USC and China in the News, January and February 2011

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February 24, 2011: Voice of America

Tim Johnson’s USC US-China Institute book talk was featured in an article. Johnson discussed Tragedy in Crimson on the Dalai Lama’s success in winning the sympathy of people outside China but failed to change Chinese policies toward Tibet.

February 18, 2011: The Huffington Post

USC economist Nake M. Kamrany published an opinion piece discussing how China was able to recover more quickly than other nations from the "Great Recession of 2007-2009." Kamrany wrote, "China's system cannot be emulated by other nations because of its unique institutional framework, nor is it intending to export its system."

February 16, 2011: Bloomberg

USC alumus Ronnie Chan was interviewed about his company's plans to open its fourth shopping mall in China in 2011. Chan expects that this year rents earned in China to surpass those his company, Hang Long Properties, earns in Hong Kong. Under Chan, the firm has been Hong Kong's third best performing property developer. After one foray into the Chinese residential market, Chan vowed to stick with commercial properties. “We tried one small apartment project and after that I said never again,” Chan said. “The taxes are high and mainland officials are mindful about residential prices because it impacts ordinary people’s livelihood. But would they care about how much I’m charging international banks and high-end fashion brands?”

February 14, 2011: Financial Times

John van Fleet, of the USC Marshall School of Business, was quoted in an article about the expansion of MBA programs in China. “I think this is a China-unique phenomenon,” said van Fleet, “It’s a response to a fast-growing market. The Chinese universities seek the knowledge and international perspective, while the foreign universities seek the China presence.”

February 10, 2011: China Economic Review

In an op-ed, John Van Fleet of the USC Marshall School of Business discussed the need for China's universities to become more competitive globally. He notes that the Shanghai Jiaotong University business school gets this and mostly hires faculty trained abroad.

February 9, 2011: Los Angeles Times

USC alumna Wei Li, who now teaches at Arizona State University, was quoted in a story about Los Angeles-based East West Bank. She calls East West an "ethnobank" because of its focus on Chinese Americans. The bank also has three branches in China.

February 3, 2011: Bloomberg Businessweek

An article noted that Chinese undergraduates in the U.S. has quadrupled in four years. Timothy Brunold, USC Dean of Admissions was quoted and the article reported that undergraduates from China have risen from six in 2005 to 162 this year.

February 3, 2011: Daily Breeze

An article noting that Ebony Hoffman, former star USC basketball player (2000-2004), has signed to play for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, also reported that she is currently playing for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China. She’s averaging 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Bulls.

January 26, 2011: Hello Taiwan (你好台湾)

 

USC Keck School of Medicine rheumatology specialist Songguo Zheng said that Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to a Chicago school showed the Chinese government’s emphasis on education, while his visit to a Confucius Institute highlighted the effort promote overseas knowledge of Chinese culture.

January 24, 2011: International Daily News (国际日报)

An article about Chinese investment in the U.S. and about a memorandum of understanding signed by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the City of Los Angeles noted that Clayton Dube of the USC US-China Institute spoke to the gathering about "Los Angeles and China: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow."

January 23, 2011: Phoenix Television (凤凰网)

Stanley Rosen of the USC East Asian Studies Center was interviewed about the results of the Hu Jintao visit to the United States. Rosen noted that the joint press conference at the conclusion of the visit revealed the differences between the US and China. Rosen also said that both sides were pleased with at least some of the outcomes of the visit.

 

January 22, 2011: Xinhua via Phoenix (新华社, 凤凰网)

Clayton Dube of the USC US-China Institute was quoted in an article about China's "soft power." Dube noted how the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai Expo conveyed images of rapidly modernizing China.

January 21, 2011: Huffington Post

A story about China’s expansion of its international media efforts included comments from Clayton Dube of the USC US-China Institute. Dube said that Chinese people were surprised at the international outburst over Chinese practices in Tibet that turned into protests during the 2008 Olympic torch relay. The media expansion is partly “to do a better job conveying news about China." Dube noted that Xinhua, China’s official news agency, will likely have trouble competing in the West with established news organizations, but may enjoy success in less-competitive developing markets.

January 21, 2011: America Commercial News (美洲商报)

Clayton Dube of the USC US-China Institute was interviewed about the Hu Jintao/Barack Obama talks. Dube discussed exchange rate disputes and other US-China issues and also pointed to the importance of having such a meeting now before domestic political concerns become all-consuming for leaders in the US, China, and Taiwan. In all three places there will be elections or leadership shifts.

January 21, 2011: The News Journal

In an article about American economic opportunities tied to trade with China and investment from China, Clayton Dube of the USC US-China Institute was quoted about negative American perceptions of Chinese trade and currency policies. 

 

January 20, 2011: Associated Press

Richard Drobnick, director of the USC Center for International Business Education and Research, was quoted in an article on how China’s economic strength was in evidence during Hu Jintao’s visit to the US. Drobnick said, "If they simply reduce this year's purchase of Treasury bonds and buy a few more euro bonds, that's going to force interest rates up in the United States. And if they do it abruptly, because they're mad at us, we could go into recession again. You shouldn't argue with your banker."

January 19, 2011: Globe and Mail

 

The USC US-China Institute’s Clayton Dube was quoted in an analysis of the language employed in the opening remarks of the summit meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and American President Barack Obama. Dube commented on Obama’s statement, ““History shows that societies are more harmonious, nations are more successful…” Dube said, “This is indirect. This is not saying, ‘You are in fact guilty of violating the universal rights of every human being, and let’s begin the list with Liu Xiaobo.’ He said that people benefit. There’s very strategic use of language here. He has deliberately chosen the word ‘harmonious’ because the Chinese themselves have been using this term to describe a national priority – to create a more harmonious society.”

January 19, 2011: Marketplace Radio (American Public Media)

The USC US-China Institute’s Clayton Dube was interviewed for a story on Chinese companies going global. Dube noted that the process isn’t always smooth, noting some grumbling about the height of the flagpoles in front of the Haier factory in South Carolina. He argued that one reason these companies are investing in the US is their desire to attract American-trained talent, including Chinese nationals who might prefer to stay in the US.

 January 19, 2011: Bloomberg Businessweek

Clayton Dube of the USC US-China Institute was interviewed for an article about American politicians critical of China and of aspects of the US-China relationship. Dube spoke about the November 2010 campaign which featured television commercials critical of politicians’ positions on China. “Part of it [why the commercials resonated with some voters] is a genuine worry that the United States is being victimized by an all-powerful Chinese government,” Dube said. “The notion that things are not fair is a very powerful one. It resonates with Americans all the time, particularly in hard times.”

January 19, 2011: KNX Radio

Richard Drobnick of the USC Marshall School was interviewed about the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao as well as the annual Asia Pacific Business Outlook Conference of the Marshall School’s Center for International Business Education and Research, which educates American business leaders about Asian business opportunities.

January 19, 2011: Al Jazeera

Clayton Dube of the USC US-China Institute was interviewed about the importance of the Hu/Obama meeting. He discussed the human rights and economic issues raised during the summit.

January 18, 2011: Time Magazine

Zhong Shi, now an anchor for China News Channel, was recruited while a graduate student studying public relations at USC. He said, "Now my friends in California say they've seen my programs, and I'm like, That's so awesome. I'm back in China, but our message is going out to the world."

January 18, 2011: People’s Daily 

Fu Chengyu, chairman of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, was interviewed about the company’s progress. The article noted that Fu earned a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from USC.

January 18, 2011: San Gabriel Valley Tribune  

Clayton Dube of the USC US-China Institute was quoted in an article about local reactions to the Hu Jintao visit to the United States. Dube noted that for American companies doing business in China, the yuan/dollar exchange rate is not the most issue. Those firms are primarily concerned about ensuring their access to the vast Chinese market. Surveys of such firms show they worry about Chinese government requirements that innovative products contain technologies developed and patented in China. 

January 15, 2011: Xinhua News Agency (新华社)

Chinese President Hu Jintao was among the leaders attending the funeral of Lei Jieqiong, a USC alumna. Lei was one of the founders of the discipline of sociology and was also a founder of the China Association for the Promotion of Democracy.

January 15, 2011: Phoenix Satellite Television  

Stanley Rosen, director of the USC East Asian Studies Center, was interviewed about US-China security disputes in the Pacific. Rosen argued that the Chinese stealth fighter demonstration will strengthen the hand of those who want to increase US defense spending and may cause the Japanese and others who were reluctant to purchase new fighter jets from the US to do so.

January 14, 2011: KSCI Ch. 18 

USC US-China Institute’s Clayton Dube was interviewed in advance of the visit next week by Chinese President Hu Jintao to the US. Dube noted that the visit is occurring early this year in part because the US, China, and Taiwan will be preoccupied with domestic political transitions later this year. He suggested that while the issues Presidents Obama and Hu will discuss are many, progress will probably be limited to incremental steps forward on economic differences and an agreement to continue to work to achieve peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.

January 14, 2011: Global Times (环球时报)

An article noted the passing of Lei Jieqiong, a USC alumna who was an influential academic and political leader. Lei's father had studied in the U.S. and she earned a master's degree at USC in 1931. She subsequently taught at Yenching University (it became Peking University). The article quoted Lei, who helped found a political party and served as a leading legislator, "of all my titles, ‘professor' is the one I like most." 

January 14, 2011: Xinhua News Agency (新华社)

Clayton Dube of the USC US-China Institute was interviewed about American interest in China. Dube noted that the portion of Americans having a favorable impression of China had risen slightly in the past year. He noted that aspects of Chinese culture enjoy great popularity in the United States and that more and more students are studying China's history and the Chinese language. 

January 14, 2011: Huffington Post 

USC Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism Dean Ernest J. Wilson wrote about what the 2010 Google incident represents about US-China relations. Wilson wrote, “The conflict should have been a teachable moment for American companies and those responsible for the design and conduct of U.S. foreign policy. Rightly framed, it could have been a moment to talk about the prospects for a post-industrial age foreign policy for the United States… But it is now clear that the Google-China match was not the start of a new age of digital diplomacy.” He concluded, “[Hu] will find an American foreign policy establishment still ordered pretty much along industrial age lines, with industrial age priorities. Maybe we have to wait for another year to see if the political agitation and policy actions begun last year will move more purposefully toward a new foreign policy for the digital age.”

January 13, 2011: Korea Times 

David Kang, director of the USC Korean Studies Institute, was interviewed for an article on South Korean-China relations. Kang said, “There is no question that China in the past year or so has become more assertive, and has moved from ‘smile diplomacy’ to ‘frown diplomacy.’ This also has had the effect of making Koreans, Japanese and others far more frustrated with and suspicious of Chinese motives.” 

January 12, 2011: China Economic Review

John D. Van Fleet, of the USC Marshall School of Business, published an op-ed focusing on the need for international M.B.A. programs to train Chinese executives in human resources. “[N]umerous recent surveys of multinationals in China have revealed that it’s not IP risk, or corruption, or deadening bureaucracy that are the biggest issues facing enterprises here,” Van Fleet wrote. “Rather, the top challenge for years now has been finding, developing and retaining good people.”

January 12, 2011: The Hollywood Reporter

An article noted that Michael Peyser of the USC School of Cinematic Arts helped with the 3D filming of Chinese rock musician Cui Jian’s New Year’s Day concert. The article noted that Peyser was U2’s 3D producer.

January 12, 2011: The Hollywood Reporter 

Chinese film executives visited Los Angeles to meet with American filmmakers and forge alliances. USC School of Cinematic Arts Dean Elizabeth Daley was among those they met with. Michael Peyser, a USC SCA professor, recently worked on a 3-D film version of Chinese rock star Cui Jian's New Year's concert. 

 

January 11, 2011: Xinhua News Agency (新华社)

In an article about increasing cultural exchanges between the US and China, Stanley Rosen, director of the USC East Asian Studies Center, was quoted. Rosen said, "It's helpful for Sino-American understanding to have these Chinese performers come to the U.S., and perhaps over time they will be increasingly successful." The article also highlighted the role of the USA Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo. The USC US-China Institute organized the student ambassador program for the pavilion.

January 10, 2010: Xinhua News Agency (新华社)

Lei Jieqiong, a former vice mayor of Beijing and a USC alum, passed away at age 106. Lei earned a master’s degree from the University of Southern California. She founded and led the China Association for Promoting Democracy. She also served as a leader at various times of China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress, and of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress.

January 6, 2011: KNX Radio

Baizhu Chen of the USC Marshall School of Business was interviewed about China’s currency policies.

January 6, 2011: Phoenix Satellite Television 

USC US-China Institute senior fellow Mike Chinoy was interviewed for a story on US Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ trip to China. Chinoy said that Gates will emphasize to the Chinese that helping to encourage peace on the Korean peninsula is very much in their own interest.

January 4, 2010: Associated Press (via the Boston Globe)

Baizhu Chen of the USC Marshall School of Business was quoted in an article about the purchase of the Sheraton Universal Hotel. The hotel was purchased by Shenzhen New World Group for an undisclosed sum. It is adjacent to the Universal Studios theme park and production facility. Chen argued that it was a smart purchase in part because of increasing Chinese tourism to the U.S. "If people want to invest in the real estate market in Southern California, the best entry is getting a hotel because Chinese tourism in the next few years will be humongous," he said.

 

 

 

 

January 2, 2011: Sify News

Brand India may rise above Brand China, says Nicholas Cull, of the USC Annenberg School of Communications and Journalism. Cull was quoted as saying, “Brand China is about enforced conformity. Brand India is about openness and diversity; every culture and every religion is represented here.” He also noted, “The truth about China's public diplomacy is that it is for domestic consumption. China wants to give its people the gift of the admiration of the world.”  

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