June 2021 Dream No More! NOW, ONLINE ONLY!
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chinainsight.info CHINA NSIGHT Since 2001 Fostering business and Icultural harmony between China and the U.S. VOL. 20 NO. 6 June 2021 Dream no more! NOW, ONLINE ONLY! News, p. 3-4 Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels these definitely are not. Only better! This stuffed sweet peppers dish is just one of many dishes on the menu of a well-loved restaurant that will make many of you start singing “These are a few of my favourite things.” With pandemic restrictions easing and summer riots of 2020 in the rearview mirror, good (Chinese) eats are starting up again! p. 6 Community, p. 8 Business & Economy State exports dip 4% in first quarter, prospects for growth appear of 2020. • Exports grew to many top markets in • State exports grew this quarter, perhaps signaling a reversal of 6% in March 2021– in- the past year’s trends. terrupting the persistent • The state’s exports increased 3% to monthly declines since North America – the state’s top regional Photo by CDC on Unsplash March 2020. market – boosted by growth to Mexico (up • U.S. exports of 16%). Exports slid 10% to both Asia and the Health, p. 9 goods rose 2% during European Union. Exports began to rebound in the first quarter. More in markets such as Belgium (up 12%), Tai- than half the states had wan (up 46%) and the Philippines (up 64%), positive or flat export but continued to struggle in Canada, China, In This Issue growth since the first Japan, Germany and Korea. quarter of 2020. • Exports grew 1% to both the Euro- Books 10-11 • Minnesota’s manu- pean markets outside the European Union Business & Economy 4 factured exports shrank region (led by the 64% surge in exports to Community 6-8, 11 6% to $5.1 billion in Switzerland) and the Central and South Events 5, 8 the first quarter of 2021. American region (where Costa Rica (up Health 9 • Minnesota exports of goods (includ- U.S. manufactured exports sank 1%. 18%), the Dominican Republic (up 57%), ing agricultural, mining and manufactured Nicaragua (up 158%) and Guatemala (up Language 5 products) were valued at $5.4 billion in the Sales of Minnesota goods 81%) uplifted sales). News 3-4 first quarter of 2021, representing a drop of resume growth in selected Points of View 12 4% (or $238 million) since the first quarter Pronouncements 2 markets Continued on page 4 PAGE 2 / June 2021 pronouncements www.chinainsight.info Publisher’s Pronouncements CHINAINSIGHT Greetings: If traffic is any kind of an indicator, it CAAM on page 7. tion dropped off in the Mainland, but was Publisher: appears that the COVID-19 crisis appears China Insight would like to congratulate continued in Taiwan under the Republic of Gregory J. Hugh to have abated as people are hitting the road Melody Zhou on page 11 for being awarded China government. [email protected] in response to relaxing of social distancing the Rotary Woman Leadership Award. In Taiwan, Father's Day is not an official requirements in the State of Minnesota. The We also want to take this opportunity holiday, but is now widely observed on Manager of timing could have happened at a more ap- to wish all of the dads out there a Happy August 8. People often take their father out Operations/Circulation: propriate time as the weather is warming up Father’s Day even though in Mainland for dinner, give gifts, or at least call them to Richard He so people can enjoy dining outdoors and all China, Father's Day (the third Sunday in give them a greeting. (Baba Jie means 八八 [email protected] kind of outdoor activities including sports. June) is relatively unknown. It isn't a public 节 or 爸爸节 / 父亲节: 'August 8th Day' We still have a ways to go get COVID-19 holiday, but expats in China might celebrate or 'Fathers' Day'.) under control, but at least we can move it. Perhaps their family, friends, or cowork- As always, thank you for your support Staff Writers: about responsibly and slowly return to a ers might honor some Western fathers on of China Insight. Greg Hugh normal life. the day. [email protected] It’s refreshing to see the community This was not always the case though. again come to life as many organizations During the WWII years, Father's Day was Sincerely, Elaine Dunn are winding down social distancing gather- celebrated on August 8. The Republic of [email protected] ings and beginning to transition away from China government wanted to celebrate the zoom meetings and are now able to hold soldiers who died and honor fathers. They events as normal. chose that date because in Chinese August Gregory J. Hugh Contributors: As summer heats up, so do the number 8 can be shortened to "bā bā" (八八 'eight Publisher – CEO Jennifer Bennerotte of great local outdoor activities scheduled eight'). This sounds similar to the informal China Insight, Inc. [email protected] throughout the Twin Cities area to capital- word for father (爸爸, bàba). This tradi- Zan Gao and Yingying Chen ize on the arrival of summer vacations and [email protected] great weather. This bodes well for all of the graduation ceremonies and parties that will Wyn Huynh be held throughout the Twin Cities area and [email protected] we congratulate the Class of 2021 and wish them great success as they move on to the next chapter of their lives. Production Editor: The return of live performances is the Jennifer Nordin CAAM-Chinese Dance Theatre Spring [email protected] Recital listed on page 5 and the Twin Cities Chinese Dance Center Rhythm of Spring III on page 8. About CHINAINSIGHT See page 6 to learn about Peking Gar- CHINAINSIGHT is a monthly English den Restaurant returns to business and the language newspaper fostering business awarding of the Stanley Chong Scholars by and cultural harmony between China and the U.S. 9-2021 CHINAINSIGHT is a Member of The Minnesota Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS (AAJA). 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Name NOTICE TO READERS: The First Last views expressed in articles are the Address Email author’s and not necessarily those Street City State Zip of CHINAINSIGHT. Authors may have One entry per month. Please return entry to: a business relationship with the China Insight 750 Mainstreet, #230, Hopkins, MN 55343 companies or businesses they discuss. INSIGHT Guaranteed YES you can visit our website, www.chinainsight.info, to read the latest issue, but did you know you can have CHINAINSIGHT delivered directly to your email inbox? A digital subscription is FREE and brings a full year (10 issues) of new understanding about today’s China, from language to business opportunities. Copyright 2021 CHINAINSIGHT, Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.chinainsight.info news June 2021 / PAGE 3 Gangsters rule Shocking corruption “I feel this is declaring a war on all Hong computers of the Epoch Times. It was the Five former banking regulators in North Kongers. Gangsters are now ruling Hong fifth attack of the facility since its founding China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region Kong,” said an Epoch Times Hong Kong in 2004. have taken more than US$109 million in reporter after she was brutally ambushed Organizations that advocate for freedom bribes between them. and beaten with an aluminium bat outside of expression are calling for a full investiga- China’s top antigraft agency reported her home in Hong Kong on May11. tion and bringing the perpetrators to justice. that the Baoshang Bank Co. Ltd., the failed The reporter’s legs were badly bruised. “There is no more dangerous tactic of silenc- lender that had been taken over by the state She noted that there had been suspicious ing the free press than of physically assault- in May 2019, had been investigated for more vehicles and men stalking her the week ing a journalist,” a spokesperson for a New than 50 times and the regulators who in- before the attack. York nonprofit told The Epoch Times. ♦ spected the bank deliberately avoided parts The U.S. State Department condemned of the business that had significant risks. who is currently standing trial for corrup- the attack. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) said Corruption was endemic among the tion, admitted accepting close to US$63 in an email to The Epoch Times the attacks regulators and was an important factor in million in bribes from 37 individuals from were “egregious examples” of the Chinese the collapse of the bank.