Talking Points, October 8 - 22, 2008

Talking Points
October 8 - 22, 2008

Speaking in New York on Monday, World Bank president Robert Zoellick said,

"We have seen the dark side of global connectedness. We need to navigate toward the light…"

“Just as the crisis has been international because of interconnectedness, the reforms will need to be multilateral.”

Zoellick went on to describe the G-7 as outdated and argued that broader cooperation was required not only in finance and trade, but also in energy and crisis management. He suggested creating a “Steering Group” of 14 nations who together account for 70% of the world’s economic output and 56% of its people. Zoellick described himself as a mechanic of multilateralism.

Three years ago, when he was Deputy Secretary of State, Zoellick memorably called on China to become a responsible stakeholder in the international system, to help sustain the “system that has enabled its success.” (That speech is among those available in the documents section of our website.)

And on Wednesday we saw some evidence of cooperation and coordination, including cooperation from China. Central banks in the U.S., Europe, and China all cut their interest rates in an effort to ease the credit crisis. China’s enormous foreign reserve holdings mean that it has the capacity to help Western nations prevent a long and deep recession. Given its reliance on Western export markets and its already huge investment in U.S. Treasury notes, some economists argue China will find it very much in its own interest to help the U.S. and other nations move past the current crisis.

*****

What are the key issues in the U.S.-China relationship? Who are the key institutional and individual players shaping American policy toward China? What interests do they seek to advance and what tactics do they employ? This Monday, October 13, the USC U.S.-China Institute is bringing together a distinguished group of former and current government officials, organization heads, and scholars to examine “The Making of U.S.-China Policy.” Princeton’s Thomas Christensen, who stepped down three months ago as our top State Department official on East Asia will launch the conference speaking on "Shaping China's Choices: Some Recent Lessons for the Next U.S. Administration." Click here to see the complete schedule and to read biographical notes about our panelists. Seating at the conference is limited and advance registration is required. Write to uschina@usc.edu to secure your place.

America’s support for Taiwan’s young democracy is one of the most complex and delicate issues in the U.S.-China relationship. Last week, the U.S. government announced that it would sell $6.5 billion of arms to Taiwan. The package includes Apache helicopters and Patriot missiles designed to shoot down incoming missiles. China’s foreign ministry condemned the sales, with spokesman Qin Gang saying the sales “contaminated the positive atmosphere for U.S.-China relations.” Chinese authorities have canceled or postponed several planned U.S.-China military exchanges. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama both endorsed the sales.

Policies on Taiwan are among those examined in the just released documentary “Election ’08 and the Challenge of China.” This USCI documentary features reporting by Mike Chinoy, a Pacific Council fellow and USC faculty member. It includes video of the candidates discussing China, interviews with their key advisors, interest group representatives, and scholars, as well as historical and contemporary news footage. The forty minute video is available, along with links to relevant speeches, government reports, and organizations, at the USCI website. The video is also available at our YouTube channel.

Thank you for forwarding Talking Points to friends and colleagues. We welcome your comments. Please send them to us at uschina@usc.edu.  

Best wishes,
The USC U.S.-China Institute
http://china.usc.edu

 
USC:

10/13/2008: The Making of U.S. China Policy
USC Davidson Conference Center
Address: Embassy Room, Los Angeles, CA 90089
Cost: Free
Phone: 213-821-4382
Time: 9:00AM - 5:30PM
Scholars and government officials will examine the central issues, institutions, interest-groups, and individuals at work in producing U.S. policy toward China. 

10/20/2008: Chinese Higher Education: 21st Century Opportunities
USC University Park Campus
Davidson Conference Center, Los Angeles, CA 90089
Paticipants will gain valuable insights into contemporary Chinese higher education and the trends that will shape universities in China in the coming years and decades. 

California: 

10/08/2008: Beijing Opera Lecture and Demonstration at UCLA
UCLA, Schoenberg Hall, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM
The China Beijing Opera Institute's Mei Lanfang Beijing Opera Company will give a lecture and demonstration at UCLA. 
 
10/09/2008: Ping Pong Playa
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: See website for details.
Sharply directed by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Jessica Yu, making her narrative feature directing debut, "Ping Pong Playa" is the rare sports comedy that will have you rolling with laughter, while effectively tackling important Asian American identity issues. 
 
10/09/2008 - 10/10/2008: Blowfish on the Road: Wong Fu Productions x Far East Movement
University of San Diego
Address: SH-21120, San Diego, CA
Time: 12:30PM, 2:30pm
Join Wong Fu Productions and Far East Movement, plus other special celebrity guests for a very special program about the importance of music and videos.  

10/10/2008: World Famous Mei Lanfang Beijing Opera Troupe
Kodak Theatre
6801 Hollywood Blvd. , Hollywood, CA 90028
Cost: Depends on seating location: $288/$188/$148/$118/$68/$48/$28
The California Institute for Chinese Performing Arts presents three performances by the world famous Mei Lanfang Company from the Beijing Opera House that will feature an array of world class performers at the Kodak Theatre.

10/10/2008: Hollywood Chinese
University Village Cinemas
A1201A University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92507
Time: 6pm
HOLLYWOOD CHINESE comprehensively documents the contributions Chinese American have made to American cinema. Featuring interviews with notable artists such as Ang Lee, Wayne Wang, Joan Chen, David Henry Hwang, Nancy Kwan, Justin Lin, B.D. Wong, Lisa Lu, and James Hong. 
 
10/11/2008: An American in China
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: See website for details.
Time: 2:50PM, Run time: 90 min. 
This coming of age, fish out of water story takes us on a fascinating journey to a world full of strange customs and people. But cultural differences, politics or distance cannot change the fact that we all share the same basic desire: to love and be loved. 
 
10/11/2008: The Killing of a Chinese Cookie
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
Address: 7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: See website for details.
Time: 4:20PM, Run time: 75 min.  
Filmmaker Derek Shimoda invites us to take a closer look at a little something taken for granted at the end of nearly every Chinese restaurant meal, fortune cookies. Who started it all? And who writes those fortunes anyway?  
 
10/11/2008: Magazine Gap Road
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
Address: 7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Time: 9:30PM, Run time: 115 min.
MAGAZINE GAP ROAD is a followup to director Nicholas Chin’s short film Tai Tai and touts an accomplished cast and crew including Beijing actress Qu Ying, Jessey Meng, cinematographer Chan Yuan Kai and Oscar award-winning editor Jean Tsien.

10/11/2008: Secret (Bu Neng Shuo De Mi Mi)
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Time: 7:00PM, Run time: 101 min.   
Arguably the world’s most popular Mandarin-language recording artist, Jay Chou establishes himself as a gifted performer and a skillful auteur with his directorial debut film SECRET.  

10/11/2008: Family Inc.
UltraStar Mission Valley
7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: See website for details.
Time: 1:10PM, Run time: 60 min.
When filmmaker Emily Ting was asked by her father to return to Asia and take over the family business, she didn’t exactly know how to say ‘no.’ Promising herself she would try it out for just one year, she traded in her friends, her filmmaking pursuits, and her love of New York for a grueling new life as CEO in training in one of Hong Kong’s most notorious toy companies. 
 
10/12/2008: Assembly
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: See website for details.
Time: 2:00PM, Run time: 124 min.   
Based on a true story, ASSEMBLY follows one man’s journey in search of truth and honor in the aftermath of one of the bloodiest battles in the Chinese Civil War.
 
10/12/2008: Yours Truly, Miss Chinatown
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
Address: 7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: See website for details.
Time: 3:30PM, Run time: 60 min.   
YOURS TRULY, MISS CHINATOWN goes behind the scenes of the 2003 Los Angeles Miss Chinatown pageant, delving into the lives of two pageant contestants during the pageant and the aftermath. 
 
10/12/2008: Archaeological Perspectives on the Qin Unification of China
Bowers Museum
2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, California 92706
Dr. Lothar Von Falkenhausen introduces recent archaeological findings that have prompted a reinterpretation of the First Emperor's historical contribution.  

10/13/2008: Free Screening: Red Race
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00PM, Run time: 70 min.  
Against the backdrop of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and escalating international condemnation and demonstrations over Chinese policies from Tibet to Darfur, THE RED RACE presents a detailed insight into the Chinese passion for gymnastics.
 
10/14/2008: Free Screening: Follow Your Heart: China's New Youth Movement
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00PM, Run time: 91 min.  
FOLLOW YOUR HEART investigates the dynamic between the inflexible political environment and a modernizing ancient culture, the issues that are affecting Chinese youth.
 
10/14/2008: Lovers
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: See website for details.
Time: 8:30PM, Run time: 115 min
Set against the beautiful, glowing backdrop of modern Shanghai, LOVERS deals with the subjects of love both lost and found, and the fragility of a second chance.  
 
10/15/2008: A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: See website for details.
Time: 7:30 PM, Run time: 83 min.
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is among filmmaker Wayne Wang's latest Asian-themed films that explore the bonds of family and Chinese identity in the modern world.  

10/16/2008: Free Screening: Please Vote For Me
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: Free
PLEASE VOTE FOR ME captures an entertaining snapshot of the politics within a classroom election between three eight-year olds and is one of the most insightful and enjoyable documentaries of the year.
 
10/16/2008: Children of the Stars
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
Address: 7510 Hazard Center Drive, located off Friars Road at 163, San Diego, CA 92108
Cost: See website for details.
CHILDREN OF THE STARS is a very personal documentary on a group of families seeking help for their severely autistic children. 
 
10/17/2008 - 10/17/2008: China Transformed: Artscape/Cityscape
Museum Theater
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive 2621 Durant Avenue, Berkeley, CA
In this two-day international symposium, leading curators, critics and scholars will look at artists working in different mediums as they react to the new Chinese megacity.

10/21/2008: The China Lover
Mark Taper Auditorium
Downtown Central Library Corner of Fifth and Flower, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Cost: No Fee – Reservations are recommended
Phone: (213) 228-7025
Time: 7:00PM
Meet the Author - Ian Buruma, in conversation with John Nathan, Takashima Professor of Japanese Cultural Studies, UCSB 

10/22/2008: China: After the Olympics
Omni Los Angeles Hotel
251 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Cost: $45 for Asia Society members; $50 Guests and General Admission
Phone: 213-613-9934 ext.24
Time: 8:00AM - 10:30AM
An in-depth look at China's current economic and political environment and its opportunities ahead. 

North America:

10/08/2008: How the Media Handles Tibet
Columbia University
International Affairs Building, Room 918 , New York, NY 10027
Cost: Free
Time: 12:00PM - 1:30PM
Robert Barnett, Director of the WEAI Modern Tibetan Studies Program, Columbia University
Orville Schell, Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations, Asia Society
Tseten Wangchuk, Senior Broadcaster, Voice of America, Tibetan language service

10/09/2008: Modern Bridges of China
University of Kansas
Centennial Room, Kansas Union
Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM
Several signature bridges built in China in recent time will be introduced along with bridge engineering and construction education programs in Chinese Universities. The construction of these bridges reflects the current boom development in China.
 
10/10/2008 - 10/12/2008: Higher Education in China
Harvard University
Address: 1730 Cambridge St. CGIS South Building, Rooms S030 and S050
Phone: 617-495-4046
Scholars throughout the world will explore the development of higher education in contemporary China in broader historical and comparative perspectives. 
 
10/14/2008: A Premonition of the Fall of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279): A Reading of a Song Lyric Composed in 1253 about Reveling on the West Lake
University of Michigan
Room 1636 School of Social Work Building, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Professor Shuen-fu Lin will present a close reading of a song lyric (ci) reportedly written by the scholar-official Wen Jiweng (fl 1253-1275).  
 
10/15/2008: 17th Annual Charles Neuhauser Memorial Lecture
Harvard University
CGIS South Building, Room S020
Cost: Free
Phone: 617-495-4046
Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM
Douglas Spelman will speak about his experiences while serving as the representative of the U.S. Government in China. 

Exhibitions: 

07/11/2008 - 10/12/2008: Sun Xun
UCLA Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd , Los Angles, CA 90024
Sun Xun creates animations that combine hand-drawn renderings and traditional materials with new media. 

05/18/2008 - 10/12/2008: Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of the First Emperor
Bowers Museum
Address: 2002 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Phone: 714-567-3600
This summer exhibit at Bowers Museum showcases the famous terra cotta warriors buried with the First Emperor of China.

09/10/2008 - 01/04/2009: Mahjong: Contemporary Chinese Art from the Sigg Collection
2626 Bancroft Way, UC Berkeley campus
Cost $5- 12     General Admission
141 works by 96 artists, drawn from one of the world’s most important and comprehensive collections of contemporary Chinese art. 

09/17/2008 - 01/11/2009: Confucius: Shaping Values Through Art
Pacific Asia Museum
Address: 46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena , CA 91101
Cost: $7 for adults, $5 for students/seniors
Phone: (626) 449-2742 
Confucius: Shaping Values Through Art explores how Confucian values have permeated East Asian culture. It utilizes the Museum’s own collection as a case study.  
 
09/05/2008 - 01/11/2009: Art and China's Revolution
Asia Society and Museum
725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), New York City
General admission is $10, seniors $7, students $5 and free for members and persons under 16
Asia Society Presents First Comprehensive Exhibition Devoted to Revolutionary Chinese Art from the 1950s Through 1970s. 

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USC U.S. – China Institute
3535 S. Figueroa St.
FIG 202
Los Angeles, CA 90089-1262
Tel: 213-821-4382

Fax: 213-821-2382

Email: uschina@usc.edu 

Website: http://china.usc.edu 

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