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Talking Points, May 7 - 18, 2011

This issue of the USC US-China Institute's newsletter focuses on Chinese news coverage of the killing of Osama bin Laden and the upcoming US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. It also features our comprehensive calendar of China-related events and exhibitions across North America.
May 7, 2011
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Talking Points
May 7-18, 2011

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The first official Chinese government response to the killing of Osama bin Laden came on May 2 at a foreign ministry press conference. Spokesperson Jiang Yu said, "We have noted [US Pres. Obama’s statement that Osama Bin Laden had been killed] and regard it as an important event and positive development in the international counter-terrorism campaign. Terrorism is the public enemy of the

 
 People's Daily, May 3, 2011

international community."

 

The next day, the front page of the official Chinese Communist Party newspaper, the People’s Daily included a short article in the lower right corner of the front page, “US announces [it] killed Bin Laden.” The article noted that Pres. Obama announced the death and that he had ordered the raid. The article credited the CIA and Navy Seals with the successful attack and highlighted a US State Department warning that Americans abroad should on guard in case of retaliatory attacks.

Coverage of this story clearly shows how China’s media environment has changed in the past two decades. Market-focused tabloids went with big photos and headlines.

[Larger versions of the images here and other front pages are available at our website.]

Wuhan Morning News and the City Commercial News went with, “[Bin] Laden is really dead”
Jianghuai Morning News, “[Bin] Laden falls.”
Beijing Times offered a graphic of attacking helicopters and the headline, “[Bin] Laden is dead”
Eastern Guardian had a wanted posted of Osama stamped “deceased” and this headline over the burning World Trade Center: “Bin Laden off the FBI [most] wanted list.” The front page also had a large cell phone ad.
Inner Mongolia Morning News, “[Bin] Laden Killed”
Southern Metropolis Daily, “[Bin] Laden Dead”

 

     
 Jianghuai Morning News  Jinghua (Beijing) Times  Eastern Guardian, all May 3, 2011

Meanwhile, those newspapers under the direct control of provincial or municipal communist party committees, followed the lead of the People’s Daily and were generally more restrained.

Yunnan Daily had a small headline and a photo of celebrating Americans: “Al Qaeda leader shot.” Some papers carried no mention of the killing on their front pages: Xinjiang Daily (published in a region where Uyghur/Han ethnic violence erupted in 2009), Guangming Daily, and Guangxi Daily.

Exceptions to this pattern included the Gansu Daily with its “[Bin] Laden killed by American forces” headline and a large photo and the Liaoning Daily which featured prominent pictures of the burning World Trade Center towers and Bin Laden.

 

Pres. Obama told CBS News that photos of Osama’s body would not be released. That didn’t hamper

 
 Hefei Evening News, May 3, 2011

the tabloid Hefei Evening News in its effort to sell papers. It featured a color photo of Bin Laden’s head showing a gun shot wound – above a headline that read “Website’s photo is suspected of being fake.” The Liaoshen Evening News had a drawing showing Bin Laden with four bullet holes in his forehead.

 

The Beijing Morning News emphasized Pres. Obama’s role, featuring his picture along with Bin Laden’s on the front page. On page three, an artist has Obama at a pool table, striking an “8” ball featuring Bin Laden’s head, while two other balls, featuring the heads of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sit nearby.
 

Detail from p. A3, Beijing Morning News, May 3, 2011.

 

*******

At the end of April, representatives from the US and China met in Beijing for their renewed Human Rights Dialogue. The meeting occurred shortly after the two governments issued their dueling human rights reports, detailing each other’s shortcomings. These reports are, along with earlier ones, available in the “documents” section of the USCI website (US => China; China => US). The Chinese report, for example, highlights crime, electronic searches, and other infringements on Americans' human rights. This year's dialogue also occurred in the midst of a continuing constriction of the work of human rights lawyers and other activists. Shortly after the meeting, the Chinese government announced that internet regulation would be consolidated under a newly established State Internet Information Office.

It is not as if the net in China was lacking in government supervision. Freedom House, in a report released on April 11, concluded that

The Chinese government boasts the world’s most sophisticated system of internet controls, and its approach has become even more restrictive in recent years. Blocks on Facebook and Twitter have become permanent, while domestic alternatives to these applications have risen in popularity despite being forced to censor their users. The authorities imposed a months-long shutdown of internet access in the western region of Xinjiang during the report’s coverage period, and at least 70 people were in jail for internet-related reasons as of 2010.

It is worth noting that the Freedom House project was funded, in part, by Google and by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Google, of course, has been engaged in a struggle with Chinese net regulators for more than a year. USAID is intended to foster economic development and provide assistance to support US foreign policy aims. On April 28, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a report critical of Chinese government religious policies and practices.

Chinese authorities have rejected such criticism. Back in February Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu responded to Hillary Clinton’s pledge to spend $25 million to develop tools to help internet users in China get around the Great Firewall. Ma asserted that Chinese internet users have freedom of speech and that “[W]e are against any other countries using Internet freedom as a pretext for interfering in others' internal affairs." This week, leaders of China’s five state-recognized religious associations said, “What has been described about China in the report is entirely different from what we have observed and experienced….” People have religious freedom and the work of religious organizations is respected, they said, but they condemned “evil cults that are against society and humanity… Separatist activities [a charge sometimes aimed at Tibetans and Uyghurs] under the disguise of religions have nothing to do with religious freedom.”

It does not appear that much was accomplished at last week’s dialogue in Beijing. Afterwards, the lead US representative, Michael Posner declared, “It’s important to be clear about what our Human Rights Dialogue is and what it isn’t. It is a chance for us to engage in depth and in detail on a number of issues and specific cases. It isn’t a negotiation. It is a forum in which we engage frankly and candidly.” Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, reported the Chinese delegation held “that only through abiding by a spirit of equality and mutual respect can the human rights dialogue achieve positive progress."

*******

The Human Rights Dialogue came less than two weeks ahead of Monday’s start of an even bigger discussion, the Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) meeting in Washington. A People’s Daily editorial this week summarized the central Chinese government attitude:

Although the Cold War has been over for about 20 years, certain Westerners are still trapped in the Cold War mindset, and often unrealistically demand China to solve a bunch of non-existent problems in hopes of forcing China to make concessions or even to change its political system. To their disappointment, all such efforts are destined to be in vain because neither the Chinese government nor the Chinese people will compromise on principles. China's development pattern should depend on the Chinese people, and foreign countries should not interfere. The Chinese people will never allow anyone to damage the interests of their country.” -- May 4, 2011

The S&ED discussions will center on security matters, including regional concerns such as the Korean Peninsula and South China Sea. With regard to economics, China’s currency has effectively risen by 10% against the US dollar, lessening the tension over that issue. Market access and intellectual property protection remain big concerns, though progress on these matters was reported after Hu Jintao’s January visit.

Essential information about these issues can be found at the USCI website. Those resources include documentaries on the South China Sea and Taiwan, as well as recent lectures about China’s military, soft power efforts, and economy. The “documents” section of the site includes Chinese and American reports about China’s military as well as Congressional Research Service reports on currency, trade, and other matters. Recent speeches by Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo on China's peaceful development as well as US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are available.

*******

USCI hosts two important presentations this week. William Callahan will be speaking on the interplay between Chinese identity and security and Yi Feng will look at a broad spectrum of US-China issues. We hope you can join us for those talks. We also want to encourage secondary school teachers from outside the Los Angeles area to apply to participate in our 9-day residential summer seminar this August. Grants from the Freeman Foundation and the US Department of Education allow us to provide housing (double occupancy) and instruction without charge to participants. Please visit the K-12 curriculum section of our website to learn more.

Finally – for those who have earned the title “mother,” we offer our warmest wishes for a great mother’s day.

Best wishes,
The USC US-China Institute
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05/09/2011: China: The Pessoptimist Nation
USC Davidson Conference Center, Board Room, Los Angeles, CA 90089
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00PM - 5:30PM
William A. Callahan will speak on how the rise of China presents various long-term challenges to the world. 

05/11/2011: US-China Relations in the 21st Century: Theoretical Context and Empirical Foundations.
USC Davidson Conference Center, Club Room
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00PM - 5:30PM
Yi Feng will examine U.S. - China relations. 

CALIFORNIA

05/06/2011: The Impact of Gender Bias on Social Stability and Violence in China and India
Levinthal Hall
Stanford Humanities Center, Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: 650-723-3362/3363
Time: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Stanford University will hold a talk on gender bias on violence and social stability in China and India. 

05/06/2011: Tianxia Workshop: Culture, International Relations, and World History: Rethinking Chinese Perceptions of World Order
Stanford University
Hartley Conference Center, Stanford, CA 94305-2000
Cost: Free
Time: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
A 5 day workshop will be held at Stanford University on China`s perspective of Culture, International Relations, and World History. 

05/06/2011: The Inaugural Stanford China Law & Policy Conference: Law and the Chinese Transformation
Stanford University
Stanford Law School - Room 290, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Time: 1:15PM - 6:00PM
Focusing on the theme of Law and the Chinese Transformation, the conference will hold discussions on the legal implications of the emergence of China. 

05/06/2011: Urbanization, Hukou Reform and China`s 12th Five-Year Plan
IEAS Conference Room, 6th Floor
2223 Fulton Street, Berkeley, CA 94720
Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM
The University of California, Berkeley hosts a talk on China`s 12th Five-Year Plan.  
 
 

05/09/2011: Screening of Liu Xiangchen`s Documentaries
Institute of East Asian Studies
2223 Fulton, 6th Floor, Berkeley, CA 94720
Time: 3:00PM - 5:15PM
UC Berkeley will screen Liu Xiangchen`s documentaries. 

05/11/2011: Music of Asia
UCLA 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Cost: Free
Time: 7:00PM - 10:00PM
UCLA`s Department of Ethnomusicology presents a concert of Asian music. 

05/12/2011: Krunk Fu Battle Battle
East West Players
120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Under the guidance of Sir Master Cert, young Norman Lee battles the baddest b-boy crew at Sunset Park High for respect, honor, and the heart of sweet Cindy Chang. A hip-hop musical extravaganza! 

05/12/2011: The Wall Street of The Middle Kingdom and Making Movies in China Today
Braun Auditorium
Mudd Chemistry Building, Stanford, CA
Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Stanford University will hold a panel discussion on Empire of Silver. 

 

05/16/2011: A Conversation about `Huaxia` and Related Terms
Old Union Room 201
615 Crothers Way, Stanford, CA 94720
Phone: 650-723-3362/3363
Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Chao Fen Sun will speak about "huaxia" at Stanford University.

05/16/2011: Technologies of Anticipation: How Chinese Typists Invented "Predictive Text" during the Height of Maoism
Stanford University
Encina Hall, 2nd Floor East Conference Room (E207), Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Time: 12:00PM - 1:30PM
Thomas Mullaney of Stanford University will present "Technologies of Anticipation: How Chinese Typists Invented "Predictive Text" during the Height of Maoism," in Stanford`s Seminar on Science, Technology, and Society (STS). 

05/16/2011: Pragmatism & Idealism: How Entrepreneurs and Intellectuals are Shaping Today`s China
Asia Society
725 Park Avenue, New York City, NY
Cost: Free admission but advance registration requested.
Time: 6:30PM - 8:00PM
A discussion with author Zha Jianying, Orville Schell, Arthur Ross Director, and Susan Jakes, Arthur Ross Fellow of the Center on US-China Relations at Asia Society. 

NORTH AMERICA

05/09/2011: U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue
State Department
2201 C Street NW , Washington, DC 20520
The third meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) will be held in Washington, DC, May 9-10, 2011. 

05/09/2011: Connections are Not Always Corruption: Vertical Ties and Civic Participation in Rural China
Harvard University
CGIS South, Doris and Ted Lee Gathering Room (S030),1730 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02138
Time: 4:15PM
MIT`s Lily Tsai will lecture at Harvard University. 

05/10/2011: Morris Kaplan, "A Queer Orientalism: Sex, Power and Cultural Difference in Backhouse’s “Memoirs”"
University of Chicago
5710 South Woodlawn Avenue, Room 107 (Community Lounge), Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Time: 4:30PM - 6:00PM
Morris B. Kaplan, Professor of Philosophy at Purchase College, will present his paper "A Queer Orientalism" at University of Chicago. 

05/10/2011: The Empress and Mrs. Conger: The Uncommon Friendship of Two Women and Two Worlds
China Institute
125 65th Street, New York, NY 10065
Cost: $10 member / $15 non-member
Time: 6:30PM - 8:00PM
Grant Hayter-Menzies will give a book signing at the China Institute in New York City. 

05/10/2011: Screening of The Big Parade
University of Chicago
Harper 140 1116 E. 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
Cost: Free
Time: 7:00PM - 8:45PM
The Chinese film "The Big Parade" will be screened at University of Chicago. 

05/12/2011: Project 85 as X-Cultural Ecriture
Gumwood Room, Erb Memorial Union
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403
Time: 3:00PM
Claire Huot and Robert Majzels will speak on the reception of Chinese poetry into English at the University of Oregon.  

05/12/2011: Qingxiang: The Transnational Repercussions of Village Pacification in China, 1869-1891
SS 224
1126 E. 59th St., Chicago, IL 60637
Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM
Professor Melissa MacCauley will speak on village pacification in China at the University of Chicago. 

05/12/2011: Documentary Screening: Farewell My Concubine
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cost: Free
Time: 5:15PM - 8:20PM
The Chinese Film "Farewell My Concubine" will be screened at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

 

05/12/2011: Screening: The Last Train Home
The Smithsonian
S. Dillon Ripley Center Room 3111 1100 Jefferson Drive, S.W. Metro: Smithsonian (Blue/Orange Lines), Washington, DC
Cost: $10 General Admission
Time: 6:30PM - 8:30PM
The Chinese documentary "The Last Train Home" will be screened at The Smithsonian. 

05/12/2011: Chinese Legislative Reforms
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
One Woodrow Wilson Plaza 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004
Time: 9:00PM - 10:30PM
The Wilson Center presents a seminar on Chinese legislative reforms in Washington, DC. 

05/13/2011: The Future of Asian Art Symposium
A/P/A Institute at NYU
41-51 E. 11th Street, New York, NY 10012
Cost: Free and open to the public, RSVP required
Time: 12:00PM - 6:00PM
NYU hosts a symposium that will investigate the increasingly transnational nature of Asian art and the circulation of artists and art production in multiple global markets. 

05/13/2011: Felix Boecking - Workshop
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Time: 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Dr. Felix Boecking will hold a workshop at Harvard University. 

05/13/2011: "BRIC in 2020" Conference and Roundtable
Gleacher Center, 6th Floor
450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, IL 60611
Time: 4:00PM - 9:00PM
The goal of this University of Chicago conference is to bring together experts on Brazil, Russia, India, and China to discuss social and economic issues facing these emerging economies and how these challenges will affect their political development 

05/16/2011: Artspeaks: David Henry Hwang & Oskar Eustis
International House
Assembly Hall 1414 E 59th St, Chicago, IL
Cost: $20/$5 students with valid ID
Time: 7:30PM - 9:30PM
David Henry Hwang and Oskar Eustis will speak at the University of Chicago. 

05/17/2011: Talk by Mable Chan
CGIS South
Room S153, 1730 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Time: 12:15PM
Mable Chan will speak at Harvard University. 

EXHIBITIONS 

ends 05/09/2011: Visions of the Orient: Western Women Artists in Asia 1900-1940
Changing Exhibition Galleries
Pacific Asia Museum 46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
Pasadena`s Pacific Asia Museum presents Visions of the Orient, an exhibition that explores the fascination of female western artists with Asian cultures between 1900 and 1940. 

ends 05/14/2011: Paintings by Sheng Qi
Fabien Fryns Fine Art
Address: 314 N. Crescent Heights Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048
Fabien Fryns Fine Art is honored to announce a solo exhibition by Sheng Qi. The exhibition, titled Square, features eight recent paintings. 

ends 06/01/2011: Ancient Chinese Jades and Bronzes
Freer Gallery of Art (Galleries 18 and 19)
1050 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington, DC 20439
The Smithsonian Institute presents an exhibition of Chinese jades and bronzes

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