USC And China In The News - January And February, 2019

 

 

In an op-ed, USC economist Matthew Kahn argues that China’s high speed rail have provided a tremendous benefit for cities. Kahn wrote, “My own research has measured the real estate price growth in medium-sized cities when they become connected to big cities by high-speed rail. The trains effectively move second-tier cities such as Tianjin and Suzhou “closer” to megacities such as Beijing and Shanghai.” He notes, “Scientists who live within 150 miles – too close for a plane trip but too far for old-fashioned commuting – have gained the most from access to fast trains.” Here’s a presentation Kahn made at USCI. 

 

 

 

Drawing on a 2018 interview, an article cited Clayton Dube of the USC U.S.-China Institute. Dube discussed Shen Yun, a traveling musical show, noting, “They're trying to bring in people, not so much to become practitioners but to become sympathetic to the fact that this group is suppressed and frequently oppressed in China."

 

 

USC political scientist Stanley Rosen was quoted in a story about challenges Hollywood faces in China. He said, “I don't think China wants to give Hollywood a victory in an area where Trump isn't interested.”

 

 

Martin Boarnet, an urban planning and transportation specialist at the USC Price School of Public Policy, was hired by Chinese auto and bus manufacturing company BYD to study the possibility of using a monorail to improve transportation through the Sepulveda Pass. He concluded that BYD’s Skyrail solution would cost about one-third as much as building a subway.

 

 

Clayton Dube of the USC U.S.-China Institute moderated a discussion with former U.S. Director of National Intelligence and former Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte. The discussion was hosted by the Orange County World Affairs Council. The discussion is available at the USCI website.

 

 

A report on a 2018 Chinese Ministry of Education survey of Chinese students abroad said that Chinese students at USC, King’s College London, and the University of Melbourne were the most likely of those responding to admit to cheating.

 

 

USC political scientist and Chinese film specialist Stanley Rosen was quoted in an article about the recent decision by Chinese propaganda authorities to curtail access to Yanxi Palace and other popular shows. He said, “… the censorship is certainly getting worse. Yanxi Palace was seen as promoting incorrect values, commercialism and consumerism; not the socialist core values that Beijing wants to see promoted."

 

 

Manfred Elfstrom, a postdoctoral scholar at the USC School for International Relations, published an op-ed on the crackdown on labor activists in China. Elfstrom introduces Zhang Zhiru, who helped workers address grievances ranging from unpaid wages to access to social insurance. Zhang was detained by Chinese authorities in January. Elfstrom writes, “At a time when an ethos of narrow self-interest and disdain for the weak is on the ascent in not only China but many countries around the world, Zhang and his fellow activists offer a ray of hope.”

 

 

USC alum Keisha Brown, now a professor at Tennessee State University, was interviewed about “Teaching Black and African American Connections with China,” a guide that she and others wrote for the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard.

 

 

Brian Peck of the USC Gould School of Law was interviewed about new investment rules in China. He noted that the rules should improve treatment of foreign firms in China.

 

 

Clayton Dube of the USC U.S.-China Institute was interviewed about the role of Confucius Institutes and whether or not they represent a threat to U.S. security. 

 

 

An article about the family of Macau billionaire Stanley Ho noted that his daughter Daisy Ho graduated from the University of Southern California.

 

 

The USC U.S.-China Institute’s Clayton Dube was quoted in a story about the rising attention from the U.S. government to China-affiliated campus organizations. Dube noted that some Chinese students worry that they may be less welcome in the U.S. than before. He said, “This kind of rhetoric ratchets up tension and nervousness among people. People are sensitive to this. I have students from China saying: ‘My parents are asking if I’m being targeted. I’m not, and I’m not worried. But should I be?’” 

 

 

USC economist Matthew Kahn was among those research has shown a link between air pollution and low levels of happiness among Chinese urban residents. 

 

 

USC public diplomacy specialist Nicholas Cull was in an article about using Hollywood films to counter Russia and China. Cull denied he had been contacted by a British organization eager to counter Chinese or Russian media influence.

 

 

Clayton Dube of the USC U.S.-China Institute was quoted in an article about an FBI investigation into contributions made to Los Angeles city officials. Chinese firms were among those asked for information in the investigation.

 

 

An article profiled USC alum Tao Liang. He is "Mr. Bags," a key influencer via his online presence. 

 

 

The USC U.S.-China Institute’s Clayton Dube was quoted in a story on the local ramifications of China’s economic slowdown. Dube noted that Chinese investment in commercial real estate had already fallen dramatically, but that individual home purchasing would likely continue, though perhaps not at the pace it has.

 

 

Chinese golfer Jin Cheng 金诚 has decided to leave USC to become a professional golfer. Jin said, "Having mixed feelings about my final decision made today to leave USC and start playing professional golf.... Can’t thank my coaches, teammates, friends, and everyone who’s helped me along the journey enough. I am beyond grateful for all the precious memories and experiences I’ve had with them in the past two and a half years. Looking forward to my rookie year and I‘ll always be a proud Trojan."

 

 

Clayton Dube of the USC U.S.-China Institute was interviewed about what the travel advisory issued by the US State Department on travel to China signaled about the state of U.S.-China relations. Dube noted that the arrest of two Canadians, the expulsion of a third and the decision to retry a fourth Canadian already convicted and sentenced for drug smuggling prompted the warning. He indicated that the Chinese government would likely respond by saying that it enforces its laws fairly and protects the legal rights of visiting foreigners. He noted that Chinese Americans who elect to visit China using Chinese rather than American documents make it more difficult for the U.S. government to assert the right to visit them should something go awry. 

 

 

The USC U.S.-China Institute's Clayton Dube was interviewed about what the speeches made by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and China's President Xi Jinping regarding cross-strait ties. Dube said that the two leaders reaffirmed their government's positions, with neither really opening doors for renewed discussions. Dube noted that Xi's reassertion that Beijing would consider using military force was expressly aimed at foreign actors such as the U.S. and those in Taiwan who might push for a more formal declaration that Taiwan is and would always be separate from China. Both Xi and Tsai seemed content to reassure their domestic audiences that their positions hadn't changed, while also signaling that the status quo could continue.