hina nsight CFostering business and cultural harmonyI between China and the U.S. VOL. 11 NO. 3 MARCH 2012 Amy Chua, noted author and Yale Law Professor speaks at 11th Annual Griffin Lecture Series By Greg Hugh, Staff Writer rior to the start of the 11th Annual 20 years of experience, notes that China is Bob and Kim Griffin Building a very complex country. PU.S. – China Bridges lecture The introduction of Amy Chua was “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother: Increas- made by Meredith McQuaid, Associate ing Mutual understanding Between U.S. and Vice President and Dean of International China” by Amy Chua, the audience that was Programs. She noted that Chua, John M. gathered in Memorial Hall at the McNamara Duff, Jr. Professor of Law at Yale Law Alumni Center, was greeted by various ad- School, was named one of the 2011 Time ministrative members of the University of 100’s Most Influential People. In additional Minnesota. to Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, she Erick W. Kaler, President of the Univer- is the author of two other books on global sity welcomed the gathering by stating that economics and international politics. Chua the University has a long-term relationship also has taught law at Duke, Stanford and with China and currently has over 2,500 stu- Amy Chua New York universities. She has been a dents from China attending the University Heritage Foundation and Dorsey & Whit- Wall Street lawyer, Executive Editor of and over 10,000 Chinese alumni. Next to ney, LLP. She then introduced Bob Griffin, the Harvard Law Review and worked on speak was Joan Brezinski, Interim Director President, Griffin International Companies, international transactions throughout Asia, of the China Center and Director of the Con- and benefactor of the lecture series. In his Europe and Latin America. Page 8 fucius Institute who noted that the lecture comments, Griffin stated that he has made Amy Chua began her talk by immedi- received special support from the Chinese approximately 158 trips to China and in his Tiger continues on Page 4 China’s next likely leader, Vice President Xi Jinping, completes whirlwind visit to the United States Page 9 By Greg Hugh, Staff Writer hinese Vice President Xi Jinping reception at the State Department, and a who is also a civilian member of China's concluded his recent visit to the 19-gun salute at the Pentagon. Technically, People's Liberation Army and currently CUnited States when he left Los Xi's visit simply reciprocates Vice President holds the civilian rank comparable to that Angeles, California, wrapping up his official Joe Biden's trip to China last year, but for of a major general. visit to the Unites States completing the first the U.S., the real goal seems to be getting What else do we know about him? Xi leg of his three nation tour which also took a better read on the man about to lead the Jinping (pronounced Shee Jeen-ping) is a him to Ireland and Turkey. world's most populous country. man "full of contradictions," says Damian Xi visited Washington, DC, the state Grammaticas at BBC News. He was born of Iowa and Los Angeles during the five- into affluence, a Communist Party "prince- day trip to America as a guest of his U.S. ling" whose father, a hero of the Communist counterpart Joe Biden. He met with U.S. Revolution, rose to the post of vice premier President Barack Obama and held talks with before running afoul of Chairman Mao in Biden. He also participated in a number of 1962. When his father was purged, 15-year- Page 4 trade and economic events and had wide- old Xi was sent to a poor, remote village, ranging contacts with the American people where he lived in a cave and labored in from all walks of life. the field for seven years. He later worked Xi’s visit was extensively covered by his way up in the party, attaining senior ALSO IN THIS ISSUE the media so this article will only provide positions in several wealthy, relatively Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Announcements...... 2 some highlights and present some interest- business-friendly coastal provinces. Until ing personal facts about his eventual rise to Following are a few insights culled from very recently, Xi's wife, famed folk singer Events...... 3 leader in October at the 18th Communist a few media resources located both in the Peng Liyuan, was the most famous member Culture...... 4 Party Congress, when he will probably be U.S. and abroad into China’s mystery man of his family. Education...... 6-7 appointed general secretary of the party, and that is heir apparent to the presidency of According to biographic sources, Xi has Sports...... 8 then successively be named president and China. paid his dues by dealing with a smuggling Arts...... 9 head of the army. Xi is known as an outgoing, charming scandal in the southern Fujian province and Food...... 10 Underscoring the importance of China- figure with a sharp mind. He is fifty-eight presided over robust economic expansion in Business...... 11-12 U.S. relations, Xi was given an extraordi- years old, has a daughter at Harvard Univer- the eastern province of Zhejiang. He has a U.S.-China Relations...... 13-15 nary welcome, including a long Oval Office sity and is married for the second time. His reputation as a troubleshooter, having taken A Passage to China...... 16 meeting with President Obama, an elaborate wife of 20 years is folk singer Peng Liyuan Xi continues on Page 15 PAGE 2 > MARCH 2012 announcements www.chinainsight.info Nominations open for McKnight's ChinaInsight Publisher: Gregory J. Hugh Human Service Awards [email protected] The awards, which were first presented • Nominees may be adults or young in 1985, are named for Virginia McKnight people. Editor: Binger, the Foundation's first board chair • Tenure of service will be taken into Jennifer Nordin and the daughter of the founders. Although consideration. [email protected] she passed away in 2002, these awards help us remember Virginia's enduring spirit of REVIEW PROCESS Manager of Operations/ compassion, humility, and generosity. Last A committee, composed of human Circulation: year's recipients include community orga- service professionals and volunteers from nizers, mentors, advocates, and champions Richard He throughout Minnesota, reviews nomina- [email protected] of the underserved. tions, checks references, and recommends candidates to the Foundation's board of Marketing Director: ELIGIBILITY directors. Award recipients are notified in The Foundation invites nominations June and honored in August. Will Ahern recognizing anyone directly involved in pro- Nominations for this year are due by [email protected] viding human services, and those working to April 4, 2012. make their communities more responsive to Please visit www.mcknight.org/awards Production Editor: the needs of poor or disadvantaged people to submit your nomination online and to Dawn Murphy in Minnesota. read more about the Virginia McKnight [email protected] • Nominees may be volunteers or service Binger Awards in Human Service. staff working directly with people in Min- Artist/Intern: The McKnight Foundation invites nesota. Senior administrators and program Lauren Hugh nominations for the 2012 Virginia McK- ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION managers are not eligible. night Binger Awards in Human Service. The McKnight Foundation, a Minne- • Nominees (and the work for which they McKnight will recognize up to six Min- sota-based family foundation, seeks to Staff Writers: are being nominated) do not have to be as- nesotans who have demonstrated an ex- improve the quality of life for present and Greg Hugh sociated with any organization to be eligible. ceptional personal commitment to helping future generations. Through grantmaking, [email protected] • The process is confidential; individuals others in their communities but who have collaboration, and encouragement of stra- are not to be notified that they have been received little or no public recognition. tegic policy reform, we use our resources Elizabeth Greenberg nominated. Echoing McKnight's mission statement, the to attend, unite, and empower those we [email protected] • Individuals may not nominate them- Foundation seeks individuals who "attend, serve. Founded in 1953 and independently selves. unite, and empower" others in communities endowed by William and Maude McKnight, Anthony James • Nominees may not be past recipients of throughout Minnesota. Each awardee will the Foundation had assets of approximately [email protected] Human Service Awards. receive US$10,000 and will be honored at US$1.9 billion and granted about US$96 • Nominees must be current residents of a ceremony in late summer. million in 2010.  Jodi Yim James Minnesota. [email protected]

Albert Leung CAPM 2012 Annual [email protected] Advertisers Jennifer Nordin Heritage Dinner [email protected] Your potential customers Mike Xiong The Council on Asian Pacific Minne- The award categories are: are reading ChinaInsight. [email protected] sotans (CAPM) will host its annual dinner • Outstanding contribution in any field Shouldn’t you be bringing celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage showing vision and leadership About ChinaInsight Month on May 4, 2012. • Lifetime Service Award them in the door with an ChinaInsight is a monthly English language The dinner will include CAPM’s 2012 • Humanitarian Award ad? newspaper fostering business and cultural Annual Leadership Awards. The awards A committee of Council board members harmony between China and the U.S. will honor those individuals or organiza- and community members will determine the Contact Greg Hugh tions who: number of awardees. Past recipients include 952-472-4757 ChinaInsight is a Member of The Minnesota • Achieved excellence in his or her field the India Association of Minnesota, Hung Chapter of the Asian American Journalists [email protected] Association (AAJA). • Contributed to the well-being of the D. Phung, Dr. Adisack Nhouyvanisvong, or visit Asian and Pacific Islander Community Hedy Tripp, and Madame Bounxou Chan- www.chinainsight.info for Submissions & • Displayed leadership to advance so- thraphone.  cial, economic, or educational spheres for more advertising information. Correspondence ChinaInsight welcomes guest articles people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and letters to the editor. Correspondence living in Minnesota should be addressed to:

Editor, ChinaInsight 6520 South Bay Drive Minnetrista, MN 55331 Tel: 952-472-4757 ChinaInsight Insight Fax: 952 472-6665 SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM Guaranteed [email protected] 10 issues - $24 for a domestic subscription and $40 for Letters to the editor become the property international. YES you could run to the of ChinaInsight and may be edited for store and pick up a copy, length and published. Articles will not be Please make check payable to ChinaInsight, 6520 South published without the express consent of the author. Bay Drive, Minnetrista, MN 55331 but did you know you can have ChinaInsight delivered Name______NOTICE TO READERS: The views directly to your mailbox? expressed in articles are the author’s and Address______A subscription costs a not neccesarily those of ChinaInsight. City/State/Zip______Authors may have a business relationship mere $24 and brings a full with the companies or businesses they Phone______year (10 issues) of new discuss. Email______understanding about today’s Company______China, from language to Copyright 2012 ChinaInsight, Inc. Title______business opportunities. All Rights Reserved. www.chinainsight.info events MARCH 2012 > PAGE 3 Shen Yun Performing Arts to present 5,000 Years of Chinese Culture at Orpheum Chinese sound of ancient instruments like the erhu and the pipa are bathed in a rich sea of Western strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass. The result—two great classical music traditions producing one fresh, un- expected sound. Animated backdrops transport the audi- ence to another world. Projected behind the dancers, the hi-tech images lift the stage and set it amidst blossoming landscapes, deep forests, Mongolian prairies, or celestial paradises. One of the features that strike audience Shen Yun presents colorful and ex- members most is Shen Yun's colorful cos- hilarating performances of classical Chinese tumes. These hundreds of gorgeous, hand- dance and music. A performance by Shen made garments span China’s dynasties, ChinaInsight Yun is a presentation of traditional Chinese regions, and ethnic groups. “I wish I could culture as it once was: a study in grace, wear that!” is a common reaction. Even SEEKS ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE… wisdom, and the virtues distilled from the leading fashion designers leave the show Must be passionate about our mission: in addition to being success-oriented, must five millennia of Chinese civilization. excited with new inspiration. be self-motivated, resourceful, creative, disciplined and community-minded. Every year, Shen Yun unveils an entirely Shen Yun is being presented by the new lineup of dances, songs, and musical Minnesota Falun Dafa Association at Generous Commission Schedule scores. At the core of Shen Yun’s perfor- the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis Contact: Greg Hugh mances is classical Chinese dance with March 9-11, 2012. For more information China's numerous ethnic and folk dance (952) 472-4757 about the show and tickets, visit www. E-mail: [email protected] styles rounding out the evening. ShenYunPerformingArts.org.  In a collection of short pieces, audiences travel from the Himalayas to tropical lake- filled regions; from the legends of the cul- UCBC presents the ABCs of China law ture’s creation over 5,000 years ago through The monthly meeting of US-China principal of McCormick International focus- China to the story of Falun Dafa in China today; Business Connections (UCBC) will be ing on international business law; and Brian C. New developments in China Em- from the highest heavens down to the dusty held on Wednesday, March 7 from 7:30 N. Niemczyk, attorney with Mansfield, ployment Law plateaus of the Middle Kingdom. a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The meeting will feature Tanick & Cohen, working in the areas of The UCBC meeting will be Dun- Tenors, sopranos and other award-win- a discussion about “China Law - the A. B. employment disputes, etc. woody, 818 Dunwoody Blvd., Minneapo- ning vocalists perform piano-accompanied C.'s.” The panel of speakers will include The ABCs of China law that will be lis, MN 55403. Free parking is available solos, along with a regular favorite—the Steve Dickinson, UCBC board member, discussed are as follows: in the student lot. Attendance is free for stirring melodies of the two-stringed erhu, co-chair of the China Practice of Fredrik- A. Recent Developments for Foreign UCBC members and for students. The fee also known as the Chinese violin. son & Byron law firm headquartered in Companies in China for non-members is US$25. To register to Shen Yun’s one-of-a-kind orchestra, Minneapolis, with an office in Shanghai; B. Why You Should Pay Attention to attend, e-mail [email protected] or with its all-original compositions, blends Mary McCormick, a sole practitioner and Your Arbitration Clause for Contracts in East and West like no other. The distinctly call Jim Smith: 612-865-6543. 

Chinese American Association of Minnesota (CAAM) prepares for 80th Annual Festival of Nations

By Greg Hugh, Staff Writer The Festival of Nations (FON), the larg- www.caam.org and click on the Community distinctive cultures through interactive ex- est and longest running multicultural festival Services link at the top of the page to learn hibits. This is a fun and interactive activity in Minnesota, will be celebrating its 80th more and complete the volunteer registra- for the whole family! Many folk artisans anniversary this year during its four day run tion form. practicing crafts passed down through from May 3-6 at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Following are some highlights of the generations and interactive, educational This family-friendly festival brings together upcoming Festival of Nations. demonstrations will be featured in 60 dif- people from a vast array of backgrounds o ENTERTAINMENT – A wide ferent booths. to celebrate their ethnic heritage. Through selection of live music plus over 75 adult o INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR – exhibits, food, music, dance, and personal and children’s dance performances featuring Shopping from around the globe with booths connections, FON provides a look into the brilliant costumes and choreography are part representing 55 countries, with imported traditions, history and journey of over 90 of the continuous entertainment at Festival gifts including clothing, jewelry and arti- ethnic groups, and sheds light on how each of Nations. facts from many cultures. one contributes to the American cultural o CULTURAL EXHIBITS – Com- o THE WINE TASTING EXPERI- landscape munity members will showcase their ENCE – This popular tradition continues to Both the Chinese and Taiwanese com- Mingjen Chen distinctive cultures through exhibits, with grow as International Wine Tasting returns munities participate in this annual event 200 volunteers to support all of these activi- a focus on “Marketplaces of the World”. for its fifth year. Patrons can sample wines and representing the Chinese community is ties over the 4 days of the event. Over the Festival visitors can pick up a Festival of from New Zealand, Spain, Argentina, Italy CAAM, which has been involved with the nine years that she has been involved with Nations Passport to be stamped at each stop and the U.S. and visit with Festival of Na- Festival since 1977. the FON Chen also says that this is the only throughout the 60 cultural exhibits. Look tions wine experts. According to Mingjen Chen, President time many of the volunteers from the Chi- for new displays from Liberia, Vietnam and o MINI LANGUAGE AREA spon- of CAAM, her organization has already nese community see each other. “It’s like a Yemen this year. sored by Concordia Language Villages been making preparations to participate in reunion when many of these volunteers get o ETHNIC CAFÉS – Enjoy fare – Learn new words and phrases in many this year’s 80th Annual Festival of Nations. together to help. They excitedly greet and served around the world at 37 ethnic food different languages. “CAAM earns a large portion of its annual hug each other and are anxious to learn the cafés. From Swiss chocolate fondue to The theme of this year’s Festival is operating budget from sales at the Chinese latest news from them.” Colombian tamales to Tibetan momo and Ethnic Celebrations and Events and to learn Café” she stated. The CAAM Chinese Since CAAM is involved in all facets of Norwegian lefse. Proceeds from each café more about the event go to Dance Theatre will also perform Chinese the FON, it does take a lot of volunteers so benefit a local non-profit organization. www.FestivalOfNations.com. -++ dancing and will be selling Chinese items at Chen invites anyone willing to get involved o ETHNIC DEMONSTRATIONS – the bazaar. Chen estimates that it takes up to to go the CAAM Web site at Community members will showcase their PAGE 4 > MARCH 2012 culture www.chinainsight.info BOOK REVIEW Sasha Gong and Scott D. Seligman, The Cultural Revolution Cookbook: Simple, Healthy Recipes from China’s Countryside. Hong Kong: Earnshaw Books, 2011. 157 pp. ISBN 978-988-19984-6-0. a doctorate from Harvard and is currently which is always in a stage of development Reviewed by Raymond Lum chief of the China branch of the Voice of and discovery. hinese cooking might be even America. Her co-author, Scott Seligman, We have come a long way since Chi- more enigmatic than the Chinese is a retired corporate executive, writer, and nese food meant Chun King’s canned bean Clanguage. Learning the latter historian with a deep knowledge of China spouts, chow mein noodles brown sauce, requires a brain, but learning the former and fluency in the language, along with an and Chun King’s cookbook that featured requires a soul. abiding interest in the Chinese in the United chop suey for 50 people. Who eats chop When the Chinese refer to the Gang of States. (see seligmanonline.com/) suey?  Four who guided the Cultural Revolution This is a colorful, informative, soft- from its inception in 1966 until its demise cover, and easy-to-use book. Each easy The authors were featured on with the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, they recipe is accompanied by a large illustrated National Public Radio’s “On Air” hold up of all five fingers of one hand to indi- cartouche that provides historical context to program with Terry Gross (www.npr. cate that Mao himself was behind the whole the recipe and each recipe uses readily avail- org/2012/01/22/145468366/cultural- decade-long disaster. A popular topic among able ingredients. The facing page of each revolution-cookbook-a-taste-of-humanity). people who lived through that madness is recipe features a full-page photograph of the “What did you do during the Cultural Revo- recipe’s presentation. The book’s cover and destroyed much of the cultural heritage and Raymond Lum lution?” Few think back fondly of the time the lead page for each section (“vegetables art in China and Tibet, and went on to de- and many mock it. At a party in Shanghai and tofu,” “eggs,” “seafood,” “poultry,” etc.) stroy lives. The intervention of Zhou Enlai Raymond Lum I met a solitary photographer named Gang are illustrated with selections of Cultural prevented the destruction of the Forbidden (林希文) is Librarian whose business card read “Gang of One.” Revolution-era posters that were designed City in Beijing. The loss of traditional values for Western Languag- Starting on 1 October 1949, when Mao and used for didactic purposes. The posters (along with my grandmother’s “Western” es in the Harvard- and his cohorts mounted the gate of Tianan- also appear in numerous other places in the sewing machine and my great-grandfather’s Yenching Library, men and proclaimed the founding of the book. Happiness and abundance appear to antique porcelain) combined with Deng where he is also cu- People’s Republic of China, the Chairman be the main themes of the deceptive posters. Xiaoping’s proclamation after the death of rator of historic photographs. A native of set out to remake Chinese society, a process Prefatory material puts the whole book Mao that “To get rich is glorious” led to the Chicago’s Chinatown, he studied Chinese that in fact had preceded the 1911 revolution into a context that might otherwise be current Communism with a capitalist face there and in Taiwan. He holds a master’s that ended some three millennia of impe- elusive. A three-page chronology of the and the degradation of the environment and in library science from the University of rial rule. Most of what Mao accomplished Cultural Revolution is particularly help- numerous other ills that are well-chronicled Michigan, and an MA and PhD in East turned out to be disastrous, such as the ful; Sasha Gong’s personal history is that in the Western press. Asian Languages & Civilizations from “Great Leap Forward (1958-1961) when of a sent-down youth (I am told that her Part of Mao’s efforts to level society Harvard University. From 1968 through China was told to be self-sufficient in its name was devised by a Russian friend involved sending city youth, intellectuals, 1970, he was a US Peace Corps Volunteer “leap” towards socialism. Laborers in rural of her father’s); a culinary history of the and cadre to the countryside to learn from in Sarawak, Malaysia. Formerly, he also areas as well as cities were communalized, Cultural Revolution explains the origin of the peasants, who had little to teach them was Harvard’s librarian for South and inferior iron was made in backyards by the recipes, touching on food rationing, but had to house and feed them. The “sent Southeast Asia and Instructor in Chinese melting down cooking pots, literature was shortages, and inventiveness. The recipes down” youth were motivated by a national- in the Harvard University Extension produced by untutored citizens, and millions in the book have been adapted to modern, istic but ill-advised fervor, and many were School. He is the book review editor for died of starvation. Western kitchens and include instructions never able to recover educational opportuni- a new (debuting 2010) online scholarly Determining that China could develop on microwave cooking. ties after their return to the cities following journal, TransAsia Photography Review, only by eliminating the “Four Olds” (old Even the cooking-impaired will enjoy Mao’s death. and contributes the column “Asia Re- ideas, old culture, old customs, old habits) this book because it puts a personal face on Sasha Gong, co-author of The Cultural sources on the World Wide Web” to the Mao and his wife, Jiang Qing, set in motion the experiences of the “sent down” youth Revolution Cookbook, was one of those Asian Studies Newsletter of the Associa- the destruction of traditional Chinese val- that is largely lacking in academic histories sent-downs who was able to rebuild her life tion for Asian Studies. He has directed ues through the Great Proletarian Cultural of the Cultural Revolution and because after returning to Guangzhou to work in a several Harvard projects that digitized Revolution. Young people were recruited the book is visually enthralling. It is also candy factory and then enduring a year in photographs and other visual images of as Red Guards and were turned loose to rid a significant addition to our understanding prison for her protest activities. She earned Asia. China of the “Four Olds” and in the process and appreciation of China’s culinary legacy,

Tiger Mother: Amy Chua featured in Griffin Lecture Although she avoids stating whether social skills, Chinese children are more lack- the Western or Asian style of parenting is ing while U.S. children appear to develop Continues from Page 1 the better approach, Chua concludes that high social skills. In response to a question each style can learn something from each by a Chinese student that stated that his mom ately acknowledging that the last 13 months for herself . . . and the story is unfinished! and proceeded to offer examples. She feels called him “garbage” Chua responded that have been very tense. Chua explained the Chua’s Chinese immigrant parents children in China are offered too few choices this was not literally what his mother meant flame of controversy when Tiger Mother came from the Philippines to the United while children in the West have too many. but that she was trying to encourage him to was released last year was fueled by media States and brought up their children in an In conclusion, Chua acknowledges that try to do better. grabbing headlines as appeared in the Wall extreme environment of high expectations. her book has been controversial. Many At the end of the Q & A session, Chua Street Journal and questions like “Are you a While Amy finally rebelled by choosing her people have misunderstood it. She believes made herself available for a book signing monster” from Today Show host, Meredith own college far away, she says her parents’ that there are many ways to be a good parent; during which she was gracious, while pos- Vieira. In addition she received over 500 high expectations were “the greatest gift it is complicated and that the Chinese way ing for photos and chatting. There evidently disparaging emails immediately after the they gave to her.” She intended to pass on of parenting and Western parenting should was a lot of interest since this lasted well book was released. that gift to her children. All went well until find a balance and we should be able to learn over an hour and a half and there was no According to Chua, she wrote this book headstrong Lulu was born. from each other. evidence of a tiger being in the room. in a moment of crisis, when her younger She let Lulu quit violin, get an iPod and Following the lecture, a question and Although the lecture was sold out weeks daughter seemed to turn against everything go to sleepovers. But, she believes in the answer session was conducted during which before the scheduled event, it appears that she stood for and it felt like she was losing way she raised her girls and thinks Western- there were a variety of questions presented quite a few of the people that requested the her and everything was falling apart. After ers, in general, should ask more of their kids. that reflected the makeup of the audience. free tickets, many chose not to show up one terrible fight that took place in Red Chua’s girls, Sophia and Lulu, are very close One audience member asked Chua which which is too bad since they missed a very in- square, she sat down at her computer, and to their mother, although Lulu still argues. was more rewarding: teaching contract law teresting lecture and denied those that would even though she usually has writer’s block, Husband Jed is the balance between mother or writing books to which she answered that have attended, the opportunity to do so.  this time the words just poured out. She and daughters. while teaching law provided education, writ- states that she showed every page to her While Chua acknowledges that the ing books provided a more creative outlet. Editor’s Note: To read another perspec- daughters and husband. It was like family book was not intended to be a parenting Another question was is it easier being a tive, the book was reviewed by Ray Lum in therapy. In retrospect, she thinks writing the book in the United States, it has received mother in China or the United States and the June, 2011 issue on page 6 which can be book – going back eighteen years when her a completely different perception in China she answered that it was probably easier in accessed at our Web site www.chinainsight. elder daughter was born and she was a very where it is being accepted and marketed as China since there is more family support info and click on the link for past issues on different person – was an attempt to put the a serious parenting book. Not exactly what whereas in the United States, the mother the bottom right column. pieces back together and work things out she had intended. must do almost all of it by herself. As for 706669 10x15 bw

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706669 10x15 bw.indd 1 2/9/12 12:29 PM PAGE 6 > MARCH 2012 education www.chinainsight.info A Character Study of 愛 ài Love With the Chinese Pronouns By Jodi Yim James, Staff Writer

愛 ài is the Chinese character for love. This character is assembled from top to bot- tom, in four steps:

Phrases with 愛 ài include:

In these phrases, with the character to eat 吃 chī, notice the mouth on the left. On the right is a hand or utensil above, scooping up noodles into the mouth. With the character for person, 人 ren, notice a man walking upright on two legs. Sentences with 愛 ài include:

Get involved with the 5th Annual O CHINA at A PASSAGE TMall of America

April 21 & 22, 2012 Note that (she or her 她 tā) and (he or him 他 tā) are pronounced exactly the same as tā. The one pronunciation is used for two separate words; one tā means she and the other tā means he. She or her 她 tā has the radical 女 (girl) on the left. 女 denotes someone Additional Participants Invited: female. He or him 他 tā has the radical 人 (man) on the left. It is for this reason that sometimes Chinese native speakers learning English will con- China-focused Organizations: fuse the pronouns he and she in speaking. Performers-Demonstrators-Vendors More sentences with 愛 ài include: Volunteers always welcome

To ensure that we continue to provide the best possible interactive experience to all that attend A Passage to China, we are inviting proposals from all types of China-related organizations to submit their proposals for our consideration. For information on previous Passage events visit www.chineseheritagefoundation.org or www.chinainsight.info. For additional information or to submit a proposal, contact Greg Hugh, [email protected] or call By adding the character 们 men to the pronoun (他 tā = he), (我 wǒ = I), or (952) 472-4757 (你 nǐ = you), we get the plural pronoun 他们 tā men for they, 我们 wǒ men for we or 你们nǐ men for you (plural). Using the word 愛 ài or love, all of the Chinese pronouns for people can be practiced and learned.  www.chinainsight.info education MARCH 2012 > PAGE 7 The Minnesota Mandarin Initiative By Jodi Yim James, Staff Writer Perhaps the most important relation- (“Uff dah, ya sure”, we are, after all, in ship of this century is the United States and Minnesota!). China. Unfortunately few Americans are 2005 was the year that changed this fluent in the Chinese language of Mandarin. picture dramatically. That was the year that Furthermore, most Americans have limited Governor Tim Pawlenty led a delegation understanding of the Chinese culture, out- of about 200 Min- side of eating take-out chow mein, which is nesota civic, busi- not really Chinese cuisine. Without fluency ness, academic, and in Mandarin and without Chinese cultural government leaders understanding there is limited insight of how on an official trip to work together effectively in this important to China. Histori- 21st century friendship. It is significant to cally, this was one of consider that Chinese students are, for the the largest of Min- most part, required to study the English nesota’s overseas language at school in Mainland China. trade delegations. The State of Minnesota, however, is a Former Governor Their mission was to bright spot in this national picture of China Tim Pawlenty facilitate a forum for and U.S. cultural understanding. The citi- leaders to make con- zens of our state are fortunate to have had nections in China. In building relationships, a number of visionary leaders among us in the Minnesotans would return with Chinese key positions that have blazed a trail to set contacts and ideas regarding market poten- our state apart in its associations with China. tial. They would establish professional and Throughout the 20th century, Minnesota governmental partnerships, assessing trade enjoyed doing both business and cultural potential. In gathering market information, exchange with China. Professors and stu- they would be able to formulate savvy mar- dents from China have been involved in the ket entry strategies. Finally, the Minnesota higher education institutions of Minnesota leaders would promote Chinese investment for over a hundred years. Today, China is in Minnesota. Minnesota’s second largest trade and export Thus the Minnesota-China Partnership business partner. was announced by Governor Pawlenty in With regard to this phenomenal envi- 2005. The Partnership would engage public ronment of mutual interest and working and private organizations throughout the together, it is evident that Minnesotans state to promote friendship and humanitar- are actively highly interested in Mandarin ian causes as well as arts, culture, academ- education and Chinese cultural experiences. ics, scientific research, business investment, School districts in Minnesota today are and commerce. This was a strategic procla- commencing or expanding their Mandarin mation since the economy of China ranks going to succeed in a more globally com- own 2005 delegation of visionary school language education programs. In record as one of the largest national economies in petitive environment, it's essential that they administrators laid the ground work for great numbers, Minnesota parents are enrolling the world. learn a second language,” declared Commis- and lasting change for students in Minne- their children in these same programs. As governor, Pawlenty acknowledged sioner Seagren. In this case, the goal was to sota. Their efforts would make Minnesota Chinese language immersion schools, sec- the prominence of China’s vital and dynamic increase opportunities for learning Chinese a stand-out leader in the world of Mandarin ondary Chinese language classes, weekend economy, providing opportunities for Min- as a second language. language education in the United States. Chinese language classes, Chinese summer nesota companies seeking to increase their In the end, Governor Tim Pawlenty, the Next month, we will continue with this rest camps and China travel experiences are exports. Through the Partnership, Pawlenty Minnesota Legislature, Education Com- of this extraordinary saga with detail from thriving in our state. Students are going to was seeking to build on the already estab- missioner Alice Seagren, the Minnesota Commissioner Seagren about her mission China over spring break in their high school lished relationship of Minnesota and China. Department of Education, and Seagren’s and its impactful results in Minnesota.  years. College students are studying Chinese Minnesota companies doing business in- at Minnesota schools of higher education, ternationally were encouraged to consider and then studying abroad in China. The China’s tremendous and continuing growth. Hopkins XinXing Academy celebrates University of Minnesota has far more teach- Today China buys more Minnesota ers seeking licensure for teaching Mandarin manufactured goods than any country after Year of the Dragon than for any other language. The story of Canada, importing more than US$1 billion Students of Hop- the performances were how Minnesota decided to blaze its own of Minnesota products every year since kins XinXing Acad- XinXing students that unique trail for Chinese language educa- 2005. Top exports to China, for example, emy and their families participated in the Chi- tion and jump ahead of the pack in the 21st include machinery, electronics, medical ushered in the year of nese Speaking Winner century is extraordinary. instruments and plastics. the Dragon on Feb. class offered through Although exchange between China and Another remarkable outcome of Gov- 4 at their annual Lu- the Hopkins Commu- Minnesota has been going on for over one ernor Tim Pawlenty’s 2005 trade mission nar New Year Festival. nity Ed program. hundred years, Mandarin language educa- to China was the impact on Chinese or The event was held at XinXing Acad- tion is relatively new in our schools. Here Mandarin language education in Minnesota Eisenhower Elemen- emy is the elementary- and there throughout Minnesota in both schools. Pawlenty’s experiences in China tary School in Hopkins level Chinese immer- public and private schools, there have been during his initial trade mission there con- where XinXing Acad- sion program within Mandarin programs that were started and vinced him that Minnesota’s public school emy is located. This the Hopkins School have been sustained over time. This has children should have more opportunities to is the fourth year of District. The program been, however, the exception and not the learn to be fluent in the Chinese language. the festival, which has began with two Kin- rule. The language programs led by Mr. He proposed that the Minnesota Legislature grown in attendance dergarten classes in Dingman Yu at South High in Minneapolis provide money for the Minnesota Depart- each year. The festival 2007, and each year and Ms. Margaret Wong at Breck School ment of Education to study and determine included activity tables an additional grade is are two examples that immediately come what it would take to provide Chinese and zodiac themed games for elementary- added through grade six. The program will to mind. However, most districts have not language education throughout the state for aged children as well as fresh Chinese dishes continue with Chinese curriculum choices offered Chinese language classes in the mix Minnesota school children. catered by Royal Cuisine. in secondary school, as well. Currently of the traditional French, Spanish and Ger- Pawlenty met with the Minnesota Edu- XinXing’s Chinese New Year celebra- XinXing consists of students in Kindergar- man language options available to mainly cation Commissioner of his administration tion continued later in the month with per- ten through the fourth grade. Both of the high school students. Immersion schools at that time, Alice Seagren. She was to formances at Hopkins High School on Feb. XinXing Chinese New Year events were have largely been Spanish and French. organize her own delegation of academic 16 and 21. XinXing students and teachers sponsored by Bei Dou Xing, a nonprofit Community education programs include leaders to China immediately in 2006. They performed a variety of songs, dances and organization made up of parents dedicated the aforementioned customary three as well were to go to China with the very specific Chinese recitations, as well as a gong fu to supporting the Hopkins District Chinese as various possibilities of mainly Nordic purpose of increasing Chinese language demonstration for audiences full of family Immersion Program languages such as Norwegian or Swedish education in our state. "If our students are and friends. The masters of ceremony for (www.beidouxingmn.com).  PAGE 8 > MARCH 2012 sports www.chinainsight.info Phenomenal Chinese American NBA player Jeremy Lin captures international attention By Jennifer Nordin, Staff Writer

eremy Lin has captured the attention League history to record 1,450 points, 450 He also said, “I just want to make sure of the United States and the world rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals. that I’m not doing a disservice to my team Jand sparked fan fervor that has been At Palo Alto High School, he captained by milking all the attention ‘cause at the dubbed “Linsanity.” his high school team to the CIF Division end of the day that’s not what I love. I love Lin is the first American of Chinese de- II State title. As a senior, Lin was named basketball.” scent to play in the NBA. Lin’s parents, Shir- Northern California Division II Player of the While he may not want all the attention ley and Gie-Ming immigrated to the United Year, Northern California Scholar Athlete of he is receiving, Jeremy Lin understands States from Taiwan in the 1970s. Jeremy, 23, the Year and First Team All-State and Player what affect his celebrity can have. Lin is is the second of the Lins’ three sons. Older of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle using his fame for a greater good through brother Josh is a student in the College of and San Jose Mercury News. his foundation. “The Jeremy Lin Founda- Dentistry at New York University. Younger Jeremy Lin is uniquely positioned to fill tion (JLINF) is dedicated to reaching out to brother Joseph is a student and basketball the void that Yao Ming left upon his retire- underprivileged individuals and communi- player at Hamilton College, a Division III ment. This may explain how his popularity ties to provide financial, educational and school. All three brothers grew up playing has spread to China. Lin’s ethnicity has spiritual assistance and to make a lasting basketball with their father at the YMCA in inspired Taiwanese and Chinese people difference in the lives of others.” (http:// Palo Alto, Calif. overseas to support his success. jeremylinfoundation.org) Lin, a point guard for the New York Lin has been overwhelmed by attention Lin said that he wants to be a “role Knicks, exploded onto the NBA scene in from fans and the media, but has handled model for the Asian American and Asian February. In the absence of Knicks’ stars it with grace. Comments about Lin have community.” Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, been mostly in a positive vein but there An added bonus to Jeremy Lin’s popu- Lin stepped up and scored an average of have been moments when bias and negative larity in the United States, Taiwan and China over 20 points per game in the 12 games stereotypes of Asian American and Asian is the fact that he has become a common leading up to the All-Star Game. The Knicks men have been exposed. An ESPN editor denominator for these countries and will won 9 of the 12 games. was fired for approving a headline that likely provide insights about each of their Lin scored a career high 38 points included a word that is considered a racial cultures for the rest of the world to learn against Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers on slur against Asians and Asian Americans. about through the sport of basketball thus Feb. 10. Perhaps the most memorable Lin The editor later apologized and said that the replacing the ping pong diplomacy that play to date was in the Feb. 14 game against offensive headline was an “honest mistake.” emerged during the Nixon area. the Toronto Raptors when Lin landed a Lin told reporters that he accepted the apol- Undoubtedly, Lin will continue to en- Jeremy Lin 3-point shot less than a second before the ogy, saying, “[You] have to learn to forgive, dure a great deal of pressure and scrutiny final buzzer to break the tie and lead the and by the Houston Rockets on Dec. 24. and I don't even think that was intentional. as he pursues his professional career in Knicks to a 90-87 win over the Raptors. He had been sent to the NBA’s Develop- Or hopefully not.” the NBA. Lin’s success will inspire other (Lin also made the game-winning field goal ment League a few times as well. When he In an interview with ESPN's Rachel young Asian American basketball players to to win against the Minnesota Timberwolves became a NBA star, he was still crashing on Nichols Lin addressed the issue of racism pursue their dreams of getting to the NBA. 100-98 on Feb. 11.) his big brother’s couch. saying that as an Asian American athlete, The humble and personable Jeremy Lin has This meteoric rise begs the question: The skill that Lin has shown in the NBA "You can't prove yourself one time, you can't earned his success. His ethnicity is just part “Where did Jeremy Lin come from?” is merely a continuation of the athletic ex- have one good game and everyone one be of his story and should remain a positive one Jeremy Lin’s story seems like a quintes- cellence that he displayed playing basketball like, 'He's the real deal.' It has to be over and while he battles still prevalent stereotypes sential story of the underdog. Lin, a gradu- at Harvard and at Palo Alto High School. over and over again." in today's society.  ate of Harvard, was not drafted by an NBA Lin ranks first all-time at Harvard in In that same interview, Lin demonstrated franchise, but he signed as a free agent with games played (115), fifth in points (1,483), humility by saying, “I respectfully disagree” the Golden State Warriors on July 21, 2010. fifth in assists (406) and second in steals with those who claim he is the savior of the He was waived by the Warriors on Dec. 9 (225). He became the first player in Ivy Knicks.

Editor’s Note: Charles Yunong Wang and Our first NBA experience Demi Hongrong Zhang both came from Chongq- ing, China. They are both huge NBA fans, espe- By Charles Yunong Wang and Demi Hongrong Zhang cially Lakers and Kobe fan (besides Yao Ming). They are currently freshmen at Shattuck-St. Mary e took the light rail from MOA loud because we were afraid those Wolves School in Fairbault, Minn. Charles interned to Target Center, it was actu- fans would get us. Hah hah! It was fun to for China Insight as cameraman for this game, Wally pretty cold outside, and watch. We are high school basketball play- and took many quality pictures, especially Kobe we were not dressed right, but there were ers personally. But looking at these pros! It highlights, also published on their Facebook still people walking on the street, not one makes us want to go on the court and drain page. Demi and her Chinese friends from Shat- tuck got a suite to enjoy the game along with person, not ten, it’s hundreds of people; it’s some threes! Man! (By the way, I think an education delegation from their hometown all because of the basketball game, it’s the I’m like the small version of Kobe, I know -- Chongqing. Apparently they had a great time. Lakers at the Wolves. Although, we are in basically his every move he did on the floor, They are following the new NBA hit Jeremy Lin, Minnesota, more than a quarter of the fans of course I’m not as good, well, not even and watched the Knicks game at Target Center came to support Kobe. We just learned that close to him.) on Feb. 11. They will try to watch every Lakers Lakers were in Minnesota originally, and many people were dunking on it. Obviously, The scores between the two teams were games as they can. they move to LA because of a huge plane we weren’t among them. We saw the fan’s so close at half time, but Lakers got a big accident. It’s so sad. store and were going to buy a Love jersey, lead during the 3rd period, but Wolves were but we’re more of a fan of Kobe. not giving up! They chased all the way till When we got inside, we were all the end. During the end of 4th, Lakers were pumped! Just right after we got in, the light only leading by 4, Gasol had pretty good went off, and the spotlights were shooting hands; he was draining those two pointers at the basketball court. Suddenly Kevin all day! At the last minute, Wolves were get- Love came out, and the crowed was so ting all those offensive rebounds, but they loud; that’s what it is called passion! Well, just can’t make those shots!!! Man! I guess that’s how it is on the Wolves’ side. When Rubio was out of luck, it was a close game, Lakers came out, every one was shouting and they just gave the victory to the Lakers. BOOO! Especially when Kobe came out. It was so awesome that we got the We were so excited at the moment when Forgot to mention, Crunch was actually a chance to go to the Lakers game and had we step in to the Target Center. We took pic- big highlight! He made those Lakers fans so much fun! We won’t forget this moment; tures to remember this moment. (Of course look so bad. we have all those pictures on Facebook to we posted them on Facebook.) Before the The game started! Oh my god! We were remind us. game started, we saw a few little hoops and so crazy about Kobe, but we can’t say it out We loved our first NBA experience! www.chinainsight.info arts MARCH 2012 > PAGE 9 Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai performs Shanghai Tango By Greg Hugh, Staff Writer

hina's most celebrated dancer, Jin ranging from John Williams’ “Shindler’s Xing, and her company Jin Xing List” theme to tango works by Astor Pias- CDance Theatre Shanghai, recently solla which accompanies the title piece. performed at the Orpheum Theatre as part As noted previously, this writer does of Northrop Dance. Jin Xing's courage, not claim to be qualified to review the fighting spirit, and beautiful artistry have performance but nevertheless felt that Jin’s contributed to her great success as a dancer choreography is a harmonious melding of and owner of China's only independent Western modern dance techniques with dance company, which is the resident dance Eastern fashions, cultural symbols and company at the Oriental Arts Theater in movement forms which were light and dark, Shanghai. Her choreography is graceful, traditional and contemporary. So to do subtle, and filled with visual appeal. Jin justice to these performances, I have taken Xing is also an accomplished film actress the liberty to paraphrase the comments from and she is known her support of human a number of more qualified reviewers with rights, artistic freedom, and community whom I basically agree. activism in China. In the tender "Dance 02," a man and Admittedly, this writer is not a patron of woman mirror each other, move in unison contemporary dance, but due to the urging and entangle on the floor. In "Island," two of my wife, we attended the performance men glide through gorgeous slow-motion partially to satisfy my curiosity about the balances, as awesome as a circus act but renowned chorographer. In recent months, freighted with nuance. "Four Happiness" the Shanghai Tango performance has gener- is performed by a quartet of seated women ated considerable excitement for Chinese who dance with only the upper halves of culture and there was undoubtedly interest their bodies — a lovely yet also quietly op- in how Jin Xing developed. pressive tableaux. Rather than presume to be a critic of Jin Xing, who designs the costumes for contemporary dance, I have approached her dances, creates powerful images with this article from the perspective of a novice fabric and color. In "Steps," the dancers who hopes to convey how Shanghai Tango don loose, flowing costumes that float and evolved. Much is made of Jin Xing's life whirl around them like kinetic sculptures as story, and rightly so. Her journey from they move. "Black and Red," the company's military dance ensemble to modern dance version of a fan dance, is as precise as a studio, male to female gender, acclaim military formation, the oversized red fans in China to international applause is an snapping open and shut in the hands of the admirable example of barrier busting. But black-clothed dancers. once her company Jin Xing Dance Theatre In the title number, “Shanghai Tango” Shanghai steps onstage -- as it did this re- the dance is not a tango, but there are flashes cently in a presentation by Northrop Dance of tango's formality and passion throughout, at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis as a woman is torn between her husband -- the choreography is what matters most. and her lover. Near the end, a host of white- And yet this is another instance in which Jin coated figures swirl around the dancers, like Xing defies expectations. agents of change or chaos. A similar group The community was fortunate to par- appears in "Half Dream," in which Jin Xing, ticipate in a number of cultural exchanges a streak of scarlet weaving between the that preceded the performance. Jin Xing and dozen dancers in white, seems to serve as a the dancers held a number of public forums sort of muse or priestess. and even conducted classes for the Chinese The final work, "Sense of Colors," is a American Association of Minnesota Chi- playful fusion of Jin Xing's diverse influ- nese Dance Theater and the Barbara Baker ences. To the strains of a Strauss waltz, six Center for Dance at the University of Min- women in jewel-toned gowns sweep through nesota. They were also guests at a luncheon classically modern choreography as six men with key University and community leaders. on bicycles, wearing uniforms similar to It was fortuitous that we decided to those of China's Red Guards, ride in circles attend a free public forum held at Solera around them. Despite these allusions, the immediately preceding the performance at piece, like all of "Shanghai Tango," tran- the Orpheum during which Jin Xing spoke. scends time, place and culture to become It was here that we heard directly from Jin something greater than the sum of its parts. Xing in her own words about her exploits Needless to say, attending my first truly and how she persevered in overcoming ob- contemporary dance performance was an stacles to pursue her desire to achieve the experience I will remember and according to lifestyle she felt compelled to accomplish. Jin Xing, “People will not need experience We also learned that the inspiration for the in modern dance. They should just come first dance number titled Opening, was the and be open to the experience and relax.” practical need to provide a dance to settle We were also fortunate to attend an down audiences in China that traditional after performance party held exclusively takes time to focus. Opening concentrates for Northrop Friends and invited guests to on a single dancer performing a strenuous celebrate the performance with Jin Xing and spinning dance for approximately 5 minutes. the dancers.  It was so successful that it has become a fixture and has been adopted even for in- Editor’s Note: An earlier article on Jin ternational performances. Xing that appeared on pg. 9 of the February While it was helpful to have garnered issue of China Insight can be accessed in this little tidbit during the open forum, it Past Issues at www.chinainsight.info. isn’t necessary to know the background of Jin Xing to appreciate Shanghai Tango that included 10 numbers that she created over Photo credits: Jin Xing Dance Theatre 25 years. In her choreography, she incor- Shanghai and Vincent Mar porates acrobatics and ballet with by music PAGE 10 > MARCH 2012 food www.chinainsight.info

cooked, canned or boxed commercially in industrial settings, which can be located Kosher Made in China? hundreds or thousands of miles away from home. China takes on the specialty food market Any kind of cuisine can be considered as kosher as long as it's made in accordance By Seth Adam Grossman, China Today Staff Writer to Jewish law. What makes it complicated is that it is generally not possible for the only small pockets of Jewish people living Examples of foods that could be consid- average person to judge the kosher status full time in China and merely one kosher ered kosher: the meat of the "fore quarter" of of an item. Many ingredients can be kosher restaurant operating in Beijing. So how did cattle or animals with split hoofs that chew or non-kosher, depending on their source the kosher food market get so big in light of their cuds (slaughtered ritually). Fish must of origin. The product may be made from such a relatively small market? have scales and fins to be kosher. So shark, kosher ingredients, but processed on non- no good…yes fins, but no scales, the same kosher equipment. Many ingredients are Overseeing the Certification goes for rays of any kind, and eels as well. listed only in broad terms, with no break- Almost all of the kosher food produced Wine is inherently kosher but it must be down of the many complex components that in China is slated for export, although more certified as kosher. Unlike beer and spirits, make up the actual item. and more of the products, like additives, are which are typically kosher and do not need In Chinese factories where sweeping being used domestically to produce the com- certification, wine has a separately distinct changes are required to make a product pleted products for export. This figure has set of kosher rules. kosher, inspectors usually decline to certify. been estimated at close to US$1.25 billion in The opposite of kosher, as applied to A huge emphasis is placed on sanitation kosher certified exports annually worldwide. food is treif or trefah, meaning "not suitable and cleanliness and attention to how things Its consumers are predominantly based in for use," or "forbidden." Trefah literally are prepared, such as ensuring vegetables the United States and most are in fact non- means, "torn by a wild beast." The concept are clear of dirt and bugs and paying strict Jews, simply people seeking healthy and forbids eating, cooking or torturing a live attention to a product's components. Rabbi safe products, according to a 2005 survey animal in anyway. Some foods that are con- Shimon explained his method for training by Lubicom, a marketing firm specializing sidered trefah include: blood, swine, rabbit, some of the factories interested in koshering in research on kosher products. all shellfish, and wild birds such as wild hen, in that "they must think of it in terms of, say Orthodox Jews in China have few places wild duck. Many of these non-kosher foods someone accidentally eating peanuts when to buy the foods required by their diet out- are standard fare in China. they have a food allergy." China is quickly becoming the world's side of the Western supermarkets located in Canned, frozen and dried fruits and largest exporter of kosher food products. large cities. One such place – the Chabad vegetables are the most common kosher Health Benefits Attract Consumers China Foto Press in Beijing – is the base of Rabbis Shimon products from China, but many chemical Food produced in a kosher manner is There is an old joke that hints at the Freundlich and Nososn Rodian, both of additives and finished products like candy viewed as healthier, which is one reason for understanding two cultures joined through whom are members of a small group of and juice concentrate are also certified here. kosher food's popularity among non-Jews food have for each other: "If, according to kosher certifiers, or mashgihim who travel Large-scale food exhibitions cover a variety and in turn, its large market. Half of China's the Jewish calendar, the year is 5770, and, back and forth across China on average of products that include both kosher and US$2.5 billion exports of food ingredients to according to the Chinese calendar, the year three times a week. They are the only rab- halal. One trade show that brings these the United States are kosher, up 150 percent is 4707, what did the Jews eat on Sundays binical team in China overseeing the 500 or cultures and their food products together from two years ago, according to Bloomberg for those first 1,063 years?" so factories and plants that produce kosher is the well-reputed FIC Food ingredients News. Another attraction for customers is products for export. The Chabad also serves Asia-China show mounted in Shanghai the way kosher meat is processed, since the There has always been a great affinity as the temporary home of Beijing's only every year that specifically covers additives slaughter of meat products must be sanitary. between Jews and Chinese food. Chinese kosher restaurant. Dini's is named for Rabbi with over 1,000 exhibitors from home and The kosher food business in China has en- food is a staple of the Jewish community Shimon's wife, and it moved there when its abroad and more than 70,000 professional joyed tremendous growth. [In] September in the U.S. where it's often the traditional previous spot was torn down to make way visitors. It constitutes an industry summit [2010], following intense international Christmas Eve dinner (mostly because for some shiny new development. and features academic conferences and publicity regarding tainted food products, they're the only restaurants open). But the technical seminars. Chinese regulators began requiring compa- connections run deeper than that between nies to use packaging codes to identify the the Jews and Chinese, all the way back to Is That Kosher? factories of origin for products. the first and second millennia C.E. in China. The Hebrew word kosher means fit or The Orthodox Union's China team of Coincidentally, both the People's Republic proper as it relates to kosher dietary law, Rabbi Mordechai Grunberg, Rabbi Donneal of China and Israel [celebrated] their 60th but for thousands of years, rabbinic scholars Epstein and Zhu Yanan handle the OU's anniversaries [in 2010]. have been needed to interpret these laws and rapid growth in China. Many inspectors apply them to ever-evolving contemporary are flown in each year from the U.S. and New Markets Open Along Ancient Roads conditions. Israel to handle the ever-expanding industry. By the 9th century the Silk Road trade Not so long ago, most food products China, now the second largest exporter in route led to Jews settling in various parts of the world, is becoming the fastest growing Chabad Center of Beijing, China, home to were made in the family kitchen, or in small China. Today's world is even more intercon- supplier of food ingredients to international Rabbi Shimon Freundlich and his wife Dini. factory or community store, so it was rela- nected, with China a leading manufacturer food corporations. So the relationship be- Photo: Seth Adam Grossman tively easy to ascertain if the product was for almost every industry and with trade reliably kosher. Today, industrialization, tween the Jews and Chinese continues on partners around the globe. It's little wonder transcontinental shipping and mass produc- its path, crossing bridges through cuisine.  that China would become the fastest-grow- Since the threat of contamination from tion have created a situation where most ing exporter of kosher goods on earth. Yes, non-kosher items is high, the factories must of the foods we eat are treated, processed, Source: China Today, Vol. 59, No. 12, China. The kosher food market represents strictly be used for only kosher items and the December, 2010 around US$165 billion per year worldwide rabbis must train them in the critical aspects and much of it is produced here. of production. Factories that violate these Kosher just might be the best known Ju- rules can face fines or even [be] blacklisted daic term. Jews and non-Jews alike, even if by the certifying bodies. Call for Articles they know nothing about Judaism, are likely Providing kosher supervision means to have heard about kosher food. If you ask paying strict attention to a product's compo- Concerned about misconceptions about China? the average person what kosher means, nents. Instead of conducting scientific health the answers you will most likely hear are tests, kosher inspectors check a company's ChinaInsight is a local newspaper fostering U.S.-China cultural "Kosher means a Rabbi blessed the food," compliance with rules about its ingredients and business harmony. that "the food is very clean and sanitary," or and preparation. Kosher certification costs "Kosher is part of the ancient Jewish health US$3,000 to US$5,000 per year on average, code." In fact, kosher is none of these. To with over 500 factories producing foods We are interested in publishing articles that engage audiences sum up kosher in one sentence: "Kosher is and additives sanctioned by the ancient in America. Potential topics range from understanding daily life a comprehensive dietary discipline designed dietary laws. in China (or for Chinese in America) to discussions of business to promote Jewish spirituality." Often consumers tend to assume "ko- markets from both an American or Chinese viewpoint. According to a 2007 report from the sher" is similar to "halal." Halal of course is Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, a much larger market in China and the world however, the world population of Jews is at large, with its population of over 1.66 If you have an article on a topic that might be of interest to our only around 13.2 million. This number is billion followers. Although the slaughtering readers, please contact Greg Hugh at (952) 472-4757 or e-mail far less than the number of people in just rituals of Jewish people resemble those of [email protected]. one major city in China, and of those only Muslims, kosher and halal are two different around 3,000 live in China. Today there are concepts – different in meaning and spirit. www.chinainsight.info business MARCH 2012 > PAGE 11 A view of China through the eyes of an American By Kent Clark

Editor’s Note: We are pleased to present the first of what we plan to make a regular column by someone that now lives in China although he is an American that was born, raised and educated in the United States. He has agreed to develop a series of articles about his China experiences but because of his private nature, has asked that he remain anonymous. We have reviewed this approach over the course of the last few months and feel it is a reasonable request so that we can ascertain some insights that normally wouldn’t be available to us to share with you. Any concerns or questions regarding this column can be directed to [email protected].

moved to China in August 2008, right Over the three years I worked there, as the American economy was starting I was promoted from teacher to Senior I its steep descent. I wish I could claim Teacher and from Senior Teacher to Direc- clairvoyance for the timing of this maneu- tor of Studies. During this time, a young ver, but unfortunately it was simply a matter Chinese woman who started out as a col- of boredom with my life. I graduated from league captured my imagination in ways I the finest University in Southern California had not previously dreamed. She has since and was working in Los Angeles for a small been promoted from my colleague to my corporation when the daily corporate drudge girlfriend and from my girlfriend to my wife. started to suck the soul from my previously While the past three plus years have been vibrant life. I knew I had to go when a col- the most enriching and fulfilling three years league congratulated me on my one year of my life, I am eagerly anticipating the year anniversary of working for the company… of the dragon. Almost six months ago I left and I had no idea. Much like the morning my job as Director of Studies and started a after a college night out, I realized I had website business with a fellow American seemingly blacked out on the past year of expatriate. The idea for the business came my life. Every day blended together, and I during my first teacher-parent-translator had lost sight of what exactly I was working meetings in 2008. Thirteen of the sixteen towards. Thus I decided to turn in my resig- parents I met with asked me the same ques- nation and start planning my move to China. tion: “How can my child improve their The reason I (and so many others) English at home?” My natural response choose to teach in China is not because we was simply “the Internet!” have an unadulterated passion for teaching. Of course I had no idea what sites to ence of culture and economics. Chinese saturated market but rather offer children a Instead it is the unsexy fact that teaching is actually use. families spend lots of hard earned RMB on chance to improve their English from the the easiest way to obtain a Chinese visa. After some research I discovered there their one and only child’s education, and comfort of their home- a home usually de- Fortunately, teaching has turned out to be a were no good sites. There are myriad of there are hundreds of thousands of these void of a native English speaker’s influence. passion for me. I started working at a large, sites for sure, but they all have the same children in cities all over the country. We are The mix of business and education has corporate company with schools all over the underlying problem. The whole site is in not the first people to think of this, as there proved to be a very interesting juxtaposition world (didn’t I leave my old job to get away English! If you can navigate the site, then are a plethora of English training schools for an American such as myself. While from the corporate life?) and I was thrown to you don’t really need to be studying. Thus, across China. Many of these schools, teachers in China are hailed as saviors of the wolves. Reason being: many foreigners the idea for an English learning website was however, are known to us foreign teachers children’s futures, some will only be savior- teaching in China have a tendency to be a born. More than a year later I met my cur- as “teaching mills”: how many classes can ing for the right price. It has taken me a long bit flakey, and I arrived at a time when that rent business partner and pitched him the the school open to maximize its profit. The time to juggle these sometimes contradic- flakiness had left a path of destruction and idea. After a year and a half of planning quality of education is usually the last factor tory demands of business and education, classes with no teachers. Although this was and plotting we have opened our virtual considered when deciding whether to open but as long as our students (customers?) a bit uncomfortable at first, I was able to doors for business. a class, who will teach the class, how many are improving their English then I feel it is swim in that deep end and haven’t looked The reason we have chosen to focus on children will be in the class, etc. With our a job well done.  back since. children’s education is a beautiful conflu- website, we hope not to compete with this

world powerhouse.” Guide to marketing Chinese products in the U.S. Bao said a major component of their Newswise — Dr. Jim Simpson and Dr. sounding product names. They also re- the project. As a graduate of Tsinghua Uni- research is designed to examine marketing Yeqing Bao, marketing professors at The viewed the affect of celebrity spokespersons versity in China, he has first-hand knowl- strategies for other products that might not University of Alabama in Huntsville, are – both American and Asian – on American’s edge of issues facing Chinese industries that be as well known as Samsung. compiling research that could serve as a perspective of the Chinese products. They want to market their products in America Simpson and Bao surveyed about 400 road map for how developing countries further considered whether an unrecog- and other western countries. Both men have students at UA Huntsville and The Univer- like China can most effectively market their nizable American or Asian spokesperson spent numerous hours over the past five sity of Alabama. The students were given products in developed markets such as the swayed opinions. years researching a variety of marketing magazines developed by the researchers and United States. Their research has been presented at strategies and evaluating the results. asked to browse it as if they were waiting in “As the Chinese market became more academic conferences in the [United States], “There are many factors to consider a doctor’s office. They were not told in ad- sophisticated, we started to notice more Europe, and Asia and has been published when a firm from a developing country vance what they would be asked afterwards, product advertisements on billboards in in two books. They have become the go-to attempts to market its product in the U.S.,” what product they were evaluating, the the airports and in other areas,” Simpson experts for developing countries seeking ad- said Bao, Associate Professor of Marketing brand name or country origin. In this case, said. “We became interested in assessing vice about successfully promoting products and Director of International Programs in the advertisement Bao and Simpson were how different marketing techniques might in the United States. the College of Business Administration. most interested in involved a wristwatch. impact the sale of Chinese products in the “For many years, research has revealed “With most American consumers perceiv- A variety of combinations were used American market.” that American consumers consider products ing products from developing countries in the experimental advertisements. For Simpson also noted that the current made in developing countries such as China, to be inferior in quality, some companies instance, an American sounding brand name marketing research has focused on how to the Philippines, India and Mexico to be avoid listing the country of origin on their such as Eagle was used as was an Asian market American products to international inferior to American products,” said Simp- product promotions. Some foreign compa- sounding brand name such as Mingda. The markets rather than the reverse. son, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and nies, however, want to use their existing country of origin was used in some ads and Simpson and Bao used a variety of sce- Principal Research Scientist at UA Hunts- brand name because those companies – like eliminated in others. Western celebrities narios in their research. They evaluated the ville. “It’s an obstacle developing countries Samsung, for instance - have evolved and such as Tommy Lee Jones were used as a use of Western sounding product names in continue to face.” become a premier brand name in the U.S. the marketing process, compared to Asian Simpson called Bao “the brains behind” Some firms want to grow their brand into a Guide continues on Page 12 PAGE 12 > MARCH 2012 business www.chinainsight.info Tianjin 7,500 square kilometers for more advanced Top 50 Chinese cities by Tianjin municipality dropped two places new industries which will help upgrade its from its 2010 rank to fifth overall in 2011. local industrial structure. investment potential The city’s imports and exports increased The Guangzhou city government said it 25.8 percent to US$103.27 billion last will continue to stimulate internal consumer By Julia Gu year, among which exports totaled US$44.5 expansion and will accelerate the develop- billion, up 18.8 percent year-on-year, and ment of consumption hot spots in the city. At Feb. 3 – At the eighth annual World nomic growth and consumer spending.” imports reached US$58.75 billion, showing the same time, the city will further optimize Famous Brands Assembly (WFBA) recently In terms of specific items that contrib- 31.7 percent growth. its industrial structure so as to improve held in Jakarta, Indonesia, the U.S.-China uted to the trade deficit, Shanghai Customs Statistics show that Tianjin’s exports to urban functions, including building new Economic Trade and Investment General said that the agricultural sector’s share was ASEAN and Latin America grew 52 percent towns, counties as well as villages. and 35 percent, respectively – a significant Chamber of Commerce, the Europe-Amer- US$7.6 billion, an increase of 21.67 percent Other key cities ica-Asia Cooperation Union for Investment from 2010. Shanghai imported 129,000 tons achievement in exploring new markets. The Henan’s provincial capital of Zhengzhou in Industry and Commerce, and the World of pork in 2011, 2.9 times more than the city has been developing new energy and dropped from 23rd in 2010 to 29th place in Cities and World Business Research Asso- levels seen in 2010. The city also signifi- new materials industries, which realized an the new rankings. However, the city’s total ciation jointly released a list of the “2011 cantly increased imports of wine, olive oil, output value of RMB81.48 billion in 2011, trade experienced a “great leap forward” in Top 50 Chinese Cities with Strongest Invest- chocolate and fruit, as well as other expen- surging 34.8 percent from 2010. Officials 2011. According to the Zhengzhou Com- ment Potential.” sive luxury products such as cars, jewelry, said the city is expected to achieve output mission of Commerce, Zhengzhou’s imports The results are as follows: clothing and watches. value worth RMB250 billion in new energy and exports last year reached US$15.34 Shanghai’s general and materials sector by 2015. billion, up 237.9 percent from 2010. trade grew 18.6 percent Imports jumped 388 percent to US$5.94 year-on-year to US$812.3 Shenzhen and Guangzhou billion, while exports increased by 182.9 billion last year. Of par- Shenzhen and Guangzhou climbed up percent to US$9.41 billion. The city’s trade ticular interest, Shanghai’s to a respective sixth and seventh place in growth rate was 162.6 percent higher than trade with the European last year’s rankings, even though the two the 2011 national average, ranking seventh Union, the United States cities didn’t perform very well in external after the major trading hubs of Guangzhou, and Japan increased to trade during the period. According to data Hangzhou, Nanjing, Fuzhou, Chengdu and US$178.18 billion (+15.6 released by Shenzhen Customs, the city’s Wuhan. percent), US$136.02 bil- imports and exports last year came to Macau, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, lion (+15.3 percent) and US$414.1 billion, up 19.4 percent compared Weihai and Zhangjiakou represented new US$108.5 billion (+18.4 to 2010. Meanwhile, Guangzhou’s trade entries to the 2011 edition of the WFBA percent), respectively. The totaled US$115 billion, with an increase of Top 50 list, while Henan’s Kaifeng, Fu- city’s trade with ASEAN, 11 percent. jian’s Quanzhou, Guangdong’s Zhanjiang, Latin America and South In an attempt to transform itself into a Jiangsu’s Nantong and Yancheng, as well as Korea was a respective high-tech industry hub in the south, China’s Xinjiang’s oil center Qaramay were dropped US$86.11 billion (+24.8 major export processing zone of Shenzhen percent), US$49.34 bil- announced that the city plans to move from the rankings.  15,000 low-end firms to neighboring areas lion (+32.5 percent), and Source: www.china-briefing.com US$45.4 billion (+8.4 per- within the next five years to provide roughly cent). WFBA is a non-profit international professional conference which has been Chongqing Guide to marketing Chinese products successfully held in Hong Kong, Macau, Chongqing remained in fourth place Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo and for the second consecutive year, attracting in the U.S. Kuala Lumpur for seven years since 2004. US$10.5 billion in foreign direct invest- Chow Kong Shan Kwan, president of ment last year (up 65 percent from 2010). Continues from Page 11 the WFBA and chairman of the U.S.-China Chongqing’s import-export trade nearly spokesperson for the product in some cases name and the foreign country of origin. Economic Trade and Investment General doubled year-on-year to US$35 billion, and an unidentifiable American was used “The slightest discomfort in an adver- Chamber of Commerce, said that the con- which accounted for 1 percent of China’s in others. In some advertisements an Asian tisement creates a lower evaluation.” ference was aimed at promoting coopera- overall imports and exports. At the same celebrity was used, and in other scenarios Bao and Simpson have presented their tion between Chinese cities and European, time, Chongqing invested US$6 billion in no spokesperson was included. research to groups and universities in China, American and Asian business communities. overseas projects in 2011. Simpson said U.S. law mandates that Ireland and other counties. Their research Kwan hopes such dialogue will facilitate West China has long been considered a product’s place of origin is listed on the has been published in two books this month. innovation through interaction to help cities less attractive to foreign investment when product (usually on the product label), but “We have developed an interesting and enterprises pursue brand internalization compared with the coastal provinces, how- the country of origin is not required on an concept that people haven’t thought much and diversification. ever Chongqing has always been one of the advertisement. He added that companies about,” Simpson said. “We think this ex- beneficiaries of certain preferential policies, from developing countries are learning more periment has produced valuable and helpful Beijing and its ties with Urumqi have helped link about the best way to market their products information.” Beijing topped this year’s list, taking the city to Central Asia as well as Europe. in America. Simpson and Bao agree that the world the place previously held by Shanghai in In June 2011, the Chongqing-Xinjiang- “Following their review of the maga- market is changing in many areas, and their 2010. According to statistics from Beijing Europe International Railway was put zine, we asked the students their perception work is not complete on this topic. Customs, the city’s trade value last year into operation. The line, which starts from of product quality based on advertisements “We’re finding that the perception of amounted to US$389.5 billion, up 29.1 Chongqing and ends in Duisburg, Ger- they saw,” Simpson said. “Our goal was to quality of products from China may be percent from 2010. The city’s exports came many, connects Chongqing with cities in determine the most appropriate combination changing among American consumers,” in at US$59 billion for an increase of 6.5 West China such as Xi’an, Lanzhou, and of brand name, spokesperson and country of Simpson said. “It’s harder to determine what percent, while imports grew 34.2 percent Urumqi. More importantly, covering over origin information for marketing products it means to be ‘made in China.’ ” to a record US$330.5 billion. 10,000 kilometers, the international railway from developing countries in the American Bao said some results discovered in links Chongqing to the Central Asian and market. In other words, if a firm from a the research were not “as clear cut as we Shanghai European countries of Kazakhstan, Russia, developing country wants to advertise its anticipated.” Mainland China’s financial center Belarus, Poland and Germany. product in the U.S. market, what is the best “Over the years, China’s overall econo- Shanghai slipped to second place, according At present, Chongqing has reached way? Our findings should be of interest to my has improved and the quality of its prod- to the rankings. Shanghai’s exports rose 18.1 customs clearance agreements with all five companies wanting to do business in the ucts is going up,” he said. “The perception percent year-on-year to US$499.96 billion countries along the railway. According to United States.” of Japanese products 40 years ago was that in 2011, while imports grew 19.5 percent to Xinhua News, the route cuts travel time One example of the results of their they were not high quality. That has defi- US$312.35 billion, Shanghai Customs said to Europe from around 36 days by cargo research is that firms wanting to continue nitely changed. This same phenomenon may in a statement. ship to only 13 days by freight train, which using a foreign brand name in its advertise- occur for Chinese products in the future.” Meanwhile, Shanghai’s trade deficit is apparently more efficient compared to ments should not use a spokesperson in the That is an issue they want to know more increased 145 percent year-on-year to a the traditional sea trade routes that depart ad, according to Simpson. “In that scenario, about as their research continues to evolve. record US$17.86 billion in 2011, widening from coastal cities such as Shanghai and American consumers tend to evaluate ad- They also hope to expand the evaluation from US$7.3 billion in 2010. Guangzhou. vertisements without a spokesperson more process to other countries like Mexico. “The trade deficit showed China’s Officials noted that the international favorably,” Bao said. “This is pretty important stuff, and we’re opening-up has brought increased market railway provides convenience for internal Simpson said including the country of opportunities for foreign businesses,” said anxious to learn more.”  and external trade as the route will be used to origin is OK in those situations, but consum- Luo Zhisong, an expert with the Shanghai link South China’s Pearl River Delta manu- ers “become a little uncomfortable when Source: Newswise (http://www. municipal commission of commerce. “It facturing hub and the country’s southwest evaluating an advertisement with a picture newswise.com) / University of Alabama also showed the strengths of China’s eco- industrial belt with Europe. of an American celebrity, a foreign brand Huntsville www.chinainsight.info u.s.-china relations MARCH 2012 > PAGE 13 Matter of Perception Better, stronger relations between China and U.S., but major hurdles remain

By Chen Weihua, China Daily Historic view It is not surprising that there are diver- gent views among the U.S. populace on ties with China. Right from the beginning, the American perception on China has been divided between “acceptance and rejection, admiration and contempt”, says Terry Lautz, a visiting professor at Syracuse University and former vice-president of the Henry Luce Foundation. Earlier Americans tended to look at China’s rich history and culture with great fascination, but they also treated a weak and disorganized China with much disdain, he says. “The notion that China ought to be just like the U.S. was especially nourished by several generations of American mission- aries who had vested interests in creating ties that would bind the two cultures to- gether,” Lautz said at a recent seminar in Washington. Many Americans in those days viewed China as the victim of warlords, famine and revolution. They believed China was actively looking for change and Americans were willing to oblige through the gifts of democracy, science, capitalism and Chris- tianity, according to Lautz. However, American perceptions of China started changing after 1949 following the founding of the People’s Republic. The two countries fought a bitter war in Korea during the early 1950s. The Vietnam War in which China backed Vietnam and decades hen Chinese Vice-President Xi 1,500 people in Beijing, Shanghai, Guang- survey conducted in late 2009 had admitted of the Cold War created only animosity Jinping [met] U.S. President zhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Shenyang and that China would be an ally of the U.S. in the and distrust in public perception. To some WBarack Obama in the White Xi’an, most of which host U.S. diplomatic future. Not surprisingly, the Chinese ranking extent, some of that distrust from the Cold House on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, the date missions. was far higher than the ranks bagged by the War era is still present. may just [have been] appropriate. About half of the respondents believe the U.S. allies in Asia and Europe. Ties between the two nations have over Sino-U.S. relationship is “very” important, “I am glad to see that most Americans Causes for concern the years changed from one of hostility and an increase of 20 percent from the result are in favor of friendly ties with China, China’s reform and opening-up during no-contact, before former U.S president of 2010. considering that both nations have neither a the late 1970s reignited American interest Richard Nixon’s historic trip to China 40 Almost 60 percent of Chinese respon- formal alliance nor alliances,” says Jerome in China, and attracted many Americans to years ago, to one that is now more inter- dents think the bilateral relationship will Cohen, a law professor at New York Univer- teach and invest in the country. But public twined and interdependent. stay stable in general and nearly one-fourth sity (NYU) and a leading Western scholar perception of China continued to be volatile But at the same time, thorny issues do believe it will become better. on China’s legal system. and subject to the influence of various inci- exist in this mature and complex relation- “China has become more important to “China is certainly not an enemy of the dents between the two countries. ship, especially after China’s rapid rise and the United States economically. Most people United States and the U.S. is not an enemy Since then the Americans have watched the relative decline of U.S. in recent years. have been forced to learn more about it of China. But there are some people in both in awe the splendid opening ceremonies However, both sides have demonstrated because they view their future as one that nations who think that the two countries are of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the a strong willingness to work together to is increasingly dependent on China,” says enemies or will become enemies. They are a Shanghai World Expo in 2010. China’s fast expand common interests and minimize Orville Schell, the Arthur Ross Director of minority. It is for the rest of us to prove that growing economic and military strength, differences. the Center on US-China Relations at the they are wrong,” says Cohen. soft power and global outreach have evoked The above picture sums up the findings New York-based Asia Society. A former professor at the Harvard mixed sentiments among Americans. of the latest China Daily/Gallup poll, which The China Daily/Gallup survey also Law School, Cohen was among the group From accounting for less than 2 percent indicates that a majority of the Americans finds that Americans are split in their views of American scholars including Harvard of the global economy in 1990, China now want strong bilateral relations. of China. Forty-two percent of Americans sinologist John Fairbank who had advocated accounts for more than 8 percent, and is More than 70 percent of respondents felt and 49 percent opinion leaders have a favor- establishing ties much ahead of US president the second-largest economy in the world, that strong bilateral relations are somewhat able view of China while 44 percent of the Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China 40 after the U.S. All predictions show that the or very important. Opinion leaders are even public and 40 percent of opinion leaders years ago. Chinese economy will surpass that of the more supportive with 85 percent of them hold an unfavorable view. The rest of the However, the China Daily/Horizon U.S. in the next decade or so. in favor of strong relations between the respondents were undecided. survey shows “the hegemony by the U.S. Despite the fact that U.S. President two countries. The survey covered 2,007 Compared with the Gallup polls on on other countries” has become a major Barack Obama and other leaders have Americans and 250 opinion leaders and was the same topic in previous few years, the factor affecting Chinese citizens’ impression publicly welcomed China’s rise, high unem- conducted in December, while the findings percentage of respondents with a favorable toward the U.S. ployment, huge national debt and govern- were released recently. view remains pretty much the same, while About 40 percent of respondents says ment deficit has fanned anti-China rhetoric, According to the survey, Americans the ratio of unfavorable views has gone the U.S. war on terror, even after Osama especially in the U.S. Congress. want more cooperation between the two down. The number of undecided respon- bin Laden was killed in May 2011, made According to the China Daily/Gallup countries in economic and energy issues, dents has, however, increased. their impression of the U.S. worse, which survey, Americans are divided on the im- and also in sectors such as culture, educa- Nearly 13 percent of Americans consider is an increase of 8 percentage points from plications of China’s expanding economy. tion, science, politics and diplomacy. China as an ally, while 63 percent regard the result in 2007 in the midst of the war. Nearly 45 percent of the general public say Another survey conducted by China China as friendly but not an ally. Among Almost 65 percent respondents said their it is a good thing, while 48 percent consider Daily and Beijing-based research company opinion leaders, 6 percent consider China an impression on the U.S. has been worsened it bad. Opinion leaders are more positive on Horizon shows that more than 90 percent ally while 69 percent believe it is friendly over the U.S. intervention in Syria and the issue with 61 percent admitting China’s of the Chinese public believe the Sino-U.S. but not an ally. Almost 60 percent of the Libya. growth is a good thing for the U.S. relationship is important. Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) mem- The polling was done among about bers who had participated in a Pew Center Ties continues on Page 14 PAGE 14 > MARCH 2012 u.s.-china relations www.chinainsight.info Ties: Time to end animosity, mistrust Continues from page 13

However, when asked whether China’s percent of all respondents and 44 percent of the general public and 60 percent of opin- On various occasions, former U.S. sec- growing influence in the world is a good of the opinion leaders were of the view that ion leaders agree that China’s increasing retary of state Henry Kissinger and former thing or a bad thing, only 32 percent of the China would soon replace the U.S. as the military strength is a threat to U.S. national national security advisor Brent Scowcroft general population and 28 percent of opin- world’s leading power. security. In the Pew survey of December have both applauded the U.S. policy on ion leaders say it is a good thing. Nearly 42 On the national security front, 51 percent 2009, only 21 percent of the CFR members China as the most successful and bipartisan considered China’s rise as a global power, American foreign policy in the last 40 years. a threat to the U.S. According to the China Daily/Gallup According to the China Daily/Gallup survey, 35 percent of American and 43 survey, 20 percent of respondents say they percent of opinion leaders believe relations do not know enough about China’s currency between the two countries have improved issue to determine whether it is a major in the last decade, while 33 percent of the contributing factor for the U.S. economic public and 32 percent of the opinion leaders situation. Still, 42 percent of the general felt that it has remained at the same levels. public and 47 percent of opinion leaders About 28 percent of the public and 22 consider it a major issue. percent of opinion leaders say the relations Noting that the U.S. is still the most have declined. powerful country in the world, Schell points Yet despite a desire for stronger rela- out that the U.S. has undergone a series of tions, respondents say several barriers failures and become more self-indulging, impede stronger ties, most notably the lack such as the failures in Afghanistan or Iraq of trust, trade imbalances, increased demand and the financial crisis. The setbacks have for natural resources and different political made Americans worried and uncertain, and systems. also project unrealistically the power on the Cohen from NYU says that generally Chinese side. speaking, China and the U.S. have devel- “Some Americans think China’s econ- oped good mutual understanding. omy is already larger than the U.S. It is “Trust is a very hard quality to quantify wrong,” says John Copper, the Stanley and to confirm the existence of. I think the Buckman professor of International Studies more we cooperate, the better it will be. at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. Each country should take the lead in moving toward the other,” he says. Copper believes there is jealousy among Schell from the Asia Society believes Americans about China’s remarkable that considerable progress has been made growth. “The general public in the U.S. in overcoming the perceptions of a China is worried about the relative decline of threat and that the U.S. is trying to contain America. The U.S. is used to being the No. China. However, factors such as the tension 1 nation in the world and China’s rapid rise in the South China Sea do add to such fears. is seen as a challenge,” he says. “While things in Washington tend to get Schell believes that there are two factors politicized, especially in an election year, that are largely responsible for the negative China and the U.S. can emphasize more on views on China. local cooperation,” he says. “The economic system in China and the “The concrete benefits of Chinese in- U.S. is vastly different and there is hardly vestment and exchanges will help people anything like the State-owned sector in the improve their feeling of China,” says Schell, U.S. The political systems in the two nations who masterminded a special report last May are also vastly different, thereby stirring up in conjunction with the Kissinger Institute a lot of anti-communist tirade in the United of the Woodrow Wilson Center, titled An States.” American Open Door? — Maximizing Ben- Shen Dingli, director of the Center for efits of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment. American Studies at Fudan University in “During the 1980s, Japan had a very bad Shanghai, says that China’s rapid growth, reputation when they started to buy things many times faster than that of the U.S., in America. Then they moved state by state would naturally make Americans and many to build automobile plants and perception other nations uneasy. quickly changed,” says Schell, who recently “Which country will be happy to see met California Governor Jerry Brown to China, once so far behind, develop 10 times discuss Xi’s trip to the U.S., which also faster than their own countries?” Shen says. includes a stopover in Los Angeles and But Shen points out that China’s mixed Muscatine, Iowa. economic pattern and development model has also been a source for concern. He cites Public education the drastic depletion of natural resources While polls have become an indispens- and the environmental degradation that able part of American life and politics, Platt happened in China over a short period of says public opinion is not always based on three decades as something unimaginable intensive study of a particular problem. in other countries. “China needs to understand that by and large there is tremendous ignorance in the Better ties U.S. about China. Of course, there is also a In the eyes of Nick Platt, an American lot of ignorance in China about the U.S.,” diplomat who went with Nixon on the leg- says Schell. endary China trip, the relationship between “Our education system and media also China and the U.S. has improved by leaps have many failures. This creates a lot of and bounds. “If Nixon were alive, he would room for fear,” says Schell, the former jour- be astonished to see how big and successful nalism dean at the University of California the relationship has become. He would be in Berkeley. perfectly happy with it too,” says Platt, who “We were ignorant in 1972. We had served in the US liaison office in Beijing no contact. Now we have lots of contacts, during the mid-1970s and also as the former even though it’s not sufficient,” says Cohen president of the Asia Society. of NYU. But he cautions that the relationship is Like the NYU, which opened its Shang- not friction-free. “The bigger the relation- hai campus last year, more American col- ship is, the closer the countries are, the more are the frictions they will have,” Platt says. Ties continues on Page 15 www.chinainsight.info u.s.-china relations MARCH 2012 > PAGE 15 Ties continues from Page 14 leges have set up study abroad programs in China. In a bid to help more Americans under- stand China, President Obama announced a “100,000 Strong” national initiative in 2009 to increase the number of American students studying in China. The Chinese government also showed its strong support to the move by committing 10,000 “Bridge Scholarships” for American students to study in China. Schell is not the only American scholar who compares the relationship between the two countries to that of a married couple, sometimes sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams. “Though China and the U.S. disagree with each other on many things, the reality is that divorce is not an option,” he says. Schell and other experts agree that Vice- President Xi’s trip to the U.S. would be an important step in improving the relationship. “The visit by Vice-President Xi is very important. I think Americans are really eager to know who he is, to have a sense of him and (know) what his views are on many questions,” says Cohen. Cheng Guangjin in Beijing contributed to this story. Clockwise from above: Orville Schell is the Arthur Ross Director of the Center on US-China Relations at the New York-based Asia Society; Shen Dingli is director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai; and Nick Platt was an American Reprinted by permission of China Daily. diplomat who went with Nixon on the legendary China trip. http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/

Xi Jinping’s whirlwind visit Continues from Page 1 over as party boss in Shanghai in 2007 after ministration to assert a more robust role in During their visit in Des Moines, Iowa, dine Knatz, executive director of the Port his predecessor Chen Liangyu was toppled the Asia Pacific region, Xi said China wel- officials from the U.S. and China signed of Los Angeles. in a corruption scandal. comes "a positive role" by the United States. a five-year deal to guide discussions on Xi followed a busy schedule as he The vice president has degrees in en- But, he added "We hope at the same time, food security, food safety and sustainable wrapped up his brief, whirlwind stop in Los gineering and law from the prestigious the United States will respect the interests agriculture. Angeles. The itinerary included a lunchtime Tsinghua University, the alma mater of and the concerns of China." Iowa’s top elected and business officials economic forum with U.S. Department of current president Hu Jintao and other senior Xi, in one of his speeches, reiterated view Xi’s visit as a chance to build upon the Commerce Secretary John Bryson and busi- leaders. He was put in charge of ensuring standard Chinese talking points for dealing relationship and boost trade even further. ness leaders at the JW Marriott Hotel at the the success of the Olympic Games in 2008 with the United States: urging the U.S. to Gov. Terry Branstad compared Xi’s visit L.A. Live complex in downtown. and the general view is that he succeeded continue to support a "One China" policy with those of Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Xi also announced a deal with Dream- with flying colors. and oppose any moves toward Taiwanese Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in 1959. Works Animation to build and operate a stu- During his career, Mr. Xi has been re- independence, to honor its commitment to “And in fact, economically, it may be even dio in Shanghai, aimed at producing original sponsible for Hong Kong and Macau affairs recognize Tibet as part of China, and to work more important to Iowa’s future,” he said. programming for Chinese audiences. and is head of the Central Party School. together on dealing with nuclear ambitions Concluding their visit to Iowa, the del- Xi and Villaraigosa also signed an agree- While Xi is widely regarded as more by North Korea and Iran. Xi responded as egation flew to Los Angeles where they met ment with ZTE Corp., a telecommunications at ease with counterparts than the stiff and Hu did when he met Obama last year by with Gov. Jerry Brown and Mayor Antonio company based in Shenzhen, China, that staid Hu, he will not call the shots on policy defending China's human rights record but Villaraigosa at the Port of Los Angeles, the operates in 140 countries. The delegation until he fully takes the reins of power. The saying it could always do more. nation’s busiest, where the group agreed then visited a local school that teaches Chi- diplomatic rhetoric he used in his appear- Groups concerned about human rights to work more closely to bolster trade rela- nese to students. ances through his visit in the U.S. was tried in China, including the Tibetan community, tions while reducing emissions from diesel "In the two trips that I've made to China and tested, echoing the tone of the state visit Taiwanese, and Falun Gong practitioners, ships that carry cargo containers across the and to Asia, the message has been clear ... to Washington by Hu a year ago. It appears said they would track Xi’s visit across Pacific Ocean. and that's L.A. is the gateway to Asia and to that Xi stuck to tightly scripted public ap- America with protests organized in Wash- China is already the lead trade partner China," said Villaraigosa, who met Xi last pearances while his focus seems to be on ington D.C., Des Moines and Los Angeles. for the Port of Los Angeles, with imports December amid a two-week trade mission forging relationships. Such demonstrations did take place at these and exports valued at US$133 billion last to Asia. "As Asia grows, so does Los An- What does Xi's visit tell us about U.S.- locations but they did not disrupt any of the year. Additionally, total trade between China geles," Villaraigosa said. "L.A. is uniquely China relations? Xi is more personable events or ceremonies. and Los Angeles jumped 966 percent over poised to be the beneficiary of the trade and than Hu, or any recent Chinese leader, and After meeting with Obama, congres- the past 16 years, from a mere 281,214 the tourism." seemed very comfortable in his meeting sional leaders, and other top officials in shipments exchanged in 1995 to nearly 3 Prior to leaving Los Angeles, Xi took with Obama and other top officials, embody- Washington, Xi flew to Muscatine, Iowa, million by 2011. up Villaraigosa's offer to watch the Los ing his country's newfound confidence. "The to reunite with the family that hosted him "The import and export business has Angeles Lakers play against the Phoenix world hasn't seen a leader like him in China during his first visit to the U.S. (He came been more balanced than before," said Li Suns at Staples Center. "I told him, `Look, before," says ABC News in an analysis by here to study advanced hog-raising tech- Shadoe, chairman of China Shipping. we got to work hard, but you got to come its Beijing bureau. Previous leaders grew niques in 1985.) He flew to Des Moines, "In the old days, we sent a full ship to and see the Lakers, they're America's team,"' up during a time when China was heavily Iowa, where he attended a gala dinner Los Angeles from China, but going back it Villaraigosa said. "He's a Kobe fan and a dependent on U.S. aid, but "Xi was just 24 sponsored by Iowa’s trade association for was empty," Li said. "Now we actually have Lakers fan, so it works." in 1978, the dawn of China's transformation pork, soybeans, and corn, and a U.S.-China ships coming back about 50 percent full and Could basketball diplomacy be replac- from a closed, communist economy to the symposium sponsored by the U.S. Depart- I believe with this visit, we will buy more ing the ping pong diplomacy that emerged international powerhouse that it is today. ment of Agriculture. from the U.S." during the Nixon era?  Many Chinese in his generation hold respect Iowa exports to China hit US$599 mil- City and port officials are eyeing the for the U.S., but no longer feel as indebted lion in 2010, a 1,231 percent increase from region's fashion industry as one way to Editor’s Note: Much of the material for nor, perhaps, as grateful." Still, Xi feels 2000, according to census data. That was bolster exports while also adding 50,000 this article was obtained from a number of comfortable enough about the U.S. that he's the fourth-largest export market for Iowa. jobs over the next several years. "We want syndicated news services that covered most sending his daughter to Harvard. Iowa imports from China were US$1 bil- to see those garments go from downtown to of the events. As for recent moves by the Obama ad- lion in 2010. China's growing middle class," said Geral- PAGE 16 > MARCH 2012 a passage to china www.chinainsight.info