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Home › Forums › Core Seminars › Modern East Asia, Fall 2021 › 8. December 8 East Asia Today
Kayla Kolean.
cgao
READINGS:
We will divide these up among the group. Please chose one article and write a one paragraph summary of it.
East Asia Interplay:
gender and youth
China - soccer and hair color, factory poets, women who don't want kids
Japan - Mr. Wrong, marriage, voice and choice
East Asia and the United States:
Chinese students (MSNBC video), What is Huawei?, Looking at America, Dangerous Diplomacy
Taiwan chipmaker, global linchpin
David WalshThis article discusses not so much HOW bu rather THAT TSMCC has achieved a dominant position in the global 'race' to produce ever more small, fast, efficient, and effective microchips...
This article is significant to me, personally, because- the last time I had perused the news (2 or 3 years ago) on this issue- the United States (specifically, the manufacturer 'Intel)' had retained a dominant position in this important technological race-which was one (but not the only) economic area where the United States still out-competed China. But, as of the 2020s, Intel no longer really dominates...A Taiwanese company (TSMC) has oupaced or outflanked or innovated beyond its closest competitors (mainly companies in South Korea (Samsung) and the United States (including Intel) but also European companies)...
Therefore, the geopolitical status of Taiwan (long contested since around 1949 or even before that date) is focalized more for that reason...
Comment: Taiwan is one of the SE Asian 'Tiger' (cub) economies which experienced dramatic growth in approximately the 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond, according to the so-called 'Flying V' (or Geese) pattern of development of Japanese and American investors off-shoring manufacturing into lower-cost Asian economies. Today, this pattern continues beyond the original four or five Asian Tiger (cub) Economies and extends such that various other parts of Asia (rather than only China) are increasingly dubbed the 'workshops of the world'. Yet Taiwan still currently maintains an impressive advantage in a strategically important industry (for intellectual-preoprty-rights reasons) all the more important given global supply-chain constraints in the pandemic era...Microchip manufacturing is strategic and highly capital-intensive, and a creator of abundant jobs, directly and as spinoffs, in Taiwan.
I will also add that Taiwan has experienced acute environmental problems in the second half of the XXth century but has more recently made some impressive advances in that regard (and the same could be said of many other Asian Tiger (cub) economies in the 2000s)...Partly, that phenomenon seems to be explained by the so-called (environmental) Kuznets curve...
David WalshThis is a featured selection of texts including complaint/grievance letters written by various disgruntled Japanese wives-the format, and the forum, are roughly similar to the famous 'Dear Abby' column of the the United States. The selected writings of Japanese wives, complaining about their husbands, brings into focus a few interrelated themes: (1) especially, gender relations (in the context of marriage) in modern Japan but also, by contrast, (2) Western expectations regarding these same themes (marriage and gender). The main idea is that- as we heard in an earlier webinar in this symposium: while the 'work-world' of Japan tends emphatically to be male-dominated, the domestic sphere tells a different and opposite tale. Thus, Japan, even today, retains aspects of a distinctively Victorian repetoire of Gender relations (married Japanese women retain impressive dominance over children's education and household budgets despite, and in contrast to, their 'submissiveness' in the work-o-sphere). Another point registered in these texts is the rather modern and Western expectation that romantic relationships will be all-purpose, all-consuming and consummating-intense, intimate and fulfilling. The examples of Japanese marriages featured in this selection do not tend to fit THAT set of norms since Japanese marriage seems generally to have a more utilitarian, for-the-kids, becoming-an-adult, passing-of-the-torch, character...I have heard similar points raised, by the way, in my own experience, describing the character of Chinese marriage, in general...
Comments: it's curious how UNIVERSAL marriage is in, say, the Arab, or the Confucian, or Indian, or Christian (or even the Buddhist) worlds; and, yet, this article reinforces the fact that important differences persist cross-culturally even today regarding Gender and marriage. I think gender differences and preferences are fairly and remarkably stable universally; yet they are clearly also inflected by cultural expectations and norms. In this selection of texts, we learn that Japanese women would regard marital infidelity differently (and less severely) than many of their counterpart Western females probably would; we also see that some degree(s) of arranged marriage still exist in Japan. Without stereotyping overly, I would say that this selection of texts aids me to understand some of the behavior of some Asian males I have met (who won't do the chores) as well as some of the attraction some Asian females may express towards certain non-Asian males...The point is salient that Japanese may tend to envy Western romantic ideals but that the oppositie is also true; some people in Western countries (male and female) might find something worth emulating in the relaxed or more realistic aspirations of a stereotypical Japanese marriage...
Antonette PelaezI chose this article entitled " Muted in country of birth, three women fight for voice and choice in Japan" because, for me, its amazing to think about the realization that three women coming from different races and culture bonded together, and with the vision of moving forward for a better future. I think that the foundation of women's liberation is allowing women the right to vote. The barriers to the right to vote for women could be based on past cultural practices and beliefs. In some cultures, women are considered lower in society, most are family-oriented that they stay at home, and are not part of the society's work pool. Unfortunately, not only in Japan but there are numerous countries where women have no human rights at all. So, I think that there is hope for the future of women's rights, we just have to educate people for them to be sensitive to personal rights.
Todd RutleyThe reading consists of 5 articles from the leading Chinese media outlets: the CCP newspaper the Global Times and the state newspaper Xinhua. The role of the media outlets is twofold: 1) to present the official party & state views on Chinese news, and; 2) to present the official Chinese reaction to foreign news. As a result, the outlets spend a great amount of effort pointing out the real and alleged prejudices, hypocrisy and errors of foreign critics both in private media and government. Here are some examples of the Chinese viewpoints from the articles.
I recommend that you each read the Chinese media to understand the Chinese perspective.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-01/19/c_135994707.htm
http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/ctenglish/2018/commentaries/202101/t20210128_800234170.html
Todd RutleyIn the video Professor Dube reviewed the US concerns with Japan’s rise in 1980s.
In one of my classes I taught about how the “China Threat” as it is perceived today in popular (non-academic) books is similar to the “Japan Threat” fears of the 1980s and 1990s. This idea is reflected in the attachments.
The reason I teach this idea is that I hope to educate students so that they can think for themselves and not simply get their ideas about Asia from TV or politicians. I also strongly encourage students to read books and to read online news from China to form their own opinions about the world.
clay dube(everyone, please call me Clay)
Todd makes a really valuable point that the perception in the 1980s that Japan would dominate is not unlike some of what one hears today about China. One book about Japan's rise that I mentioned in the lecture is Japan As No. 1 (1980). It was written by Ezra Vogel, a legendary Harvard sociologist, best known now for his work on Deng Xiaoping. Vogel highlighted cultural, structural and political strengths that Japan possessed. published a follow-up in 2000 Is Japan Still No. One? (a review). What some forget is that Vogel's original work had "Lessons for America" as a subtitle. James Fallows published Looking at the Sun in 1994 and similarly focused on revitalizing America. The LA Times review of it by Andrew Horvat is quite negative: "It seems that for this politically influential writer and broadcaster, it is not enough that Japan be alien, the country must also appear to be outlandish. This tendency is not merely a flaw of this book but of current thinking about Japan in Washington, where being tough on Japan seems to be far more important these days than having accurate information about the country." I think the book is better than Horvat wrote, but he's absolutely right about the trend in commentary. And that is true today about commentary on China. We should certainly criticize China for many things, but we needn't exaggerate its strengths or argue that China's continued rise is a threat to the U.S. We have to work with China to address key issues and to learn from our shared failures. That certainly doesn't mean excusing human rights abuses or threatening neighbors, but it also does not mean that progress for China means a loss for the U.S.
Todd RutleyThis is a poem about Sino-American relations and perceptions that has been online for a decade. No one is sure who wrote it.
Can you use it in your classes to encourage reflection on Western relations with China? I hope so!
What Do You Really Want from Us?
When we were the Sick Man of Asia, we were called The Yellow Peril.
When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.
When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.
When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs.
When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your fair share.
When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet you screamed, It Was an Invasion!
When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.
When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.
When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.
When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.
When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.
When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.
When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.
When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.
When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you demanded rules of law.
When we uphold law and order against violence, you call it
violating human rights.
When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.
When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobes.
“Why do you hate us so much﹖”we asked.
“No,” you answered, “we don’t hate you.”
We don’t hate you either, But, do you understand us?
“Of course we do, ”you said, “We have AFP, CNN and BBC’s ······”
What do you really want from us?
Think hard first, then answer ······ Because you only get so many chances.
Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.
We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth.
This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.
Crystal BokI read the Economist article regarding factory worker-poets who express a multitude of themes that span the whole human experience from homesickness, pride, powerlessness, and hope through their poems and punk fashion. Regardless of the limiting factors to the laborers' written expression, the poems published online provide poignant windows into the thoughts of individuals whose identities are so often reduced to anonymous, rote laborers. Behind the mass production of goods in factories are individual persons, each with their own interpretation of their life and circumstance. The article's discussion of the shamate movement, a punk/counterculture also illustrates an example of factory laborers creating a protective and expressive community in which they can push against anonymization and dehumanization. Their shocking hair and fashion demands attention from the majority of society that already marginalize them. As one interviewee says in the article, "“People paid attention. It wasn’t positive attention. But they saw you. And the point was to be seen,”
Todd RutleyAre the US & China Destined for War, as Graham Allison asks in his 2017 book? This question often comes up with students exposed to mainstream US media.
My answer is no: This sensational title was designed to sell more books, not to educate people.
A China sage has often said “In presenting the past, and answering today’s questions, students should question and consider the role of contingency/serendipity”. (杜克雷)
Contingency definition: A future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.
Serendipity definition: The occurrence and development of events by chance. Serendipity is the opposite of teleology.
Teleology definition: History can be explained by the end result, and is deterministic, driven by causes towards destiny.
See the attached PDF for a review and critique of the book by Graham Allison.
Jennifer MacchiarellaI was excited to read this article when I saw the poem by Xu Lizhi. I already teach that poem to my 10th humanities students as part of an Industrial Revolution poetry unit. The poem resonates with my students because it is modern, refers to factories they can actually imagine, and because it was written by a worker, not by "some rich guy who likes words" which is how they often refer to Blake.
I found the use of hairstyles and makeup as a form of rebellion very familar. Many of my students choose their haircuts, or lack thereof, and their makeup to send a message. I'm not always clear what the message is, but it does cause bonding between students.
The most interesting aspect of this article is the idea of "migrant workers" and "residency permits.' I once taught in a part of the state with many migrant workers; they would come for the summer and fall and return to Mexico for the winter and spring. Most fully expected to return each year, but their students were welcomed into our schools. My current district has a high immigrant population but most intend to stay and many begin applying for citizenship as soon as possible. It's odd to me that China doesn't allow free movement within the country. I don't need a permit to move to Oregon or NY. I realize it's one way the government can control movement and limit the benefits they have to provide, but I wonder if it's sustainable for the long term.
clay dubeSome may be interested in polling that the Pew Research Center has done on Asian views of the Biden agenda and on climate change to be of interest. You can see that here.
We are lucky that the internet makes it pretty easy to get news in English from Asian sources. As always, we need to nurture critical reading and thinking skills, but it is often useful to have students look at contrasting perspectives on issues (including how Asians differ in their views from one another).
In many places, but especially in diverse cities, you might also be able to empower some students to use languages they may speak at home to bring in views from those societies. What is being said in Mexico, China, India or some other place about East Asia? Anything that encourages students to retain and strengthen their non-English skills is to their advantage and ours. Our newsletter tomorrow will have some data about Chinese language learning in the U.S. Spoiler alert - it could be worse, but it's not great.
clay dubeDebbie Seligsohn is a former US foreign services officer who headed the science and tech office at the US Embassy in Beijing. She's now a political scientist at Villanova. She spoke on US-China environmental issues at USC at our China Card conference in 2016. She published an op-ed on US-China environmental competition being good for all of us. I've attached it, but you can also read it here.
clay dubeYasukuni is a shrine to Japan's war dead from the Meiji to the Hirohito era. I've attached a 2003 article by John Nelson about the shrine and social memory and ritual. It was published by the Journal of Asian Studies, the journal of the leading Asian studies association in North America. A Japanese prime minister last visited in 2013. Today's LA Times carries an AP article about a group of lawmakers who visited in the past couple of days. I've attached it. I've also included links to news coverage 2013-2021 of visits and criticism of them. With Veteran's Day not long past and with the Biden's visiting the DC WW II monument this week, we know something of shared ritual and memory.
Nelson's article opens with a couple of excellent passages. I'll quote them here as part of an effort to encourage you to read further.
"For architects of citizenship and nationhood, there is no shortage of conflicts and wars from which to build modern myths about submerging individual suffering and loss to greater causes. The grief, anger, and despair of individuals can be integrated over time into collectively shared assumptions about the indebtedness of the living to their heroic compatriots and ancestors. To remember these conflicts and those who (depending on the political context) either "lost" or "gave" their lives has been throughout recent history a viral act of citizenship, both "affirming the community at large and asserting its moral character" (Winter 1995, 85). Certainly from an American perspective, national identity remains "inexorably intertwined with the commemoration and memory of past wars" (Piehler 1995, 3). This observation applies even more intensely elsewhere in the world (e.g., Russia, China, France, Japan) where the loss of combatant and civilian life has been far greater.
"Victory in a war makes one's personal loss resonate more easily with master narratives concerning patriotism, righteousness, and the value of sacrifice to the nation. What happens, however, to deeply instilled cultural epistemologies when the nation's noble cause-perhaps having claimed the life of one's own father, brother, or relative-goes down in defeat? Goals and policies that were once thought to be guided by destiny are revealed to be little more than resource-grabbing colonization wrought by rapacious military force and terror. Does this now mean the participants' suffering and death was for nothing or, according to postwar international tribunals, for a criminal cause? How are they, as well as the leaders, policies, laws, and cultural values responsible for their deaths and accompanying misery, to be remembered and reconciled?
"Enter social memory upon the floodlit stage of commemorative politics."
2013 Ariang : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYA1BU_H8d8
2013 Financial Times (Britain based private newspaper) includes video of Abe speaking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVu8ayG-IIg
2020 CGTN (Chinese state television): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVjuYfb1Wv4
2021 Kyodo (private, Japan based news service): https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/12/5957c027ecc3-cross-party-group-of-japan-lawmakers-visits-war-linked-yasukuni.html
2021 Ariang (South Korean government funded): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYA1BU_H8d8
2021 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong-based, Alibaba owned): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5G9bqD9xPM
Kayla KoleanThis article is highlighting three women in Japan and their struggle to get a vote in the Japanese democratic government. This is due to the strick laws of how to get a vote (foreign born citizens need reside in Japan for an extended period of time, get a Japanese passport, and renounce any foriegn passport). Another point brought up was the feeling of not being "Japanese" due to family roots from other Asian countries (Korea and China) and the Japanese culture not treating them as equals even thought they were either born here or moved here many years ago and Japanese is their first-language. Very interesting look at the populations not getting a voice in decisions and their campain for change.
2019. Muted in country of birth, three women fight for voice and choice in Japan (The Japan Times).