving home at 4:30 a.m. and returning against the backdrop of "profound changes world that have killed and displaced so Fu said whether a military poses a threat at 9 p.m. To reduce expenses, he sold his in China's overall strength, its security envi- many people and caused significant loss of rests on its "strategic intentions." property and moved into a tiny room. ronment and the world's strategic situation." property, which one is China to blame for?" "Thus the key question we should really When his story hit Chinese social media, "A rise of about 7 percent in defense she asked. ask is whether we are pursuing common one netizen wrote, "If more people were like budget is basically in keeping with last Yin Zhuo also said China, itself a victim security or exclusive security," Fu said. this old street sweeper, then the world would year's GDP output," said Rear Admiral Yin of aggression in the past, would not inflict "China wants common security for all, be a better place.” ♦ Zhuo of the People's Liberation Army Navy. its own suffering on others. and this is the shared consensus of many Yin said China's defense spending per "We know the price for peace," Yin said. Asian countries as well," she said. ♦ PAGE 14 / April 2017 government & politics www.chinainsight.info The Chinese in Trumpland, Part III: lessons learned By Joe Pearman and Chang Wang, contributors

Editor’s Note: Last year, Chang Wang and Joe Pearman published a two-part series of articles titled “Dancing With the Dragon,” where they laid out how the Communist Party of China was likely to view the various candidates for president of the United States. Now that Donald Trump has emerged an unlikely victor, China Insight invited these two writers back to take a stab at examining how the Chinese government and the Chinese people will relate to this pugnacious and outspoken new administration. Part I of this three-part series covered Chinese-American attitudes toward Trump. Last month’s (Part II) dealt with U.S.-China relations.

Pearman: In this last part of the three- Trump would have a fight for the airwaves part series, it seems appropriate to consider on his hands. some takeaways from candidate Trump’s Wang: And here is point two. I have unexpected victory. Many observers have been a lawyer for more than a decade, and celebrity and nothing much about anything attack an enemy in disorder. There’s the said the 2016 presidential election and the this election showed me an election is a else for a week! There is a plethora of cable Hillary-Bernie kerfuffle, and Trump taking Brexit vote that saw the United Kingdom jury trial. And in a jury trial, a narrative is news channels, and “news junkies” can advantage, in a nutshell. The second title is leaving the European Union are two of what wins. choose between conservative Fox, liberal the Chinese classic “The Art of War,” which a kind. Both elections featured brash, Let me explain. Consider young, at- MSNBC, and CNN, which just wants at- needs no introduction. ’Hold out baits to energetic populists focusing on a sense of tractive Kate, her older, affluent, and well- tention. Of course, many people prefer the the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.’ national loss and economic malaise to defeat insured husband Jack, and Kate’s husky, ease of logging onto the internet. And here Every tweet a piece of bait, evidence of the a cosmopolitan liberal establishment that penniless paramour Nate. One day Jack was you can find a stream of news even better- disorder that guaranteed a Democratic win ... was seen as smug and overconfident. shot on his drive home from work, and it tailored to your political persuasion: Mother so ran the prevailing political wisdom. And Wang: I agree, and on the point of over- didn’t take long for the police to arrest Kate Jones for the labor Democrat, Huffington last, but not least, is another Chinese clas- confidence, the first takeaway is this: You and Nate. At trial, any defense attorney is Post for the cultural liberal, Drudge Report only win by winning. going to have a long row to hoe, because for the Tea Party Republican, Breitbart for Let me explain. Donald Trump’s win “Nate shot Jack over Kate” is a perfect the conservative nationalist. And then there over Hillary Clinton could well be compared narrative. It’s simple and it makes sense, are the great number of people who don’t to Mao Tse-Tung’s victory over Generalis- even if it might have nothing to do with the follow the news, and who only get bits and simo Chiang Kai-Shek. At the start of the reality. A narrative is a re-construction of pieces from what their friends talk about “war,” Clinton had a well-developed and the reality. or share on Facebook, which is so often well-funded party apparatus, as well as a Pearman: “Make America Great fake news, often cranked out by mercenary solid track record from her time as Secretary Again” is a narrative. It’s patriotic. It’s ex- Macedonian teenagers1 who write what of State. Trump’s campaign was small and citing. It fits on the front of a baseball cap. they know will sell and to hell with the unorganized, and he had appeared to dis- And it lets you read a lot into it, whether consequences. credit himself as a mainstream politician by you’re a laid-off steelworker in Ohio hoping Pearman: I really enjoy reading the supporting the birther conspiracy movement to restore American jobs, or a young mom Twin Cities’ Star Tribune, even if I often several years before. who wants her kids to go to public school don’t have the time to read beyond the na- But Trump, as we were soon to discover, and learn values she agrees with. tional news and a favorite columnist in the was Mao’s equal in terms of ruthlessness. “Stronger Together” is not a narrative. local section. Still, I think that when I read He hammered Clinton with a constant It’s a statement, and in an increasingly di- the paper, I take away more than I get from sic, “Romance of stream of attacks while mobilizing crucial vided America, it seemed unlikely to really online news. Even reading BBC News, the Three King- supporters in rural America, just as Mao catch on. which I feel is the best general news source doms,” a histori- sapped Chiang’s strength with guerilla Wang: Also on the subject of narrative, online, requires clicking from chosen article cal novel follow- warfare while building the Red Army in and going back to the lessons of history, to chosen article, while the newspaper pres- ing the breakup the countryside. Nothing was sacred for both Trump and Mao could paint their op- ents a holistic picture. of the Han king- Trump; he insulted Gold Star parents and ponents as crooked. The leaked Democratic I can’t think of many people my age who dom of China threatened to sue women who accused him Party collusion to defeat Bernie Sanders read the paper; my local suburban weekly into three sepa- of sexual assault. When China was occupied became a stick Trump could (and did) use to has a massive dedicated senior section. rate kingdoms, by the Japanese, Mao let Chiang’s govern- hammer Clinton’s campaign with over and What are we left with when a generation is and the wars ment do the bulk of the fighting. Mao sat over, just as Mao could point to the rampant growing up more exposed to the scrapings among them. It’s back, did not fight hard unless forced to, corruption in Chiang’s government. The of the internet than what is real? a saga of plotting, and conserved his forces. He prioritized personal characteristics of both Clinton and Wang: And in this environment, power backstabbing, and and calculated; he knew who his real enemy Chiang became immaterial because they belongs to the person with the best propa- no-holds-barred was: the Nationalists. became the embodiment of what people ganda machine. In my opinion, Clinton’s warfare. Read it, and internalize its lessons. Clinton made a point of not getting in found intolerable about the establishment. campaign was unprepared for the scale of Pearman: It’s a wild new world out the mud with Trump, mainly just criticizing Pearman: And then there were the fake informal discourse in this election, and also there. We hope that this series may help him on moral standards. Trump, like Mao, news stories ... for the media’s inability to control “fake you, the reader, make sense of a sliver of it. recognized there are no rules in war. Can Wang: Which brings us to the third news” stories. The Trump campaign, on We wish you all a happy Year of the Fire you imagine what a no-holds-barred cam- takeaway: journalism is gone; there are the other hand, enjoyed enthusiastic online Rooster; we’re confident that it will be as paign on both sides would have looked like? entertainment and propaganda. support. eventful as the Year of the Fire Monkey! ♦ Pearman: I think that by focusing on In past elections, certain media sources Pearman: For instance, the site Reddit Footnote morals and controversial statements so could be relied upon to give the unbiased has “subreddits” (sections) for the Trump CBSnews.com; “In Macedonia’s fake news much, Clinton made the race about Trump. truth about important issues. CBS (the and Clinton campaigns. /r/HillaryClinton hub, this teen shows how it’s done” Dec. And when the race was about Trump, he Columbia Broadcasting System) was espe- has around 33,000 members. /r/TheDon- 2, 2016 was covered 24-7. And that meant he could cially well known for this; the great rivals ald has over 330,000. And boy, are they always find a way to squeeze a few remarks Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite pumped. About the writers about trade imbalances and national decline helped bring down Joseph McCarthy and Wang: In closing, I’d like to suggest a Wang is chief researcher at around the edges of his latest gaffe. exposed the quagmire of the Vietnam War. reading list for people who may be strug- Thomson Reuters and an adjunct Picture Clinton throwing freewheeling When Cronkite said “And that’s the way gling to understand this changed political professor at the University of press conferences where she lambasted it is,” people were confident he was right. landscape and in search of strategies and Minnesota.He also is a member corporate tax shelters and hinted that Ivanka If you wanted more detail, you could sub- tactics to deal with it. This list is in addition of the Civic Engagement Steering Trump was a Russian honey trap! Imagine scribe to your vibrant local paper. to the popular New York Times “Books for Committee of the State of Minnesota. if Clinton had promised to appoint Elizabeth Now newspapers around the country are the Trump Era.” Pearman is a third-year business Warren as a special prosecutor to investigate struggling to stay afloat. Network news car- The first is “The Thirty-Six Strata- student at the University of Minnesota, and break up corporate monopolies! It ries ephemera; any time a celebrity dies you gems,” an essay on various ploys that can Twin Cities. would have been outrageous, but you can bet can count on learning a great deal about the be used in battle. ’Loot a burning house;’ www.chinainsight.info government & politics April 2017 / PAGE 15

democratic development. Tsang hammered on that Lam would be a continuation of the The non-democratic election current, unpopular Leung. “[If Lam’s elected] it’s unprecedented for a winner to enjoy negative popularity for Hong Kong’s chief rating ... History tells us the 689 who elected an articulate person [Leung] to CE had their executive hopes crashed,” said Tsang in closing. On a lighter note, when the candidates By Elaine Dunn were asked what they had appreciated about each other while working as for- legal system, freedom of speech mer colleagues, Lam’s sarcasm and association. However, this backfired. She mentioned when situation also has put it in a per- she used to go to Tsang (her boss petual, precarious political balanc- at that point) about development ing act with Beijing ever since, to projects, his desktop never had wit, its chief executive election files or paper, insinuating he did process. This balancing act is one nothing. Tsang shot back that of the greatest challenges for the Lam obviously did not know next chief executive. how he worked (efficiently). Viewed largely as an undemo- Soon after, social media lit up cratic process, the 2017 election with photos of many famous and for chief executive sparked off successful peoples’ desks, all one of the largest demonstrations L to R: Carrie Lam, John Tsang, Woo Kwok-hing clean and empty. But the worst in Hong Kong in fall 2014 known slap came from a former journalist as the Umbrella Revolution. That ingful discussions on political reform. during the debate who shared the photo of Recent post on Twitter: “A map of the states where 79-day sit-in brought civil disobe- Woo is generally believed to be just and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s desk, which Donald Trump is now president, regardless of your dience to new heights and kindled reliable, and the public thinks he exhibits also was clean and paperless, and asked Lam opinion, Deal with it!” political awareness in the younger political wisdom and determination in to comment on Xi’s desk! The following generation like none known be- upholding the “one country, two systems” day, rival Woo posted this comment to Lam The #notmypresident tweeters should fore. But it exacted no concessions from principle. However, his pro-democrat lean- on his Facebook page, “You should be a have a lot of empathy for the 7.4 million Beijing. There was no open nomination ings also puts him at clear odds with Beijing. tree in your next life [for wasting] so much Hong Kongers whose chief executive for the for the election. Hong Kong is no closer to At the final debate that took place March paper on files. ♦ next five years was selected for them by the universal suffrage today than pre-Umbrella 19, questions from the Election Committee 1,194-member pro-Beijing Chief Executive Revolution days. and public were taken. When the political Editor’s note: As this goes to press, vote Election Committee on March 26. reform issue came up, Woo pounced on count for the next chief executive of Hong It is ironic how many parallels there Lam, proclaiming, “Restarting the process Kong was just posted as follows: Lam, the are between this Hong Kong CE election [of political reform] is not even in her Beijing-backed candidate had 777 votes, and the U.S.’s 2016 presidential election. manifesto.” Tsang followed up with, “Some Tsang garnered 365 and Woo had 21. Small Both elections are rooted in deep divisions politicians would think saying is achiev- surprise. within the community: the haves against ing,” in reference to her promise to discuss the have-nots (67 percent of the population regard housing affordability and the widen- ing wealth gap are top priority issues); the Travel choice of sauces (I prefer spicy) and jams. separatists challenge the pro-establishment; The unique mix of flavors and textures is both have an “anointed” candidate; both are Pro-democracy signs Beijing so addictive that jianbing is catching on not decided by the popular vote, and media overseas as well. If I ever find authentic have taken strong sides (in HK, the pro- One positive outcome for the pro- Continued from Page 11 jianbing in Xiamen, I’ll probably gain 20 Beijing papers Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao democracy camp that came out of the Um- pounds from breakfasts alone. have extremely negative coverage of Lam’s brella Revolution was it gained a number newcomer Quanjude, which opened in 1864. Our sons love Chinese food (they grew rivals; in the U.S., the mainstream media of seats in the key sectors of the December Beijing Roast Duck is like a Chinese up on it), but they were happy to try some of continues a very negative commentary of all 2016 Election Committee Subsector Elec- taquito, with its meat and crispy skin, the many foreign cuisines in Beijing – and things Trump). And should the outcome be tion, the group that will be electing the shredded cucumbers, scallions and a dab of delighted that Beijingers eat ice cream even for the pro-Beijing candidate, there is real chief executive. Still, even with the pro- sauce rolled in a thin, crepe-like wrapper. in the dead of winter. When I told them fear of unrest from the pro-independence democracy camp now holding a total of And happily for us, Beijing Roast Duck is that Chinese invented ice cream, Shannon and pro-democracy camps. 326 of the 1,194 seats of the committee, now served all over China as well as abroad laughed. “You say Chinese invented every- If the pro-democracy camp’s candidate the general outlook is that the holdover – though nothing beats the ambience of thing, Dad!” But maybe Matt, our younger Tsang wins, China still has strong and deep pro-establishment electors who voted for the authentic Beijing Duck in the eponymous son, does believe that. When we visited the control over Hong Kong, not likely much unpopular C.Y. Leung in 2012 will probably capital. U.S. in 1995, he asked, “Dad, does America change to satisfy the pro-democrats either. vote for the Beijing-backed Lam. While on the subject of food, my favorite have KFC?” As of March 17, John Tsang, the for- The three remaining candidates Lam, breakfast is jianbing. I love Chinese food, Although Sue and I would prefer that mer financial secretary and assistant to the Tsang and retired judge Woo Kwok-hing but not three times a day. For breakfast, I Shannon still lived in Xiamen, we see why last British governor of Hong Kong, was held a debate on March 14. Regina Ip, New crave the familiarity of coffee, toast and he loves Beijing. But he’d better get a larger leading Beijing’s preferred candidate and People’s Party leader and former security eggs – unless I’m in Beijing. Jianbing, apartment because when I retire he’ll have former chief secretary Carrie Lam by 17.1 secretary, dropped out early March since she which originated 2,000 years ago in Shan- lots of visits from his venerable Beijing- percentage points in a survey commissioned did not get the 150 votes from the Elector dong, is inexpensive, tasty and never pre- loving parents! ♦ by the South China Morning Post (SCMP). Committee to move on. cooked. Each jianbing is made to order on Dr. Bill Brown is a professor at the Xiamen However, if there is one election where Ip thought Lam was strong on policies, the spot – a large crpe with eggs, a crispy University MBA Center and Academic Di- “the popular vote” makes no difference but was hit hard on issues by Tsang. Ip cracker, cilantro, green onions, and my rector of its OneMBA program. and the populace is truly on the sidelines, thought Lam really blundered when she it is the election for Hong Kong’s chief said if she, Lam, ever felt she had lost public executive – Hong Kong’s highest political support, she would resign. Lam had been office. Two-thirds of those respondents in backtracking that comment since! Her the SCMP survey are well aware that Lam is comment had been interpreted as a lack of Be Your Own Boss! most likely to land the chief executive post will to govern and lack of commitment to despite their preferences. work on constitutional reform, one of the China Insight is seeking a self-motivated individual to sell Under China’s “one country, two sys- most contentious issue facing the next chief. advertising space for our newspaper. China Insight has tems” approach, Hong Kong was granted Tsang, the popular underdog, is laidback been publishing for 15 years. The ideal individual we seek autonomy for 50 years when its 99-year and “nice;” and he summed up his leader- must be passionate about our mission, be resourceful, lease to Britain was up in 1997 and it went ship style as “the people you appoint are creative and capable of working independently. We offer back to China. Under the “one country, the people you should trust.” But the pro- a very generous commission structure and you get to two systems” principle, Hong Kong enjoys Beijing camp said he can’t gain Beijing’s set your own hours. autonomy in many areas except on matters trust. But should he secure Beijing’s trust, Contact Greg Hugh at 612-723-4872 or email concerning “foreign and defence affairs.” he is the candidate viewed as best able to [email protected] Hong Kong enjoys many privileges not bridge the pro-establishment camp and the available in mainland cities, such as its own general population together to start mean- PAGE 16 / April 2017 arts & culture www.chinainsight.info “The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin” premieres in St. Paul By Greg Hugh

Attendees to the opening night per- cades spent living under this patently racist formance of “The Paper Dreams of Harry act gave rise to the widespread demonizing Chin” at the History Theatre in St. Paul of an entire culture. -City Pages were treated to more than just a dramatic play. As part of the festivities prior to the “The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin” is world premier drama about the true story kind of a play about immigration. It’s kind of Harry Chin’s journey to the U.S. as a of a play about relationships and race. It’s “paper son,” they could see the exterior kind of a play about fidelity and memory walls of the building displayed larger-than- and ghosts. life photos by noted photographer Wing Audiences almost always walk out of a Young Huie. Huie’s images were part of History Theatre play knowing something an interactive display in the lobby where about Minnesota and its people that they audience members are invited to add their didn’t know when they walked in. “The ancestral photos and stories, transform- Paper Dreams of Harry Chin” fulfills that ing the exhibition into a shrine of remem- necessary part of the theater’s mission. But brance. The photo exhibit in the theatre’s the tale’s not sufficient to move the audi- lobby conveyed the story of families af- ence from education to edification… And fected by the Chinese Exclusion Act that that’s the problem. At the end of its nearly was in effect from 1882-1943. Huie’s ex- 2 and a half hours, the new script now on hibit in the lobby, “Gateway to History,” will remain on display throughout the run of the play through April 9, 2017. ”The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin” is by local playwright Jessica Huang who researched Chin’s story through hours of conversation with his daughter, Sheila Chin-Morris, who granted permission for some artistic liberties. Mei Ann Teo is the director. This play is the true story of Harry Chin, one of the many Chinese nationals who landed in St. Paul through a loophole Opening night attendees also were in the Chinese Exclusion Act. Chin worked treated to a festive pre-show reception as a cook at the Nankin Café in downtown hosted by the History Theatre and orga- Minneapolis. Haunted by the ghosts of his nized by Chinese Heritage Foundation past and provoked by the curiosity of his board member Yin Simpson. Besides the daughter, Chin is forced to confront his red lantern decorations in the lobby, Jarrell buried secrets. Through leaps of time and Barton performed on the classic guzheng, space, we experience the abhorrent condi- frequently referred to as the Chinese zither. tions at Seattle Immigration Station, Chin’s There also was a cooking demonstration longing for the life he left in China, and by (retired) chef Carl Wong, chicken chow the complications of love in a new land. mein and fried rice served by David Fong, Huang’s powerful new drama explores Artistic Director of the History Theatre Jr., of D. Fong’s in Savage. The Tea Source the personal and political repercussions of stage at the History Theatre has touched also introduced playwright Jessica Huang provided a refreshing palate-cleansing making a group of people “illegal.” on those themes and more in an impres- and director Mei Ann Teo who were joined green tea, Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearl Early reviews are mixed. This writer sionistic and ethereal fashion. But it hasn’t by Chin’s daughter. found the storyline difficult to follow and fully examined any of them; hasn’t really For ticket information, times, and other needed to concentrate very hard on what allowed us to get to know its characters; show events, go to was taking place on stage and the transi- hasn’t connected the various dots it creates www.historytheatre.com. ♦ tions between different time periods, along about politics and personality. -Pioneer with ethnic stereotypes and ghost incidents Press in a surreal fashion. First, some little-known history: The An ensemble of six actors carries all the Chinese were the first ethnic group ever to roles in this two-act piece, which includes suffer an immigration ban in the U.S. Many moments of humor as well as moments of Chinese immigrants settled in California to tragedy. The most striking scenes depict work the gold rush of 1849 and built the the interrogations Chin endured for four transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. In months. The immigration officer is down- subsequent decades, fear of these newcom- right predatory: his voice is amplified and ers led to passage of the Chinese Exclusion distorted animal sounds and growls. Ku- Act of 1882, which was regularly renewed dos to the playwright, sound designer, and and made permanent in 1902. It lasted 61 actors for committing to this strong choice: years and was repealed in the 1940s. (In it worked for me. -BWW Review 2012, Congress passed a bipartisan bill expressing regret for the long sequence of While it may seem to be torn from to- anti-Chinese legislation.) day’s headlines, the immigrant’s saga in The play is better appreciated if one “The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin” has has an understanding of the historic back- been in development at the History Theatre ground on the treatment of Chinese during for several years, and the main character’s this period. It is strongly recommended plight can be traced back to the end of the that one at least read the information that 19th century. -Star Tribune is provided in the play’s program booklet before the play begins. Per the History After the play, the audience had an Theatre, the play is not recommended for opportunity to meet the entire cast: Song children under 16 years of age because of Kim (Harry Chin), Meghan Kreidler (She- language and content. lia), Sandra Struthers (Laura), Sherwin As recounted in “The Paper Dreams Resurreccion (Poet/Immigration officier), of Harry Chin,” written by Minneapolis- Rolando Martinez (Boss/Interrogator), based playwright Jessica Huang, the de- Audrey Park (Yuet/Susan). Ron Peluso,