Newsletter - #244 Florida Rally and Lawsuit; AASF Update; CSIS Report; Panel on China Initiative; More #244 Florida Rally and Lawsuit; AASF Update; CSIS Report; Panel on China Initiative; More In This Issue #244 · Updates on Florida Rally and Lawsuit Against SB 846 · AASF Updates from March APA Justice Monthly Meeting · CSIS Report: US-China Scholarly Recoupling · Expert Panel Talks Effects of The China Initiative on Academic Freedom · News and Activities for the Communities Updates on Florida Rally and Lawsuit Against SB 846 According to the Independent Florida Alligator , as protest speakers climbed one by one atop a picnic table to address a crowd of 200 gathered in the Reitz Union courtyard on March 26, 2024, their words were met not with claps or cheers, but with the sound of plastic whistles blasting.The Florida Chinese Faculty Association (FCFA) organized the protest in response to the Florida Board of Governors meeting taking place at the University of Florida in the Reitz Student Union. The FCFA gathered to denounce Senate Bill (SB) 846, which bans “partnerships,” including recruitment programs, between state universities and any non-U.S. citizen living in one of seven countries of “concern:” China, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, Cuba, Syria and North Korea. The state law was passed in May and went into effect December 1. Before the event, organizers passed out plastic bags holding yellow whistles reading “WE BELONG.” The protestors clutched the whistles alongside signs bearing phrases like “We make UF, you make the crisis” and “Education without borders.” Protestors ranged from students wearing jeans to faculty in suits and loafers. An oak tree offered shade from the 77-degree weather as protestors gathered underneath it to hear a slate of about 20 speakers.FCFA Secretary and UF materials science and engineering professor Jiangeng Xue and his colleagues have already noticed two main effects of the law in the months since it’s been passed. The first is a discriminatory environment. The law will also lower the quality of graduate students at UF. “We're not going to be seeing the impact right away,” Xue said. “But three, four or five years down the road, we're going to be seeing a decline in the research quality that ultimately is going to affect the reputation of the university.” Others who spoke out in the Independent Florida Alligator report include · Nathan Arndt, a 24-year-old UF materials science and engineering Ph.D. student and member of UF Graduate Assistants United said, “We like having co-workers that are the best at what they do. Not only is this law racism and xenophobia disguised as national security, it’s also anti-education.” · Jay Xie, a 20-year-old UF accounting sophomore and president of the UF Chinese Student Association, said, “I don’t see any people really being harmed or hurt by graduate students doing academic study here, and I just feel like that’s kind of nonsense. I feel like national security is just a golden phrase they can use on anything.” · Arash Fahim, an FSU math professor, tried to tell fellow faculty to go ahead and recruit as usual if they didn’t receive any policy from their university. “One of them was shaking his head and told me, ‘Actually, we did not have any applicants from those [countries],’” Fahim said. “They already know politicians don’t like them in Florida.” · Gisela Perez Kusakawa, civil rights attorney and executive director of the Asian American Scholar Forum, said AASF came together from a need to give Asian American scholars a voice against laws like SB 846. “We must make a stand here in Florida and ensure that this is not replicated in other states across the country. We must remain vigilant to make sure that history is not repeated and that Asian Americans and Asian immigrants do not continue to be scapegoated as threats.” Read the Independent Florida Alligator report: https://bit.ly/3VSTMpt . Additional media coverage: 2024/03/27 AsAmNews: Chinese Students at University of Florida Declare “We Belong” 2024/03/27 WUFT/NPR: Protestors at UF reject SB 846, call for education without borders 2024/03/26 WFUT/NPR: NEWS First at Five (video) Vincent Wang Speaks at Rally Vincent Wang , Co-Organizer of APA Justice, spoke at the rally at Gainesville, and provided the following report:"I was extremely encouraged by the successful event today. The professional organizations at the University of Florida and other colleges worked very hard for a month to pull it off. Gisela did a lot of work to coordinate with national organizations and media outreach ."Multiple racial groups participated in the rally. There were many Chinese and Iranian professors. The impact on them is real and now. Many cannot hire international students and/or researchers, or have to cancel their offers already extended before the law. Some prospective international students who received offers are hesitating on whether to come, or move on to elsewhere. A lot of young students have become activists calling out the harmful SB 846. "Participants from different backgrounds came together in condemning the detrimental and chilling effect of SB 846, and the lack of transparency and clarity by the colleges and universities. The overarching sentiment is that their academic freedom and their access to educational opportunities were being violated, and the politicians making the law were out of touch and made decisions without input from those in the field. They resented the disregard of their fundamental rights for education and research and well being by politicians who weaponized national security for politician gains."The yellow whistles helped people connect each other effectively and efficiently, and developed a sense of belonging and solidarity. It was a wild success." Lawsuit Against Florida SB 846 According to Florida Politics , AP , and other media reports, a Chinese professor and two Chinese graduate students are suing in federal court to stop a new law that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) says unfairly targets Chinese international students and others from working as graduate assistants for academic research projects. Zhipeng Yin and Zhen Guo , doctoral students from Florida International University, joined University of Florida professor Zhengfei Guan in filing the lawsuit over SB 846 in the U.S. District Court’s Miami Division. The plaintiffs are represented by the ACLU Foundation of Florida , the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) 华美维权同盟 , and Perkins Coie LLP .“This law is unfair, unjustified, and unconstitutional,” said Daniel Tilley , legal director for the Florida chapter of the ACLU. “Everyone in the United States is entitled to equal protection under our laws, including citizens of other countries. The discriminatory policies pushed by the DeSantis administration will not go unchecked.”The complaint names Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. , State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues and members of the Board of Governors.The case is Yin v. Diaz (1:24-cv-21129) . APA Justice has created a web page to track the development of the lawsuit at https://bit.ly/43CIGGD AASF Updates from March APA Justice Monthly Meeting During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 4, 2024, Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), provided the following updates of AASF activities:Gisela expressed deep thanks to Director Arati Prabhakar and Cole Donovan for meeting with AASF researchers and leaders at the Capitol, along with Erika Moritsugu , Deputy Assistant to the President; Principal Advisor Ting Wu , and Krystal Ka'ai , Executive Director of the White House initiative. Gisela looks forward to working further with the White House on how AASF can lift up Asian American scholar contributions in our country and work together towards ensuring a more welcoming and inclusive environment that helps Asian Americans and scholars thrive.AASF conducted political appointment training early on and continues to encourage the community to consider working in public service with the Biden Administration and with Federal agencies. It is critical that we not only have a seat at the table, but continue to be engaged in our country.AASF will be meeting with the new NIH director. Dr. Monica Bertagnolli , to create a bridge between our community and administration officials to ensure that the community's voices are heard. The meeting is closed door. Gisela encourages outreach to her and AASF on your concerns so that she can communicate them directly to NIH leadership.Regarding the release of the CJS joint explanatory statement without the China initiative language, AASF is in the process of reviewing the new language and will be releasing our analysis as a resource for the community. AASF has been working with Nature on a portfolio. It featured Gang Chen , Jenny Lee , George Karniadakis , Yu Xie , Kai Li , Steven Chu , and Yiguang Ju . It highlights the loss of talent and scrutiny that academics are facing at the border and lifts up the AASF data report.AASF continues to monitor the impacts of a Florida law that recently went into effect, which restricts Florida's public colleges and universities from hiring researchers and graduate assistance from several countries of concern which includes China and Iran. AASF has a brief explainer for what this legislation means, and it is working to provide more educational resources for the community. AASF is working with Florida professors and students on the ground to see how AASF can support them. AASF is also monitoring the DETERRENT Act, which passed the House and has been introduced in the Senate. AASF is working to hear more about the timeline for conferencing.A summary for the meeting is being prepared at this time. 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 . CSIS Report: US-China Scholarly Recoupling On March 27, 2024, the Center for Strategies & International Studies (CSIS) published a report titled "U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: Advancing Mutual Understanding in an Era of Intense Rivalry." According to the CSIS announcement, "The United States and China have avoided outright scholarly decoupling, but the over-securitization of every element of the relationship is restricting a more comprehensive recoupling of ties, a vexing situation which is stifling research, limiting overseas study, reducing mutual understanding, and harming the national interest of both countries."These are the key conclusions of this report, which is the culmination of a two-year initiative led by CSIS and Peking University. The 27 essays in this volume, contributed by American and Chinese scholars from a wide range of disciplines, explain the benefits of U.S.-China scholarly cooperation to the two societies and the world at large, identify the obstacles to greater exchanges, and outline practical strategies for overcoming these challenges."Although the U.S. and Chinese governments must play a central role in creating a stronger foundation for relations in general and scholarly cooperation in particular, it will be up to the scholarly community itself—professors, researchers, administrators, editors, funders, and students—to ensure that their principles are protected and their mission furthered."A webinar was held to launch the report on March 28, 2024.Download and read the CSIS report: https://bit.ly/49brHMR . Listen to audio brief: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Miq4NGzDNc8 (4:21). Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/3xeYZ0p Expert Panel Talks Effects of The China Initiative on Academic Freedom According to Michigan Daily , the University of Michigan Faculty Senate held a panel discussion on the China Initiative and its aftermath. The China Initiative was created by the Department of Justice in 2018 to combat Chinese national security threats by identifying and prosecuting people involved with trade secret theft, hacking and economic espionage. Since the China Initiative’s implementation in 2018, the rate of Chinese scientists leaving the U.S. has skyrocketed. Eighty-one percent of the scientists targeted through the China Initiative identify as Asian and 72% of Chinese scientists report feeling unsafe as an academic researcher in the U.S. The China Initiative was terminated in 2022, but investigations into Chinese scientists have persisted. At the event, the panelists condemned the initiative as having negative impacts on Chinese scientists in the United States and discouraging scientific collaboration between the U.S. and China. A major topic of discussion for the panel was how investigations stemming from the China Initiative contain misunderstandings of basic scientific procedure and federally funded grant agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, encourage universities to terminate employees being investigated for minor or unintentional infractions. Speakers at the event include · Gang Chen, professor of power engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Peter Zeidenberg, attorney · Ruixue Jia, professor of economics at the University of California, San Diego · Ann Chih Lin, professor of public policy, University of Michigan Senior Eli Chapman said Chen’s story was particularly interesting to him. “You can hear statistics and you can read about things, but hearing from a person who actually went through this experience really added a different element to it that made it very personal,” Chapman said. He believes spreading the word about stories like Chen’s is important in creating discourse about the China Initiative. “The more publicization, the better,” Chapman said. “If we can hear stories like Chen’s, then people start to realize how messed up it has been. If we let the government control the narrative, that’s when the bad sentiment is going to really start.”Read the Michigan Daily report: https://bit.ly/3vl9COJ News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/04/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/04/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/04/17 Racially Profiled for Being a Scientist: A Discussion of the US DOJ's China Initiative2024/04/18 Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice 2024/04/19 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2024/04/19 Appeals Court Hearing on Florida SB 2642024/05/02 AAGEN 2024 Executive Leadership WorkshopVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. Back View PDF March 29, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #188: 4/3 Meeting Summary; Robert Underwood; Paula Madison; Alien Land Bills; Students; More #188: 4/3 Meeting Summary; Robert Underwood; Paula Madison; Alien Land Bills; Students; More In This Issue #188 2023/04/03 Monthly Meeting Summary Posted Dr. Robert Underwood - President's Advisory Commission and More Paula Williams Madison's Proposed National Network and Strike Forces Latest on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills How the U.S.-China Clash is Being Felt on Campus News and Activities for the Communities 2023/04/03 Monthly Meeting Summary Posted The April 3, 2023, APA Justice monthly meeting summary has been posted at https://bit.ly/3qogBU1 . We thank the following speakers for their updates and discussions: Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), provided updates on the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, federal alien land bill, OMB Directive MD-15, and U.S. Civil Rights Commission hearing. Video of her report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnIrq1hfl4A (video 6:32 to 11:34) John Liu 刘醇逸 , New York State Senator on the importance of Asian American studies, his efforts to include it in New York state education curriculum, and the case of New York Police Department Officer Baimadajie Angwang and its broader implications. Kai Li 李凯 , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) substituted for Gisela Perez Kusakawa , AASF Executive Director on upcoming AASF activities in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and its continuing efforts for due process and accountability from the federal government such as the National Institutes of Health and universities. AASF is collecting stories on those who are harassed or interrogated at the border of entry. John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, on its congressional interactions, its efforts to ensure talking about US China relations with nuance, and caution about some policymakers trying to pull apart the AANHPI, African American, Hispanic American, and Native American communities. Robert Underwood , Member, President's Advisory Commission on AANHPI; Former President, University of Guam; Former Chair, CAPAC; Co-Chair of the United States Institute of Peace China-Freely Associated States Senior Study Group, on his experience in Dr. Wen Ho Lee 's 李文和 case, the purpose of the President’s Advisory Commission and upcoming activities, his experience with hiring of professors of Chinese origin as President of University of Guam, and what Guam is facing with the rhetoric of the China threat and military buildup. Dr. Underwood encourages the audience to communicate directly with him and the Advisory Commission. Watch Robert's report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnIrq1hfl4A (video 11:48 to 25:21) Paula Williams Madison 罗笑娜 , Former Print and TV Journalist, Retired NBCUniversal Executive and GE Company Officer, Former Vice President of the Los Angeles Police Commission and Owner of The Africa Channel, on her experience as a Hakka, Jamaican, African, and Chinese American; the need for the AANHPI community to build a national alert network and strike teams; and her experience on community building the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd . Watch Paula's report and discussions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpOg_XkigGI (video 54:50) Dr. Robert Underwood - President's Advisory Commission and More On April 3, 2023, Dr. Robert Underwood joined the APA Justice monthly meeting from Guam at 4 am Chamorro Standard Time. It is the only time zone named after a people - Chamorro is the indigenous people of the Mariana Islands including Guam in the Pacific Ocean. Naming of the time zone was the work of then-Congressman Underwood about 25 years ago. Robert served as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) from 1997 to 2001, which intersected with the wrongful prosecution of Dr. Wen Ho Lee , a nuclear scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Dr. Lee, born in Taiwan and a naturalized US citizen, was wrongfully accused of spying for the People's Republic of China. CAPAC held briefings in Congress specifically on racial profiling at the DOE labs. Judge James Parker apologized for the government's treatment of Dr. Lee. New York Times expressed second thoughts about its reporting of the Wen Ho Lee case beginning in March 1999. Dr. Lee was later compensated with a $1.6 million settlement from the U.S. federal government and five news organizations for privacy violations.According to a report by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) 22 years ago on May 11, 2001, Robert began his talk at LLNL by saying "[w]e need to look at the effects of the Wen Ho Lee case and racial profiling by the FBI on the whole Asian Pacific American community. While no one condones espionage, it’s time to look at the effects of these kinds of investigations.""It is amazing that racial profiling and all its problems can exist among the best — highly educated, highly literate people, who really understand American history," Robert said at LLNL. "Now we have the perception that Asian Americans are somehow a threat to national security. It is so important to tell the story of how Asian Americans in fact have made a proportionally large contribution to national security through technology and their work at the national labs." In the April 2023 meeting, Robert recalled learning from LLNL that about 30% of its physicists were of Asian background. Instead of giving the Asian American scientists a double look, he suggested that we should thank them for disproportionately protecting the United States and the nuclear stockpile.According to Robert, we are experiencing many of these issues right now. You can see it in the conversation about TikTok. There may be good reasons to deal with that, but it is the nature of the conversation. It is the emotional content that is driven by people looking again at each other and giving people double checks. The intelligence agencies are looking at people again over and over and over, giving them double, triple checks. That is xenophobia.As a commissioner on the President’s Advisory Commission on AANHPI (Commission), Robert explains that the purpose of the Commission is equity, justice, and dealing with anti-Asian xenophobia. The Commission has several committees on topics ranging from Data Equity and Disaggregation, Health Equity, Economic Equity, to Asian Hate and Inclusion. The Commission is the vehicle through which all of us can participate.However, racial profiling is currently not on the Commission's radar screen. Robert urges all of us to pay attention, get involved, and make our input known to the Commission at aanhpicommission@hhs.gov . APA Justice submitted its comments titled " Pursuing a More Perfect Union and an Equitable Society " to the Commission on March 10, 2023. The Commission is planning to hold two public sessions in Hawaii and Washington DC in July and September respectively. A report including findings and recommendations is due for the President before the Commission expires later this year. A new Presidential Executive Order will be needed to renew the Commission. Unlike other commissions for African and Hispanic Americans that have permanent staffs, the current Commission on AANHPI rotates temporary staff every three months. This is an inequity that should be addressed with the next Commission.In Guam, Robert has seen the possibility of an 8-billion-dollar investment in anti-missile defense systems, 19 missile batteries, which were not even thought of 2 or 3 years ago. It is advertised as deterrence to generate public support.In reality, in order to generate public support for the massive investment in military spending and in rearranging the so-called defense architecture in the Pacific Ocean, you have to generate a kind of fear of China and a concern about China.This has manifested itself in various ways of conversation in Guam. There are always subset issues that come up as a result because the exacerbated rhetoric has to be the basis for the justification.Once you get the military defense complex, you think about 8 billion dollars, that is a lot of money for a small area like Guam (2020 population 154,000 according to the Census Bureau). You are talking about an anti-missile defense system and a massive investment by companies that are going to provide these systems.So there are articles coming out. There is always conversation - the local military commanders talking about homeland security on a monthly basis. The public is told that there is a missile being tested in North Korea and don't panic. But every time someone tells you every 2 or 3 weeks, don't panic, it has the effect of actually creating panic because: why are we in this heightened environment?All of those things in combination create a very unfavorable and disturbing set of circumstances, particularly for Asian scientists.Robert has seen that personally in his capacity as President of the University of Guam. Some of the faculty members and professors that Robert hired were from the People's Republic of China and some from Taiwan. He has seen that in the conversation. Robert was successful in hiring them and, parenthetically, they are great faculty members, some are doing patents, they are doing different things that are enhancing the capacity of the university in Guam. But the nature of the conversation for hiring them was disturbing because it reflects some of this xenophobia, which is being heightened at this time.Robert welcomes the audience to communicate with him on these issues. He can be reached at anacletus2010@gmail.com . Read the summary of his remarks at: https://bit.ly/3qogBU1 . Watch a recording of his remarks at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnIrq1hfl4A (video 11:48 to 25:21) Paula Williams Madison's Proposed National Network and Strike Forces Paula William Madison was a newspaper reporter, then editor at the Fort Worth Star Telegram and the Dallas Times Herald . Later she joined ABC and became a TV news executive at WFAA TV8 in Dallas and moved to NBC to join KHOU-11 in Houston. In 1989, she returned to her hometown New York City and became an executive of NBCUniversal until her retirement.In early March, Paula raised in the Coalition for a Better Los Angeles weekly Zoom meeting that the AAPI community could use a media watchdog group. It would be tasked with submitting content to news media and disseminating to the general community information, news stories, editorials, op-eds and more regarding acts of discrimination, hatred, and other dangerous actions which target AAPI folks. Perhaps a conversation could be held with a number of national organizations that would form such a task force which would be useful and appropriate for the foreseeable future. Several organizations including UCA, CACA, Committee of 100, and Asian American Advancing Justice could form such an entity.Paula referred to this background at the April 3 meeting. She started by saying that the concept may not be revolutionary, but it has perhaps not been proposed the way she was going to propose.The idea was certainly prompted by Texas Senate Bill 147. Paula reached out to a number of friends and organizations and began to agitate. While this bill was introduced in Texas, the implications nationally and globally are huge. Paula hopes that there will be some consideration given to forming in a more formalized fashion a task force or a national monitoring group that goes across a variety of organizations. When there are issues to deal with, a strike force composed of well respected and well credential individuals from throughout our communities would be ready to speak clearly and effectively about the particular matter. At this time, when something happens, we respond and we react.Paula proposes that we go on the offensive by employing strategies to reach editorial boards of major media with enough of a portfolio and credibility to meet and talk about how a particular issue is being framed by them or not being addressed, as well as to suggest speakers to the editorial boards. The public is now being frightened into considering anything that is from the East - anything that is Chinese or Chinese-like - to be scary and dangerous to the United States.In the past two years, look at how much attention has been paid to anti-Asian hate. We have never seen this kind of coverage. Many of the news organizations are willing to hear our perspectives.It is an approach tried and true by Paula. We should take into account the strategies that have been used effectively by the African American and Hispanic American communities. There is already a playbook that could be adopted with many similar strategies without being in our own silos. In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Paula became very concerned about media reports. Paula and Gay Yuen , Chair of the Friends of the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles, reached out to two congresswomen – Judy Chu and Barbara Lee – about the optics that young people were marching arm-in-arm, but comments were sought by the media from the older generation and siloed by race. One of the important messages is the “disrespect” towards the AAPI community. Incidents of slights for the AAPI community occur in ways that would never exist for the African or Hispanic communities. Paula recognizes that Confucianism does not make waves. Do not be too loud. Try to get along. However, in our society, those values are not held high generally. Consequently, there is a stereotype about people of the AAPI community – they are model minorities who are quiet and do not make waves. They do not create concerns or issues. Paula implores our group to consider that those stereotypes, however incorrect they may be, are not serving us.This is a time in a variety of ways in this society when we are beginning to see some willingness to be more accepting. Maybe there has been discrimination. Maybe we are not being fair. So maybe that door is opening a little bit. But again, Paula opines, when we take a look at xenophobia, that door slams shut right away.Paula’s proposal is to come together and form a strike team - a task force that takes a look at not only media but also legislative actions that will push our communities into the realm of mysterious and fearful. A vibrant discussion followed. The proposal was warmly received. Paula's basic concept has been growing. In upcoming issues of this newsletter, we will further describe a roundtable that took place on April 17, how the concept was put into immediate action in addressing the alien land bills, and the developing vision and plans to further implement the concept.Read summary of Paula's talk: https://bit.ly/3qogBU1 . Watch Paula's talk and discussions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpOg_XkigGI (video 54:50) Latest on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills 1. APA Justice Updates Its Tracking of State Alien Land Bills and Laws APA Justice updated its tracking map and table on June 3, 2023: https://bit.ly/43oJ0YI .According to AL.com and Alabama Political Reporter , Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 379, also known as the Property Protection Act, into law to prohibit the governments of China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia from purchasing certain property in the state. The bill drew strong opposition from Chinese Americans living in Alabama after it passed the House. It initially banned Chinese citizens, including those living and working in Alabama, from buying property in the state. Opponents of the bill overflowed a committee room at a public hearing. They said the bill was a baseless attack on Chinese immigrants who work in Alabama in education, medical care, research and other fields, raise their families here, and contribute to their communities in multiple ways.The state Senate changed the bill and passed it on a vote of 26-7, with Republican support and opposition from most Democrats. The House concurred with the changes, sending the bill to the governor for signature.Although the Senate changed the House version of the bill that targeted individuals, concerns from the Chinese American community and others remain. Opponents of the bill said it would contribute to negative attitudes and hostility toward Chinese Americans and other Asian immigrants. They said the sentiment of the original bill, targeting Chinese citizens and failing to distinguish them from the Chinese government, had caused lasting damage. Yeqing Bao , a professor and chair of the Department of Marketing and Management in the College of Business at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, contacted lawmakers and urged them to vote against the bill. Bao was also at the public hearing where the Senate committee changed the bill. “While I support Governor Ivey and our legislators’ goal of safeguarding our country’s national security and economy, the Bill itself is misaligned with that goal,” Bao commented on Ivey signing the bill. Linyuan Guo-Brennan , Secretary of the Central Alabama Association of Chinese, stated the law was racist and discriminatory to all countries targeted by the law. “The passage of the bill demonstrates that Alabama has not come afar from the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act,” Linyuan said. “History has shown us that any law specifically targeting countries and their people is unconstitutional and [discriminatory]. This law is no different, no matter what is the motivation behind it.”The Alabama state law will restrict specific entities or “foreign principals” from certain countries from obtaining agricultural property as well as property on or near a military installation or certain infrastructure facility. The foreign countries include China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Read the AL.com report: https://bit.ly/3C6ZUzc . Read the Alabama Political Reporter report: https://bit.ly/3oGIw1b 2. The Hill : Chinese Americans fight back against bans on buying property According to the Hill on June 2, 2023, Asian Americans are fighting back against what they see as discriminatory efforts to ban Chinese citizens from buying property in certain states. “These are Chinese Americans who have come here to build a better life,” said Nabila Mansoor , executive director of Texas progressive group Rise AAPI, which has helped to organize against the Texas bill. “And what you’re telling them is that’s not good enough; we welcome you here with open arms, but we’re not going to give you the same rights and privileges that everyone else has.”The Alabama House passed a similar bill in May, which was scaled back to focus on hostile governments before passing the Senate. Many other states have passed or considered narrower bills that only focus on agricultural land or banning purchases by entities affiliated with the Chinese government. But the broader bills in states like Texas and Florida have drawn particularly fierce pushback. “Florida’s discriminatory property law is unfair, unjustified and unconstitutional,” said Ashley Gorski , a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which is helping to represent the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Florida state law, “Everyone in the United States is entitled to equal protection under our laws, including citizens of other countries.”“All Asian Americans will feel the stigma and the chilling effect created by this Florida law, just like the discriminatory laws did to our ancestors more than a hundred years ago,” said Clay Zhu of the Chinese American Legal Defense [Alliance], a party to the suit. In response to the new Florida law, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chairwoman Rep. Judy Chu (D-California) and CAPAC Housing Task Force Chairman Al Green (D-Texas) introduced legislation in Congress to preempt state laws that restrict individuals from purchasing property based on country of citizenship.State Rep. Gene Wu (D), a Texas state legislator who opposed SB 147, said it can take years for people to get a green card, and even longer to become a U.S. citizen. “These are people who are lawful immigrants,” Wu said. “These are people who are here at the behest of the United States.” Wu added that Asian Americans not covered by the legislation could still be impacted if sellers aren’t sure whether they’re allowed to buy property. Haipei Shue , president of United Chinese Americans, said such bills unfairly equate Chinese immigrants with the Chinese government. “You say you hate CCP, but you love Chinese people, then you turn around and you make these laws, at least on the state levels, you’re targeting a whole class of Chinese Americans or Chinese nationals who have nothing to do with the Chinese government,” he said.Read the Hill report: https://bit.ly/43goUQm 3. Major Law Firm Joins Florida Lawsuit and Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction During the June 5 APA Justice monthly meeting, Clay Zhu announced that Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP has joined ACLU, DeHeng Law Offices PC, and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund as co-counsel in the Florida lawsuit. Read the developments of Shen v. Simpson (4:23-cv-00208) at https://bit.ly/43idmvB .On June 6, 2023, a corrected emergency motion for preliminary injunction against implementing and enforcing the new Florida law, SB 264. Without the Court’s intervention, the law will go into effect on July 1, 2023. Read the corrected motion for preliminary injunction: https://bit.ly/43LTRvH How the U.S.-China Clash is Being Felt on Campus According to NBC News on June 2, 2023, there were only about 350 Americans studying in China in the most recent academic year. That compares with about 300,000 students from China at schools and universities in the United States.That imbalance could have long-lasting implications for relations between the two countries, which are already at their worst in decades, said Nicholas Burns , the U.S. ambassador to China. Young people from the U.S. and China “need to have a familiarity with each other,” he said in an interview at an embassy event in Beijing for students heading to the U.S. “American students need to speak Mandarin and learn to be comfortable here so whether they’re in the private sector or the public sector, they have an understanding of how this place works,” Senior U.S. officials have been publicly warning China that a lack of high-level communication risks dangerous incidents “spiraling out of control,” and while students won’t be the answer to any immediate clash, they could prove central to managing relations in the future. Increasing the number of American students in China is crucial for cultivating the U.S. government’s “next generation of China experts,” Burns said. “You want the two countries’ people to be talking to each other, and 20-year-olds probably do that best,” he said. “They achieve a degree of familiarity and expertise in a country that is lifelong.”It wasn’t always like this. A decade ago, there were almost 15,000 American students in China. When the seriousness of Covid-19, which was first detected in China, became clear in early 2020, academic exchange programs were swiftly canceled and international students left the country in droves. But the number of Americans studying in China, like the number of Americans studying abroad generally, was declining even before the pandemic.The drop in numbers comes as U.S.-China relations have soured over a range of issues including trade, human rights and the status of Taiwan. The dearth of American students also contrasts with China’s growing popularity among students from Africa, Latin America and elsewhere in Asia, who are drawn by scholarships and world-class universities funded by China. “It just seems like China is knowing a lot more about the rest of the world, but the U.S. is not getting to know much more about what’s going on outside of the States,” said New York University Shanghai student Cindy Li , 21.Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/3qjI49j . Watch the NBC News report at https://bit.ly/3oRjkVy (video 5:40). News and Activities for the Communities 1. Demystifying Presidential Appointments for Asian American Scholars On June 8, 2023, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) will host a webinar in partnership with the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) to cover the process by which those in the scholar community can become Presidential appointees. The Presidential Personnel Office is responsible for aiding the President in recruiting, vetting, and nominating over 4,000 political appointments throughout the federal government. Read the announcement and register for the event: https://bit.ly/43HOGwE 2. Six Universities Join Elite Research Group AAU According to the Washington Post on June 1, 2023, six universities, half public and half private, are joining an invitation-only club of top research institutions. The Association of American Universities (AAU) announced the expansion, bringing its membership to 71, the largest ever. Three public institutions known for providing access to large numbers of disadvantaged students are among the newcomers: Arizona State University, the University of California at Riverside and the University of South Florida. The other three are private universities: George Washington University, University of Miami and Notre Dame. Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/45Ieivh Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF June 8, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #199 8/7 Meeting; Warrantless Surveillance; New Red Scare; Chen v FBI; Understanding FBI; + #199 8/7 Meeting; Warrantless Surveillance; New Red Scare; Chen v FBI; Understanding FBI; + In This Issue #199 2023/08/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Warrantless Surveillance - Section 702 of FISA Must Not Be Reauthorized Without Major Reforms The Case of Dr. Yanping Chen vs FBI, DOJ, DOD and DHS Reminder: Webinar on Understanding the FBI: Its Mission, Motivations, and Tactics News and Activities for the Communities 2023/08/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, August 7, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), speakers will include: Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟, to report on the latest developments of the Florida lawsuit Echo King 金美声 , President, Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA), to provide on-the-ground reports about the July 18 court hearing, press conference, and protests; and a brief report by Professor Shuang Zhao 赵爽 , Co-President, Yick Wo Institution 益和学会 Andy Wong, Managing Director of Advocacy, and Shanti Prasad , Advocacy Manager, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), to give a brief introduction of CAA and its recent roles and activities in alien land laws, warrantless surveillance/reauthorization of Section 702, anti-Asian hate, and related topics Christine Chen , Executive Director, to give a brief introduction of APIAVote, observations on the communities' reaction to the alien land bills/laws, the introduction of laws in some states criminalizing those who assist voters (AP report: https://bit.ly/3NM9z3s ), and plans for the upcoming 2024 election 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 FCRTV Webinar on July 22, 2023 On July 22, 2023, Florida Chinese Radio Television (FCRTV) 佛州华语广播电视台 broadcast a webinar in Chinese. Titled 从微信禁令案到佛州地产限购法案，朱可亮律师讲解在美华人的维权之路和启发 (From the WeChat Ban Case to the Florida Alien Land Law, Attorney Zhu Keliang explains the road and inspiration of Chinese people in the United States to defend their rights), the featured speaker of the webinar was Attorney Clay Zhu 朱可亮. Watch the FCRTV video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOqobsVDX_A (2:05:26). Warrantless Surveillance - Section 702 of FISA Must Not Be Reauthorized Without Major Reforms On June 26, 2023, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), APA Justice, Brennan Center for Justice, and the Committee of 100 (C100) co-hosted a webinar on "Perils of Warrantless Surveillance - The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Reform." Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal led off the webinar with opening remarks. Panelists were Gang Chen 陈刚 , Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering, MIT; Elizabeth Goitein , Senior Director, Brennan Center for Justice; Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU; Brian A. Sun 孙自华 , Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright and C100 Board Member. The webinar was moderated by retired Judge Lillian Sing 郭丽莲 , California Superior Court. Section 702 of FISA was first enacted in 2008. The U.S. Constitution protects its people against unreasonable searches and seizures. However, under Section 702, the U.S. government engages in mass, warrantless surveillance of phone calls, text messages, emails, and other electronic communications between Americans and foreigners. Information collected under this law without a warrant can be used to prosecute and imprison people, even for crimes that have nothing to do with national security. Asian Americans, especially Chinese Americans and the immigrant and scientific communities, have been targeted for warrantless surveillance that led to wrongful and unjust prosecutions. They include Temple University Professor Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 and possibly New York Police Department Officer Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 . The current authority of Section 702 will expire on December 31, 2023. Congress has started debate on the reauthorization of Section 702. It is not the only tool being used to spy on American citizens without a warrant, which is in possible violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. A number of civil society organizations and national organizations have already weighed in and issued statements to oppose Section 702 reauthorization and warrantless surveillance unless there are major reforms. Subsequent to the June 26 webinar, a group of diverse national, state, and local organizations and individuals has been formed to plan for follow-up actions by the Asian American communities. A kickoff planning meeting was held on August 3, 2023.Watch the June 26 webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k56a4KuSn0 . Read the APA Justice web page on Warrantless Surveillance: https://bit.ly/3O6T43Q The Case of Dr. Yanping Chen vs FBI, DOJ, DOD and DHS Dr. Yanping Chen 陈燕平 is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China. She was a cardiologist and medical researcher with the Chinese astronaut program. She came to the U.S. in 1987 to study and earned a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from George Washington University. She married a U.S. citizen, became a lawful permanent resident in 1993, and a U.S. citizen in 2001. In 1998, Dr. Chen founded the University of Management and Technology in Arlington, Virginia, to provide secondary and graduate education to working adults. More than 12,000 students have received degrees in the last 20 years.In 2010, Dr. Chen became the focus of a Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigation. After 6 years of investigation, Dr. Chen was told that no charges will be filed against her in 2016. However, confidential information from the investigation was allegedly leaked to Fox News in or around 2017. On December 21, 2018, Dr. Chen filed a privacy lawsuit against the FBI, Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security.According to Voice of America on August 3, 2023, Judge Christopher Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling that would force Catherine Herridge , then a journalist at Fox News and currently a CBS News correspondent, to participate in a deposition regarding the identity of her anonymous sources from her 2017 series of stories. In 2022, Dr. Chen subpoenaed Herridge and Fox News to try to determine the alleged leaker’s identity, but the journalist and news outlet rebuffed her efforts, citing First Amendment protections afforded to the press.But in Cooper’s ruling, he said Chen’s need for the evidence outweighed Herridge’s First Amendment privilege.According to the Washington Post on June 5, 2006, Wen Ho Lee 李文和 , a former nuclear weapons scientist who came under government suspicion of being a spy for China, settled a lawsuit over violation of his privacy rights and received $1.65 million from the government and five news organizations, including The Washington Post. Under the settlement, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington DC and cited in a joint statement by the five news organizations, Lee received $895,000 from the government for legal fees and taxes related to his lawsuit accusing the U.S. Justice Department and Energy Department of violating his rights under the Privacy Act by leaking information that he was under investigation for suspected espionage.The five news organizations -- the Washington Post , the New York Times , the Los Angeles Times , the Associated Press and ABC News -- agreed to pay Lee a total of $750,000 as part of the settlement.Read the Voice of America report: https://bit.ly/3OlJ5Gf . Read the Washington Post report : https://wapo.st/43YOM2N . Read the APA Justice web page on Dr. Yanping Chen : https://bit.ly/APAJ_Yanping_Chen Reminder: Webinar on Understanding the FBI: Its Mission, Motivations, and Tactics On August 10, 2023, the Asian American Scholar Forum will host a webinar on Understanding the FBI: Its Mission, Motivations, and Tactics, featuring Michael German. Mike is a fellow with the Liberty and National Security Program of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School, where his work focuses on counterterrorism, law enforcement, and intelligence reform. He previously served sixteen years as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (1988- 2004), where he conducted criminal investigations and undercover operations. He is the author of “Disrupt, Discredit, and Divide: How the New FBI Damages Democracy“ (New Press, 2019). Register for the event at https://bit.ly/3pAMzwh News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Launches Community Events Calendar APA Justice has launched a Public Events Calendar on the front page of its website at https://www.apajustice.org/ . The new feature allows readers to view upcoming events with brief descriptions in one stop. Options are available to view the events by day, week, month, and agenda. We thank summer interns Charlotte Ding and Ryan Zhao for implementing this important functionality. 2. 2023/08/26 March on Washington On August 26, 2023, a 2023 March on Washington will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, organized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders in 1963, to continue the fight for democracy, social justice and civil rights. Join the King family at the Lincoln Memorial to honor the past, acknowledge the present and march toward a future of progress and equality.Advancing Justice | AAJC is co-chairing this momentous event along with ADL, Human Rights Commission, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Legal Defense Fund, NAACP, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, National Council of Negro Women, National Urban League and UNIDOS. Read the Advancing Justice | AAJC announcement: https://bit.ly/3E2JUPP . Register to join the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Contingent at the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington: https://bit.ly/3qjWTsY 3. Ji-Hyun Lee - 120th President of the American Statistical Association The American Statistical Association announced the election of Ji-Hyun Lee as its president. Her term begins January 1, 2025, with a one-year term as president-elect beginning January 1, 2024. Lee is believed to be the first person of Asian descent to serve in that capacity. "Understanding basic statistical and data literary is not only just important for students but is becoming increasingly crucial for everyone in the workforce," Lee said. "With the rapid growth of data-driven jobs and widespread use of data in the various sectors, data science and statistical education are vital for building a strong American workforce and maintaining competitiveness." Lee is a professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions and the University of Florida College of Medicine. She was on the board of directors for the Korean International Statistical Association from 2017 to 2022. Back View PDF August 6, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #273 NIH Statement; AA Voters; Pandas; Everything National Security; Perils of Vilifying+ #273 NIH Statement; AA Voters; Pandas; Everything National Security; Perils of Vilifying+ In This Issue #273 · NIH Support Statement Falls Short · NYT Reports: Asian Americans and Asian American Voters Carry More Weights · The Pandas Are Back in San Diego and Coming to Washington DC · Foreign Affairs : How Everything Became National Security · TIME : The Perils of Vilifying Chinese Migrants · News and Activities for the Communities NIH Support Statement Falls Short On August 15, 2024, Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli , Director of National Institutes of Health (NIH), issued a statement expressing support for Asian American, Asian immigrant and Asian research colleagues. According to the statement, the NIH has taken steps to address serious threats to the integrity of NIH-funded research, particularly those linked to the government of the People's Republic of China. While these actions have reduced violations related to peer review confidentiality and reporting foreign support, they have also created an unintended difficult climate for Asian American, Asian immigrant, and Asian research colleagues.NIH acknowledges the invaluable contributions of Asian researchers and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive research community. The NIH emphasizes that its efforts to address foreign interference are applied in a nondiscriminatory manner and do not target individuals based on ethnicity, race, or national origin.Moving forward, the NIH is working with stakeholders, universities, and professional organizations to repair relationships with Asian researchers. These efforts include research security training, guidelines for foreign talent program recruitment, and tools to protect the integrity of NIH-funded research while promoting international scientific collaboration.Read the NIH statement: https://bit.ly/4dFphIU APA Justice welcomes the NIH's commitment to work with the Asian scientific community to repair relationships. This action is long overdue. However, NIH must also implement an open and fair due process and procedures to prevent administrators from overreacting and unjustly targeting researchers in the name of security or caution.The China Initiative was launched in apparent coordination with the NIH's August 2018 warning to 10,000 grantee institutions about "threats to the integrity of U.S. biomedical research." The first wave of dismissals, some lacking due process and disproportionately targeting Asian researchers, began at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in the spring of 2019. On March 23, 2023, Science reported on NIH’s “China initiative” upended hundreds of lives and destroyed scores of academic careers: https://bit.ly/3ZbJL4B . According to NIH as of June 9, 2024 , it has identified more than 250 scientists, mostly of Asian descent, who it says have failed to disclose work in China that overlaps with their NIH-funded research or broken other rules. NIH says 112 scientists have lost their jobs as a result.Despite the China Initiative ending two and a half years ago, the scientific community was once again shocked on July 10, 2024 by the tragic passing of a prominent Chinese American researcher in neurology and genetics after her lab at the Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine was shut down.APA Justice takes exception to the choice word of "unintended" in the NIH statement. NIH made mistakes that had grave consequences to individuals, communities, and U.S. leadership in science and technology. A more direct acknowledgment of the impact without relying on "unintended" could demonstrate a stronger commitment to addressing the issue and ensuring that future actions are carefully considered to avoid similar outcomes. Accountability, corrective actions, and a continuing dialogue with the Asian American communities are still needed from NIH. On August 16, 2024, Science reported that the NIH director expressed support for Asian researchers 6 years into the "China initiative," but some say the agency should apologize and acknowledge racial targeting. Gisela Kusakawa , Executive Director of Asian American Scholar Forum, said: “When policies are written down and specified, that helps increase transparency and reduce issues of racial biases.”Some scientists told Science that they are disappointed NIH denies any racial profiling and did not apologize or acknowledge that, in some cases, NIH’s probe has needlessly destroyed careers and lives. Many of the instances investigated, says Peter Zeidenberg , an attorney who represented some of the accused scientists, “were simple mistakes made out of ignorance of confusing and evolving reporting requirements for which NIH provided no training.”“I am disappointed that Chinese American scientists whose labs were shut for 2 or more years or forced into early retirement because of [NIH’s] overzealous prosecution have not received any apology or compensation,” says Yan Chen , an information scientist at the University of Michigan. University of Houston electrical engineer Steven Pei worries new guidelines aren’t enough. “NIH must also implement open and fair due process and procedures to prevent administrators from overreacting and unjustly targeting researchers in the name of security or caution,” says Pei, who co-leads the nonprofit Asian Pacific American Justice Task Force. “This is a very important step toward rebuilding trust by Asian and Asian American scientists,” says Yale University pathologist Qin Yan . “I look forward to continued dialogue and measures to support the scientists who were unfairly impacted by the past actions of government agencies.” The Committee of 100, a nonprofit group of prominent Chinese Americans, adds: “We commend the NIH for recognizing this harm and agree that moving forward, our focus should be on fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and collaborative environment for all scientists and researchers, including those of Chinese and Asian descent.”Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/4cCSBPG NYT Reports : Chinese Americans and Asian American Voters Carry More Weights The New York Times recently published two articles highlighting the growing role of Chinese Americans and Asian Americans voters. In one article titled Asian American Voters Could Be Key Swing Voters of 2024 , it pointed out that Asian American voters have historically leaned Democratic, but recent trends suggest a more nuanced and independent voting pattern. The 2020 election highlighted the significance of Asian American voters, particularly in battleground states. Both parties recognize the untapped potential within the Asian American electorate. However, despite growing outreach efforts, many Asian Americans report not being contacted by either party, indicating room for further engagement. As Asian Americans continue to grow in numbers and political influence, they are likely to play an increasingly pivotal role in future elections.Another article In the Race for San Francisco Mayor, Chinese Voters Take Center Stage examined how the upcoming mayoral election in San Francisco has prompted candidates to intensify their efforts to engage with Chinese American voters. In a city where people of Chinese descent make up over one-fifth of the population, mayoral hopefuls are vying for the attention and support of these voters, who have become more politically active in recent years. The Chinese community played a key role in two 2022 recall elections that removed progressive school board members and a liberal district attorney.Mayor London Breed , who is seeking re-election, is making a concerted effort to win over Chinese voters. She has highlighted her administration's achievements, such as a decline in crime rates, including anti-Asian attacks, and her tough-on-crime agenda. Breed has also focused on improving relations with China, including lobbying for the restoration of direct flights to San Francisco and advocating for bringing giant pandas to the city's zoo. Challengers to Breed, such as Aaron Peskin and Ahsha Safaí , both members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, have also been working to secure support from Chinese voters. They have longstanding ties within the community and represent districts with large Chinese populations. Juan Zhang , editor at US-China Perception Monitor, contributed this report. The Pandas Are Back in San Diego and Coming to Washington DC According to San Diego Union Tribune , Washington Post , and multiple media reports, a long line of admirers formed at the San Diego Zoo to greet the first two giant pandas to enter the United States in 21 years on August 8, 2024. On loan from China, Yun Chuan, a 5-year-old male, and Xin Bao, a 4-year-old female, made their public debut to an adoring crowd. Yun Chuan’s mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007, and his grandmother Bai Yun was a mainstay of the zoo from her arrival in 1996 until her return to China in 2019.Not only are the zoo’s newest residents the “furriest, cutest San Diegans,” according to Mayor Todd Gloria , these pandas are diplomats, symbolizing hope for future generations of their species. Chinese dignitaries and local elected officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom , welcomed the pandas to San Diego with a private ceremony, complete with entertainment from traditional Chinese dancers and singers. Gov. Newsom declared August 8 as California Panda Day.Their arrival marks a renewal of the “panda diplomacy” between China and the United States. For decades, China has sent pandas to zoos around the world, generally on limited loans, as a diplomatic tool to build alliances and goodwill. But relations between the two nations have soured in recent years. The last time China sent pandas to the United States was to the Memphis Zoo in 2003, and the National Zoo’s famous pandas were recalled to China last year. Lei Guang , executive director of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California at San Diego, cautioned that people shouldn’t attach too much political or diplomatic significance to the animals. “The return of giant pandas is a positive development in what is otherwise still a bleak relationship between the U.S. and China. Instead, he saw the pandas as the symbol of what is possible when the two countries cooperate, allowing researchers to study the animals and work on their conservation. The National Zoo in Washington DC will get two new adolescent pandas by the end of the year. The 2-year-old bears are named Bao Li and Qing Bao. Both were born at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan. Bao Li has D.C. roots, though: His mother, Bao Bao, was born at the National Zoo in 2013 and was a local celebrity before being sent to China in 2017. Bao Li’s grandparents, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, lived at the National Zoo for 23 years before being returned to China last year. Read the San Diego Union-Tribune report: https://bit.ly/3YP2JS9 . Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/3M9Bj1q . Foreign Affairs : How Everything Became National Security According to a Foreign Affairs opinion, labeling something a matter of “national security” in American politics automatically elevates its importance. Of course, not everyone agrees on which issues fall into the national security bucket. And the American definition of national security has fluctuated wildly over time. In the years between the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union and the 9/11 attacks of 2001—an era in which the United States seemed to have few immediate rivals—even security scholars had difficulty defining the meaning of national security. Unsurprisingly, they could not reach a consensus. Since the subsequent “war on terror,” however, the national security bucket has grown into a trough. From climate change to ransomware to personal protective equipment to critical minerals to artificial intelligence, everything is national security now.It is true that economic globalization and rapid technological change have increased the number of unconventional threats to the United States. Yet there appears also to be a ratchet effect at work, with the foreign policy establishment adding new things to the realm of national security without getting rid of old ones. Problems in world politics rarely die; at best, they tend to ebb very slowly. But if everything is defined as national security, nothing is a national security priority. Without a more considered discussion among policymakers about what is and what is not a matter of national security, Washington risks spreading its resources too thin across too broad an array of issues. This increases the likelihood of missing a genuine threat to the safety and security of the United States. Whoever is sworn in as president next January will need to think about first principles in order to rightsize the definition of national security. Otherwise, policymakers risk falling into a pattern of trying to do everything, ensuring that they will do nothing well. Read the Foreign Affairs opinion: https://fam.ag/4dlk2P3 TIME : The Perils of Vilifying Chinese Migrants According to TIME on August 13, 2024, with intense political debate focused on the U.S. southern border, an unexpected trend has captured a great deal of attention. Chinese migrants are among the fastest growing national populations crossing the border, and their numbers have increased exponentially since 2022. In 2023, approximately 37,000 Chinese nationals entered the United States this way, compared to less than 2,000 the year before. In the first five months of 2024, over 24,000 Chinese migrants were apprehended on the Southern border. The journey over land through Mexico—or via a complex, multi-stop route that leaves them in Baja, Calif.—is not easy. But many migrants say they are motivated to undertake it because of the economic challenges facing middle-class Chinese citizens and small business owners in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and China’s strict Zero-COVID policy. Others highlight increasing political oppression, stemming both from increased monitoring of dissidents connected to Hong Kong or opposition movements as well as increased controls over public discourse since President Xi Jinping began his unprecedented third term in power.In the United States, conservative media, think tanks, and politicians increasingly question these stated motives, expressing concerns instead that the Chinese Communist Party is “sending” migrants as spies, to form an army, or to otherwise sabotage U.S. national security.None of this rhetoric about a Chinese “invasion” or “threat” is new. There is a long history of anti-Chinese and anti-Asian rhetoric in the United States. In the past, such rhetoric has led to violence and discrimination. Using it now—despite the lack of evidence that China or the CCP is using the border to "infiltrate" the country—threatens to stoke backlash against Chinese migrants and Asian Americans, as well as further damage the U.S. diplomatic relationship with China. The assumption that Chinese Americans were unique and different from other ethnic groups in the United States kept the “perpetual foreigner” syndrome alive, allowing many Americans to assume that people of Chinese descent, citizens or not, would always remain more loyal to China than the United States.The assumption that Chinese Americans or Chinese migrants with access to technical and scientific information must be using it on behalf of China has not declined in the last three decades.In 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice launched its “China Initiative,” seeking to uncover unlawful technology and scientific transfers to China, investigating ethnic Chinese professors and researchers in the United States and subjecting them to what was often unwarranted scrutiny. The program was ended in 2022 with the admission that it frequently targeted ethnic Chinese people and subjected them to suspicion and harassment without clear evidence that they had done anything wrong.Protecting U.S. national security is important, and immigration law and policy can play an important role in that. However, it is possible to manage even irregular entries on the Southern border without resorting to the language of “invasion” and peril that has done so much damage to Chinese immigrant and Chinese American communities in the past and present. Read the TIME report: https://bit.ly/3SNh5yz News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/08/19 APIAVote DNC Convention Reception2024/08/20 APIAVote DNC Convention Briefing2024/09/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/09/19 1990 Teachers Workshop: Asian American Identity2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity Summit2024/10/06 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/07 APA Justice Monthly MeetingThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. AAGEN: SES Leadership Development Program Class of 2024-2025 The Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN) Senior Executive Service (SES) Leadership Development Program is accepting applications for its 2024-2025 Class through September 10, 2024. The program offers executive development courses, coaching in mock interviews, individual mentoring, and career counseling for candidates to gain the skills to effectively compete for SES positions. Each candidate will be assigned an SES mentor who will provide guidance throughout the program. The next class will commence December 9-11, 2024 and the program will continue through September 2025. The training sessions will be held in the Washington, DC metro area. Participants should expect a quarterly time commitment of 2-3 days of classes and other sessions, plus at least one mentoring session. Additional activities, as assigned by the SES mentor and trainers, will be completed on the participant’s own time.For more information about the AAGEN program, please visit http://www.aagen.org/SESDevelopmentProg Back View PDF August 19, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #372 OCA, AASF, C100 2026 Plans; Revival of China Initiative Stopped; Year of Fire Horse; + #372 OCA, AASF, C100 2026 Plans; Revival of China Initiative Stopped; Year of Fire Horse; + In This Issue #372 · 2026 Plans and Review from OCA National · 2026 Plans and Review from Asian American Scholar Forum · Revival of “China Initiative” Stopped · 2026 Plans and Review from the Committee of 100 · 2026: The Year of The Fire Horse · News and Activities for the Communities 2026 Plans and Review from OCA National During the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2026, Sharon Wong , National Chair, and Thu Nguyen , Executive Director, OCA National Center provided a detailed update on OCA’s recent work and ongoing priorities, emphasizing the organization’s long-standing role as a national social justice and civil rights advocate. Sharon began by thanking APA Justice for the opportunity to present and noted OCA’s more than 50 years of collaboration with partner organizations. She highlighted OCA’s chapter-based structure as a key strength, allowing the organization to mobilize quickly and effectively on civil rights issues, youth development, and advocacy campaigns. Sharon emphasized that OCA operates through partnerships with other organizations, ensuring that its initiatives are both broad-reaching and community-driven. Thu reviewed OCA’s major activities in 2025. She highlighted the organization’s involvement in three key lawsuits addressing birthright citizenship, voting rights, and other federal policy challenges, in collaboration with Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Washington Lawyers Committee, APIAVote, Campaign Legal Center, and Japanese American Citizens League. Thu also discussed OCA’s national convention in Seattle and the summer internship program, which placed students in congressional offices and nonprofits to gain practical advocacy experience. She reaffirmed OCA’s continued support for affirmative action and emphasized the importance of educational programs, including panels on citizenship and legal history that explored the historical roots of discriminatory laws affecting Asian Americans. Looking ahead to 2026, Thu outlined OCA’s priorities for the midterm elections, focusing on Get Out the Vote initiatives conducted through its chapters nationwide. These efforts include voter registration, candidate forums for the local API community, and the development of district-level voter guides to help educate voters. She also discussed OCA’s annual exit polling collaboration with the Asian American Legal Education Defense Fund (AALDEF) and the need for multilingual volunteers to staff the Asian American Advancing Justice AAPI Voter Hotline. These initiatives are designed to ensure that AAPI voices are heard and accurately represented in the electoral process. Thu also highlighted a new partnership with the APA Medical Student Association (APAMSA) to support Medical Students National Lobby Day in Washington, D.C., as well as regional advocacy initiatives through state chapters. Sharon closed the remarks by reiterating OCA’s mission as a civil rights and social justice organization, stressing the importance of youth and advocacy development, and emphasizing that the organization’s effectiveness depends on collaboration with partners and community members. A summary of the APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. NOTES : OCA - ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ADVOCATES v. RUBIO (1:25-cv-00287) . The case in the District Court for the District of Columbia involves a challenge to Executive Order 14160 on Birthright Citizenship, with plaintiffs including OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates and others proceeding pseudonymously. LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS v. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT (1:25-cv-00946) . The case filed in the District Court for the District of Columbia on March 31, 2025, involves multiple plaintiffs, including OCA, to challenge federal actions related to voting rights under Executive Order 14248. JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE v. MUSK (1:25-cv-00643) . The case was filed on March 5, 2025, in the District Court for the District of Columbia by the Japanese American Citizens League, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, Sierra Club, and Union of Concerned Scientists against multiple defendants, including Elon Musk and various U.S. government entities. 2026 Plans and Review from Asian American Scholar Forum During the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2026, Gisela Perez Kuasakawa , Executive Director of Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), reflected on AASF’s progress over the past year and thanked the APA Justice team for their early support. She reaffirmed AASF’s founding mission to establish a permanent nonprofit that ensures Asian American scholars, researchers, and scientists have a seat at the table, noting that this goal has now been realized. Gisela highlighted AASF’s growing national impact in 2025, including reaching more than one billion people through media, research and reports, earning 168 citations in major U.S. media outlets such as NBC News and The Wall Street Journal , and hosting a widely attended annual symposium and ceremony at Stanford University with over 2,300 registrants and senior leaders from science, technology, and public service. She also emphasized AASF’s policy and community engagement efforts, particularly its collaboration with more than 80 nonprofit organizations to block harmful legislation, including provisions in the NDAA’s Safe Research Act, and to prevent the return of the China Initiative through the appropriations process. Gisela underscored the importance of faculty leadership in educating policymakers, citing support from almost 700 professors who signed an advocacy letter. Looking ahead, she noted investments in the next generation through the AASF Youth Council, work with the Congressional Commission on a National Museum of Asian Pacific American on history and culture, and continued partnerships to advance a more welcoming America, closing with a preview of an upcoming faculty letter honoring Dr. Jane Wu 吴瑛 . Revival of “China Initiative” Stopped According to the South China Morning Post on January 9, 2026, U.S. House lawmakers removed report language from the FY2026 appropriations bill that would have effectively revived the controversial “China Initiative.” First launched in 2018 under President Donald Trump , the initiative was widely criticized for encouraging racial profiling and disproportionately targeting Chinese American scientists and researchers. Advocacy organizations, including the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), welcomed the decision, warning that such measures undermine trust, damage U.S. research competitiveness, and deter global talent from contributing to American innovation. The report also noted the growing departure of leading scientists from the U.S. to China, including prominent AI researcher Ling Haibin 凌海滨 —creator of the LeafSnap app—who has joined Westlake University in Hangzhou to lead its Intelligent Computing and Application Lab, highlighting shifting dynamics in the global research landscape. Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/4qPnHen . On the same day, Stop AAPI Hate, Advancing Justice–AAJC, AASF, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) issued a joint statement commending Congress for removing the problematic language from the House FY2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill. In September 2025, 82 civil rights and Asian American advocacy organizations—including APA Justice—had signed a letter opposing the provision. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) also led a bicameral letter , endorsed by the same 82 organizations, urging House leadership to abandon the effort to resurrect the discredited program. Separately, AsAmNews published a January 9, 2026 report drawing historical parallels between contemporary racial profiling and immigration enforcement practices targeting Latino communities and the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Under Donald Trump’s second presidency, the Department of Homeland Security reported the deportation of approximately 2 million undocumented immigrants, facilitated in part through the use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This rarely used law enabled the administration to bypass immigration courts and due process, allowing arrests in courthouses, workplaces, schools, hospitals, and places of worship. The Supreme Court’s decision in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo further authorized ICE agents to rely on race, ethnicity, language, and occupation as factors for stops and questioning, disproportionately affecting Latino communities. The article underscores how these modern practices echo earlier exclusionary policies, including the forced relocation and incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II—most of whom were U.S. citizens—and earlier immigration laws such as the Page Act of 1875 and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. While later reforms like the War Brides Act of 1945 and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 formally ended explicit racial exclusions, the article argues that structural inequities persist. Although the United States has become more multiracial, its immigration and national security frameworks continue to reflect historical patterns of exclusion, reinforcing the urgency of vigilance against policies that revive or normalize racial profiling. Read the AsAmNews report: https://bit.ly/4jC1Ape . 2026 Plans and Review from the Committee of 100 During the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2026, Paul Cheung 鄭文耀 , President of the Committee of 100 (C100), outlined C100’s priorities for 2026, organized around three strategic pillars: building power and presence, shaping policy and public perception, and strengthening measurable community impact. Under the first pillar, he emphasized developing the next generation of Chinese American leaders and activating C100 members as a national brain trust. He noted strong interest in the Next Generation Leaders program, with more than 66 applicants across public service, media, technology, academia, and the nonprofit sector. From this pool, 12 fellows will be selected for intensive mentorship, leadership readiness, and direct engagement with C100 members. He also highlighted C100’s expanding national presence, including a planned panel at South by Southwest 2026 focused on how U.S. immigration, research, and technology policy decisions shape the global AI race and access to influence. Paul then described C100’s advocacy agenda, centered on producing credible research that counters misinformation, informs policy, and defends civil rights. He announced the release of the third annual State of Chinese Americans national survey, conducted in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, with a public webinar briefing scheduled for January 2026. He further noted plans to publish multiple research briefs and host public webinars addressing discrimination trends, including land ownership restrictions, mental health impacts, and national security–driven policies affecting Chinese American communities. He concluded by highlighting efforts to strengthen member engagement and community impact through off-the-record member briefings and expanded regional forums. These initiatives are designed to translate research into local action, strengthen cross-sector relationships, and foster constructive dialogue around U.S.–China relations. NOTE: On January 1, 2026, the South China Morning Post reported on how Paul Cheung, the new president of the Committee of 100, aims to foster mutual understanding between Chinese Americans and China while addressing anti-Asian hate and promoting US-China dialogue through research, advocacy, and leadership development. Read the interview: https://bit.ly/3Yun7GI 2 026: The Year of The Fire Horse According to the South China Morning Post , the year beginning February 17, 2026 marks the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac, a combination that occurs only once every 60 years. This comes from pairing one of the 12 zodiac animals with one of the five elements—a system that traces back centuries and reflects deeply rooted cultural beliefs about energy cycles and cosmic balance. The Horse is the seventh sign in the cycle, and when paired with the Fire element—especially in a yang configuration—it creates a “double fire” year believed to bring exceptionally intense, dynamic energy. In Chinese astrological tradition, Fire Horse years are known for bold action, transformation, and rapid change. The Horse symbolizes freedom, speed, and unrestrained movement, while fire represents passion and outward energy. Combined, these forces suggest a year of ambition, momentum, and unpredictability—a period in which social, technological, and cultural dynamics may shift quickly and dramatically. Historically, Fire Horse years have coincided with both significant upheaval and notable achievements. For example, the last Fire Horse year in 1966 saw the onset of China’s Cultural Revolution—a period of widespread disruption and conflict—but also important advances in space exploration. These examples underscore the dual nature of the year’s energy: it can catalyze chaos and challenge existing structures, but also create conditions for breakthroughs and innovation. Looking ahead to 2026, many astrologers and cultural commentators expect the year to be marked by rapid development and shifting priorities, with opportunities for bold initiatives and transformative progress, especially in areas like technology and medicine. At the same time, the year’s intense energy may bring volatility that requires adaptability and resilience. Overall, the Year of the Fire Horse is viewed as a time of dynamic contrast—where disruption and progress can coexist and shape both personal and collective experiences. Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/4pt7hac News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/01/13 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Leroy Chiao 2026/01/21 Perception and Reality: What U.S.–China Relations Mean for Chinese Americans Today 2026/01/28 Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Exceptional Public Service 2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/02/11 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: BD Wong Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. APIAVote 2026 Paid Summer Internships APIAVote is now accepting PAID interns for the Summer 2026 term! Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that encourages and promotes civic participation of Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in the electoral and public policy processes at the national, state and local levels. APIAVote envisions a society in which all AAPIs fully participate in and have access to the democratic process. Interns will be provided a $3,500 stipend for 10 weeks from June 1st to August 7th (with some flexibility on dates based off of need) of in-person work with APIAVote at our national office in Washington, DC. Learn more and apply at: https://bit.ly/4qJr8TF . Priority deadline is March 1, 2026. # # # 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 12, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #358 Vincent Wang Speech; Maggie Lewis & Pat Eddington Remarks; Trump "Compact" Rejected; + #358 Vincent Wang Speech; Maggie Lewis & Pat Eddington Remarks; Trump "Compact" Rejected; + In This Issue #358 · Vincent Wang's Acceptance Speech · Remarks and Updates by Professor Margaret Lewis · Remarks and Updates from Pat Eddington · Universities Reject Trump's "Compact" · News and Activities for the Communities Vincent Wang's Acceptance Speech Wenkui “Vincent” Wang 王文奎 , Co-Organizer of APA Justice, was inducted into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame at a ceremony and reception held at the Lincoln Theatre in Columbus, Ohio, on October 9, 2025. He was recognized for his leadership in the Ohio Chinese American Association, the Asian American Coalition of Ohio, and the APA Justice Task Force.Below is his acceptance speech in its entirety:"Thank you, Commissioner. Thank you, Ohio Civil Rights Commission. It is a profound honor to stand here today at the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame ceremony along with my fellow Hall of Fame inductees."This moment is not mine alone. It belongs to countless people who have stood shoulder to shoulder in the long unfinished struggle for equal rights and justice for all. "Our story as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is woven deeply into American history - a story of perseverance, contribution, and courage. "From the Chinese laborers who built the transcontinental railroad to the Japanese American soldiers who served in the most decorated unit in US history, and to the scientists and engineers who transformed modern physics and led the treatment breakthroughs in HIV disease and revolutionize artificial intelligence technologies, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have helped shape this nation in every field."Yet, throughout history, our communities have often been seen through the lens of suspicion, painted as perpetual foreigners and threat in our own land, especially in times of conflict and uncertainty."We remember the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. And now the renewed use of Red Scare tactics that cast Chinese Americans as spies without evidence."From the so-called Chinese initiative that unfairly targeted scientists to Ohio House Bill number one and Senate bill number 88, which would bar ownership by certain immigrant groups, dividing our communities and questioning our loyalty to this nation."But we are part of America - its past, its present, and its future."We have always believed in the promise of this country, liberty and justice for all. When our community stood up, we did not stand alone. "We reached out to allies in civil society, to civil rights groups, to faith communities and government, all who believe in the fairness and due process for all Americans. Together, we help bring an end to the controversial China Initiative program."Today we continue to fight Ohio House Bill One and Senate Bill 88. And we have hope that as more Ohioans learn about the truth about these bills, more will stand with us to stop these bills and many other bills targeting immigrants and the minority groups. "Because when people understand what is at stake, they choose fairness over fear. These moments remind us that equality is not self-sustaining. It demands vigilance, courage and solidarity."That is why we need to continue to organize, continue to speak up and to build broad coalition with communities of every background, black, white, Latino, indigenous, and all who share our belief that equal rights, equal opportunity and justice for all."We must also empower our own community to get involved, to serve and to vote. Every ballot cast, every conversation started, every young person who decides to lead brings us one step closer to the America we believe in - a nation where immigrants are valued, where diversity is celebrated, and where everyone has a fair chance of opportunity."Today, I accept this honor not for myself alone, but for everyone who refuses to stay silent in the face of injustices. For those who choose hope over fear, trust over suspicion, and bridges over walls. Together, we'll continue to defend civil rights for all, defend immigrant rights, and strengthen the democratic ideals that binds us all as a nation, as one people. "Thank you so much."Watch the 2025 induction ceremony honoring Vincent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UTMds014Nc (7:43) Remarks and Updates by Professor Margaret Lewis Professor Margaret "Maggie" Lewis 's research focuses on China and Taiwan with an emphasis on criminal justice and human rights as well as on legal issues in the U.S.-China relationship. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the National Committee on United States-China Relations Board of Directors, for which she is also a Public Intellectual Program fellow. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on October 6, 2025, she returned to update us on her activities and share her perspectives on the C100-USCET-APA Justice webinar series and how organizations and communities might work together. Maggie opened her talk by joining others in thanking Mike German for his continued leadership after “retirement,” humorously noting that figures like Jeremy Wu and Steven Pei show retirement rarely means disengagement. She then paid tribute to her mentor, the late Professor Jerry Cohen —calling him a titan of Chinese law who built bridges and human connections. His passing at 95, she said, was deeply felt, but his influence lives on in the collaborative spirit of those he inspired: “The work continues because Jerry would want nothing less.”Acknowledging today’s discouraging geopolitical climate, Maggie encouraged perseverance and optimism, wishing attendees “中秋快乐” (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival) and adding a lighthearted note about finding joy in the new “happy Taylor Swift” album.She then discussed her current work with the U.S.–China Education Trust (USCET) and academics such as David M. Lampton and Jessica Chen Weiss , emphasizing the importance of people-to-people exchange—especially increasing the number of American graduate students studying and conducting research in China. While Chinese students continue to arrive in the U.S. in large numbers, American participation in China has dwindled to a “trickle.” Graduate-level fieldwork and archival access have become increasingly difficult compared with the relative openness of the 1990s and early 2000s.Maggie stressed that firsthand experience in China provides irreplaceable understanding, contrasting it with the growing reliance on data scraping and satellite imagery in China studies. Without human interaction, she warned, the “texture” and empathy that shaped earlier generations of scholars risk being lost. She reaffirmed her commitment—and that of her colleagues—to keeping people physically crossing borders.She also highlighted new teaching developments: Seton Hall University will soon offer its first course on Asian Americans, which she will teach. The course, framed around law, geopolitics, and identity, will cover topics such as the China Initiative (versions 1.0 to 2.0), transnational repression, birthright citizenship, and technology issues like TikTok. Citing models such as Fordham University’s “Asian Americans and the Law” course by Tom Lee and Judge Denny Chin , she expressed hope that these subjects will spread more widely across law schools. Maggie agreed with Gisela Perez Kusakawa that fostering a new generation of lawyers—civil rights, employment, immigration, and others—who are civically engaged and pro bono-oriented is vital.As a “realistic optimist,” Maggie acknowledged that structural tensions in U.S.–China relations will persist. The goal, she said, is to navigate them intelligently and adapt as conditions evolve.She then updated the group on the National Science Foundation’s SECURE initiative (“Safeguarding the Entire Community of the U.S. Research Ecosystem”), for which she serves on the advisory board of the University of Washington’s main center. The program seeks to integrate research security across disciplines rather than treat it as isolated issues. Initially focused on STEM, these policies now affect the social sciences and humanities as well—restricting, for example, the ability of some state university scholars to use research funds for China-related work.The SECURE network includes partners such as the Hoover Institution, Texas A&M, Emory University, and Northeastern. Maggie also noted that restrictive research and educational policies are emerging at the state level, including in Florida, Texas, and Indiana, where universities like Purdue and Indiana University are adopting tighter research security measures.She concluded by warning that while universities must protect themselves legally, overbroad or reactive policies risk unfairly targeting individuals and accelerating an unnecessary decoupling from China—something that would harm research, education, and mutual understanding alike.A summary of the October 6 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Remarks and Updates from Pat Eddington Pat Eddington is Senior Fellow of Homeland Security and Civil Liberties at Cato Institute. He served nearly a decade at the CIA and later as a senior policy adviser on Capitol Hill, where he worked extensively on intelligence oversight, surveillance, and drone policy. He is a prolific writer and commentator, committed to advancing government transparency, protecting civil liberties, and ensuring accountability in national security policy. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on October 6, Pat returned to update us on his latest activities and current affairs of our nation.Pat introduced his new book, The Triumph of Fear: Domestic Surveillance and Political Repression from McKinley through Eisenhower , which includes analysis through 2023. He shared details about its launch in April and a discount for purchase, joking about the high pricing typical of academic publishers but noting that the paperback is affordable. It is available at Georgetown University Press . Pat’s central message was a stark warning about what he called the existential threat posed by the current “Trump 2.0 regime,” which he said has deliberately fostered a climate of fear and political intimidation that endangers the rule of law and the “very survival of the Republic.” He condemned recent attacks on the judiciary and inflammatory rhetoric from figures like Stephen Miller as part of a campaign to erode democratic norms.At Cato, Pat works with the Criminal Justice and Constitutional Studies teams to file amicus briefs—often in partnership with the ACLU—challenging unconstitutional government actions. He warned about the unprecedented use of Title 32 authority to deploy Red State National Guard units into Democratic-led areas, describing it as a serious abuse of power. Oregon’s appeal to the Ninth Circuit is ongoing, but he expressed skepticism due to the Supreme Court’s frequent reliance on the “shadow docket” to uphold executive overreach.While noting limited tools available to state leaders, Pat praised governors such as Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker for resisting these measures. He also discussed the government shutdown’s impact on federal law enforcement, pointing out that ICE, FBI, DEA, and other agents are working without pay. Ironically, he suggested, the resulting attrition could be a peaceful way to slow down domestic political repression operations.Pat stressed that regardless of politics, Congress must uphold existing laws like the Affordable Care Act and use the appropriations process as its last nonviolent means of checking executive power. He urged Democrats to act decisively—cutting or restricting funding for unauthorized National Guard deployments and aggressive ICE actions—to prevent the nation from sliding into “truly dangerous territory.”He echoed Governor Pritzker’s warning that National Guard deployments are “pretextual,” meant less for law enforcement than for normalizing troops in civilian settings—possibly as a precursor to using them in “election integrity” operations. Pat cited the appointment of election denier Heather Honey to a DHS election security role as further evidence of politicized control over federal institutions.Concluding on a somber note, Pat said he is “deeply fearful for the future of the country.” The crisis, he argued, stems from a century-long accumulation of unchecked presidential power, congressional passivity, and judicial deference—adding, “unfortunately, this is where it’s brought us.”A summary of the October 6 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Universities Reject Trump's "Compact" According to CNN , Insight Into Academia , Los Angeles Times , Washington Post , and multiple media reports, the Trump administration’s latest attempt to reshape higher education through federal leverage has drawn significant backlash, as five major universities—MIT, Brown, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and University of Virginia (UVA)—have rejected a proposed “compact” offering preferential funding in exchange for sweeping ideological and policy changes. Sent on October 1, 2025, to nine prominent universities, including Vanderbilt, Dartmouth, University of Texas (UT) Austin, and Arizona, the compact would require institutions to eliminate consideration of sex and ethnicity in admissions, cap international enrollment at 15%, freeze tuition for five years, and redefine gender “according to biological function.” It would also mandate ideological balance on campus, assessments of faculty viewpoints, and reforms to “units that punish conservative ideas.” Signatories would gain priority for federal grants and direct access to White House events.The proposal is part of a broader White House push to exert unprecedented control over universities—long targets in Trump’s cultural and political agenda. University leaders who declined the offer cited threats to core academic values. USC’s interim president Beong-Soo Kim warned the compact would “undermine free inquiry and academic excellence,” while MIT’s Sally Kornbluth said it would “restrict freedom of expression.” Brown President Christina Paxson noted it would “undermine the autonomy of Brown’s governance,” and Penn’s J. Larry Jameson emphasized alignment on some issues but “substantive concerns” overall. UVA Interim President Paul Mahoney wrote, "a contractual arrangement predicating assessment on anything other than merit will undermine the integrity of vital, sometimes lifesaving, research and further erode confidence in American higher education.”Other universities remain undecided or cautious. Vanderbilt and Arizona are reviewing the proposal; Dartmouth reaffirmed its commitment to self-governance; and UT Austin expressed openness to collaboration.More than 30 major higher education associations jointly condemned the Trump administration’s proposed Compact, warning that it represents unprecedented federal overreach threatening academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and innovation, and urged the administration to withdraw it. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/10/20 USCET: Building a Career in US-China Relations2025/10/23 C100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative: Asian American Women in the Law2025/11/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/11/20 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. 2025/10/16 Inaugural Webinar on "Bridging Nations" We extend our sincere thanks to Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch , Governor Gary Locke , and Professor Jessica Chen Weiss for leading an engaging, insightful, and thought-provoking webinar on “ Bridging Nations: People-to-People Exchange in U.S.–China Relations ” held on October 16, 2025. The Committee of 100, U.S.-China Education Trust, and APA Justice co-hosted the event.A video recording will be available soon. This event marked the first in our ongoing webinar series exploring key dimensions of U.S.–China relations and rights for the Asian Pacific American communities. The Winter webinar is tentatively scheduled for mid-January of 2026—stay tuned for details. 3. USCET: Building a Career in US-China Relations and Internship Opportunities WHAT: Building a Career in US-China Relations WHEN: October 20, 2025, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm ET WHERE: In person event: Lindner Family Commons, Elliott School of International Affairs, Washington, D.C. HOSTS: The U.S.-China Education Trust, the Black China Caucus, the U.S.-China Business Council, and the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy DESCRIPTION: A panel discussion featuring early and mid-career professionals working on U.S.-China relations in the consulting, think tanks, corporate, non-profit, and government sectors, all drawing upon their China expertise. Panelists will share their experiences, offer practical advice on how to break into the field, and reflect on the skills that have helped them succeed. This event is a unique opportunity for upcoming professionals to hear about various career paths in the U.S.-China field and network with young professionals who share similar interests and passions. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/4ovVGY9 *****USCET is now welcoming applications for its spring 2026 internship!Undergraduate juniors, seniors, and graduate students are welcome to apply. This opportunity is ideal for students passionate about U.S.-China relations and cross-cultural dialogue. Interns gain hands-on experience working in a dynamic nonprofit environment dedicated to fostering mutual understanding between the United States and China.The interns work a hybrid and part-time schedule with a time commitment of a minimum of 20 hours per week. The position includes a stipend or academic credit. We encourage all eligible students to apply. Submit your application by November 14, 2025, to employmenta@uscet.org . Click here to learn more about our internship opportunities and application process: https://uscet.org/internships/ # # # 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 20, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #129 Biden Signs Bill to Create Museum; Norm Goes Home to San Jose; Catch Up with the News #129 Biden Signs Bill to Create Museum; Norm Goes Home to San Jose; Catch Up with the News Back View PDF June 14, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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Xifeng Wu 吴息凤 Dean and Professor of School of Public Health, Vice President of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Director of the National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Zhejiang University, China Former Director, Center for Public Health and Translational Genomics, Professor, Department of Epidemiology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) Dr. Xifeng Wu is Dean and Professor of School of Public Health, Vice President of The Second Affiliated Hospital, Director of National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. She joined Zhejiang University in March 2019.Dr. Wu is also a naturalized U.S. citizen. She was Director, Center for Public Health and Translational Genomics and Professor, Department of Epidemiology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in Houston. Dr. Wu was subjected to multi-year harassment and investigations. She was put on administrative leave for over a year. During that time, she was not allowed to return to her research laboratory, talk to researchers in her research group and after three months all her research grants were reassigned to other researchers. In other words, her research career was put on hold since December 2017, immediately after MDACC turned over 10-years records of 23 researchers over to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and 8 months before MDACC received the letters from the National Institute of Health (NIH) in August 2018.Dr. Wu retired from MDACC in early 2019. Several other Chinese American scientists were also forced to either retire or leave. Dr. Wu is one of many victims of ongoing racial profiling. While she is able to use her expertise to combat COVID-19 in China, her family still lives in Houston. This is a vivid example of how profiling results in U.S. loss of talent, competitiveness, and leadership in today's science and technology when we need them the most. Lessons Learned from Coronavirus Experience in Zhejiang and Hangzhou As the coronavirus crisis is ending in China in March 2020, the U.S. declared a national emergency. Dr. Wu published an article titled " 6 lessons from China's Zhejiang Province and Hangzhou on how countries can prevent and rebound from an epidemic like COVID-19 " in the World Economic Forum on March 12, 2020. It offers valuable lessons the global community including the U.S. could learn at national and local levels. They are Speed and accuracy are the keys to identification and detection Make the right decisions at the right time, the right place, for the right people Big data and information technology are important to avoiding a rebound Evaluate medical resources and response systems. Are we ready for a pandemic? How much stock do we need? Do we have enough health care personnel, and how do we protect them? Implementation of preventive measures in communities, schools, businesses, government offices and homes can influence the trajectory of this epidemic Keep the public well informed 2009 Rogers Award Lauds Wu for Cutting-Edge Research In 2009, MD Anderson published the following report on Dr. Wu receiving the Julie and Ben Rogers Award for Excellence in Research: “The words ‘visionary’ and ‘revolutionary’ have been used to describe the work of Xifeng Wu, M.D., Ph.D., professor of epidemiology in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at MD Anderson. “Recipient of the 2008 Julie and Ben Rogers Award for Excellence in Research, Wu has created a molecular epidemiology research program that bridges epidemiology, statistics, laboratory study and clinical research. With a focus on identifying cancer risk factors as well as markers that can predict an individual’s response to treatment, her research is essential in the quest to develop personalized cancer therapies and to improve prevention efforts. “’These models may help clinicians identify patients who are most and least likely to benefit from treatments, as well as those most likely to develop toxic reactions,’ she says. “Wu is the principal investigator on nine epidemiological studies funded by the National Institutes of Health. She is a collaborative investigator on many other NIH-funded grants, including a recent multi-institutional study of bladder cancer, which she directed. “’I see these integrative projects as the best way to translate science into medicine,’ she says. ‘They’re only possible through close teamwork within a large multidisciplinary group of scientists.’ “Though Wu began her medical education in China, she has spent all of her academic career at MD Anderson. She received her medical degree from Shanghai Medical University in 1984 and her Ph.D. in epidemiology from The University of Texas School of Public Health in 1994. She joined MD Anderson in 1995 as an assistant professor and by 2004 was a full professor. She held an Ashbel Smith Professorship from 2006 to 2008. She holds the Betty B. Marcus Chair in Cancer Prevention at MD Anderson and also is on the faculty of The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. “Wu is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in genetic cancer susceptibility markers and germline genetic variations. One of her major interests is pharmacogenetics, a new field that identifies genetic variations that can help determine why some patients respond better than others to therapeutic drugs. “Somehow Wu also finds time to lead a multidisciplinary team of 35 people. “’Mentoring trainees and junior faculty members is a responsibility and a privilege,’ she says. ‘They are the future of science and discovery, and I take great pride in their every success. To me, their success is my success. It is my dream that they will cherish the institution’s core values of caring, integrity and discovery as I do and spread them all over the world when they become independent investigators.’” References and Links Zhejiang University: Xifeng Wu 浙江大学: 吴息凤 2020/05/20 World Affairs Council: The Public Health Response to Covid-19 in Zhejiang Province and Washington State – Virtual Program 2020/03/18 ProPublica: The Trump Administration Drove Him Back to China, Where He Invented a Fast Coronavirus Test 2020/03/18 Chronicle of Higher Education: Hounded Out of U.S., Scientist Invents Fast Coronavirus Test in China 2020/03/12 World Economic Forum: 6 lessons from China's Zhejiang Province and Hangzhou on how countries can prevent and rebound from an epidemic like COVID-19 2019/06/20 South China Morning Post: Creating a climate of fear for Chinese scientists in the US benefits neither Washington nor Beijing 2019/06/17 Next Shark: FBI Accused of Targeting Chinese Americans Trying to Cure Cancer for ‘Spying’ 2019/06/14 Clean Technica: FBI & NIH Demonize Chinese Researchers As Trump-Inspired Paranoia Spreads Across America 2019/06/14 Axios: U.S. targeting Chinese cancer researchers 2019/06/13 Bloomberg Businessweek: The U.S. Is Purging Chinese Cancer Researchers From Top Institutions 2019/04/19 Science: Exclusive: Major U.S. cancer center ousts ‘Asian’ researchers after NIH flags their foreign ties 2016/10/21 Houston Chronicle: Research: Dr. Xifeng Wu 2009 MD Anderson Center: Accolades and achievements Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #50 Government Data/Information; House/State Hearings; 04/05 Monthly Meeting; NASEM Summit #50 Government Data/Information; House/State Hearings; 04/05 Monthly Meeting; NASEM Summit Back View PDF March 22, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #74 Your Action Needed For Rep. Ted Lieu's Letter; Nisha Ramachandran New CAPAC ED #74 Your Action Needed For Rep. Ted Lieu's Letter; Nisha Ramachandran New CAPAC ED Back View PDF July 22, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Rep. Ted Lieu delivered a bicameral coalition letter calling for an investigation into the DOJ's repeated, wrongful targeting of individuals of Asian descent for alleged espionage. July 29, 2021 On July 29, 2021, Rep. Ted Lieu delivered a bicameral coalition letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland calling for an investigation into the Department of Justice's "repeated, wrongful targeting of individuals of Asian descent for alleged espionage." "Over the years, multiple people who happened to be of Asian descent have been falsely accused by the Department of Justice of espionage," including the false accusations of spying alleged against Wen Ho Lee , Sherry Chen , Xiaoxing Xi , Anming Hu , and many others . "The common thread in every one of these cases was a defendant with an Asian surname — and an innocent life that was turned upside down." "No person should be viewed by our government as more suspicious because of the individual’s race. We thus request an update on the mandated implicit bias training and request an investigation to determine whether the Department of Justice has a written or unwritten policy, program, pattern or practice of using race (or other civil rights classifications such as religion, gender and national origin) in targeting people for arrest, surveillance, security clearance denials or other adverse actions. We also specifically request whether, under the 'China Initiative,' there is a written or unwritten policy, program, pattern or practice to target people based on their race, ethnicity or national origin." Rep. Ted Lieu delivered a bicameral coalition letter calling for an investigation into the DOJ's repeated, wrongful targeting of individuals of Asian descent for alleged espionage. Previous Next Rep. Ted Lieu Calls for Investigation of Racial Profiling of Asians