On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published two investigative reports on the China Initiative as newly appointed Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen was conducting a review of the initiative. December 2, 2021 Table of Contents Overview DOJ Changed Its Online Records Matt Olsen to Conduct DOJ Review APA Justice Reported DOJ Change of Records Links and References Overview On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published the first of two investigative reports titled The US crackdown on Chinese economic espionage is a mess. We have the data to show it . According to the report, the US government’s China Initiative sought to protect national security. MIT Technology Review reveals how far it has strayed from its goals. Among its major findings are: The DOJ has neither officially defined the China Initiative nor explained what leads it to label a case as part of the initiative The initiative’s focus increasingly has moved away from economic espionage and hacking cases to “research integrity” issues, such as failures to fully disclose foreign affiliations on forms A significant number of research integrity cases have been dropped or dismissed Only about a quarter of people and institutions charged under the China Initiative have been convicted Many cases have little or no obvious connection to national security or the theft of trade secrets Nearly 90% of the defendants charged under the initiative are of Chinese heritage Although new activity appears to have slowed since Donald Trump lost the 2020 US presidential election, prosecutions and new cases continue under the Biden administration The Department of Justice does not list all cases believed to be part of the China Initiative on its webpage and has deleted others linked to the project. DOJ Changed Its Online Records Also on December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published the second of its two investigative reports titled We built a database to understand the China Initiative. Then the government changed its records . Since the US government launched the China Initiative in 2018, the main source of information about it has been press releases on the Department of Justice’s China Initiative webpage announcing arrests, charges, and indictments. But the record is incomplete. APA Justice and other civil rights groups have been tracking the reported cases and changes made to the initiative’s webpage out of concerns about its potential for racial profiling. They have seen gaps and inconsistencies in the DOJ’s messaging. “I’d like to see a balance sheet,” said Jeremy Wu, who held senior civil rights and ethics positions in the US government before co-founding the APA Justice Task Force, one of the groups that is independently tracking the China Initiative. “What did we gain? How many spies did we catch, compared to how much damage that has [been] done not only to individuals, but also to the future of American science and technology?” The MIT Technology Review database is not that balance sheet. But it is an important step toward answering some of the questions Wu poses—questions that the US government has not answered. Rather, it has added to the confusion: two days after MIT Technology Review reached out with a request for comment, DOJ made major updates to its webpage, removing cases that do not support its narrative of a successful counterintelligence effort. A link to the MIT Technology Review database is located here: https://bit.ly/3xYhp5T Matt Olsen to Conduct DOJ Review During a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on the Department of Justice on October 21, 2021, Rep. Ted raised the concerns of racial profiling by citing the acquitted case of Professor Anming Hu as an example and requested Attorney General Merrick Garland to review the China Initiative. In response, Garland committed Matt Olsen to conduct a review upon Olsen’s confirmation as the next Assistant Attorney General for National Security. Watch Rep. Ted Lieu’s questions during the hearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BcwIK269zs (video from 2:52:28 to 2:57:53) Matthew Olsen was sworn in on November 1, 2021. He filled the position vacated by John Demers. APA Justice Reported DOJ Change of Records On November 24, 2021, APA Justice sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland , making two requests on the pending review of the China Initiative: To ensure credibility and integrity for the review process, we request the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release the official scope and boundaries of the “China Initiative” and a complete list and a formal count of the “China Initiative” cases since the program was launched in November 2018. An unannounced and unexplained update of the DOJ online "China Initiative" report on November 19, 2021 shows the removal of about 20 cases from previous record, including the dismissed or acquitted cases of 7 scientists and researchers - Anming Hu, Qing Wang, Chen Song, Xin Wang, Juan Tang, Kaikai Zhao, and Guan Lei. We request the DOJ to include letters and comments from almost 2,000 faculty members, scholars, and administrators nationwide as part of the thorough review of the “China Initiative.” As of November 23, 2021, a total of 1,959 faculty members from 223 institutions nationwide have endorsed the Stanford letter and joined the call to end the "China Initiative." The nationwide campaign is continuing until the "China Initiative" has ended. The latest counts and comments are posted publicly online at https://bit.ly/3wwrD8A . Jump to: Overview DOJ Changed Its Online Records Matt Olsen to Conduct DOJ Review APA Justice Reported DOJ Change of Records On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published two investigative reports on the China Initiative as newly appointed Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen was conducting a review of the initiative. Previous Next 11. MIT Technology Review Investigative Reports

Newsletter - #228 1/8 Monthly Meeting; "China Initiative;" US-China Ties; CA Leaders in Higher Ed; + #228 1/8 Monthly Meeting; "China Initiative;" US-China Ties; CA Leaders in Higher Ed; + In This Issue #228 · Reminder: 2023/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Opposition to Revive "China Initiative" · 45th Anniversary of US-China Diplomatic Ties · Book: The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education: Stories and Roadmaps · News and Activities for the Communities Reminder: 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, January 8, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Joanna Derman, Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC and Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed and invited speakers include: · Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, to kick off the New Year with us by reviewing 2023 and looking to what is ahead in 2024. · Haipei Shue 薛海培, President, United Chinese Americans (UCA), Hongwei Shang 商红伟, and Echo King 金美声, Co-Founders of Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) to give us a report on December 16 Justice4All protest in Miami. · Ted Gong, Executive Director of the 1882 Foundation will introduce the 1882 Project, 1882 Foundation, and its upcoming activities in 2024, and Martin Gold , Pro Bono Counsel, 1882 Project; Partner, Capitol Counsel, LLC, on a future lecture. · Dr. Yawei Liu 刘亚伟, Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center to introduce us to the China Focus at the Carter Center and the upcoming Conference for the 45th Anniversary of U.S.-China Relations in Atlanta. The monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎, Vincent Wang 王文奎, and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . Opposition to Revive "China Initiative" The Department of Justice (DOJ) ended the China Initiative nearly two years ago. It targeted mostly ethnic Chinese academics and their links to China. The program was stopped after criticism of racial profiling. Now, a proposed House spending bill wants to bring the initiative back. According to a NPR report on January 2, 2024, about 90% of the more than 70 cases prosecuted under the initiative involved people who were ethnically Chinese. Just about a quarter were convicted and usually for much lesser charges. Charges against MIT Professor Gang Chen were all dismissed - he had done nothing wrong, but the damage has been lasting on him and his wife. Professor Chen told NPR, "The China Initiative has fundamentally harmed the U.S. competitiveness. The biggest competition is on talents. And that really deterred a lot of talents coming to the U.S."NPR also interviewed Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director at the Asian American Scholar Forum, John Yang , president of Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Baimadajie Angwang , New York Police Department Officer who was also charged with being an unregistered foreign agent for China under the China Initiative and also had all the charges against him dismissed. Read the NPR report: https://n.pr/3NPexgA .On December 7, 2023, a coalition of over 50 organizations wrote to Congressional leaders Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, and Hakim Jeffries to voice their concerns and strong opposition to reinstate the “China Initiative.” Read the letter: https://bit.ly/47oQP1F . Alien Land Laws Among Top Community Concerns in 2024 In 2023, an onslaught of federal and state legislation was started to prohibit property ownership by citizens of foreign countries (i.e. “alien land laws”). It has raised alarm and response throughout the Asian American community and is expected to continue in 2024. According to a Legal Sidebar by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), during the first six months of 2023, at least 15 states enacted legislation regulating foreign ownership of real property. A group of plaintiffs filed a legal challenge to one state law—Florida’s Senate Bill 264 (SB 264)—arguing that it violates their constitutional rights, does not comport with the federal Fair Housing Act, and is preempted by federal law.The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a Statement of Interest in the case supporting the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction and arguing that the Fair Housing Act bars SB 264. The statute declares invalid “any law of a State” that permits or requires a discriminatory housing practice. In addition, the United States argues, SB 264 violates the Equal Protection Clause, because it discriminates based on alienage and national origin without justification. While the federal government has more leeway in regulating alienage, the United States explains, state classifications singling out aliens must be narrowly tailored in pursuit of a compelling government interest. The United States maintains that the law “will not advance the State’s purported goal of increasing public safety,” as Florida has not identified “any legitimate connection between protecting the State” and barring individuals of certain nationalities from owning real property. Plaintiffs, the United States points out, are not members of the PRC government or of the Communist Party of China and are not representatives of their country of origin.Read the CRS Legal Sidebar: https://bit.ly/41N2QwM According to the South China Morning Post on December 16, 2023, Chinese land ownership in US was down 2 per cent in 2022 amid heightened national security concerns. Agriculture Department data reveals holdings fell to nearly 350,000 acres, just shy of 1 per cent of all foreign-held American land. Read the South China Morning Post Report: https://bit.ly/48MC4qR According to a New York Times opinion by Professor Mae Ngai of Columbia University, her parents faced discrimination when attempting to buy land in northern New Jersey due to their Chinese heritage in the 1950s. This discrimination was part of a broader history of racial segregation in the United States, with practices like racial covenants and alien land laws preventing certain groups, including Asians, from owning property. Fast forward to the present day, similar discriminatory measures are resurfacing, with some states passing laws to restrict Chinese nationals, Chinese-owned companies, or the Chinese government from buying land near critical infrastructure like military facilities and airports. Several states have already implemented such laws, with others considering similar measures, and some proposals have been introduced at the federal level targeting foreign land ownership.Citing national security concerns as a reason to prevent foreign adversaries and entities from owning U.S. property, these laws, exemplified by Florida's land bill, target Chinese nationals and companies, promoting a view that associates all Asians, especially Chinese people, with being enemies of America. This echoes a long history of discriminatory legislation dating back to the "yellow peril" fears of the 19th century, which restricted Asian rights and immigration. The contemporary wave of anti-Chinese measures is not entirely new; it was exacerbated during the Trump administration, blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in racist assaults on Asian Americans. Policies like the China Initiative, initially aimed at intellectual property theft, unfairly targeted Chinese and Chinese American academics without evidence of wrongdoing. Although disbanded, it left a chilling effect on ethnic Chinese scientists in the U.S., affecting their job security and deterring future talent from coming to the country. The justification for these measures, rooted in national security concerns, seems overstated. Statistics show that the ownership of agricultural land by foreign nationals, especially Chinese, is minimal, contradicting the perceived threat. The narrative framing China as an adversary serves political expediency but carries severe consequences, including racial harassment and discrimination against Asian Americans.While the Biden Administration has attempted to ease tensions, like President Joe Biden 's meeting with President Xi Jinping and calls for trade relationship "derisking," the persistent linkage of trade and national security perpetuates discrimination against Chinese and Asian Americans. This echoes a history of injustice, such as the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, which took decades to receive an official apology.Professor Ngai's parents, immigrants from China, eventually found success in their careers and in buying a home, benefiting from the civil rights gains. However, they would likely express concerns about current U.S. policies towards China today, recognizing the potential impact and targeting of individuals like themselves due to their heritage.Read the New York Times opinion: https://nyti.ms/3H9GLiE On December 15, 2023, the Committee of 100 (C100) issued a statement to denounce the legislation in Florida, Texas and additional states that would limit the ability of non-U.S. citizens to purchase land in their state. To track the recent surge of legislation prohibiting property ownership by Chinese citizens (including permanent residents) across the U.S., C100 launched a new database that identifies and explains such legislation considered, and in some cases passed, by Congress and state governments.The webpage features an interactive map of the United States that visually demonstrates the data. The data can be filtered by the provisions included in the legislation, including the types of entities prohibited from owning property (e.g. Chinese citizens, businesses headquartered in China) and the types of properties prohibited from ownership (e.g. residential, commercial, agricultural property).C100’s database, tracking the legislation and documenting resources on the subject, will be updated on a quarterly basis.Read the C100 announcement: https://bit.ly/41NWtJG On December 16, 2023, hundreds braved a stormy day in Miami to protest the unfair legislation of Florida's SB264 and SB846 state laws. The rally was an urgent call for unity and justice, aiming to bring together concerned citizens of all backgrounds and all ethnicities in opposition to injustice and unfair treatment going on in Florida right now. Elected officials and community leaders from across the country actively participated and delivered inspirational speeches. Visit the FAAJA website at https://www.faaja.org/ for more reports. Read the West Orlando News report: https://bit.ly/3TRjlpI 45th Anniversary of US-China Diplomatic Ties According to multiple media reports, President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping exchanged greetings on January 1, 2024, which marked the 45th anniversary of US-China diplomatic ties. The two countries are trying to restore relations that have reached their most confrontational point in the 45 years since ties were established in 1979. Beijing and Washington officially established ties on January 1, 1979, based on agreements reached after years of negotiations. On the same date, Washington officially switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.In his letter to Biden, Xi said the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US was a “major event” in the history of bilateral and international relations. “Over the past 45 years, China-US relations have gone through ups and downs but have generally moved forward, which has not only enhanced the well-being of the two peoples, but also promoted world peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.Biden responded that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979, the relationship between the US and China had promoted prosperity and opportunities for the US, China and the world. “I am committed to responsibly managing this important relationship. I look forward to building on the progress made by our predecessors and our many meetings and discussions as we continue to advance the US-China relationship,” Biden said. The Carter Center will honor President Jimmy Carter and commemorate the 45th anniversary of the normalization of U.S.-China relations during a conference in Atlanta on January 9, 2024. World-renowned experts will participate in panel discussions on different dimensions of the U.S.-China diplomatic, military, and economic relationship. A gala dinner to celebrate President Carter’s legacy promoting peace in East Asia will follow the conference in the evening. Both events are open to the public. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3TQYG58 Book: The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education: Stories and Roadmaps A new book titled "The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education: Stories and Roadmaps" has been published by Springer Nature. It is a collection of 36 stories and reflections that represent Chinese American leaders and depict their tortuous journeys in U.S. higher education that comes at a critical point in time. Many books have been devoted to academic leadership, but this volume uniquely focuses on subjects most relevant to Chinese Americans. We live at a time that not only witnesses an increase in Chinese American leaders on U.S. campuses but also mounting incidents of discriminatory treatment of this group. They represent leaders holding different ideological values in various academic fields, positions, stages of careers, professional trajectories, generations, Chinese ethnic groups, and geographical locations. Read more about the book at https://bit.ly/48eNQu5 . If you wish to submit a formal review of the book, please visit: https://bit.ly/48p7J1t . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/01/09 The Jimmy Carter Forum on US-China Relations in Honor of 45th Anniversary of Normalization2024/01/20 White House Initiative AA and NHPI Economic Summit in Metro Atlanta2024/01/17 Committee of 100 - Are Asian Americans Paid Less in Business?2024/02/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/02/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/03/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. Back View PDF January 7, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Racial Profiling Politicization of NIH Grant The EcoHealth Alliance has been studying human and animal infectious diseases for 20 years. When unconfirmed reports that Alliance funding had been sent to the Wuhan Institute of Virology emerged in April 2020, the National Institutes of Health cut all future funding toward their research project on bat-human virus transmission. The scientific community is expressing their fear and concern about the politicization of peer-reviewed science. Timeline The New York Times reported that 77 Nobel laureates has asked for an investigation into the cancellation of a federal grant to EcoHealth Alliance, a group that researches bat coronaviruses in China. The pre-eminent scientists characterized the explanation for the decision by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as “preposterous.” May 21 2020 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) issued a press release and sent a letter of protest to the NIH Director on behalf of 31 scientific societies representing tens of thousands of members. The letter said the grant cancellation politicized science and concluded, “The action taken by the NIH must be immediately reconsidered.” May 20 2020 According to a report by the Daily Beast , "a military contractors’ report circulating on Capitol Hill claims to have evidence that COVID-19 escaped from a Chinese lab. It’s filled with information that’s just plain wrong." May 17 2020 CBS 60 Minutes broadcasted "Why it matters that the NIH canceled a coronavirus research grant " with the byline "Faulty allegations led to cutting $3.7 million dollars to ecologists studying coronaviruses. The ramifications may be felt in future pandemics." May 10 2020 Sarina Neote, ASBMB Science Policy Manager, expressed concerns about increasing fear within the scientific community of being targeted as a result of race or identify and the cancellation of the EcoHealth grant in the APA Justice conference call . She followed with an ASBMB position statement after the call and welcomes Asian American and other organizations to join the effort. May 4 2020 In a CNN opinion piece , Benjamin Corb, ASBMB Public Affairs Director, raised the question: Why did the NIH terminate a grant that supports leading research into how coronaviruses can be transferred from their natural host of bats to humans in the middle of a pandemic? "Politicizing peer-reviewed science is a dangerous threat to the independent American scientific enterprise and is the first step on a deeply concerning slippery slope. If Daszak's research can be stopped by funding cuts at the whim of the President, what other research grants in the future will be pulled because of the left or right leanings of any future president? What damage would such a decision have on the world-leading productivity and reputation of the National Institutes of Health? Science must remain independent and nonpoliticized if it is to be trusted and productive during this pandemic crisis and beyond," Corb said. Apr 30 2020 Politico broke the story that NIH told EcoHealth Alliance, the study’s sponsor on bat-human virus transmission for the past five years, that all future funding was cut. “At this time, NIH does not believe that the current project outcomes align with the program goals and agency priorities,” Michael Lauer, NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research, wrote in a letter to Dr. Pete Daszak, who is President of EcoHealth Alliance. Apr 27 2020 Please contact APA Justice Task Force facilitator Dr. Jeremy Wu at Jeremy.S.Wu@gmail.com or ASBMB Science Policy Manager Sarina Neote at sneote@asbmb.org if you would like to join this very important effort.

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Newsletter - #236 Year of The Dragon; Alien Land Laws; Section 702; US Heartland China Association; More #236 Year of The Dragon; Alien Land Laws; Section 702; US Heartland China Association; More In This Issue #236 · The Year of The Dragon Has Arrived · Updates on Alien Land Laws in FL, GA, and More · New Warrantless Surveillance Bill Introduced in Congress · US Heartland China Association · News and Activities for the Communities The Year of The Dragon Has Arrived February 10 was New Year Day for the Year of the Dragon with celebrations across the U.S. and the world. The sighting of a dragon was reportedly captured in a video in Singapore, but locals later claimed with tongue in cheek that the dragon is around all year and stays at a hotel named after it. When did the Chinese calendar start? According to Wikipedia , it depends on when the origin of a particular calendar era is chosen. This is Year 4722 if you go by the first reign of the Yellow Emperor ( Huángdì 黄帝 ). Updates on Alien Land Laws in FL, GA, and More On February 1, 2024, The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily halted the enforcement of Florida’s alien land law, known as SB 264, against two Chinese immigrants who have challenged the statute in court. On very short notice, Clay Zhu (DeHeng Law Offices), Ashley Gorski (ACLU), and Patrick Toomey (ACLU) of the legal team spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 5, 2024. They provided updates on the ruling for the ongoing lawsuit which was filed after Florida passed SB 264 last May. The legal team, including the ACLU, ACLU of Florida, DeHeng Law Offices PC, AALDEF, and Quinn Emanuel, swiftly challenged the Florida state law in May. Despite the District Court judge initially rejecting their motion for a preliminary injunction, the legal team appealed to the Court of Appeals last August, seeking an expedited process due to the harm caused by the state law.The legal team is grateful for the decision that was issued. It prevents Florida from enforcing SB 264 against two of the plaintiffs. It is a very good sign because the court’s reasoning was that the plaintiffs are substantially likely to prevail on their argument that Florida's law is preempted by federal law.There is already a federal statute that regulates real estate purchases that potentially implicate national security, the court said. Under the Constitution, the federal law controls and for that reason the Florida law is very likely unconstitutional. The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in support of the preliminary injunction in the US District Court in June 2023. The adopted legal theory, if it is embraced ultimately by the Appeals Court, is one that could reach many other people who are contending with the hardships posed by SB 264. Oral arguments are scheduled in Miami the week of April 15. Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) has been leading a broad, diverse coalition to hold rallies against SB264. Concerned organizations have also submitted amicus briefs.The legal team's talk is included in this partial summary of the February 5 APA Justice monthly meeting: https://bit.ly/3uuhm0b . For more information about alien land bills, visit https://bit.ly/43epBcl Georgia Introduces Alien Land Bill HB 1093 According to LegiScan, House Bill (HB) 1093 , was introduced by six Republicans in the Georgia legislature on January 31, 2024.A hearing was held by the Georgia House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee on February 9, 2024. Ben Lynde , ACLU of Georgia Policy Counsel, testified on HB 1093, a bill that would exclude certain non-citizens from buying agricultural land in Georgia. He said, "HB 1093 represents a new law that recalls similar efforts over the past to weaponize false claims of National Security against Asian immigrants and other marginalized communities. It is very difficult for me now as a veteran and lover of History to recall the horrors I felt in high school when I learned about bills like the Chinese Exclusion laws and alien land acts to see my state government trying to do similar laws... In the early 1900s, politicians from across this country used similar justifications to pass alien land laws and prohibit Chinese and Japanese immigrants from becoming land owners. These racist policies not only hurt immigrant families financially at that time but also severely exasperated violence, discrimination against Asian communities living in the United States... Regardless of the concerns which I do understand about where we got to the bill today, I don't want to have a discriminatory practice of the past being codified in Georgia law... Property ownership by certain noncitizens as a threat to National Security is a baseless claim with no evidence that they are causing harm... Members of the Asian communities are experiencing historic highs in discrimination and hate crimes in the modern discourse now... The Florida law has been enjoined by the 11th Circuit Court that will also hear this law if it is passed by Georgia... We just hope that you will reject this bill today or when this bill comes up for a vote. Thank you very much for your time." Time was not adequate for all who wished to speak at the hearing. Those who spoke in opposition to the bill included Koreans, Vietnamese, Latinos, and whites. The bill was not advanced to the next step of the process, pending on further discussion and negotiation. Watch a video of Ben Lydne's testimony at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya9zGuzHOMg (2:57). The Committee of 100 tracks federal and state alien land bills and maintains an interactive map at: https://bit.ly/3Hxta4B USDA Status Report on Foreign Investments in US Land Micah R. Brown, Staff Attorney of the National Agricultural Law Center at the US Department of Agriculture, gave a presentation on the history and current developments in anti-foreign land ownership laws to the SB 147 Roundtable. The presentation covers: · Historical context on how state laws vary widely without a generalized or uniform approach and how they developed unevenly at five different “political flashpoints” over ensuing decades/centuries including the period of 2021 to the present, · Current proposals in Congress to seek to control, prohibit, restrict, or increase oversight on foreign investments in U.S. agriculture, · Enactment of alien land law SB 383 in Arkansas; preliminary injunction against SB 264 in Florida, and Missouri Governor John Ashcroft ’s Executive Order 24-01 Read the presentation: https://bit.ly/49ve4IX CAPAC Denounces Efforts to Ban Chinese Immigrants from Owning Land in the U.S. On February 8, 2024, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) held a virtual press conference about the recent resurgence of land laws that would prohibit Chinese immigrants from purchasing or owning property in the United States, following a federal appeals court's temporary injunction. In the ruling, a federal judge noted that it violates the 14th amendment’s protection against discrimination. CAPAC members denounced the Republican-led attempts to restrict land ownership that are being pushed in Congress and in state legislatures across the nation, and they will uplift legislation aimed at stopping these efforts from moving forward. CAPAC has cautioned against history repeating itself through laws that ban land or property ownership based on an individual’s country of origin. For more information, contact Graeme Crews , (202) 597-2923 (Rep. Judy Chu) or Jordan Goldes , (202) 308-9691 (Rep. Grace Meng) New Warrantless Surveillance Bill Introduced in Congress According to The Hill on February 12, House Republicans unveiled a new package for reauthorizing and reforming the nation’s warrantless surveillance powers. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to spy on noncitizens located abroad, is set to expire in April after a short-term extension.Monday’s text more closely aligns with the original proposal from the House Intelligence Committee over that of its Judiciary competitor, focusing on more reforms at the FBI to address misuse of the powerful spy tool. It does not include Judiciary’s hope for a warrant requirement — something deemed a red line for the intelligence community but nonetheless a top priority for privacy advocates in Congress.Though FISA 702 only allows the government to surveil foreigners, their communications with Americans are often swept up in the process, creating a database found to be misused by the FBI, which has already undertaken a number of reforms amid criticism.To privacy champions and advocates, a warrant is the only way to protect Americans’ rights. Complicating the bill’s consideration further are reports from Politico it may be partially considered during a closed session. “Make no mistake: a secret session is completely unnecessary. National security legislation is openly debated in every Congress. There have only been 6 secret sessions in the House since 1812,” Elizabeth Goitein , co-director of the liberty and national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice, wrote on X. “Secret law is anathema to democracies, and making law in secret is the next worst thing. Open debate is a core feature of our democratic system. But intelligence committee leaders prefer to work in the shadows because it gives them a strategic advantage.”Read The Hill report: https://bit.ly/3SYnvuU . US Heartland China Association Min Fan 范敏 , Executive Director of the US Heartland China Association (USHCA), introduced USHCA and described its mission and activities during the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 5, 2024.USHCA was started by the late Senator Adlai Stevenson , Illinois; it is almost 20 years old originally under the name of Midwest-US China Association. Bob Holden , former Governor of Missouri, is current Chair of USHCA. USHCA is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization. It does not lobby.USHCA is funded by American sources including membership dues, Heartland community supporters, private donations, grants from private foundations, corporate sponsors, and contributions from state governmental agencies.Through organizing people-to-people exchanges in culture, education, and business, USHCA promotes a stable and productive US-China relationship to protect and advance the interests of the American Heartland so that: · Farmers in the Heartland can continue to expand our exports to China. · Educational institutions in the Heartland can remain competitive and continue to attract the best talent from around the world, including China, · Companies headquartered in the Heartland can remain competitive in the global economy by continuing to do business in and sell products to China. · The Heartland community and leaders have the resources to better understand and engage with China. · Heartland students can have the opportunities to develop a global mindset through learning about the Chinese language and culture. There are a lot of bridges to the world. Where bridges exist, communities flourish. USHCA has a bi-partisan network of many former governors, ambassadors, and local officials. USHCA works with them to build community connections. In 2020, in the depth of the pandemic, USHCA was one of the first NGOs that brought people from the US and China together via Zoom to talk about education, public health, and development programs that are in the best interest of the Heartland community. Min sees some hesitation on both sides. The Chinese side is worried about being locked up in a small black room in the customs office. The US side is worried about being held hostage in China. There is fear and the other side looks strange after no exchanges for three years.USHCA believes that bringing back exchanges is very important. It received support from the Ford Foundation and the Luce Foundation to promote Yangtze River and Mississippi River city-to-city exchange on energy transition, climate change, and green economy. Six mayors coming from five different states in the Heartland visited Hong Kong, Wuhan, Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai.Min said there are politicians whose mindset is shut. There are also elected officials who are curious and interested in learning. The communities have a role to play.Her presentation is available here: https://bit.ly/3HTc5Cu . Her talk is included in this partial summary of the February APA Justice monthly meeting: https://bit.ly/3uuhm0b Muscatine, Iowa, Celebrates Lunar New Year According to several local reports , Muscatine and China celebrate almost four decades of friendship with Lunar New Year Celebration on February 9, 2024.The events featured performances from Chinese students, videos documenting Muscatine and China’s shared history, and speeches from local, national, and international ambassadors.“There’s probably not all positive rapport with China from some leaders. But we just want to get more people here so they can see the people and see the traditions,” said Sarah Lande, one of the local diplomats on the state of current Chinese-American diplomatic relations. Terry Branstad , former Iowa Governor and US Ambassador to China, commented in the event, "I think the more people get to know each other... the more they gain friendship and trust in each other and that can be good for both of our countries... We are the two largest economies in the world... if we can find ways to get along and work together... it benefits the whole world." People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping visited Iowa and stayed with Sarah Lande's home in Muscatine back in 1985. He has remained friends with several Iowans since. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/02/13-15 Senior Executives Association Senior Executive Leadership Summit2024/02/13 WHI: Advancing Educational Equity for AA and NHPI Students2024/02/13 Committee of 100: The Career Ceiling Challenges in Journalism 2024/02/27 President's Advisory Commission on AA and NHPIs Meeting and Solicitation for Oral and Written Comments2024/02/28 WHI: Community Engagement EventVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Asian American Identity: At the Intersection of Perpetual Foreigner and Pop Culture Trendsetter WHAT: Asian American Identity: At the Intersection of Perpetual Foreigner and Pop Culture Trendsetter WHEN: March 6, 2024, 4:00 pm Pacific Time/7:00 pm Eastern Time (90 minutes) WHERE: Virtual Workshop HOST: 1990 Institute SPEAKERS: · Neil Ruiz, Head of New Research Initiatives, Pew Research Center · Ziyao Tian, Research Associate, Pew Research Center · Jeff Yang, author, journalist, businessman (Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now) · Margaret Yee, education consultant DESCRIPTION: This virtual Workshop aims to foster dialogue for better understanding of different cultures and contribute to a more inclusive representation of our communities as Americans. While prepared for middle and secondary school educators who teach Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Studies and/or Ethnic Studies in mind, this Workshop is open to all. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/48lGsw1 Back View PDF February 14, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

The APA Justice Task Force submitted a statement for a briefing with Senator Mark Warner and his staff on August 6, 2020. August 6, 2020 The APA Justice Task Force submitted the following statement for a briefing with Senator Mark Warner and his staff on August 6, 2020. updateonracialprofilingmarkwarner_20200805 .pdf Download PDF • 513KB The APA Justice Task Force submitted a statement for a briefing with Senator Mark Warner and his staff on August 6, 2020. Previous Next Briefing with Senator Mark Warner

Newsletter - #359 Andy Phillips to Speak on 11/3; Dr. Wen Ho Lee; 6/2 Meeting Summary Posted; C.N. Yang+ #359 Andy Phillips to Speak on 11/3; Dr. Wen Ho Lee; 6/2 Meeting Summary Posted; C.N. Yang+ In This Issue #359 · Attorney Andy Phillips to Speak at APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Recalling the Case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee · Summary of June 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Posted · In Memoriam: Chan Ning Yang (1922-2025) · News and Activities for the Communities Attorney Andy Phillips to Speak at APA Justice Monthly Meeting Attorney Andy Phillips , Managing & Founding Partner of Meier Watkins Phillips Pusch LLP, will speak at the upcoming APA Justice monthly meeting on November 3, 2025. He represents Dr. Yanping Chen 陈燕平 in Yanping Chen v. FBI (24-5050) . Dr. Chen is a naturalized U.S. citizen from China and longtime educator who founded the University of Management and Technology in Arlington, Virginia. She filed a Privacy Act lawsuit against the U.S. Departments of Justice, Defense and Homeland Security, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), after a 6-year investigation by the FBI into her past affiliations and immigration history concluded without charges in 2016. After the investigation closed, confidential information from the probe was leaked to media outlets, particularly Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge , which aired stories implying Dr. Chen was involved in espionage. Dr. Chen filed a lawsuit in December 2018 against the Departments of Justice, Defense and Homeland Security, as well as the FBI, asserting a coordinated violation of her privacy rights and focusing on the leak of protected investigation materials. In February 2024, a District Court held Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to disclose her source and imposed a fine of $800 per day—an order stayed pending appeal. The case has major implications for press freedom, racial equity, and privacy rights in national security investigations. APA Justice joined advocacy groups by filing an amicus brief led by Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), arguing that the treatment of Dr. Chen reflects broader issues of systemic bias against Chinese Americans. On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court’s order holding Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to disclose her confidential source despite a valid subpoena. Andy Phillips’s practice focuses on counseling clients faced with unfavorable media coverage or other reputational attacks. He has years of experience representing clients in defamation lawsuits before state and federal courts across the country. He has litigated against many of the country’s most well-known media organizations, including Rolling Stone Magazine , The New York Times , CNN , and Fox News . Andy is one of only six attorneys in the United States to be ranked by Chambers for expertise in Plaintiff’s-side First Amendment litigation . The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . Recalling the Case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee Dr. Wen Ho Lee 李文和 , a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Taiwan, was a senior nuclear scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where he worked for more than 20 years developing computer codes used to simulate nuclear explosions. In the late 1990s, amid heightened concerns about Chinese nuclear espionage, the FBI and Department of Energy (DOE) began investigating possible leaks of nuclear-weapons data to China. Dr. Lee became a target largely due to his ethnicity.In 1999, the government indicted Dr. Lee on 59 felony counts for allegedly downloading and transferring classified files from secure to unclassified computers. During the investigation, government officials leaked information to the press portraying Dr. Lee as a potential spy. Major media outlets including New York Times , Washington Post , and Los Angeles Times widely published these allegations, effectively convicting him in the public eye before trial.By 2000, it became clear that the government lacked evidence of espionage or criminal intent. Dr. Lee spent nine months in solitary confinement before pleading guilty to a single count of mishandling restricted data; the remaining 58 charges were dropped. Federal Judge James A. Parker publicly criticized the government for its handling of the case, apologizing to Dr. Lee for his treatment and calling the investigation an embarrassment to the nation.Following his release, Dr. Lee filed a civil lawsuit under the Privacy Act against federal agencies and five major media organizations that had reported the leaked allegations. Brian Sun , now a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, served as Lee’s lead attorney. Brian Sun framed the case as a crucial defense of civil liberties, privacy rights, and due process, arguing that government leaks had violated Lee’s rights and irreparably harmed his reputation. He successfully navigated complex issues involving media source protection and the disclosure of sensitive documents, ultimately securing a landmark settlement.In June 2006, the case was settled: the U.S. government paid $895,000, and the media organizations contributed $750,000 toward Dr. Lee’s legal fees, with no admission of wrongdoing. The settlement, guided by Brian Sun’s litigation strategy, reinforced the principle that government officials cannot use leaks to publicly convict individuals without evidence.On June 3, 2006, Brian Sun told the Los Angeles Times that the settlement provides “a measure of vindication and accountability.” “We believe the settlement will send a message to government officials that they should not engage in unlawful leaks about private citizens,” he said, “and journalists should be sensitive in reporting information that is divulged from officials who have an agenda.”As noted in the American Physical Society's “ Viewpoint: Wen Ho Lee’s Settlement ” on August 1, 2006, the case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee remains a landmark in the intersection of science, national security, civil liberties, and media responsibility. The APS analysis emphasized that while the settlement brought an end to the litigation, it left unresolved the deeper tensions between government secrecy, press freedom, and the protection of individual rights. It underscored how Dr. Lee's case became a cautionary tale—reminding both policymakers and the scientific community that the pursuit of security must never come at the cost of justice, due process, or human dignity. Summary of June 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Posted Summary for the June 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/48ABX4J . We thank these distinguished speakers for sharing their insightful remarks and updates: · Judy Chu , Chair Emeritus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; Member, U.S. House of Representatives · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Jiny Kim , Vice President of Policy and Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Ya Liu , Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Juanita Brent , Member, Ohio House of Representatives · Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) · Aki Maehara , Professor, Historian, East Los Angeles College Past APA Justice monthly meeting summaries are available at https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/library-newsletters-summaries *****On April 29, 2025, Professor Aki Maehara , age 71, was riding his electric bicycle home in Montebello when a car struck him from behind. The driver shouted anti-Asian slurs before and after the collision. Professor Maehara believes he was targeted due to his academic work and previous threats he had received.The attack left Professor Maehara with serious injuries, including a concussion, fractured cheekbone, neck pain, and a lacerated elbow. The dental damage was particularly severe, requiring extensive and costly dental implant surgery. Professor Maehara returned to teaching at East Los Angeles College shortly after the incident. A GoFundMe was updated in August 2025, describing his need for a home health aide and major dental surgery.The Montebello Police Department is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime and attempted vehicular homicide. Some have criticized the police investigation, claiming key information from Professor Maehara was initially omitted from the report. As of October 2025, the department has not publicly identified any suspects in the case despite being "No. 1 priority" since May. In Memoriam: Chan Ning Yang (1922-2025) Chen Ning Yang (杨振宁) , one of the world’s most renowned theoretical physicists and a Nobel prize winner, died on October 18, 2025, in Beijing at the age of 103 after an illness.Born in Hefei, Anhui Province, China, in 1922, Yang received his early education in China before earning his bachelor’s degree from the National Southwestern Associated University in Kunming during wartime. He later pursued graduate studies in the United States, earning his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1948 under the mentorship of Enrico Fermi .Yang’s groundbreaking contributions reshaped modern physics. He and his collaborator Tsung-Dao Lee (李政道) proposed in 1956 that parity — long assumed to be conserved — could be violated in weak nuclear interactions. The theory was soon confirmed experimentally, leading to their shared Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957. Beyond parity violation, Yang made profound advances in statistical mechanics, gauge theory, and the Yang–Mills theory — a cornerstone of the Standard Model of particle physics.After teaching at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton University, Yang joined Stony Brook University in 1966, where he founded the Institute for Theoretical Physics (now named the C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics) and mentored generations of scientists. In 2003, Yang returned to China, joining Tsinghua University as an honorary professor and continuing to promote international scientific exchange.Known for his intellectual rigor and lifelong curiosity, Yang’s career spanned the era from wartime China to the quantum age, symbolizing the global nature of scientific inquiry. He inspired several generations of young people in both the United States and China to pursue science with passion and integrity. His legacy endures not only through his discoveries but also through his commitment to fostering dialogue between China and the world in science and education. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/10/23 C100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative: Asian American Women in the Law2025/11/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/11/03 Advocacy 101 for Scholars, Scientists, and Researchers2025/11/20 Cook County Circuit Court Hearing2025/11/25 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Elaine ChaoVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. In Memoriam: Jerome Cohen (1930-2025) Jerome A. Cohen , a pioneering scholar of Chinese law and a leading voice for human rights, died on September 22, 2025, at his home in Manhattan. He was 95.Born in New York City in 1930, Cohen graduated from Yale Law School, clerked for Chief Justice Earl Warren and Justice Hugo Black , and began his academic career at the University of California, Berkeley. Fascinated by China, he studied Mandarin in the early 1960s and went on to found the East Asian Legal Studies Program at Harvard Law School in 1964, the first of its kind in the United States.After Mao Zedong ’s death, Cohen joined Paul & Weiss, advising companies entering China and helping Chinese officials understand modern commercial law. In 1990, he joined New York University School of Law, where he mentored lawyers, judges, and human rights advocates from across Asia and became an influential voice in U.S.–China legal dialogue.Renowned for his intellect and integrity, Cohen defended persecuted lawyers and dissidents and never wavered in his belief that law could be a bridge to justice. His legacy endures through the institutions he built and the generations he inspired. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF October 23, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #212 10/2 Meeting; Section 702 Reforms; Anti-Asian Racism in the US; 2020 Census Data; More #212 10/2 Meeting; Section 702 Reforms; Anti-Asian Racism in the US; 2020 Census Data; More In This Issue #212 2023/10/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Report on The Warrantless Surveillance Program and Section 702 Reforms Report on Anti-Asian Racism in The United States 2020 Census Data for Nearly 1,500 Detailed Race and Ethnicity Groups, Tribes and Villages News and Activities for the Communities 2023/10/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, October 2, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), and Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所, confirmed speakers will also include: Nancy Chen , Founding President, Chinese American Women in Action (CAWA) on the history of CAWA and its interests and concerns in Illinois and national issues Andy Wong , Managing Director of Advocacy, Chinese for Affirmative Action, on the coalition letter on Section 702 reforms, responses, and related CAA activities such as the recently launched "Stop The Blame" campaign Haipei Shue (薛海培) , President, United Chinese Americans, on the recent hearings of Professor Feng " Franklin" Tao 陶丰 's appeal in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver and the administrative trial of New York Police Department Officer Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 in New York City (new addition) The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org NOTE : A shutdown of the federal government happens when Congress fails to pass some type of funding legislation that is signed into law by the president. Funding expired on September 30, 2023, but a 45-day stop-gap bill was signed into law at the last minute to continue government operation until November 17, 2023. Report on The Warrantless Surveillance Program and Section 702 Reforms On September 28, 2023, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) released a 297-page report titled "Report on The Surveillance Program Operated Pursuant to Section 702 of The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act." According to The Hill on October 1, 2023, "the PCLOB report reveals deep divisions among its five members on how to reform Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows for warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad. "In a departure from precedent, the report did not reach unanimous conclusions about how to update the law, a confusing prospect as a Congress divided on Section 702 stares down an end-of-the-year deadline to renew it. "The board’s two Republican-appointed members voted against its release, said its findings should not be attributed to them and attached their recommendations in a 56-page annex that read almost like a second report. "Civil liberties advocates have long viewed Section 702 as a backdoor for gaining access to information on Americans, whose communications get swept up in searches as they speak with those being surveilled abroad. It’s a factor they see as a violation of Sixth Amendment rights and a particular risk to Black and other communities of color. "The report, however, includes a third rail for the intelligence community — a suggestion the intelligence community first get a court order before reviewing any intel gleaned on Americans. "Doing so, PCLOB’s majority writes, would offer the 'most critical safeguard for Americans’ privacy rights.' "The FBI spied on 119,000 Americans last year, a sharp decline that reflects changes in FBI policy for how the agency accesses the information of citizens swept up in other searches. Still, an unsealed opinion from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the entity that would oversee the court order process recommended by the report, recently unsealed an opinion showing a string of abuses, including reviewing information on elected officials. "The inclusion of a recommendation to get a court order before reviewing information gathered on Americans and permanent residents was celebrated by civil liberties groups that have long pushed for such a requirement. " Elizabeth Goitein , senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, called the report an 'ironclad case for requiring a probable-cause order for U.S. person queries.'" On September 14, 2023, a coalition of 52 Asian American organizations wrote to Congress to oppose the renewal of Section 702 of FISA unless significant revisions are put into place. The letter, led by Asian American Scholae Forum (AASF), Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) and Stop AAPI Hate, wrote "with a sense of urgency and a shared commitment to safeguarding the principles of justice, equality, and privacy in our nation. As Asian Americans and allies, we understand all too well the perils of unchecked national security programs and the historical discrimination our community has endured. Our shared history serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of racial profiling and prejudice in the name of national security." Read the coalition letter: https://bit.ly/3LkEmnt . Read the PCLOB report: https://bit.ly/3PEutm3 . According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) , in May 2017, Professor Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 filed a lawsuit against the lead FBI agent in the case, Andrew Haugen , and other agents, alleging that they made knowingly or recklessly false statements in support of the investigation and prosecution. Xi’s wife and oldest daughter later joined the case. The ACLU joined the case in October 2017. The lawsuit asks the court to award damages and to declare that the defendants violated the plaintiffs’ Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. It also asks the court to order the government to return or delete any of the Xis’ communications that it obtained during the investigation. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals allowed Xi and his family to pursue their lawsuit against the U.S. government in May 2023. Report on Anti-Asian Racism in The United States On September 27, 2023, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) released its 2023 statutory enforcement report, The Federal Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States . The report assesses the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. from 2019 through 2021, and the federal role in preventing and enforcing federal hate crime laws. According to USCCR, the report examines three main areas: 1) national trends and data regarding the rise of hate incidents and hate crimes against members of Asian communities; 2) local and state law enforcement’s prevention and reporting practices regarding hate crimes; and 3) federal efforts and policies that encourage greater participation in reporting hate crime incidents, as well as prosecution and enforcement efforts to prevent hate crimes. The report highlights that language barriers hinder the reporting of incidents, and many incidents, even if they don’t meet legal hate crime criteria, still evoke fear and are not accounted for in official statistics. A major impediment is the lack of comprehensive data and reporting in understanding the severity of hate crimes against individuals of Asian descent. The report notes that the transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System has been slow for some agencies, leading to incomplete data. The Commission proposes a “holistic strategy” to combat anti-Asian hate incidents, including improvements in data collection, legal enforcement, community support and education initiatives. It recommends urging prosecutors and law enforcement to vigorously investigate and prosecute hate crimes against Asian Americans and providing first responders with training on identifying hate crimes. It also highlights the need to address language barriers in federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and victim services. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency established by Congress in 1957. Its mission is to inform the development of national civil rights policy and enhance enforcement of federal civil rights laws. Read the USCCR report: https://bit.ly/3ZB9llm 2020 Census Data for Nearly 1,500 Detailed Race and Ethnicity Groups, Tribes and Villages On September 21, 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau released 2020 Census population counts and sex-by-age statistics for 300 detailed race and ethnic groups, as well as 1,187 detailed American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) tribes and villages. On the Asian Population Among Asian respondents, Asian Indian was the largest alone group (4.4 million) and Chinese, except Taiwanese the largest alone or in any combination group (5.2 million). Filipino (4.4 million), Vietnamese (2.3 million), Korean (2.0 million), and Japanese (1.6 million) all had alone or in any combination populations over 1 million in 2020. The Nepalese population was the fastest growing Asian group among those with populations of 50,000 or more in 2010. The Nepalese alone population increased 295.5% from 51,907 in 2010 to 205,297 in 2020, and the Nepalese alone or in any combination population grew 269.0% from 59,490 to 219,503 over the decade. On the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Population Native Hawaiian was the largest Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) alone group (199,880) and alone or in any combination group (680,442). Nearly all NHPI groups grew from 2010 to 2020. The Chuukese alone population was the fastest growing NHPI alone group, increasing 296.2% to 10,500 in 2020. The fastest growing NHPI alone or in any combination group was Papua New Guinean, which increased by 249.3% to 1,453 people during the decade. Read the Census Bureau news release: https://bit.ly/3rAYGdQ . Read the breakdown on the Asian population: h ttps://bit.ly/3PwxDby News and Activities for the Communities 1. Community Calendar The APA Justice Community Calendar is located on the front page of the APA Justice website at https://www.apajustice.org/ . Upcoming Events: 2023/10/02 APA Justice October Monthly Meeting 2023/10/08 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting 2023/10/12 Expert Panel on Open Data for Racial Equity 2023/10/12 C100 Webinar - Race-Based Admissions and the Supreme Court Court: An Asian American Perspective 2023/10/12 The FBI and Chinese Americans - From the Investigation and Defense Frontline 2023/10/15 State Legislature 101 Training 2023/10/15 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting 2023/10/22 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. 2023/10/12 Webinar: The FBI and Chinese Americans WHAT: On-site event - The FBI and Chinese American Community: Stories and Tips from the Investigation and Defense Frontline WHEN: Thursday, October 12, 6:30 - 8:30 pm PT WHERE: Santa Clara University School of Law, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95050 HOSTS: The Chinese American Lawyers of the Bay Area (CALOBA) and the Chinese American Semiconductor Professional Association (CASPA) DESCRIPTION: "A conversation with the FBI on criminal trade secret theft at the Santa Clara University School of Law. As members of the Chinese American community, we are committed to protecting our shared interests and promoting a safe and prosperous environment for all. Please join us and learn some frontline stories and practical tips offered by our distinguished panelists based on their decades of experience in the field!" REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/46cHiei 3. Foreign Affairs Essay: The Dysfunctional Superpower According to a Foreign Affairs essay on September 29, 2023, a looming government shutdown, a partisan impeachment inquiry, and the former president facing multiple felony charges across four criminal cases. Add to this chaos a presidential election and it’s fair to say that the U.S. political system will be preoccupied with its own drama and division for some time. Such paralysis could not come at a worse time. The United States should be in a strong position to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping —but “dysfunction has made American power erratic and unreliable, practically inviting risk-prone autocrats to place dangerous bets,” the essay said. “The United States finds itself in a uniquely treacherous position: facing aggressive adversaries with a propensity to miscalculate yet incapable of mustering the unity and strength necessary to dissuade them.” Only by working together can U.S. leaders contend with such grave threats. And “therein lies the rub.” Robert M. Gates , author of the essay, is former U.S. Secretary of Defense. Read the Foreign Policy essay: https://fam.ag/3LNONjN Back View PDF October 2, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Simon Saw-Teong Ang 洪思忠 Docket ID: 5:20-cr-50029 District Court, W.D. Arkansas Date filed: July 28, 2020 Date ended: June 28, 2022 On January 21, 2022, Professor Simon Saw-Teong Ang and the U.S. government filed a plea agreement in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. Under the agreement, Professor Ang pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to a federal agent (18 U.S.C. § 1001). In return, the government agreed to dismiss the remaining 58 counts upon the Court’s approval. Previously, on July 29, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Professor Ang, then 63, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, had been indicted by a federal grand jury. A superseding indictment filed on July 28, 2021, charged him with 55 counts of wire fraud, two counts of making false statements, and two counts of false statements related to passport applications. His prosecution was brought under the DOJ’s “China Initiative,” launched in November 2018 to counter alleged economic espionage and trade secret theft linked to China. However, none of the charges against Professor Ang involved espionage or theft of trade secrets. Professor Ang had served as a professor and Director of the High Density Electronics Center (HiDEC) at the University of Arkansas since 1988. He was terminated by the university less than two months after his arrest in 2020. A jury trial was scheduled for February 7, 2022, but was rendered moot by the plea deal. In June 2022, Professor Ang was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison. References and Links CourtListener: United States v. Ang (5:20-cr-50029) 2022/06/17 Arkansas Democrat Gazett: Ex-UA professor sentenced to year in prison for lying about Chinese patents 2022/01/22 The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Former UA professor pleads guilty to making false statement after scrutiny on China ties 2022/01/21 Science: U.S. accepts plea by Arkansas scientist charged in controversial China Initiative 2022/01/21 AP News: Arkansas prof pleads guilty to lying about China patents 2022/01/21 Case 5:20-cr-50029 Document 71: Plea Agreement 2021/08/03 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Ex-UA professor pleads innocent in fraud case 2020/07/29 DOJ: University of Arkansas Professor Indicted for Wire Fraud and Passport Fraud 2021/07/28 Case 5:20-cr-50029 Document 34: Superceding Indictment 2020/05/13 UPI: U.S. charges Arkansas researcher over NASA funds, ties to China 2020/05/12 CNN: FBI arrests researcher for NASA who allegedly failed to report ties to China Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #124 Bipartisan Innovation Act; Professor Mingqing Xiao; APS Webinar: Supreme Court Ruling #124 Bipartisan Innovation Act; Professor Mingqing Xiao; APS Webinar: Supreme Court Ruling Back View PDF April 12, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #303 Gene Wu on Being American; CALDA/Franklin Tao; Judy Chu; Bracing for Threats in SF; + #303 Gene Wu on Being American; CALDA/Franklin Tao; Judy Chu; Bracing for Threats in SF; + In This Issue #303 · Gene Wu: Being American and Shaping America · CALDA and Professor Franklin Tao's Lawsuit · Rep. Judy Chu's Remarks at 01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Bracing for Threats in San Francisco · News and Activities for the Communities From Governor Gavin Newsom's Office - Get Help Today on LA Fires Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires – a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal government. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance: · Online at DisasterAssistance.gov · Calling 800-621-3362 · By using the FEMA smart phone application · Assistance is available in over 40 languages · If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Please share with your families, friends, and colleagues in the Los Angeles area. Gene Wu: Being American and Shaping America Gene Wu 吳元之 came from China to the U.S. when he was four. Today he is the Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. His district covers part of Houston, a blue city in a red state.On December 31, 2024, Gene Wu was interviewed in a podcast by Define American with Jose Antonio Vargas , Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, filmmaker, and immigration rights activist. Gene Wu addressed a range of issues on being American, how immigrants continue to shape America, and systemic issues faced by the Chinese American and all immigrant communities today. Highlights of his talk: 1. Immigration Policy · Gene Wu frames immigration as a cornerstone of America’s success, advocating for education-based green cards and policies to attract global talent. · Criticizes restrictive immigration laws for contributing to labor shortages and economic challenges. 2. Systemic Challenges for Immigrants · Highlights issues like racial prejudice, hate crimes, and lack of trust in law enforcement among immigrant communities. · Warns against policies that undermine community safety by damaging relationships between immigrants and law enforcement. 3. Media Narratives on Immigration · Criticizes the media for oversimplifying immigration issues and failing to accurately portray the struggles and contributions of immigrant communities. 4. Political Leadership and Advocacy · Calls out policymakers for lacking nuanced understanding of immigrant issues. · Advocates for proactive community engagement to push for political change and counter discriminatory policies. 5. Coalition Building · As Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, plans to unite diverse racial and cultural groups to fight discrimination and build alliances for shared goals. 6. Personal Leadership and Vision · Draws on his immigrant background to champion equitable policies. · Emphasizes the importance of collective action and public advocacy to influence political and societal outcomes. Watch the podcast and get to know Gene Wu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de-RCgAMm8Y (37:31). According to AsAmNews and the Houston Chronicle , Gene Wu has sparked widespread discussion with his viral comments emphasizing the interconnected struggles of Asian and Black communities in the fight for civil rights from the podcast. Gene Wu argued that the privileges many Asian Americans enjoy today would not exist without the sacrifices made by Black Americans during the civil rights movement. He said, “The day the Latino, African American, Asian, and other communities realize that they share the same oppressor is the day we start winning because we are the majority now.” Wu highlighted how stereotypes, such as the “model minority” myth imposed on Asian Americans, have been used to pit minority groups against each other. His comments have resonated widely, going viral on social media platforms focused on Black and Asian audiences. They have also reignited discussions about the shared struggles of minority groups in the United States and the importance of unity in addressing systemic racism. Godfrey C. Danchimah Jr. , or simply Godfrey, is a Nigerian American comedian, impressionist and actor. He posted an Instagram response , in which he said, "I’m so happy that they’re having this conversation because black people and Asians are actually very similar. Here’s a fun fact, Bruce Lee 李小龙 , when he was in San Francisco, his first student was an African American." CALDA and Professor Franklin Tao's Lawsuit AsAmNews , Inside Higher Ed , NBC News , South China Morning Post , The Topeka Capital-Journal , and multiple other media have reported on the lawsuit filed by Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao (陶丰) against the University of Kansas (KU). APA Justice is tracking the case of Tao v. University of Kansas (2:25-cv-02005) with CourtListener.As the first academic indicted under the China Initiative in August 2019, Professor Tao endured a grueling five-year legal battle before being fully acquitted of all charges in July 2024. Despite his exoneration, KU has refused to reinstate Professor Tao to his tenured position.On January 8, 2025, the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) 华美维权同盟 posted a Chinese-language report titled " 陶丰教授起诉堪萨斯大学歧视不公，CALDA全力以赴支持打响维权之战 " ("Professor Franklin Tao is suing the University of Kansas for discrimination and unfair treatment. CALDA is fully committed to supporting the fight for his rights").According to the report, CALDA has been actively working within the legal community to find attorneys who can seek justice for Professor Tao. After extensive discussions and careful negotiations with numerous experienced lawyers, they successfully helped Professor Tao secure legal representation from Karen R. King , a partner at Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC, a prestigious New York law firm with a 50-year history of excellence, along with her team. Karen R. King and her colleagues have agreed to represent Professor Tao pro bono, offering their services without compensation. Since the case will be heard in federal court in Kansas, a local Kansas attorney is required to participate. To further reduce Professor Tao’s litigation burden, CALDA will also cover part of the fees and case-related expenses for the local attorney in Kansas, fully supporting Professor Tao in his pursuit of justice.Attorney Karen R. King has extensive experience in complex litigation, U.S. economic sanctions compliance, regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, securities litigation, and strategic legal consulting. She has represented global financial institutions, international corporations, and individuals in numerous cases before federal and state courts, as well as in investigations by U.S. regulatory and enforcement agencies.Karen is also dedicated to public service, assisting the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) in addressing anti-Asian hate and violence issues and achieving notable successes in related Supreme Court advocacy. She was named an "Outstanding Leader" by the New York Law Journal in September 2022 and recognized as one of the "Outstanding Women in Law" by New York Business in June 2023.Read the CALDA report: https://bit.ly/3C26avy Rep. Judy Chu's Remarks at 01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting On January 6, 2025, Congresswoman Judy Chu , Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) delivered a heartfelt New Year welcome, addressing the challenges faced by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and highlighting the progress achieved through collective advocacy. As she has done in recent years during APA Justice’s January Monthly Meetings, Congresswoman Chu reaffirmed her commitment to advancing civil rights and combating discrimination. Congresswoman Chu recounted the inception of the APA Justice Task Force in 2015, emphasizing its formation to address racial profiling against Asian Americans, particularly scientists such as Sherry Chen 陈霞芬 and Dr. Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 . She stated, “I put out a call to mobilize and organize, and I’m so proud that you took action and created the APA Justice Task Force.”She expressed pride in the community’s advocacy, noting how their voices have become more influential in addressing issues such as racial profiling and defending civil rights. She condemned the China Initiative, a program initiated under President Donald Trump that disproportionately targeted Chinese American scientists. Despite its termination, she acknowledged the lasting damage it inflicted: “We saw time and time again how baseless accusations... resulted in protracted legal battles that upended lives and careers.” She credited collective efforts for ending the initiative but cautioned, “Our job is far from done.” Congresswoman Chu also condemned recent discriminatory land ownership laws at both state and local levels that specifically target Chinese and immigrant communities. She drew parallels between these laws and past racist legislation, sharing, “We’ve heard stories like... Mr. Zhiming Xu ... who was forced to cancel his contract to simply purchase a new home, losing both his property and a $30,000 deposit.” She highlighted legislative efforts to address this injustice, adding, “And it’s why Congressman Al Green and I introduced the Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act to block state laws that would discriminate against individuals based on their citizenship.”Celebrating increased AAPI representation in Congress, she noted a record 25 AAPI members in the 119th Congress and 80 members of CAPAC, the largest in history. She reiterated her commitment to opposing discriminatory agendas and supporting the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.Congresswoman Chu emphasized the critical role of organizations like APA Justice in mobilizing communities, advocating for civil rights, and resisting discriminatory policies. She urged continued vigilance and activism to defend against harmful policies targeting AAPI and immigrant communities while fostering collaboration to protect civil liberties. She concluded with a pledge of ongoing support, stating, “I look forward to continuing our work together this year and beyond.”Watch Congresswoman Chu's remarks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNT61PApwQ (8:17). A summary of the January 6 APA Justice monthly meeting is being reviewed before its release. Bracing for Threats in San Francisco According to the San Francisco Examiner on January 7, 2025, Chinese American immigrant-rights groups and political leaders in San Francisco are bracing for potential anti-immigrant policies under President-elect Donald Trump 's second term, set to begin on January 20, 2025. Trump's campaign promises of mass deportations, including targeting Chinese nationals, have sparked widespread fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu , himself the son of immigrants, voiced concerns about the harmful consequences of anti-Asian rhetoric, citing the spike in anti-Asian hate crimes during Trump’s first term. He emphasized the city’s responsibility to protect its diverse immigrant population, including the estimated 40,000 undocumented Chinese residents and their families. Local advocacy groups, such as Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), are working to address the fears gripping the community. Since Election Day, CAA has seen an increase in inquiries from Chinese immigrants, particularly about naturalization and legal protections. Jose Ng , CAA’s immigrants-rights program manager, emphasized the importance of spreading accurate information to counter rumors and prevent panic. The organization has launched initiatives to educate the community on their legal rights, including protections under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, and has conducted outreach through Chinese-language media to provide reassurance. San Francisco’s sanctuary city status remains a cornerstone of its immigrant protections, ensuring that local law enforcement cannot assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without a warrant or court order. Jorge Rivas , executive director of the San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs, highlighted the city’s collaboration with nonprofits to prepare for potential federal policies. These efforts include analyzing Trump's proposed measures and ensuring a coordinated response. Officials have also encouraged immigrants to complete citizenship applications and other documentation while President Joe Biden remains in office.Despite the uncertainty, organizations like CAA are expanding their resources, including multilingual legal staff, to better serve immigrant communities. Ng stressed the importance of empowering residents through rights training and legal assistance to withstand potential challenges. “Don’t panic, because that’s what the administration wants,” he urged, while reaffirming San Francisco’s commitment to protecting its immigrant population. Advocacy groups and city officials remain united in their mission to support vulnerable communities and uphold the city’s long-standing values of inclusivity and justice.Read the San Francisco Examiner report: https://bit.ly/4jdpqHa News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/01/15 Master Class: Maintaining the Effectiveness of Organizational Equity Initiatives in the Current Environment2024/01/16 Master Classes: Asian American Career Lessons2025/01/19 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. White House Initiative Releases Final Report On January 7, 2025, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) released Rising Together, its final report to President Joe Biden.The report highlights the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for the communities, featuring updates from 29 federal agencies and 86 recommendations from the President’s Advisory Commission on AA and NHPIs. Key focus areas include combating anti-Asian hate, promoting belonging, advancing data disaggregation, improving language access, addressing COVID-19 recovery, expanding outreach and engagement, and diversifying the federal workforce.Read the final report: https://bit.ly/4fLQw5m 3. Celebration of the Life of George Koo George Ping Shan Koo 顧屏山 , a distinguished advocate for U.S.-China relations and a prominent figure in the Chinese American community, passed away on September 24, 2024, at the age of 86. His death resulted from a head injury sustained during a fall on the pickleball court. Born in Hong Kong in 1938, George immigrated to the United States as a child. He earned degrees in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from Santa Clara University. Throughout his career, George was instrumental in fostering American-Chinese business partnerships and was a respected voice in the Chinese American community. He was a long-time member of the Committee of 100. A celebration of George's life will be held in Mountain View, CA, on February 2, 2025. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF January 13, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #241 C100 Activities; Florida SB 264 Hearing; AANHPI Education Summit; Officer Angwang; + #241 C100 Activities; Florida SB 264 Hearing; AANHPI Education Summit; Officer Angwang; + In This Issue #241 · Committee of 100 Activities and Annual Conference/Gala · Appeals Court Hearing on Florida Alien Land Law SB264 · 2024 AA and NHPI Higher Education Leadership Development Summit · Update on NYPD Officer Angwang · News and Activities for the Communities Committee of 100 Activities and Annual Conference/Gala During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 4, 2024, Cindy Tsai , Interim President and Executive Director, Committee of 100 (C100), reported on four primary C100 activities in addition to various ongoing collaborative activities with Asian American and other communities: · Interactive Map on Alien Land Bills. C100 has been tracking all the 2023 bills by state at https://bit.ly/3Hxta4B . It is currently in the process of creating another layer for the 2024 legislative session. With the basic structure in place, it is a matter of visualizing the data in an interactive map. Cindy emphasizes that while the national organizations are keeping an eye on these developments, it truly is those who are on the ground that will hear about it first. So as you hear about things that are coming out of your state, please share and verify with C100, which will in turn share it with the communities. C100 researcher Sam Collitt can be reached at scollitt@Committee100.org . · AAPI History and K-12 Curricula. C100 has in the last 2 years tracked and updated state-by-state analysis state bills that are available tools for the AAPI community to use as they advocate for AAPI education in schools. You do not need to have a stand-alone AAPI curriculum mandate to advocate to your school district for that type of education curriculum. Additionally, C100 converted its 2018 report on t he contributions of Chinese Americans into 5 middle school lesson plans. C100 is organizing teacher workshops over the summer. If you have interest in this area, please reach out to Cindy. C100 would love to provide these free materials to educators. · Next Generation Leaders Service Project. On March 6, C100 hosted a virtual webinar titled Breaking Career Ceilings and Feeling Comfortable in Your Own Skin. It was led by the C100 Next Generation Leaders Class of 2023. As a community, some of our parents taught us to keep our head down and assimilate. We are now seeing a new generation of people saying: I want to be the authentic me and still achieve and break the glass ceiling. · 2024 Annual Conference and Gala. The C100 annual conference and gala will be held in New York City on April 19, 2024. This year, C100 is doubling the number of curated sessions with three general sessions and two concurrent tracks — one on U.S.-China related topics and the other on key domestic AAPI issues —and will include more than 50 guest speakers, panelists and keynotes. The event will be topped off with a black-tie Gala celebrating the achievements and accomplishments from those in and around the AAPI community. For more information and registration, visit https://bit.ly/4ccKQkj Cindy can be reached at ctsai@committee100.org . A summary of the March 4 APA Justice monthly meeting is in progress. General Session · Debate: Will and Should Corporate DEI Activities Suffer the Same Fate as Affirmative Action? · The 2024 Elections and Their Impact on Asian Americans · Charting New Paths: Innovative Solutions to Asian American Issues Asian American Issue Track · Asian American Awareness Through Education · The Impact of U.S.-China Tensions on Asian Americans in Government · Asian American Career Ceilings – Findings and Solutions · AAPI Community Response to Rising Anti-Asian Hostility · U.S. National Defense Policies - Impact on Asian Americans and U.S. Competitiveness U.S.-China Issues Track · Perspectives on China by Former U.S. Ambassadors · Will the Chinese Economy Stagnate Like Japan's Did? · Foreign Direct Investment – Both Ways – What is Happening and Why? · U.S.-China Tech and Industrial Rivalry · Diplomacy Through Food and Culture Appeals Court Hearing on Florida Alien Land Law SB264 Following its ruling to temporarily halt the enforcement of the Florida alien land law known as SB 264 against two Chinese immigrants on February 1, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit will hold hearings in Miami, Florida, in the morning of April 19, 2024. It is one of three cases that will be heard by a three-judge panel. Location of the hearing is James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building, 13th Floor, 99 NE 4th St, Miami, FL 33132. The hearing is open to the public.Read the docket of the civil lawsuit of Shen vs Simpson: https://bit.ly/43idmvB . Read the ACLU statement on the February 1 Appeals Court decision: https://bit.ly/3Utx0Ub 2024 AA and NHPI Higher Education Leadership Development Summit WHAT : 2024 AA and NHPI Higher Education Leadership Development Summit WHEN: April 2, 2024, 8:30 am - 7:30 pm Pacific Time WHERE: In-person event, University of California, Berkeley - Martin Luther King Jr. Building, 2495 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94704 HOSTS: White House Initiative on AA and NHPI; U.S. Office of Personnel Management DESCRIPTION: The one-day summit will focus on cultivating and transforming leaders in their careers within the higher education space. Together, we will engage in curated professional development topics that address challenges that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPIs) face in the higher education workplace, and bring together a rich community of administrators, staff, and faculty who are leading by example – whether it be as part of an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institution (ANNHSI), or at other degree-granting institutions (including trade and technical schools). REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3Vncrco Update on NYPD Officer Angwang According to a report by Documented on March 13, 2024, Baijmadajie Angwang , a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer and ethnic Tibetan immigrant from China, was fired by NYPD on January 29, 2024.Angwang’s case is part of a wave of prosecutions of Chinese immigrants living in the U.S. under the umbrella of the now-defunct "China Initiative," the first country-specific enforcement program in the history of the Department of Justice (DOJ). It targeted mainly scholars and scientists and had gained a reputation for being racially biased and ineffective. An analysis by the MIT Technology Review at the end of 2021 found that only about a quarter of the defendants were charged for violations against the Economic Espionage Act, while many others faced integrity issues, such as failing to reveal their affiliations with research institutes in China in grant applications. On September 21, 2020, a handful of FBI agents pointed M4 rifles at Angwang's head and handcuffed him in front of his wife and 2-year-old daughter at his home on Long Island. He spent six months in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he was only allowed two individual one-hour meetings with his family and lawyer.In January 2023, after Angwang's lawyer John Carman reviewed classified evidence at the U.S. district court in Brooklyn, prosecutors abruptly dropped the charges against Angwang. The dismissal came with a vague note citing newly discovered evidence.Carman, expressing skepticism, believed Angwang's ethnicity played a role in his arrest, noting the weak evidence against him. As a defense lawyer for nearly 30 years, Carman has observed an increase in Chinese clients in federal criminal cases over the past five years. NYPD continued its internal investigation against Angwang based on the dropped federal charges, and, later, terminated his employment. “Most internal investigations based on court cases would be dropped after the court cases are dismissed,” said Angwang, who worked as a community affairs officer at the 111th precinct in Queens before he was arrested. “It’s hard to believe in the city most welcoming to immigrants, they’d treat a new immigrant cop like me in this way.” He had also served as a US Marine in Afghanistan. “The financial burden, the toll on your mental health. Even when your charges are dropped, the impact on your family and your career is far from over,” said Haipei Shue , president of United Chinese Americans, a civil rights organization that has supported Chinese scientists.The NYPD official file on Angwang's termination is posted here: https://bit.ly/3THjLOX .Angwang's termination by the NYPD has not been reported by mainstream media. Read the Documented report: https://bit.ly/3TkslSl . Read Anywang's story: https://bit.ly/3RIqXId . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/03/24 Committee of Concerned Scientists Annual Meeting 2024/03/25 C100: Asian American Career Ceiling Challenges in Broadcast News2024/03/26 Rally Opposing Florida SB 8462024/03/28 CSIS: U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: The Path Forward2024/04/02 2024 AA and NHPI Higher Education Leadership Development Summit2024/04/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/04/08 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. CSIS: U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: The Path Forward WHAT: U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: The Path Forward WHEN: March 28, 2024, 9:00 - 10:00 am Eastern Time WHERE: WebcastHOST: Center for Strategic and International StudiesMODERATOR: Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, CSISPANELISTS: · Scott Rozelle, Co-Director, Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions · Deborah Seligsohn, Assistant Professor, Villanova University · Yu Tiejun, President, Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Peking University · Xie Tao, Dean and Professor, School of International Relations and Diplomacy, Beijing Foreign Studies University · Zhang Ran, Associate Professor, Peking University DESCRIPTION: Over the last two years, the Trustee Chair has led an initiative to avoid U.S.-China scholarly decoupling and restore ties amongst scholars, students and institutions. In 2023, CSIS and Peking University co-hosted a pair of conferences with participation from leading experts from both countries that examined the obstacles to scholarly ties and steps that could be taken to overcome these challenges and create a stronger foundation for renewed ties. This event centers around the release of a major report with contributions from over two dozen of the project participants. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4aaCKGV 3. Racially Profiled for Being A Scientist: A Discussion of the US DOJ's China Initiative WHAT: Racially Profiled for Being A Scientist: A Discussion of the US DOJ's China Initiative WHEN: April 17, 2024, 4:30 - 6:00 pm Eastern Time WHERE: In-person event; Press Hall, 1st floor lobby, New York University HOST: New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human DevelopmentMODERATOR: Hua-Yu Sebastian Cherng, Vice Dean for Research and Equity, NYU SteinhardtPANELISTS: · Daniel Tam-Claiborne, Executive Director, Serica Initiative · Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, the Asian American Scholar Forum · Frank Wu, President, Queens College DESCRIPTION: A discussion of the China Initiative, a Trump-era - but potentially revived - effort "inciting widespread fear of racial profiling for Asian Americans across the country." REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3THMOlt 4. Serica Initiative: AAPI Women's Gala 2024 WHAT: AAPI Women's Gala 2024 WHEN: May 14, 2024 WHERE: In-person event, Tribeca 360, New York City HOST: Serica Initiative DESCRIPTION: An event that celebrates the remarkable journeys of women who embody the essence of our theme, "Strength Unveiled: A Celebration of Women's Success Through Resilience and Perseverance." It honors the achievements of women with significant ties to Asia—be they from the AAPI community, other parts of Asia, or those who have significantly contributed to bridging cultures and fostering inclusion across continents. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3PxI4fJ 5. Lunar New Year A Holiday In The State Of Washington According to Seattle Times , Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation on March 13, 2024, officially making Lunar New Year a recognized legislative holiday in the state of Washington. The bill’s sponsor, State Representative My-Linh Thai , D-Bellevue, proposed it as part of an effort to promote inclusion of Asian Americans earlier this year. The bill passed the House on January 31 with a vote of 96-1 and on February 28 it unanimously passed the Senate with a 96-0 vote. Washington now joins Colorado and California , which mark Lunar New Year as an official, but unpaid, holiday. In recent years, New York state and Philadelphia began recognizing it as a public school holiday, and U.S. Rep. Grace Meng , D-N.Y., reintroduced a proposal to make Lunar New Year a federal holiday . Lunar New Year celebrations include Tết in Vietnam, Seollal in Korea and Spring Festival in China. Because the holiday is based on the lunar calendar, it does not fall on a set day and floats between January and February. Lunar New Year is generally a 15-day celebration. More than 900,000 Washingtonians identify as Asian, about 12% of the state’s population and about 20% of King County’s population, according to 2020 census data. Read the Seattle Times report: https://bit.ly/3PtCY3Y Back View PDF March 20, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter