Western complacency frames China as merely catching up, causing persistent underestimation of its rise by assuming it must follow or fail by Western norms.
I. The Provocation: Generational Tensions in the Immigrant Experience The provocation at the heart of this generational conflict between first- and second-generation Chinese Americans is not a rejection of immigration itself, but a pointed critique of the assumptions that have underpinned the immigrant journey. Second-generation Chinese Americans, often referred to as ABCs (American-born Chinese), argue … Read more
I. Gratitude or Reciprocity? Reframing the Meaning of China’s WTO Accession At the heart of debates over China’s rise lies a fundamental question: should China’s integration into the global economy be understood in terms of gratitude and patronage, or as the outcome of mutual interest among sovereign actors? The assertion that China “owes” its development … Read more
China’s rise is often framed in Western discourse not as a normal phase of development, but as a systemic disruption. Concepts like “rebalancing” are presented as neutral, technical responses—addressing trade deficits, market distortions, supply-chain vulnerabilities, or national security concerns. Yet, a closer examination reveals that such narratives function less as economic diagnoses and more as … Read more
I. Trigger Event: The Tom Cotton–Shou Zi Chew Hearing 1. What Happened During a congressional hearing in February 2024, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton repeatedly pressed TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew with questions centered on Chew’s personal background rather than the company’s operations. Cotton fixated on Chew’s nationality, asking whether he had ever applied for Chinese … Read more
I. The Central Paradox of Global University Rankings Global university rankings are commonly presented as neutral, technical instruments designed to measure academic excellence. In reality, they operate as culturally and politically embedded systems, shaped by language dominance, commercial incentives, and historical power structures. Far from being objective scorecards, these rankings privilege particular academic traditions—most notably … Read more
In Western discourse, “rebalancing” between China and the West is often framed as a neutral, technical adjustment—addressing trade imbalances, supply-chain resilience, or national security concerns. Yet this language obscures its political function. Rather than a dispassionate economic correction, rebalancing frequently operates as a tool of power, shaped by a global order historically structured around Western … Read more
This essay examines Hollywood’s portrayal of foreign nations, with particular attention to China, and analyzes how these representations are shaped by narrative convention, historical framing, and market forces. It argues that recurring patterns of stigmatization and selective historical storytelling are not merely artistic choices, but are influenced by Hollywood’s global ambitions and economic dependencies. By … Read more
A frequent explanation for Hong Kong cinema’s decline is: The industry fell apart because censorship—particularly from mainland China—stifled creative freedom. While this argument might seem convincing at first glance, it doesn’t hold up when we look at history.Taiwan’s involvement in Hong Kong cinema provides a direct counterexample. Taiwan’s Stricter Censorship Highlights Historical Resilience of Hong … Read more
Many Hong Kong filmmakers—and the cultural institutions that support them—remain psychologically anchored in a colonial-era hierarchy that positions Hong Kong as culturally, morally, and aesthetically superior to mainland China. This outdated mindset shapes creative choices, industry discourse, and market behavior, creating a structural obstacle to the revival of Hong Kong cinema. The problem is not … Read more
There is hope for a resurgence of Hong Kong cinema, but only in a limited, conditional, and fundamentally transformed form. A return to its former dominance is highly unlikely without a profound psychological, industrial, and generational reset. The decline cannot be attributed to censorship alone; rather, it reflects a convergence of structural, cultural, and creative … Read more