USC and China in the News, September and October 2011

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October 31, 2011: Los Angeles Daily News

The election of SinoPec CEO and USC alum Fu Chengyu to the USC board of trustees was reported in an article. The article noted that Fu “has more than three decades of experience in the oil industry in China, now the world's largest energy consumer.” The article also noted Fu was selected as one of the top 50 performing CEOs in 2010 by Harvard Business Review.

October 28, 2011: China Daily

An article mentioned that USC co-sponsored a conference on Media and Culture in Contemporary China with UCLA.

October 24, 2011: Forbes

Baizhu Chen of the USC Marshall School of Business published an op-ed criticizing those who support pressuring China to raise the value of the renminbi. He wrote, “I thought elected officials were supposed to represent my interests and the interests of millions of American families trying to make ends meet by relying on inexpensive Chinese products. I didn’t know U.S. Senators were supposed to represent the interests of Chinese consumers. It is up to the Chinese government to make the Chinese happier. When billions of Chinese jump forcefully onto the consumption wagon, the prices of goods will become higher for struggling American families. Senators, be careful of what you wish for.”

October 19, 2011: Financial Times

A video interview with Elizabeth Daley, dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, looked at the prospects for America filmmakers in China.

October 18, 2011: FinanceAsia

An article featured the 2011 USC Global Conference in Hong Kong, which included discussions on sustainable economic growth and the interconnection between China and the West. Food demand was among the topics considered. USC Trustee Ronnie Chan, chairman of the Hang Lung Group, said: “If Chinese begin eating chicken, the world is going to have a problem; if Chinese begin drinking red wine, the world is going to have a problem; if Chinese begin eating beef, both the Western world and the Chinese world will have a problem.”

October 17, 2011: Variety

An article noted that UCLA and USC jointly hosted a conference on contemporary Chinese film, television, and theme parks. "The Chinese government said they want to double their entertainment sector in the next five years. That offers plenty of opportunities for people who are outside of China to work with people who are inside China," said Martin Kaplan, director of USC's Norman Lear Center.

October 17, 2011: Shenzhen News

Presentations by scholars from the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, U.S.-China Institute, and Marshall School of Business to a Global Megacities Forum hosted by the Shenzhen Public Administration Institute were highlighted in a widely distributed article.

October 17, 2011: Shenzhen Communist Party School Network

An article highlighted a joint USC/Shenzhen Public Administration Institute Global Megacity Forum. Keynote presentations by Baizhu Chen of the USC Marshall School of Business and Clayton Dube of the USC U.S.-China Institute were discussed along with forum presentations by USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development Dean Jack Knott and Professor Eric Heikkila.

October 14, 2011: China Daily

Ma Qingyun, dean of the USC School of Architecture, founded the American Acaemy in 2008. The graduate program seeks to immerse American students in the study of architecture and city planning in China. This year students are focused on the way robotic technology might revolutionize the building industry.

October 13, 2011: China Daily

Ernest J. Wilson III, dean of the USC Annenberg School of Communications & Journalism, participated in a forum on public diplomacy in Beijing that was covered in an article. Wilson said, "Ultimately, I am very optimistic. I have been coming to China for 20 years, and I am just beginning to understand a little bit about your rich history and culture, and I am thirsty to learn much more.”

October 10, 2011: Forbes

Baizhu Chen of the USC Marshall School of Business published an op-ed entitled, “Thank You, China, for Keeping the Renminbi Cheap.” He wrote, "So, to China I say thank you, for selling us cheap products and cheap renminbi. Please do not listen to Washington.  The U.S. government does not really represent the silent majority of average American households and businesses that make ends meet by relying on Chinese-made inexpensive products. Please, China, keep the renminbi cheap as long as you want to.”

October 10, 2011: Financial Times

USC international relations specialist Daniel Lynch was quoted in a story about the appointment of Zhang Xiaogang, a Chinese steel company chief, as head of the World Steel Association. Lynch said, ”This [the appointment] appears to reflect in a positive way China’s deepening participation in global relations.”

October 9, 2010: 国际财经时报(International Business Times)

USC U.S.-China Institute senior fellow Mike Chinoy’s presentation on whether or not North Korea was following Chinese examples was highlighted in a story. Chinoy was quoted as saying that if North Korea was implementing reforms it would be a good thing because an affluent North Korea would be less dangerous.

October 8, 2011: Voice of America

This report focused on a presentation at USC by U.S.-China Institute senior fellow Mike Chinoy. Just back from North Korea, Chinoy spoke on whether or not that country was taking the Chinese road in reforming its economy. Chinoy noted that in some ways, North Korea is more dependent than ever on China. Chinese products dominate the marketplace and Chinese investors far outnumber those from other countries. Clayton Dube was also quoted in the article, saying that economic reform would be a great benefit to the people of North Korea, but also noting that North Korean leaders are nervous about all foreign investment, including that from China.

October 5, 2011: KSCI Television

Clayton Dube of the USC U.S.-China Institute was interviewed for a story on a U.S. Senate bill to require the U.S. government identify “misaligned” currencies, that is, currencies whose exchange rates do not reflect their actual value. Dube explained that the measure, which is expected to pass the Senate this week, targets China’s government-set exchange rate. He noted that the House may not even vote on the measure which has supporters and detractors among the House Republican majority. Dube explained that Senator Schumer (D-NY) has pushed such measures since 2003, but that policy toward China can be expected to be debated as part of the 2012 election cycle.

October 3, 2011: Shanghaist

Mike Chinoy, senior fellow at the USC U.S.-China Institute, was interviewed about his work as CNN’s Beijing Bureau chief and about the Assignment: China documentary series produced by the institute.

October 2, 2011: Los Angeles Times

The USC School of Cinematic Arts was among those highlighted in an article about the rising number of Chinese students in American film schools. Mark Harris, who heads, USC’s documentary film production program and the USC/Communication University of China documenting the global city, said of the students, "They bring an earnestness and wide-eyed wonder. These are some of the brightest students in all of China — they have an incredible work ethic."

September 28, 2011: Sohu.com

A USC U.S.-China Institute presentation by Shelley Rigger on “Why Taiwan Matters” was reported on. Rigger indicated that she’d be surprised if Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou were not reelected. She noted that defensive weapon sales by the U.S. to Taiwan should not create many problems for the U.S. in the region.

September 22, 2011: New York Times

Clayton Dube of the USC U.S.-China Institute was quoted in an article discussing Chinese reaction to the Obama Administration’s decision to sell arms to Taiwan. Dube said that the Chinese government’s reaction would be restrained and follow established patterns since leaders are positioning themselves for next year’s leadership transition. “At a time like this no one wants to get saddled with a major diplomatic failure that might end up reflecting badly on China,” Dube said.

September 21, 2011: China Daily

Famed architect Frank Gehry’s latest building is going up in Hong Kong. Gehry, a USC alum, was interviewed for a feature story. He said, of the building location, "I couldn't believe that sites in Hong Kong were still available… I thought that a building in such a beautiful natural spot should have an organic feel to it.”

September 9, 2011: Qiaobao (US China Press)

A screening of a segment of the USC U.S.-China Institute documentary Assignment: China was discussed in an article. USCI Senior Fellow Mike Chinoy was among the speakers at the event, along with two correspondents Richard Bernstein (Time) and Bruce Dunning (CBS), featured in the documentary.

September 8, 2011: Asia Society

Mike Chinoy, senior fellow at the USC U.S.-China Institute, was interviewed about his work as CNN’s Beijing Bureau chief and about the Assignment: China documentary series produced by the institute.

September 6, 2011: The News International (Pakistan)

A USC U.S.-China Institute article by Clayton Dube was cited and quoted extensively from in an article about the increasing number of students interested in studying Chinese.

September 5, 2011: Bernama (Malaysia)

An article about Philip Wong who walked across the U.S. in 89 days noted that USC alum Cat Liang was one of two people who had assisted Wong. Wong and Liang are both from China and this is thought to be the first time an Asian has walked the length of the United States.

September 2, 2011: 163.com

An article mentioned that Richard Little, director of the Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy in the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, spoke at a conference in Changchun, China on world industrial trends.

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