VOL 38 NO 49 | NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019 by Northwest Asian Weekly

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VOL 38 NO 49 NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

FREE 37 YEARS YOUR VOICE

HUIWU Yang: MSNBC “ignoring” LAI his campaign a life of healing

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Ranked dead last for talk time during the Nov. 20 Democratic presidential debate —Andrew Yang is accusing MSNBC of “suppressing” him and “ignoring” his campaign. According to a New York Times analysis, Yang spoke for less time (6 minutes, 48 seconds) than any other candidate on the stage. The national polling average shows Yang at 3 percent, neck and neck with Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and just above New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. However, both senators had more than 10 minutes of talking time. Even billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer, who is polling at less than 1 percent, received a larger share of time than Yang, clocking in at almost 8 1/2 minutes. The debate was hosted by both MSNBC and the Washington Post in Atlanta. Prior to the debate, MSNBC excluded

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Dr. HUiwu Lai

Upon first inspection, it is merely a box, and a small one, at that. But upon opening, it contains what looks like a cross between a fanny pack and a g-string. In fact, what millions of people, in China and now in the United States, have discovered is that it contains lifesaving (at the very least, life–enhancing) medicine—in a portable, simply– delivered fashion. The yuanqi dai—or, “original vitality belt,” fastens neatly around your waist. The small, but potent, bag of Chinese medicine, affixes to your abdomen. A strap of material ties at the back of your waist and zips together with velcro. Presto—you have Chinese medicine delivered on command, constantly, easily, as you are walking, sitting, breathing, eating and even sleeping, with no one else even noticing. You wear it under your shirt. The yuanqi dai is one of the many products distributed by Dr. HUiwu Lai’s 505 Group. But more importantly, it has revolutionized the way ordinary people can receive treatment using Chinese medicine, without having to spend excessive amounts of money on a doctor. Lai, 69, has made similar patches for the knees, for the waist, for almost anywhere, available on a universal level. “My happiest moment is when I receive thank you letters,” he said, “from the people I’ve cured.” see LAI on 15

Taxi conversations in Shanghai  3

■

Everyone highlighted in yellow is polling behind Andrew Yang but has gotten more news coverage.

see YANG on 11

Trump official Mina Chang resigns after lying on resume

Practicing gratitude is a lifelong task — or is it? By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY For some, it is a daily practice. For others, it happens once in a lifetime —when it is almost too late. The way we practice gratitude, or thankfulness, can shape our emotions and values, according to countless self-help books and even our most hallowed spiritual and religious organizations. It can also bring about

“Beyond Bollywood” takes the full measure of Indian Americans  8

lingering regret and solicitude—if done too late. For this edition, and in preparation for Thanksgiving, Northwest Asian Weekly asked a variety of community members the same question: “How do you practice gratitude?” Their emailed responses varied over the wide range of human emotions and inspirations. see GRATITUDE on 16

Meet the man picked to be host of the ‘Blue’s Clues’ reboot  9

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Mina Chang

A senior Trump administration official who was under consideration for a promotion resigned her post on Nov. 18— a week after an NBC News investigation accused her of embellishing her work history and educational achievements, and more. Mina Chang, 35, the deputy assistant secretary for the State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stability Operations, was recently found to have falsified aspects of her resume and to have gone to bizarre lengths to inflate her professional background. The Trump administration reportedly wanted to nominate Chang to lead the U.S. Agency see CHANG on 13

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NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

37 YEARS

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Wataru “Wat” Misaka, the first player of Japanese descent to play in the league that was the predecessor to the NBA, has died. He was 95. The University of Utah athletics department said in a Nov. 21 news release that Misaka Wataru “Wat” Misaka died on Nov. 20 in Salt Lake City. He grew up in Ogden, Utah. Mikasa was the point guard on the Utah team that won the NCAA Tournament in 1944 and the NIT in 1947. Misaka played three games for the New York Knicks during the 1947-48 season in the Basketball Association of America. A 2008 documentary called “Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story” told the story of what Misaka went through as a trailblazing athlete.

Inslee meets with Nepal delegation

On Nov. 14, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee met with a delegation from Nepal led by Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Prithvi Subba Gurung and Attorney General Rajendra Ghimire. Gurung proposed to establish sister-city relations between Washington state and Nepal’s Gandaki province. “There are many commonalities between Washington state and our province,” Gurung said, stating the two places are endowed by natural resources such as mountains and lakes. They also share the same state flower: the rhododendron. Gurung extended an invitation to Inslee to visit his country.

Photo provided by Debadutta Dash

Trailblazing basketball player of Japanese descent dies

expenses-paid trip to the competition held in Alexandria, Va. The UW team consisting of Mackenzie Andrews, Allisa J. Song, and Jennifer Steger, won $5,000. Their invention, the nanodropper, is a universal adapter for eyedrop medication bottles that creates smaller droplets to reduce waste, and decrease per-dose costs. 

Xinh Dwelley honored with 2019 Flame Award

Nepal Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung (left) handing over a brass Buddha statue to Gov. Jay Inslee.

“Nepal has been on my wish list,” Inslee said, adding that it would be “a dream come true.” The visit was facilitated by the Nepal Global Trade USA, a Seattle based nonprofit advocacy group founded by Mohan Gurung, to promote the bilateral relationship between Nepal and the United States. 

UW team wins award at inventors competition

Mackenzie Andrews and Allisa J. Song (right)

A student team from the University of Washington (UW) won the Graduate Runner-Up award at the Collegiate Inventors Competition last month. Finalist teams (five undergraduate and five graduate), consisting of 23 students from 11 colleges and universities across the United States, received an all-

Xinh Dwelley

Xinh Dwelley was honored at a gala in Shelton on Nov. 23, when the Mason General Hospital Foundation (MGHF) presented her with the 2019 Flame Award. MGHF Board President Whitney Jones called Dwelley “one of those people who has given so generously and so joyously to the Mason County community.” Dwelley’s talent for food and cooking developed as a young woman in South Vietnam. She moved to the United States in 1970, and began selling egg rolls at the local farmers market. She worked as an oyster shucker for Taylor Shellfish Farms, and her skill helped her win the West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship five times. 

PROGRAM 6 p.m.—No-host cocktail 6:40 p.m.—Dinner & Recognizing 2019 Elected Officials 7:45 p.m.—Top Contributor Honorees 8:45 p.m.—Closing remarks

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TOP CONTRIBUTORS DINNER “UNITY & CELEBRATION”

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RECOGNIZING 2019 ASIAN ELECTED OFFICIALS

Space is limited. To reserve seats, call us at 206/223-0623 or send a check by Nov. 30 to Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation, Attn: Dinner, P O Box. 3468, Seattle, WA 98114. Proceeds go to support University of Washington Scholarship. JANICE ZAHN Bellevue City Council member

SAM CHO Port of Seattle Commissionerelect

KIM-KHANH SOFIA VAN ARAGON Renton City Burien City Council Council member-elect member-elect

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DR. TAM DINH Mercer Island School Board member-elect

DR. DAVID FRANCINE CHAN WIEST Snohomish Bellevue County South School Board Commissioner member-elect District 4

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NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

asianweekly northwest

APIA scholarships

McDonald’s announced on Nov. 20 that it has committed $500,000 to establish the first-ever McDonald’s/APIA Scholarship program in partnership with APIA Scholars. Fifty-five Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) college students will benefit from the program. “McDonald’s is very excited to launch the McDonald’s/ APIA Scholarship program to give a platform for APIA students to achieve their higher education dreams,” said William Cho, a Seattle-area McDonald’s owner and operator. “We believe everyone deserves the chance to go to college, regardless of finances, and McDonald’s is committed to making that happen.” The McDonald’s/APIA Scholarship program will

award 15 four-year scholarships and 40 one-year scholarships to rising college freshmen through APIA Scholars, which will be awarded in Spring 2020. Only 25 percent of Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Southeast Asian Americans have college degrees and the top 10 percent of APIAs earn more than 10 times the bottom 10 percent of APIAs. APIA Scholars is currently accepting online applications for the McDonald’s/APIA Scholarship at apiascholars.org. The application will be available for the 2020-2021 academic year until Jan. 22, 2020. Applicants must meet the following in order to be eligible:

Man seriously injured in ID stabbing

Dentists Chen, Hsieh get prison for tax-cheating scheme

A man was seriously injured on Nov. 21 in a stabbing at an apartment in the International District (ID). Police were called to the apartment near 4th Avenue and Jackson Street shortly after 1 p.m. after two men got into an argument and one stabbed the other. Officers arrived and provided aid to the victim before Seattle Fire Department medics transported him to Harborview Medical Center. Police arrested the suspect at the apartment and found he had several warrants. 

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Be of Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity as

SEATTLE (AP) — Two suburban Seattle dentists who avoided over $460,000 in income taxes were sentenced to seven days in prison and 400 hours of community service. U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran says Christine Chen of Renton and Mike Hsieh of Kent were sentenced Christine Chen on Nov. 22 in U.S. District Court in Seattle for filing false tax returns. They must also each pay $5,000 in fines. Moran says Hsieh and Chen own Comfort Family Dentistry and that from 2007 and 2014 the pair took

defined by the U.S. Census ● Be a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States. Citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are also eligible to apply ● Be enrolling as an undergraduate student in a U.S. accredited college or university in the Fall 2020 ● Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted) or have earned a GED ● Must apply for federal financial aid for the 20202021 academic year using the Free Application for the Federal Student Aid (FASFA) by early April 2020 ● Submit one letter of recommendation online. 

steps to hide their income from the IRS to reduce their tax obligation. Both defendants will pay slightly more than $231,000 in restitution. Their attorneys estimate they will also need to pay an additional $300,000 in interest and penalties to the IRS. Their attorneys argued for no Mike Hsieh prison time, noting that the criminal conviction prompted one bank to end its relationship with them, and that the dental practice was dropped as a preferred provider by a large dental insurance plan. 

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NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

37 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS

K-Pop star Goo Hara found dead at her Seoul home Goo Hara

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — K-pop star and TV celebrity Goo Hara was found dead at her home in Seoul on Nov. 24, police said. Police said an acquaintance found the 28-year-old dead at her home in southern Seoul and reported it to authorities. The cause of death wasn't immediately known. Police refused to provide further details. Goo made her debut in 2008 as a member of

Ang Lee says China boycott of Taiwan awards show a loss

the girl group Kara, which had big followings in South Korea, Japan and other Asian countries. She later worked as a solo artist and appeared on many TV shows. In May, Goo was reportedly found unconscious at her home and was hospitalized. She was embroiled last year in public disputes with an ex-boyfriend who claimed to be assaulted by her. Goo accused the man of having threatened to circulate a sex video of

her. The case made her the subject of tabloid fodder and malicious online messages. In October, another K-pop star and actress, Sulli, was found dead at her home near Seoul. The 25-year-old was known for her feminist voice and outspokenness that was rare among female entertainers in deeply conservative South Korea. Before her death, she appeared in a TV show and spoke out against online backlash she received over her lifestyle. 

Sumatran rhino is extinct in Malaysia as lone survivor dies KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The Sumatran rhinoceros has become extinct in Malaysia, after the last of the species in the country succumbed to cancer. The Wildlife Department in eastern Sabah state on Borneo island said the rhino, named Iman, died of natural causes on Nov. 23 due to shock in her system. She had uterine tumors since her capture in March 2014.

Department director Augustine Tuuga said in a statement that Iman, who reportedly was 25 years old, was suffering significant pain from growing pressure of the tumors to her bladder but that her death came sooner than expected. It came six months after the death of the country’s only male see RHINO on 11

US-born Bei Bei settles into new home at Chinese panda base By YANAN WANG ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ang Lee

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) _ Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee says China’s boycott of Taiwan’s Golden Horse film awards demonstrates how politics can take its toll on the arts. Beijing’s order to give the Nov. 23 awards show the cold shoulder was part of its campaign to rachet up economic and political pressure on the island it claims as its own territory. Speaking to reporters, Lee said politics was “an aspect we do not want to see. But we have to face it, because we live in this world.’’ “Everybody knows it, it is indeed a loss, no matter the red carpet or the films,’’ said Lee, the festival’s chair. “But of course, our best films, I personally think that they are not less good than the previous years. We still have very good films this year.’’ China held its own Golden Rooster film awards on Nov. 23, featuring films approved by Communist Party censors. Even without the ban, Chinese artists might have found it difficult to attend after Beijing issued a ban on solo travel to Taiwan beginning Sept. 1. see LEE on 14

BEIJING (AP) — After an intercontinental flight on the “Panda Express,’’ a furry American darling arrived in his new Chinese home on Nov. 21. Giant panda Bei Bei was a beloved figure at the National Zoo in Washington, where he was born and spent the first four years of his life. By agreement with the Chinese government, the zoo had

to return Bei Bei to China this year. He is now settling into the Ya’an Bifengxia Base of the Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center in southwest Sichuan province. Bei Bei will be quarantined for one month while he adjusts to the time difference, learns to eat local foods and picks up Sichuanese dialect, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Bei Bei was conceived through artificial insemination and born see BEI BEI on 14

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

■ NATIONAL NEWS $15,000 reward in shooting deaths of 4 Hmong American men FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A $15,000 reward is being offered for tips leading to the arrest of two suspects who fatally shot four men at a party as grieving family and friends prepare for funerals. Several fundraisers have been organized for the victims, who were killed when unknown gunmen entered a home on Nov. 17 through an unlocked gate and opened fire on people watching a football game in the backyard. The victims are of Hmong descent and the shooting has rattled Fresno, home to the second-largest Hmong community in the U.S. There are about 300,000 Hmong in the country. Paula Yang, spokeswoman for families of two of the four victims, says the families are struggling. “They’re still in a state of shock. Is this real? Is this happening?

It’s not easy to accept,’’ she said. Yang and others hope to increase the reward money being offered by Crime Stoppers. Six other men were wounded in the shooting. The victims include Xy Lee, 23, a popular singer in the community, and Kalaxang Thao, 40, who is survived by two daughters and a pregnant wife, according to a GoFundMe site. The other victims are Phia Vang, 31, who supported his parents and younger siblings with earnings from his job delivering clinical lab results. His father Seng Vang shared a video of his son playing guitar alongside Lee, the singer. “My son is a good son,’’ Vang told The Fresno Bee. “He’s a good man.’’ The shooting occurred at the home of the fourth

Chinese woman sentenced to 8 months for Mara-Lago trespass The Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge on Nov. 25 sentenced a Chinese businesswoman to eight months in prison for trespassing at President Donald Trump’s Mara-Lago club and lying to Secret Service agents. Judge Roy Altman also ordered that 33 -ye a r- old Yujing Zhang be turned over to immigration officials for deportation Yujing Zhang upon her release. Because she received nearly eight months’ credit for being jailed since her arrest March 30, she has about a week more to serve. Altman said trespassing on a government property, particularly one where the president is staying, is a “serious offense.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Rolando Garcia argued for an 18-month sentence, saying Zhang “lied to everybody” to get into Mar-a-Lago, including Secret Service agents, the club’s receptionist and even her taxi driver. Garcia also pointed to the electronics found on her person and in her hotel. “That certainly does not suggest she is some misguided tourist. She had an agenda,” Garcia said. He did not specify what he believed Zhang’s agenda was, but said her actions “suggest it was not just to take a photo with a famous person.”

Sentencing guidelines called for a sentence of zero to six months. After acting as her own attorney at trial, Zhang allowed federal public defender Kristy Militello to help her at the hearing. Militello told Altman that Zhang had a “fantastical idea” that she could form a business partnership with the president, whom “she deeply admired,” or his family. She said Mar-a-Lago has no rule against carrying any number of electronics. She said Zhang should be sentenced to the eight months she has already served. When Zhang was arrested, she was carrying four cellphones, a computer and an external hard drive and her hotel contained more electronics and cash. That led to speculation she might be a spy, but she was never charged with espionage. Instead, text messages outlined at her trial and posted to her court file after her conviction suggest she hoped to meet the president or his family to discuss possible business deals, along with other U.S. executives. Zhang paid $20,000 in February to “Charles,” a man she knew only online, to attend a ChineseAmerican friendship event at Mar-aLago on March 30. The Mar-a-Lago event promised a photo with the president or a member of his family. Zhang’s former public defenders believe “Charles” is Charles Lee, a Chinese national who ran the United Nations Chinese Friendship Association, which is not affiliated with the U.N. Charles texted Zhang in midsee ZHANG on 14

victim, Kou Xiong, 38, a gregarious sushi chef who loved hosting parties. Xiong is survived by his wife and young daughter. “He was a big part of our lives and he took care of every one of us,’’ his cousin, Chris Xiong, told The Fresno Bee. Both Vang and Xiong were children when they moved to the United States from Thailand as part of refugee relocation efforts. Hmong fought on the side of the United States in the Vietnam War and after the war, the U.S. moved them to places in Minnesota, California, and Wisconsin. In California, Hmong settled in Fresno and the Central Valley, where sponsors hoped they could find work given their agricultural background. 

Study: Native Hawaiians have fewer healthy years than others HONOLULU (AP) — Native Hawaiians experience fewer years of good health compared with other ethnic groups in the state, a recent public health study found. The study by University of Hawaii researchers published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health found Native

Hawaiians have 14 fewer years of healthy life than other groups. The study was based on a self-reported survey that calculated the number of healthy years among the state’s indigenous see SURVEY on 11

asianweekly northwest

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

37 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOV THROUGH JAN 11, 2020 ART EXHIBITION, “BRIGHTER FUTURE” Top floor, Arts at King Street Station, 303 S. Jackson St., Seattle Free admission seattle.gov/arts

30 WINTER AAPI ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR Hing Hay Coworks, 409 B Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 12-6 p.m. SHOP HOSEKIBAKO ON SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY JCCCW, 1414 S. Weller St., Seattle 10 a.m.-5 p.m. HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR FOOD WALK Hing Hay Park 11 a.m.-3 p.m. MODEL MINORITY: AN ASIAN WOMXN COMEDY SHOW Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle 8-10 p.m. caracolcreative.com

DEC 2

SEAHAWKS HONORING LOCAL CHINESE AMERICAN VETS CenturyLink Field Honored at halftime

5 KIN ON’S WINTER MAHJONG NIGHT Kin On, 4416 S. Brandon St., Seattle 6:30-9 p.m.

6 NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY’S TOP CONTRIBUTORS DINNER, “UNITY & CELEBRATION” China Harbor Restaurant, 6-9 p.m. Tickets at https:// topcontributors2019.bpt.me 206-223-0623

7 THE DANNY WOO GARDEN’S COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY Danny Woo Community Garden, 620 S. Main St., Seattle 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

MULTICULTURAL HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFT FAIR St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish, 1610 S. King St., Seattle 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 206-323-5250 stpeterseattle.org ASIAN AMERICAN SANTA & LOCAL ARTIST GIFT FAIR Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 12-3 p.m.

PHILIPPINE HOLIDAY LANTERN FESTIVAL Dr. Jose Rizal Park 9 p.m.

U.S.-JAPAN FRIENDSHIP COMING OF AGE CELEBRATION Bellevue College 1-3:30 p.m. japaneseinamerica.org

20 WINTER SOLSTICE NIGHT MARKET Magnuson Park Hangar 30, 6310 NE 74th St., Seattle 4-10 p.m.

THE SEATTLE-SURABAYA SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY EVENING Hotel Nexus Seattle, 2140 N. Northgate Way, Seattle RSVP at 206-501-0996 sssca@seattle-surabaya.org

21 A BONSAI SOLSTICE Pacific Bonsai Museum, 2515 S. 336th St., Federal Way 4-7 p.m.

8 SEATTLE CHINESE WOMEN’S CLUB’S HOLIDAY GALA Hilton Bellevue, 300 112th Ave. S.E., Bellevue 5 p.m. seattlechinesewomensclub. com

JAN 4

9 CELEBRATION TO HIGHLIGHT NEW INSTALLATION OF COMMUNITY-DEFINED ARTISTIC LANTERN Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 5-6 p.m.

THE DANNY WOO GARDEN’S COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY Danny Woo Community Garden, 620 S. Main St., Seattle 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

FEB 1 THE DANNY WOO GARDEN’S COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY Danny Woo Community Garden 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

8 APCC’S 22ND ANNUAL NEW YEAR CELEBRATION FEATURING VIETNAM, COUNTRY AND CULTURE Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall 11 a.m.-6 p.m. asiapacificculturalcenter.org

29 JAPANESE IKEBANA HEADMASTER HIROKI OHARA AT NW FLOWER & GARDEN FESTIVAL 2020 Washington State Convention Center, 705 Pike St., Seattle 11:45 a.m. on the DIY Stage Tickets at gardenshow.com

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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

■ ON THE SHELF Taxi conversations in Shanghai By Chris Juergens NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Frank Langfitt’s 2019 book The Shanghai Free Taxi: Journeys with the Hustlers and Rebels of the New China is the first-hand story of a long-time foreign correspondent and current NPR reporter who lived and worked in China in the 1990s and more recently in the 2010s. Langfitt bought a sedan in Shanghai and offered free-rides to Shanghai residents in exchange for conversations. Through these free-rides, Langfitt, a former cabbie himself in Philadelphia, developed many lasting contacts with locals. Thanks to these lasting contacts, Langfitt followed people’s life trajectories over the years and paints a variegated, vivid, and diverse picture of how Chinese people are changing. In an interview with the Northwest Asian Weekly, Langfitt described his approach to reporting as “the art of hanging out.” His goal was always to “be in the background, not the forefront” of a conversation with his passengers. With his interviewees, he would ask people questions and let them talk. This allowed them to genuinely open up about what was on their minds. Armed with a vehicle, when interviewees asked if he wanted to accompany them somewhere, he invariably said yes. He drove interviewees not only within Shanghai, but also to their home villages. Given his open mindedness for a variety of experiences, Langfitt is able to witness countryside family weddings, underground church services in Shanghai, and pig slaughtering on a farm. Through these experiences, Langfitt developed trust with his subjects. With Langfitt, interviewees cry while confessing their guilt and regrets, discuss their dreams and fears, and even touch on politics. In authoritarian China, discussing politics is sensitive and Langfitt himself gives many examples of how people fear government control and retribution. However, given

Langfitt’s unique ability to develop lasting relationships with so many average Chinese citizens, his book gives important insight into Chinese thinking regarding the United States, Chinese ambitions in Asia, the Communist Party’s decision to change the constitution to allow Xi Jinping to serve as president potentially until death, and attitudes towards authoritarianism

THOMAS DAUSGAARD, MUSIC DIRECTOR

DECEMBER 10

Kenny G

and the Seattle Symphony Grammy Award-winning saxophonist makes his Seattle Symphony debut!

Kenny G with the Seattle Symphony is sponsored by D.A. Davidson Companies

For Tickets:

seattlesymphony.org

versus democracy. Langfitt stated, “It would have been much harder to discuss these sensitive topics if I had just asked directly what people thought.” Over time, though, Langfitt said that people would naturally broach these topics anyways as they began to trust him. Langfitt honed his reporting style through many years as a reporter in different parts of the globe. He spent years covering Appalachia and told the Northwest Asian Weekly that he would spend hours on people’s porches and just listen and take notes. “Appalachia has a great story-telling tradition,” Langfitt pointed out, and as a reporter, he learned to take full-advantage to discover the depth of the region. Currently an NPR reporter in London, Langfitt used his location to meet up with a long-term Chinese interview subject living in Europe whom he visited multiple times to listen to her talk about her changing views on Europe, the United States, and China. Langfitt’s reporting is also made possible by his Mandarin skills. Langfitt told the Northwest Asian Weekly that when he was driving his taxi, he would converse directly with interviewees. Langfitt learned his Mandarin when he first arrived in Beijing as a reporter in the 1990s and had no prior experience with the language. He studied once he arrived in Beijing, and often ate dinner with a Chinese family which greatly helped his conversation. Langfitt took pains to clarify that his Mandarin is not as strong as he would like and that his excellent news assistant often helped him translate parts of some conversations that were beyond his ability. “My tones are dreadful, ” Langfitt confessed. Despite his modesty, it is clear this book would not have been possible without a relatively high level of Mandarin ability. Langfitt’s book is a refreshingly human look at the see SHANGHAI on 13

asianweekly northwest

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

37 YEARS

“Beyond Bollywood”

Photos by Wendy Malloy

takes the full measure of Indian-Americans

A family with their car in the 1970s

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)’s exhibit “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation” didn’t originate in Seattle. But MOHAI’s guest curator Amy Bhatt wanted to make sure that local audiences saw a special, unique version. “Beyond Bollywood was developed by a fantastic team at the Smithsonian [in Washington, D.C.],” Dr. Bhatt explained. “After that, it began traveling to various institutions around the U.S. and even the U.K. … “When it has been installed in each new venue, the exhibit has grown and shifted to reflect the experiences of the Indian American community in that region. MOHAI was lucky enough to bring ‘Beyond Bollywood’ to Seattle after a board member had seen it in Washington, D.C. I was invited to join the team when MOHAI was beginning to plan the exhibit last year.” The exhibit, as presented by MOHAI, includes a great many objects, images, and artifacts, from the local Indian American population. The four sections of the whole reinforce each other and come together to render a complete narrative. The first section asks the questions: Who is part of this community? What makes it unique, but also what divisions exist? Considering the incredible diversity in India, it is no surprise that the Indian American community also brings with it a vast variety of language, food, religious traditions, and histories. It’s also diverse in terms of class, generation, sexuality, gender, and in many other ways. And it has changed considerably over time. The second section addresses how Indian Americans have contributed to the industries of the Pacific Northwest. We see how the Indian American population has grown in tandem with the region’s technology industries. But Indian Americans have also made their marks in biotechnology, healthcare, education, business, food and service industries, nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, agriculture, and many other fields. The third section examines the scope and range of arts and cultural contributions that Indian Americans have made in

Bollywood dancers

the Pacific Northwest. It highlights the work of pioneering South Asian drama troupes that pushed the boundaries of stereotypical stage performances. At the same time, the exhibit profiles a local group using specially-commissioned South Indian puppets to tell traditional tales to children, as a way of preserving folk art forms abroad. And even though the show doesn’t include any conventional Bollywood, it does highlight the work of groups such as Tasveer, which provide an internationally recognized space to showcase alternative and progressive South Asian film and performance. The fourth section revisits early stories of Indian American pioneers from the Pacific Northwest, such as Bhagat Singh Thind, a U.S. army veteran who fought in the U.S. Supreme Court for Indians to be granted citizenship. This section also recounts the infamous Bellingham Riots of 1907 that pushed Indians out of the towns where they had been living and working along the Pacific coast. We see the legacies of anti-immigrant histories in contemporary debates over immigration and citizenship, particularly through the H-1B visa program, which brings in hundreds of thousands of Indians every year. This section also profiles the vital work that political leaders and social justice organizations do to push back against discrimination and to create community-led spaces for change. The artwork of Aaliyah Gupta, a local Indian American artist and immigrant advocate, gives visitors a moment to reflect on the ways in which culture is fluid, dynamic, grounded in communities, and ever-changing. “From the beginning, I wanted to bring my own training in feminist studies, critical ethnic and area studies, social justice and community engagement to the exhibit development,” said Dr. Bhatt. “Those lenses informed how we constructed the exhibit narrative and which artifacts were included. We invited a diverse group of Indian American leaders, academics, philanthropists, politicians, business owners, and advocates to serve on our community advisory board. This key group of individuals helped to create connections within the broader community.

“I also wanted to ensure that we showcased the deep history of the Indian American community in the Pacific Northwest, particularly because this region was one of the earliest ports of entry for this community. Because of that, Seattle has been a particularly important region to host ‘Beyond Bollywood.’”  “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans

Shape the Nation” runs through Jan. 26, 2020 at the Museum of History and Industry, 860 Terry Avenue North in Seattle. For prices, hours, and other information, visit mohai.org/exhibits/ beyond-bollywood-indian-americansshape-the-nation. Andrew can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

Meet the man picked to be host of the ‘Blue’s Clues’ reboot By MARK KENNEDY ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Joshua Dela Cruz has gone from having a genie as a sidekick to a bright blue puppy—and he couldn’t be happier. The actor is the host of a new reboot of the pre-school TV show “Blue’s Clues” and hopes people who grew up on the original come to check it out with their kids. “Now parents get to share a piece of their childhood, which is really exciting and only makes the learning that’s happening onscreen that much stronger,” he said. Dela Cruz comes to Nickelodeon’s “Blue’s Clues & You!” after a long stint in the Broadway musical “Aladdin,” where he understudied Iago as well as the title character and went on as Aladdin for three months. “There was still something more that I wanted at that point. I’d been with the show for just about five years. And I wanted to use the gifts and the skills that I had learned to help someone,” he said. “And my agent sent me an audition for ’Blue’s Clues.’” The original Nickelodeon show ran from 1996 to 2007, with a human host solving a puzzle by deciphering the meaning of Blue’s barks and paw prints —with assistance from young viewers chiming in with their thoughts. The reboot hews close to the original, with the return of characters like Mailbox, Thinking Chair, Slippery Soap, Shovel and of course Blue, though the pup is being rendered by computer graphics. “She is furrier, she’s more lovable,” he said. Other changes include the addition of Handy Dandy Guitar and an update to Handy Dandy Notebook, which now has smartphone technology, allowing Dela Cruz and Blue to receive emails and video calls. Former hosts Steve (Steve Burns) and Joe (Donovan Patton) returned for the first episode to help welcome Dela Cruz as the host. Burns helped pick Dela Cruz from an audition process that included over 3,000 hopefuls. He is the first Asian American actor to become Blue’s companion, a responsibility not lost on him. “I was talking to my friend and they said their kid was like, ‘Hey, he looks like me.’ And man, that hits you like a ton of bricks,” he said. “It hits you like a ton of bricks.” Traci Paige Johnson, co-creator and co-executive producer of the original “Blue’s Clues” and the reboot, helped pick Dela Cruz, purposely widening the search to include Broadway performers because they can sing and dance and endure a grueling schedule. She and her team went to see him in “Aladdin” and were wowed by what they saw him do onstage. But they were even more impressed by what they saw offstage. “Some kids were backstage and he

Joshua Dela Cruz and Blue

was just so lovely with them, so genuine. He got down to their level and spoke to them,” she said. “He just felt like the whole package.” The 30-year-old Dela Cruz thinks “Blue’s Clues” is different than other shows geared toward children because it honestly asks audience members for help and it doesn’t ask them to be silent consumers. “It’s more of a transfer of power and authority to the home viewer, which is something as a kid, you don’t usually get,” he said. “You’re usually told to be quiet and listen. Our show gives us the opportunity as kids to voice our opinions and make mistakes, because that’s a part of learning.” Appearing on “Blue’s Clues” completes an unlikely circle for Dela Cruz, who as a youngster watched the show with his younger sister. The family didn’t have cable but whenever they’d sleep over at their aunt’s house, the pair would eagerly watch the blue dog. Dela Cruz even credits the catchy “Mail Song” with spurring his interest in singing. He grew up in New Milford, New Jersey, with no intention of becoming an actor. “I had a very strong imagination growing up and I was the only boy sandwiched between two girls, so I would just kind of play by myself all the time and put myself in these wild situations and dream up these big stories.”

Joshua Dela Cruz

Advice from his older sister led him to audition for the high school musical and it was theater that helped him overcome his aversion to public speaking. Dela Cruz earned a bachelor’s in musical theater from Montclair State University in 2011. His additional credits include “Here Lies Love” off-Broadway and Onscreen, he’s appeared in ABC’s “Time After Time” and

CBS’ “Bull.” It was at college when he met his wife, the stage and TV actress Amanda Dela Cruz, who is currently appearing off-Broadway in “Jersey Boys.” Though he’s often away filming his show in Toronto, he’ll slip a picture of her—and their beloved dog Ollie —into his scripts. “I’ll look at those pictures and just kind of remember home,” he said. “I just get a little bit homesick. And when I see them, it just kind of brightens me up.” He marvels that now he’s the host of a show he enjoyed years ago with his little sister, who is expecting her first child. (“All she wanted for her birthday one year was Handy Dandy Notebook,” he said.) When he told her he had landed the gig as the host of the “Blue’s Clues” reboot, it was a shock. “It’s not something that any of us really ever saw as a thing that could ever happen in our futures,” he said. “It’s really wild.” 

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01414C19, Miscellaneous Pipe Repair Construction Work Order 2020-2021; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on December 10, 2019. Late bids will not be accepted. There is a 5% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract. Perform Work Order repair, replacement, and restoration of a variety of piping systems, mechanical and electrical assemblies, concrete or asphalt areas associated with the pipe repair, back filling and grading of landscaping. Estimated contract price: $1,000,000 Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement.kingcounty.gov/ procurement_ovr/default.aspx

asianweekly northwest

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

37 YEARS

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

THINGS

I won’t do on Thanksgiving

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

center on you, you, you.

Photo by Han Bui

1. No turkey

Do you have to eat Turkey on Thanksgiving? Not really. I haven’t liked turkey since the day I arrived in the United States. Someone argues, it’s an American tradition, and you should follow it. Hey, I am a patriotic American. And I am deeply rooted in America’s values such as kindness, giving back, helping others, and speaking out. But that doesn’t mean that I have to eat turkey. My Korean friend seconded my sentiments. He said no one in his family likes the turkey. His Thanksgiving dinner will be completely hot and spicy Korean style starting with kimchi. How about that? When my sons were little, I cooked turkey for Thanksgiving to please

Buy a BBQ duck at the local Chinese BBQ restaurants and make duck tacos. Fast, easy, and tasty!

Dim sum dinner at a local restaurant

them. Now, they are grown men, and so I decided to please myself. It takes so much time to cook a turkey, and there were so much leftovers afterwards that I wasn’t thrilled to have. All that time I spent in preparing and washing all the cooking utensils afterwards, and the turkey doesn’t taste as good as a chicken or duck that I rather not have a turkey at all. The only thing I love about the turkey is its bones that I can make soup or congee later. It’s absurd to cook a whole turkey for hours and

not enjoy the meat. I might as well just buy bones of fish, pig, beef, and chicken, which have better flavor— are cheaper—and faster to cook. My Asian heritage provides many palatable culinary options. On Thanksgiving day, I will dine in Asian restaurants: a dim sum lunch and a Japanese dinner.

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This one is extremely hard as Thanksgiving begins our season of feasting till the New Year. Thanksgiving and all our holidays are focused too much on food, and few on deeds. Thanksgiving is just the beginning for quantity meals because of the December holidays. And I already have scheduled lunches and dinners with friends and relatives. I can’t afford to eat so many big meals. My body would double in size. A small but delicious Thanksgiving meal would be nice so I don’t feel guilty the entire week.

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This one is nearly impossible. But it’s good for others who are constantly online to get off the screen. It may be a breath of fresh air for them. I am not online all the time as I take lots of walks every day and I love talking to people and catching up with friends by calling them.

5. No shopping

2. No big meals

3. No cell phones

“Painted Hills” Bone In

CHOICE RIB EYE ROAST

“Tyson”

Photo by Assunta Ng

4. No internet

In this season of gratitude, I’d like to try something revolutionary. Call it my personal exploration. It’s challenging and fun for me and, perhaps, for you as well. But it makes sense to take a break from what you normally do. I know my list might piss off some narrow-minded folks, but do I care?

Black Friday is coming up and some retailers open for early shoppers on Thanksgiving night. Not all the items you like offer discounts. Why not skip shopping, and spend time with your loved ones? It’s the time of year you show gratitude towards your friends and family by being with them, not shopping.

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I got this tip from New York Times columnist David Leonhardt. Actually, his piece inspired me to write this blog. Put your cell phone down for one day or even during Thanksgiving week. You may discover you will have more joy, less stress, better listening skills, and better connection to your loved ones and neighbors. Talk more to people instead of texting. The bad thing about texting is, there’s less sharing. You never see the emotions of the other person. You don’t know how they feel. You

This one is the hardest for me. Every day, every minute, I am embodied and involved with news. That’s my job, my life blood. On Thanksgiving, I swear I would not touch any newspapers. Not online and not in print. I can afford to do so just for one day because there’s very see BLOG on 15

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

YOUR VOICE

■ EDITORIAL

asianweekly northwest

Spread the love: say ‘thank you’

Aside from ‘I love you,’ there aren’t many more sweeter words in the English language than ‘thank you.’ And as we kick off the 2019 holiday season this weekend, think about the person or people in your life whom you haven’t thanked lately. For many, Thanksgiving is usually more of a personally-focused celebration, including sharing meals and time with family and friends. It can also be an opportunity to focus on, and be reminded of, the positive aspects of our lives. A few minutes of reflection can help you identify those characteristics that certain people bring into your life each day. What do they do that makes you smile? What character qualities do they demonstrate?

How has their presence in your life enhanced it? Make a list of all those people, along with the characteristics you like or admire. Then take the time to pick up the phone (don’t text or email!) and call them. Better yet, if you live in the same town, meet face to face. Let them know how much you appreciate them. Tell them how they make your life better. Give a specific example, if possible. If it’s someone who lives far away, consider sending a handwritten card or note in the mail. Those are so rare nowadays, they’re so special when we do receive them! Have you heard about the CEO who hand-writes birthday cards to each of his 9,200 employees? Sheldon Yellen, CEO of BELFOR Holdings, Inc., has been doing this every year since 1985. It doesn’t cost a thing, he said.

“When I learn of random acts of kindness being performed in the field, I take it upon myself… to reach out in writing, and send a thank-you card so that person can know they are appreciated and that their efforts don’t go unnoticed.” Yellen doesn’t stop at birthday cards. He writes thankyou notes, anniversary cards, holiday cards, and writes to his employees’ kids when they are sick. Of course you don’t have to go to this level of expressing appreciation. But your time and recognition will not be forgotten by anyone who receives a ‘thank you’ from you. This year, why not share your thankfulness by starting a holiday tradition everyone will love. 

YANG from 1

Twitter that the network had called him “John Yang” on air at one point. “I’m not the kind of guy who takes offense easily, but at this point, you have to call it like you see it,” he said, adding that he’d like to know the “rationale” behind MSNBC “suppressing and ignoring me and my campaign for months.” Yang told his supporters via Twitter that he had declined an invitation for an interview on MSNBC during the weekend following the debate. “Was asked to appear on MSNBC ... and told them that I’d be happy to after they apologize on-air, discuss

and include our campaign consistent with our polling, and allow surrogates from our campaign as they do other candidates,” he tweeted. “They think we need them. We don’t.” MSNBC declined to comment on Yang’s tweets. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the only other Asian American candidate aside from Sen. Kamala Harris, posted on Twitter, “So much for the promise of equal time for all candidates.” Gabbard, a U.S. veteran who represents Hawaii's second district, also had less than 10 minutes of speaking time, though she had more airtime than Yang. 

Yang from a graphic on polling and one previewing the debate. Appearing on CNN on Nov. 23, Yang said, “Americans tuned in to the debate... and they saw I got called on less than any other candidate—including candidates I am polling higher than—and the questions I did get had virtually nothing to do with the core ideas of my campaign.” Yang added that MSNBC “omitted me from over a dozen fundraising and polling graphics” and noted on

RHINO from 4 rhino in Sabah. Another female rhino also died in captivity in 2017 in the state. Efforts to breed them have been futile but Sabah authorities have harvested their cells for possible reproduction. “Despite us knowing that this would happen sooner rather than later, we are so very saddened by this news,’’ said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew,

SURVEY from 5 people and those with Caucasian, Filipino, Japanese, and Chinese heritages. Life expectancy data is based on death records collected by the state health department and population estimates from the U.S. Census. Researchers subtracted the number of years each ethnic group reported spending in poor health. The study found Native Hawaiians have 62.2 years of healthy life expectancy, compared with 75.9 years for Chinese, 74.8 for Japanese, 73.3 for Filipinos, and 72.1 years for Caucasian Hawaii residents. Native Hawaiians also have the highest rates of chronic health conditions—including coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes and certain cancers. “Until we can fix those things, I imagine we’ll continue to see

who is also environment minister. Liew said that Iman had escaped death several times over the past few years due to sudden massive blood loss, but that wildlife officials managed to nurse her back to health and obtained her egg cells for a possible collaboration with Indonesia to reproduce the critically endangered species through artificial insemination. The Sumatran rhino, the smallest of

a similar pattern,’’ said Kathryn Braun, a University of Hawaii Manoa public health professor. Although all ethnic groups are living longer and life expectancy has improved since 1950, a 10-year gap remains between Native Hawaiians and the longest-living group at any given time, she said. “Differences in life expectancy are determined by many things but primarily by socioeconomic status,’’ Braun said. A 2017 U.S. Census Bureau projected Native Hawaiians across the United States are living to about 80 years old, compared with 76.6 years in Hawaii. “It’s very hard to stay healthy if you’re houseless or living in your car. If we had adequate housing, education and health care for all we would see those gaps diminish significantly,’’ Braun said. 

five rhinoceros species, once roamed across Asia as far as India, but its numbers have shrunk drastically due to deforestation and poaching. The WWF conservation group estimates that there are only about 80 left, mostly living in the wild in Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature identifies the Sumatran as well as the Black and Javan rhinoceros as being critically endangered.

Both African and Sumatran rhinoceros have two horns, while the others have a single horn. Only about 24,500 rhinos survive in the wild with another 1,250 in captivity worldwide, the IUCN says. Of these, more than two-thirds are white rhinos. Rhinos are killed for their horns, which consist of keratin similar to human hair and nails and are used in traditional medicines in parts of Asia. 

asianweekly northwest

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

37 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS

Hong Kong leader vows to ‘seriously reflect’ on election By EILEEN NG and KEN MORITSUGU ASSOCIATED PRESS HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said she would “seriously reflect” on a stunning landslide victory by pro-democracy candidates in the city’s local election that was a clear rebuke of how she has handled violent protests that divided the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. Pro-democracy candidates swept nearly 90 percent of 452 district council seats, which will help it take unprecedented control of 17 out of 18 district councils, said Wu Chi-wai, head of the biggest pro-democracy bloc. The Nov. 24 results could force the central government in Beijing to rethink how to handle the unrest, which is now in its Wu Chi-wai sixth month. The district councils have little power,

but the vote became a referendum on public support for the protests. “It’s nothing short of a revolution,” said Willy Lam, a political expert at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “It’s a sound repudiation of the Carrie Lam administration and shows the silent majority are behind the demands of the protesters.” Carrie Lam, the embattled leader of the territory, acknowledged that some people viewed the results as a representation of public “dissatisfaction with the current situation and the deep-seated problems in society.” She said the government “will listen to the opinions of members of the public humbly and seriously reflect” on them. The pro-democracy camp hailed its astounding gains as a victory for the people and said Lam and Beijing must now seriously heed protesters’ demands, which include free elections for the city’s leader and legislature as well as an investigation into alleged police brutality. “We are only vehicles used to reflect the people’s concerns,” said Wu. Beijing, which blames foreign powers for fomenting the unrest in Hong Kong, has showed no signs that it might soften its stance on the former British colony, which was

returned to China in 1997. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters during a visit to Tokyo that Hong Kong will always be part of China, no matter the election outcome. “Any attempts to destroy Hong Kong or harm Hong Kong’s stability and development cannot possibly succeed,” he said. But the results will add new pressure on Lam. Some proestablishment candidates have already pointed fingers at her for their loss, while the pro-democracy camp said she should quit. “I would say directly to Carrie Lam, do not squander this opportunity. Don’t waste this chance ... the window has been opened for you,” said British politician David Alton, one of the independent election monitors. A record 71 percent of Hong Kong’s 4.1 million registered voters cast ballots in the city’s only fully democratic elections, well exceeding the 47 percent turnout in the same poll four years ago. The largest pro-establishment political party suffered the biggest setback, with only 21 of its 182 candidates winning. Its chairwoman, Starry Lee, said the government must see HONG KONG on 15

New drinks help Starbucks pull in more U.S., Chinese customers

The man behind China’s detention of 1 million Muslims

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP BUSINESS WRITER

By The Associated Press

Starbucks Corp. says new beverages and more efficient stores are drawing in more U.S. and Chinese customers, turning around the weaker traffic it saw at the start of the year. The company rolled out popular new drinks, like nitro cold brew and pumpkin cream cold brew, to all U.S. stores in its fiscal fourth quarter. In China, where mobile orders and delivery now make up 10 percent of its business, it opened new express stores to speed orders. Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said the company also continued a multiyear effort to streamline stores and remove unnecessary administrative tasks so employees can interact more with customers. New software makes scheduling easier, for example, while espresso machines automatically alert the company if they need preventive maintenance.

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Johnson said those efforts differentiate Starbucks and are increasing customer satisfaction scores. “The brand is healthy and strong and growing,” Johnson said in a conference call with analysts last month. Same-store sales—or sales at stores open at least 13 months—rose 5 percent in the company’s fiscal fourth quarter. That beat Wall Street’s forecast of 4 percent growth, according to analysts polled by FactSet. Starbucks said same-store sales in the Americas region rose 6 percent during the July-September period. Half that increase came from consumers spending more, but the other half came from increased traffic. Traffic was flat in the Americas in the first half of Starbucks’ fiscal year. Same-store sales in China rose 5 percent, with customer traffic up 2 percent. That reversed traffic declines from the first half of this year. see STARBUCKS on 16

After bloody race riots rocked China’s far west a decade ago, the ruling Communist Party turned to a rare figure in their ranks to restore order: a Han Chinese official fluent in Uighur, the language of the local Turkic Muslim minority. Now, newly revealed, confidential documents show that the official, Zhu Hailun, played a key role in planning and executing a campaign that has swept up a million or more Uighurs into detention camps. Published in 2017, the documents were signed by Zhu, as then-head of the powerful Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Communist Party in the Xinjiang region. A Uighur linguist recognized Zhu’s signature scrawled atop some of the documents from his time working as a translator in Kashgar, when Zhu was the city’s top official. “When I saw them, I knew they were important,’’ said the linguist, Abduweli Ayup, who now lives in exile. “He’s a guy who wants to control power in his hands. Everything.’’ Zhu, 61, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Long before the crackdown and despite his intimate familiarity with local culture, Zhu was more hated than loved among the Uighurs he ruled. He was born in 1958 in rural Jiangsu on China’s coast. In his teens, during China’s tumultuous Cultural Revolution, Zhu was sent to Kargilik county, deep in the Uighur heartland in Xinjiang. He never left. Zhu joined the Party in 1980 and moved up Xinjiang’s bureaucracy, helming hotspot cities. By the 1990s, he was so fluent in Uighur that he corrected his own translators during meetings. “If you didn’t see him, you’d never imagine he’s Han Chinese. When he spoke Uighur, he really spoke just like a Uighur, since he grew see DETENTION on 16

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019

asianweekly northwest

Predictions and advice for the week of November 30–December 6, 2019 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — A lack of understanding need not persist. If you want to know or learn more, it is within your power to do so.

Dragon — Worried you won’t have any other options if you let your current one go? That’s a risk you have to take.

Monkey — A well-connected friend has provided a springboard to an enticing opportunity. Be ready for a wild ride if you take it.

Ox — You won’t always draw the winning hand, but every now and then, your persistence will pay dividends.

Snake — Something that seemed so difficult before, now comes easily. As long as you keep chipping away, you will make steady headway.

Rooster — Avoid spending too much time on a low priority matter. It’s in your interest to focus on the areas of higher importance.

Tiger — Although your progress will be interrupted on occasion, your overall trajectory should be in the right direction. Rabbit — Be wary of an offer that seems too good to be true, as there is likely a catch in the fine print.

Horse — What was once hidden could make its way to the surface. You are more than ready to handle your next challenge. Goat — Unsure how to treat an unexpected request? Don’t let their timetable rush you into a hasty decision.

Dog — The hustle and bustle of the season can be very demanding, so set aside time to wind down. Pig — Are you curious to follow a road not yet traveled? At the very least, it could be quite an adventure.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

SHANGHAI from 7 Chinese people at a time when the media environment is dominated by discussions of the U.S.-China trade war. Langfitt told the Northwest Asian Weekly that the timing of the book was not planned, but that its release time is auspicious. “I am concerned about demonization on both sides,” said Langfitt. “Hopefully this book with allow people to differentiate to some degree between the policies of the Chinese government and the hopes, dreams, and values of ordinary Chinese.” While Langfitt’s book is a very personal look at the lives and ambitions of Chinese people, Langfitt skillfully compiles his interviews thematically so that the individual stories build up to create a larger narrative about Chinese society. He continues to come back to subjects at multiple points throughout the book when they fit into his thematic analysis of Chinese society. Moreover, Langfitt skillfully uses statistics and quotes from people who cover and study China to show how his collected anecdotes are not mere aberrations but rather

indicative of large-scale trends within China. Langfitt’s book is very easy to read, even for those with little background knowledge of China. That said, it is important to read the book cover to cover. Many unanswered questions from earlier chapters are cleared up later in the book. The span of the entire book allows the reader to see how characters evolve. For instance, Langfitt details how a used-car salesman attempts to scam him. Despite this breach of trust, Langfitt stays in touch with the salesman and shows how his life has moved in a more positive direction and even develops a level of trust with Langfitt, the very person the salesman attempted to rip-off (you need to read the book for more details on this story!). For those with deeper knowledge on China, the book is a great contribution to documenting recent trends in China and complements the earlier works of Peter Hessler and others who have documented personal stories to show China has changed. In sum, an entertaining, unique, and crucial read at a crucial time. 

CHANG from 1 for International Development (USAID)’s work in Asia. An NBC News story earlier this month revealed that Chang doesn’t have a degree from Harvard Business School, despite claiming to be an “alumna” in her official State Department biography. She also never spoke at the 2016 Democratic or Republican national conventions, despite claiming to have done so, nor did she appear on the cover of Time Magazine, despite answering questions about having made such an appearance during a 2017 interview. In her resignation letter to Secretary of

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State Mike Pompeo, Chang wrote, “It is essential that my resignation be seen as a protest and not as surrender because I will not surrender my commitment to serve, my fidelity to the truth, or my love of country.” Also, in her rebuttal document, Chang argued that her “background was fully investigated by the FBI and State Department’s Diplomatic Security. No questions were raised or concerns identified during the process.” A Korean American, Chang earned a six-figure salary at the State Department— which has a $6 million budget. Had she received the new position as a senior position at USAID, she would have been in charge of a budget of roughly $1 billion. 

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ZHANG from 5 March that the Mar-a-Lago event had been canceled but he could get her into other events featuring Bill and Hillary Clinton or

billionaire Warren Buffett. Instead, Zhang demanded a refund. Prosecutors said this proved she knew the Trump meet-and-greet was off and her arrival at Mar-a-Lago wasn’t a

BEI BEI from 4 to the National Zoo’s Mei Xiang and Tian Tian in 2015. His name, which means “treasure’’ in Chinese, was jointly selected by then-first lady Michelle Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s wife, Peng Liyuan. Bei Bei quickly became a favorite on the zoo’s Panda Cam, and fans bid a bittersweet farewell to the cub online with the hashtag (hash)byebyebeibei. With his handler, a veterinarian and 66 pounds of bamboo in tow, Bei Bei flew on a private jet provided by the shipping company FedEx and with a panda painted

LEE from 4 Chinese participation came into doubt following last year’s ceremony, when documentary director Fu Yue said in her award acceptance speech that she hoped the world would one day recognize Taiwan as an independent country, something only a handful of nations currently do. Taiwan split from mainland China amid civil war in

37 YEARS

misunderstanding. Zhang flew to the United States on March 28. Two days later, a taxi dropped her off at the Secret Service screening area across from Mar-a-Lago. The president and

on its fuselage. The giant panda offers a bright spot during a dark period in U.S.-China relations, as the two countries have been embroiled in a long trade dispute. Once Bei Bei reaches sexual maturity at age 6, he will enter China’s captive breeding program, which is credited with bringing giant pandas back from the brink of extinction. They live mainly in Sichuan’s bamboocovered mountains and are threatened by habitat loss. Bei Bei appeared to be adapting well to his new environment, eating 13 pounds of bamboo for breakfast on Nov. 21, CCTV said. 

his family were visiting the club, although he was playing golf at his nearby course and Zhang was never near him. 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

1949, but Beijing considers the self-ruled island part of its territory. Speakers at the Golden Horse Awards also expressed support for anti-government protesters in the semiautonomous Chinese territory of Hong Kong. Entertainment figures in Taiwan and Hong Kong have routinely been blacklisted in China after expressing proindependence or pro-democracy views. 

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YOUR VOICE LAI from 1 He said over the course of his lifetime, he has received over two million thank you letters. Lai’s grandfather, during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, succored American and other foreign Christians in China that were being harassed and executed by nationalistic Chinese rebels. His grandfather hid them and treated them with Chinese medicine. Eventually, he founded a church. His father, when he was old enough, took over as the leader. Lai had been interested in Chinese medicine from the age of 6, never having a formal teacher, but reading what books he could get his hands on. He was shocked into a life of caring for others, like his grandfather, with the outbreak of another major political upheaval—the Cultural Revolution in the late 1960s. Lai was born in Shaanxi Province, shortly before the movement broke out. His eldest brother, 20 years his senior, had already seen war and conflict. Even before the Chinese Communists came to power in 1949, his brother had been taken by the Nationalists —who were fighting the Communists in a civil war— as a soldier. For some reason—Lai doesn’t know—his brother had made the mistake of writing a letter to the Soviet Embassy in China. A complaint, an appeal for help, an outrage—again, Lai doesn’t know. But that single letter determined the fate of his entire family. When the Cultural Revolution broke out over 20 years later, the Communist Party knew about that letter. “My brother was pidou,” which means, “struggled against,” said Lai. Like others considered to be enemies of the regime, he was paraded in public and criticized. His father, suspected of sheltering his son, was also pidou. Lai, who was in a top middle school at the time, heard about the tragedy and came home. Unable to do anything, he exerted himself at school. While other students divided themselves into the usual two factions of the time, fighting against each other, Lai founded his own faction, a third. His aim was to rally around the disgraced and outcast former leaders Deng Xiaoping and Liu Shaoqi and as a symbolic gesture to them and anyone else in society

BLOG from 10 little news on Thanksgiving Day. Mainstream media have to scramble hard for their front page. I only read books and watch movies with my family. Can I really do it? We’ll see.

7. No negative thoughts

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

A family tradition

Dr. HUiwu Lai and Mahlon Meyer

that had been pidou—to offer succor. He organized for classmates to deliver food and water to teachers and students and others that were being imprisoned and tortured by leaders of the revolution in the school.

Chinese medicine

After the Cultural Revolution ended, through a friend’s help, he went to school for two years and learned how to repair electric motors. When he graduated, he borrowed 2,500 yuan ($357) and founded his own factory. Soon, the factory was garnering 100,000 yuan ($14,269) a year. This got the attention of the provincial leaders and, as they visited his factory and got to know him, they eventually asked him to become their secretary. Thus began his lifelong mission to nurture others. It had started in school, but now it has spread to the entire province, then the country. It had started with concern for his family, then classmates, then teachers, but now it has spread to all the farmers he saw as he toured the province. He watched as local farmers reeled under sickness and poor hygiene. “They had all kinds of diseases, gastrointestinal trouble, hepatitis, you name it,” he said. Lai’s interest in Chinese medicine had remained with him as he grew up and moved forward in life. Now, he found an outlet. He began to treat the villagers. He began to have successes. The leadership noticed.

community. I don’t understand why I am giving myself all of these challenges. But if I want to make this Thanksgiving a little different and more meaningful, this is an interesting experiment.

8. No politics

Please don’t discuss politics over Thanksgiving dinner. It will upset the proand anti-Trump camps or Brexit and antiBrexit folks. Make ‘no politics’ a rule at the table. Replace politics with jokes and laughter while you eat. It will aid in digestion, and elicit good moods and smiles.

9. No work

House Speaker Nancy Pelo

Donald Trump

On Thanksgiving, I do not allow myself to think negatively. Every thought I carry would reflect beauty, goodness, truth, and consideration for others, even for those who are mean and rotten. There are a lot of rotten folks out there, though. Can you believe that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Harper’s Magazine that she prays for Donald Trump, even though the president is her nemesis? This could be more challenging than I think. That’s why I won’t read the news for a day. The media prints much more bad than good news. I like the Asian Weekly to have more positive news than bad ones. That’s wishful thinking, I know. Yet, it has granted me a sense of awakening to dig up more positive things about people and the

I promised myself that I won’t do too much on Thanksgiving Day. I am on strike so I won’t cook or wash dishes. Our family will eat out. Well, maybe just half an hour to write my next blog. Should I? No, I shouldn’t. It’s a day of rest. I know I am going to debate this in my head for a while. Hey, I am a workaholic. And I am the boss. I should be able to decide whether or not to work. Honestly, working makes me happy and it’s fulfilling. But relaxation is just as important for our wellbeing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

Eventually, a newspaper supported by then-president Deng Xiaoping, called the zhongguo laonianbao —“News for the Elderly”—supported Lai in starting a factory producing Chinese medicine on a large scale. Unlike in the United States, where newspapers and media companies generally stick to related endeavors, in China, newspapers would open up subsidiary operations, companies engaged in all sorts of enterprises. The Chinese medicine factory was one of them. Lai had found the realization of his mission. In 1992, the Chinese government formally recognized and granted approval for the factory to operate at the national level. This was the beginning of Lai’s 505 Group. “This was hard to come by,” he said. After that, Lai’s products were distributed everywhere.

In the U.S.

While his parents were still alive, he traveled back and forth between China and the United States, but not frequently and didn’t stay here long. But now that his parents have passed away, he’s moved to the United States for an extended period. He can’t say how long, but he has already made a contribution. Established in his name, he has endowed the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine with a scholarship for students who exemplify “virtue” in their practice. The scholarship was founded with a donation of $100,000 and provides $8,000 a year for the full length of study. Having contributed to healing for so long, one might wonder if Lai might be bored living in Sammamish with its multiple strip malls, sedate country clubs and suburban tree–lined streets. He’s not. “Your attitude determines everything,” he said. “You must be broad-minded.” Besides his contribution to the UW, he also supports a number of local Chinese groups committed to social justice and other philanthropic causes. He probably has a few more thank you letters yet to receive.  Mahlon can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

HONG KONG from 12 review its response to the crisis and do more to heal the divisions in society. Many pro-Beijing political heavyweights were trounced, including controversial lawmaker Junius Ho, who is reviled by protesters for supporting a bloody mob attack on demonstrators in July. Ho was stabbed with a knife during campaigning this month. The winners included many youth activists and a candidate who replaced activist Joshua Wong, the only person barred from running in the election. Protest rally organizer Jimmy Sham, who was beaten by hammer-wielding assailants last month, also triumphed, as did a pro-democracy lawmaker who had part of his ear bitten off by an assailant. Celebrations broke out outside polling stations overnight when results were announced. At lunchtime on Nov. 25, dozens of supporters held a victory rally in a business district. A woman popped a champagne bottle and poured drinks for everyone. “This is historic. As our city plummets from being semiautonomous to semi-authoritarian, we react by showing what’s democracy in action,” Wong tweeted. More than 5,000 people have been arrested in the unrest that has contributed to Hong Kong’s first recession in a decade.

Supporters from both sides of the divide hope the election will pave a peaceful way out after months of pitched battles between protesters and police, capped by a university siege this month. An estimated 30 protesters, fearing arrest, are still hiding inside the Polytechnic University. Riot police blocked hundreds of activists from advancing into the campus on the evening of Nov. 25, and a pro-democracy supporter appealed for calm. They want an end to the police siege but police said they will send a team of negotiators into the campus to find and coax the holdouts to surrender. “With the mandate from the Hong Kong people, protesters expect concessions from Beijing, but those concessions won’t be coming. Confrontations may intensify,” warned political analyst Lam. The victory will see the prodemocracy camp secure 117 seats in the 1,200-member pro-Beijing panel that elects the city’s leader. It will bolster their influence, as the bloc usually has over 300 supporters on the panel but still falls short of the majority. The turmoil started in June over a now-abandoned extradition bill that many viewed as a sign of creeping Chinese control over Hong Kong, but protesters have since expanded their demands. 

NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 6, 2019 gratitude is about nurturing ties with people by simply and frequently saying thank you—or by gift-giving. Quiet acts show sincerity of heart and purity of spirit. “To show gratitude or appreciation,” she wrote, “You can say ‘thank you,’ ‘I

Galen Kawaguchi

appreciate it,’ you can give hugs, you can give presents and gifts.” For her sister, Chloe Sow, 14, practicing gratitude is about persistence in seeking to understand others. She wants to find ways to honor another person’s kindness, such as the right gift to bestow upon those she loves or to whom she is grateful. “I believe little things matters,” she wrote. “Always remember to show your appreciation, e.g. a simple gift, or a small action (like a hug) will do.” “It should be something that shows that you cared about what they did for you,” she added.

Courtesy of Charlize Sow

C.C. Tien

Charlize Sow

For Charlize Sow, 10, practicing

Chien-Heng Chou teaching students in India

Chloe Sow

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

Galen Kawaguchi, 51, an accountant/ CPA, practices gratitude through immersing herself in nature through her long runs. It is a way to appreciate that she can still remain active and energetic in middle age—and drink in the nourishing power of the earth and its fecund manifestations of life. “As I have moved officially into middle age, I feel immensely grateful for the ability to continue the activities that bring me joy,” she wrote. “I express this gratitude on a regular basis by taking the time to get out of the city and into nature, where I can run, listen to the sounds of the woods, breathe in the fresh air. I show my appreciation by taking the time to notice the small things: the moss on the trees, the sun glistening on the wet branches, the scent of the pine needles and wet leaves.”

understanding between China and the United States, facilitated peaceful trade between the two countries, and nurtured Chinese culture and community here in the Pacific Northwest. Honored throughout his life with various awards for service to the community, including the 2019 Asian American Service Award bestowed by the Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE), he sees practicing gratitude as informed by purity of heart. “On practicing gratitude, it could be small or large,” he wrote. “Small is personal and one time. Large could be your parents and the community that is for a lifetime.” “I always try to give back and more with thankfulness in my heart,” wrote Tien.

Courtesy of Chloe Sow

Courtesy of Galen Kawaguchi

GRATITUDE from 1

C.C. Tien, 91, president and managing editor of Chinese American Forum, has practiced gratitude his whole life after living through the Japanese occupation of China and observing the vicissitudes of war. He has promoted mutual

37 YEARS

Courtesy of Chien-Heng Chou

asianweekly

Courtesy of Matt Bealle

northwest

Matt Bealle

Matt Bealle, a handyman, practices gratitude by noticing and appreciating selfless kindness—kindness that is given without even being asked for. “I practice gratitude by recognizing what other people do for me and do for society that I don’t request. I appreciate it by saying, ‘Thanks for all you do’ and give them a warm smile, and possibly a warm hug or a firm handshake,” he wrote. He also practices gratitude through humility, by becoming a follower of other people’s goodness. “And I try, through my own actions to other people and towards society, to reflect my appreciation for their efforts by following their example,” he added. For Chien-Heng Chou, a professor of Physics in Taiwan, the practice came too late. For his entire life, he saw his father as stern and restrictive. “Walking the street, he would look like a military officer,” said Chou. “When he would pass by the armed military police headquarters, the guards would automatically salute him.” In fact, his father was an engineer, but he had escaped to Taiwan from China with the Nationalist regime in 1949 and had lost almost everything to war and hardship. When his father was dying, and

STARBUCKS from 12

DETENTION from 12

Starbucks said its fourth quarter net income rose 6 percent to $802.9 million. Earnings, adjusted for nonrecurring items like restructuring costs, were 70 cents per share. That met Wall Street’s forecast, according to analysts polled by FactSet. Revenue rose 7 percent to $6.75 billion, topping analysts’ forecasts of $6.69 billion. For the full year, revenue grew 7 percent to $26.5 billion, also ahead of forecasts. For the 2020 fiscal year, Starbucks said it expects same-store sales growth of 3 percent to 4 percent. The company plans to open 2,000 net new stores; more than half of those will be in its key markets of the U.S. and China. Excluding one-time items, the company said it expects earnings in the range of $3 to $3.05 per share in 2020. That would be an increase from this year’s earnings of $2.83. 

up with them,’’ said a Uighur businessman living in exile in Turkey, who declined to be named out of fear of retribution. The businessman first heard of Zhu from a Uighur friend who dealt with the official while doing business. His friend was impressed, describing Zhu as “very capable’’—a Han Chinese bureaucrat the Uighurs could work with. But after years of observing Zhu oversee crackdowns and arrests, the businessman soon came to a different conclusion. “He’s a crafty fox. The really cunning sort, the kind that plays with your brain,’’ he said. “He was a key character for the Communist Party’s policies to control Southern Xinjiang.’’ Ayup, the linguist, met Zhu in 1998, when he came to inspect his township. He was notorious for ordering 3 a.m. raids of Uighur homes, and farmers would sing a popular folk song called `Zhu Hailun is coming’ to poke fun at his hard and unyielding nature. Months after a July 5, 2009 riot left hundreds dead in the region’s capital of Urumqi, Zhu was tapped to replace the city’s chief. “They were super unhappy,’’ said a Uighur former cadre who declined to be named out of fear of retribution. “It had never happened before, but because locals said he was outstanding at maintaining stability, he was snatched up and installed as Urumqi Party Secretary.’’ Upon appointment, Zhu spent three days holed up in the city’s

in the hospital, Chou was surprised by what his father asked him. “I still remember that my father asked me if I love him,” he wrote. “I told him I will never forget what he has done for me. And no matter what, I would not forget, forever, how he took care of me so kindly when I was a child,” he added. And in remembering his departed father, he practices gratitude by acting like a father to his younger brother, filling a father’s role. When a leader of Taiwan’s military succored his younger brother, Chou had to think carefully about how to respond. To offer a gift, or some crude form of thanks, would have been deemed rude and indelicate, and could actually have done more harm than good. But still he wanted the officer to know how vital his help had been to his younger brother. In the end, he had to refrain from any overt and excessive show of thanks. But his words were carefully chosen—and deeply sincere. “I know that sometimes, it is just impossible to give someone a reward,” he wrote. “The reason is that that person’s help is so vital, that you can’t even measure the value of that person’s help.” “One of the highest ranked officers of Taiwan’s army helped and protected my young brother,” wrote Chou. “I could not give him any reward, I just told him I would copy his good will to help others.” Sometimes a memory is all it takes.  Mahlon can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

police command, vowing to tighten the government’s grip. Police swept through Uighur neighborhoods, brandishing rifles and rounding up hundreds for trial. Tens of thousands of surveillance cameras were installed. But instead of healing ethnic divisions, the crackdown hardened them. Matters came to a head in April 2014, when Chinese President Xi Jinping came to Xinjiang on a state visit. Just hours after his departure, bombs tore through an Urumqi train station, killing three and injuring 79. Xi vowed to clamp down even harder. In 2016, Beijing appointed a new leader for Xinjiang—Chen Quanguo. Chen, whose first name means “whole country,’’ had built a reputation as a hard-hitting official who pioneered digital surveillance tactics in Tibet. Zhu was his right-hand man. Appointed head of the region’s security and legal apparatus, Zhu laid the groundwork for an allseeing state surveillance system that could automatically identify targets for arrest. After Chen’s arrival, Uighurs began disappearing by the thousands. The leaked documents show that Zhu directed mass arrests, signing off on notices ordering police to use digital surveillance to investigate people for having visited foreign countries, using certain mobile applications, or being related to “suspicious persons.’’ Zhu stepped down last year after turning 60, in line with traditional practice for Communist Party cadres of Zhu’s rank. Chen remains in his post. 