Foreign critics may find the news alarming, particularly considering how the speculation of Chinese investors is impacting real estate markets, and people are quickly priced out of real estate in their own backyards. Los Angeles real estate broker, Eric Coven, openly admitted to creating a group to attract rich Chinese buyers for high-end luxury villas in Las Vegas. “I can make about $4 million a month from making quick sales to a group of Chinese customers.”

China based investment broker, Yan Weiming, disagrees. “Saying that Chinese newly-rich are throwing tons of money to purchase real estate overseas is just speculation,” said Yan. Meanwhile, American-Chinese real estate developer, Jennifer Wu, argues Americans should change their perception of Chinese buyers. “We should cherish Chinese investors. They are reliable, and help strengthen overseas real estate markets.”

Part of the push to purchase overseas property is a complete loss of faith in the broken Chinese system. According to Chinese investment advisor and real estate researcher, Yin Xufei, Chinese purchasers feel they have no safe alternatives but to invest overseas. “Chinese (house) buyers are inclined to invest overseas,” he said. “The risk to invest in the Chinese stock market is high; the risk involved with the local real estate market is equally high. This is why many Chinese turn to countries abroad when investing.”

The post Chinese Dropped $16.5 Billion On Overseas Real Estate Last Year appeared first on The Nanfang.

This is not the first time China has helped Pakistan develop nuclear infrastructure; China built two nuclear reactors at the Chashma Nuclear Power Complex in the Province of Punjab, which became operational in 2000 and 2011, respectively. Under the new agreement, China will help construct two new reactors at the Chashma Complex, which are expected to be completed in 2016 and 2017. Two additional reactors are to be built at a new nuclear facility just 20 miles outside of Karachi, the most populous metropolitan city in the country.

The agreement has dumbfounded members of the international community, given that China and Pakistan are supposed to be diametrically opposed in their approach to the development and supply of nuclear technology. Pakistan is one of only four United Nation member states that has yet to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (“NPT”); while China is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (“NSG”), a group whose guidelines are consistent with those of the NPT. The NSG seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of guidelines for nuclear exports. One of the principle guidelines of the Group states that a member country may only authorize a transfer of nuclear technology if satisfied that the transfer would not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Given news reports that Pakistan has been developing nuclear weapons as recently as late last year, China’s position is disconcerting, if not inconsistent with the principles of the NSG.

In a recent statement, the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan expressed similar concerns: “China’s expanding civilian nuclear cooperation with Pakistan raises concerns and we urge China to be transparent regarding this cooperation.” Much of that “concern” originates from intelligence gathered as early as the mid 1990’s, which found that China was likely a “principle supplier” of Pakistan’s nuclear program. As detailed in a January 5, 2015 US Congressional Report, titled “China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues” Shirley A. Khan, a Specialist in Asian Security Affairs writes:

The Director of National Intelligence’s Report for 2011 reported that PRC entities continued to supply missile-related items to Pakistan. Though that report stressed that they were “primarily private” entities, rather than the PRC regime, “entities” could include state-owned entities or ones with official support.

China’s construction of additional nuclear reactors in Pakistan isn’t just concerning to the international community, it’s also concerning to the Pakistani public. Many fear the possibility of a nuclear disaster similar to the 2011 plant failure at the Fukushima Daiichi Plant in Japan, the worst nuclear incident since Chernobyl. And while a group of activists sued, successfully stopping construction of the Karachi plant in December of last year, a new environmental assessment, expected to be issued later this month, could once again green-light the project.

The post China Defies World by Building Nuclear Reactors in Pakistan appeared first on The Nanfang.

While debate in the US over climate change rages on, physicists from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory believe they may have discovered a contributing factor to the massive snowstorms that have blanketed the eastern part of the continental US: air pollution originating from China and other coal-firing southeast Asian countries.

NASA has created an animated simulation using satellite data from September 2006 to April 2007, which shows how airborne particles move around the world. Many of these particles are natural, as seen from salt particles from the sea (shown in blue), and dust particles taken from deserts (shown in red-orange).

However, the simulation also contains a number of man-made particles. Soot from fires show as green-yellow, while sulfur from fossil fuel emissions and volcanoes are white.

China’s contribution to air pollution can be clearly seen 43 seconds into the simulation as a large white plume billowing to the east across the Pacific Ocean.

As NASA physicist Jonathan Jiang explains, these atmospheric particles blow over the Pacific Ocean and “can serve as cloud nuclei and foster cloud formation”, thus increasing the size and intensity of overhead storm clouds.

These Pacific storms then move northwest, some hitting the west coast and causing rain and snow, while others head further north into Canada. While the animation illustrates the global impact of China’s air pollution, Jiang believes that further testing is required to determine the full effect that these storms have on weather patterns in the eastern US.

The post Air Pollution in China is Contributing to Winter Storms in the US appeared first on The Nanfang.

The trend of wealthy Chinese giving birth in the US so that their children can gain foreign citizenship was so popular in the early 2000’s that it inspired the 2013 Tang Wei movie, Finding Mr Right, which then inspired more Chinese to do the same.

However, the “birth tourism” trend that’s seeing pregnant Chinese women head to the USA and leave with a baby with US citizenship may have finally come to an end. On March 3, the FBI raided ten “birthing centers” in Orange County, California, signalling a crackdown on the practice.

Expectant mothers are able to pay upwards of $50,000 to be introduced to a birthing center which guarantees a social security number, US citizenship and a passport for their baby. These centers are also culturally important because they give Chinese mothers and their newborn children a place to pass the one month observational period, as commonly practiced in China.

One immigration expert said birth tourism isn’t specifically against the law, but these places coach expectant Chinese mothers on how to lie to US authorities to conceal their real motives.

No arrests were made in the March 3 raids, though US Immigration and Customs agents say charges are likely as they continue to investigate for visa violations and tax evasion. One such center is said to have successfully helped 400 Chinese mothers give birth to new US citizens.

The Associated Press said the FBI raid on three of the centers was one of the largest operations undertaken by the department of homeland security, and even involved an undercover agent.

The US constitution ensures that everyone born in the US becomes a US citizen. In China, the popular thinking is parents can give birth in the US, then return to China where the child will go to school. Once the kid reaches 21 years old, he or she can live in the USA and bring the parents as US immigrants.

Congress has apparently considered a few proposals to close this loophole and make it harder for the offspring of two non-US citizens to receive citizenship if born in the United States.

Related:

• Free Education and a Popular Romcom Lead to Chinese Baby Boom in America

The post USA Brings the Hammer Down on Chinese-style “Birth Tourism” with FBI Raids in California appeared first on The Nanfang.

Here’s what happened, and why Chinese Americans have launched a White House petition that has already garnered well over 100,000 signatures.

Gurley arrived home at the Pink Houses complex in Brooklyn on November 20. He decided not to wait for the elevator and entered the darkened seventh floor stairwell when he was struck by the bullet that had bounced off a wall. The gun was fired by Liang, who was standing a floor above. Liang had not said anything to Gurley when he fired it, and claims the bullet “flew out” of his gun.

Since the shooting, many incriminating details about the case have emerged, such as the fact that Liang did not radio for help or provide any assistance to Gurley, instead calling his union representative to ask for advice. As well, the ambulance that eventually arrived had to be called by residents of the complex because the officers on hand did not know the building’s address. Liang also apparently ignored phone calls from the ambulance to get the exact location.

While the officers in the controversial deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner were not indicted, Liang looks set to pay a price for the unintended death of an unarmed black man, a father of two young children. It’s that point that has the Chinese community upset. They say Liang is a “scapegoat” unfairly punished because he is a minority. While there has been a “Free Peter Liang” Facebook page for a while, the Chinese community is really making an impact with the White House petition that is asking the President to set Liang free.

This is what the petition says:

Demand Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson to withdraw indictment against Asian minority Officer Peter Liang!

Prosecutors indicts Officer Liang for Political Gain! Asian American Police Officer Becomes Scapegoat!

NYPD Officer, Peter liang told his superiors that his gun had gone off unintentionally, the bullet rattling off a wall and into an unsuspecting man’s chest, killing Akai Gurley.

Nonetheless, the circumstances surrounding Mr. Gurley’s death lead to a manslaughter indictment this week, whereas police officers in the Michael Brown and Eric Garner case were never charged. Criminal charges appeared more likely in the later two cases, but these two non-Asian Police Officers were never charged.

Netizens are also taking to Weibo to promote Liang’s cause and this petition, and are trying to get all Chinese, regardless of nationality, involved in the case. This Weibo user even adapts the “I am Charlie” meme used after the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris:

I’ve signed my name!! Please help out this ethnic Chinese police officer. We Chinese are all Peter! Don’t just be a passerby.
A Chinese police officer mistakenly struck a black person with a ricocheting bullet while on duty. Through a jury, a black prosecutor has indicted him on second-degree murder charges. Recently, police officers that have killed people in other parts of the United States have not been charged, and yet only Peter is charged with a serious crime?! There aren’t any problems with the entire legal system; instead, the key point is that we Chinese are not united, and don’t speak out. Subconsciously, it’s very likely the jury and the black prosecutor think it’s okay to oppress Chinese while alleviating the anger of black people at the same time. If ethnic Chinese don’t make their voices strongly heard, the possibility that Peter Liang will get convicted is high. Not long from now in the future, you too could become another “Peter” yourself! Don’t wait, act now!
Brooklyn’s ethnic Chinese need you to make your voices heard to its elected prosecutor!
If this petition receives over 100,000 signatures, Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson may likely withdraw all charges to Peter Liang! Please sign the petition!

A successful petition to the White House does not mean your wishes will be granted, but this hasn’t stopped the Chinese community’s support for Liang. This Weibo user says Liang was a filial son and is now prevented from safeguarding America because he accidentally shot a guy to death:

‘Mother, it’s over for me. I apologize to you, I can’t take care of you any more.’ These words aren’t from a drug addict, nor from a robber, nor even from a murderer. They come from police officer Peter Liang, a person that protects and is devoted to the safety of the American public. He quit a stable union job in order to become a police officer because he had a dream to safeguard the public and be a champion for the people.

The arguments made by the Chinese community to set Liang free are largely based upon race, but some amount to this: If white people can kill unarmed black people, Chinese people should be able to, too. If white people can kill unarmed black people, Chinese people should be able to, too.

Mr金–jzm：
White people can kill black people in broad daylight without any problem, so by what reason must Chinese be charged (under the same circumstances)? It’s not fair!

DK-8:
The point isn’t that Liang killed a black person, the point is that there have been white police officers (who have killed black people) in cases that haven’t necessarily been accidents, but have not been charged. Liang has mistakenly killed a black person, but has been charged with six different crimes.

不入江湖：
Those damned blacks are so detestable, there are some people that should die.

Some people say this is all about civil rights:

我的7月2日：
If you don’t fight for them, your rights won’t come land on your doorstep. 

Nopollock：
I’ve signed up. The road of fighting against racial discrimination in the USA is still a long one to travel. If we don’t fight for Peter Liang now, when it’s our turn one day in the future, who will speak up for us?

The indictment of Peter Liang is a clear case of racism, say these people:

时尚金融学：
If Peter had a family name of Andrews or Nichols, I’d guess he’d never be charged. Also, what bad luck it is for a police officer to have his gun accidentally go off.

飘游仙人：
Most of us ethnic Chinese in the greater Washington area have all signed the petition. Even if Liang had a few minutes to radio for an ambulance, the decision to charge him as a murderer without first knowing all the facts is a clear cut example of racism directed towards Chinese.

And then other folks think the responsibility lies elsewhere:

___鸦片___：
He is responsible, but the one that has the most responsibility is the New York Police Department.

Nichole29：
Even though I detest those black people, this case is an unsolvable mystery without any reason to explain why the gun went off. Such is life… ay.

泰姆么辛：
To all people who have signed the petition and are seekers of righteousness: does this therefore mean that it doesn’t matter who mistakenly kills a black person, but that they should not be charged?

Heatherica：
The unfair point is that ‘white people won’t get charged after killing black people’, which is to say that getting charged is the normal way. Even if there is inequality between whites and Asians, this should not be based upon the privilege of killing black people. The entire argument is wrong, so how can there be justice?

Destiny_wsy：
First of all, let’s not say who is African-American! Who is Asian-American! And who is American! Firing a gun to solve a problem; do you have a problem with impulsive actions? Or are you a coward? Each of us only have one life. When compared to the unfair deaths of these African-Americans, isn’t this the greater tragedy?

With the fate of Peter Liang to be determined by the courts, we await the White House response to the petition.

The post Chinese Community Rallies Behind NYPD Cop Indicted in Killing of Unarmed Black Man appeared first on The Nanfang.

Here’s a viral piece that uses generalizations to explain the differences between TV shows from these four countries. It’s a little heavy handed, but that’s pretty much the joke here:

12 Sentences that Tell You the Difference Between US, Japanese, South Korean, and Chinese Domestic Television Shows

Recently, some netizens have compiled a list explaining the difference between US, Japanese, South Korean, and Chinese domestic television shows. The answer is correct, and if you don’t believe it, see for yourself.

US Shows:

Criminal investigation shows: these shows talk about breaking cases and show how dedicated police are to their work, how brutal criminals act, and how the use of torture is used to crack a case.

Legal shows: these show how dedicated lawyers are to their jobs, and how they will fight for the best interests of their clients.

Medical shows: these shows talk about treating patients and how medical staff work, and how they’ll do everything they can in order to take care of their patients.

Japanese Shows:

Criminal investigation shows: use cases to show the dark side of society, and the ugly side of human nature.

Legal shows: use cases to show the dark side of society, and the ugly side of human nature.

Medical shows: use disputes between doctors and patients, internal hospital strife and other things to show the dark side of society, and the ugly side of human nature.

South Korean Shows:

Criminal investigation shows: The wife of the cop contracts leukemia. It gets so bad he can’t take it anymore, runs out into the street and is hit by a car and gets amnesia, until finally in the end they are told that they can’t be together.

Legal shows: The wife of the lawyer contracts leukemia. It gets so bad that he can’t take it anymore, runs out into the street and is hit by a car and gets amnesia, until finally in the end they are told that they can’t be together.

Medical shows: The wife of the doctor contracts leukemia. It gets so bad that he can’t take it anymore, runs out into the street and is hit by a car and gets amnesia, until finally in the end they are told that they can’t be together.

Chinese Shows:

Criminal investigation shows: Love story about police officers.

Legal shows: Love story about lawyers.

Medical shows: Love story about doctors.

Having gotten some buzz online, netizens had a lot to say about this list. “South Korean shows haven’t been like this for a while, and there is a great variety to Japanese shows,” one person said, while another said: “Bullshit. Chinese shows are devoted to fighting Japanese, fighting Japanese, and fighting Japanese, okay?”

“Aren’t English shows like this: in a criminal investigation show, a pair of male cops go on a case, and then a gay marriage law gets passed. In a lawyer show, a pair of male lawyers perform a defense based on complementary tactics, and then a gay marriage law gets passed. In a medical show, a male doctor spares no effort and does everything in his power to save a male patient, and then a gay marriage law gets passed…”

Another said: “No matter what, I still enjoy US shows. US shows teach women to be brave and independent! South Korean shows only teach you to daydream, while Chinese shows just teach you the background to Zhen Huan (a character in an old novel made into a TV show). It’s tiring, and I don’t like them anymore.”

The post Chinese Meme Makes Sense of Cultures Through Their TV Shows appeared first on The Nanfang.

That said, there have been murmurs in the expat community of late that people are increasingly deciding to head home. There seem to be more going away parties for friends than ever. Now, it looks like that sense is correct: twice as many expats are leaving China compared to those arriving.

READ: China’s Typical Expat: Male, Doesn’t Speak Chinese, and Loves It Here

UniGroup Relocation, a moving company, says business servicing expats looking for a way out of China is booming. According to the company’s records, more people have left China for the USA than vice versa for the second year in a row.

Steve Lewis, Managing Director of UniGroup Relocation Asia Pacific, says that South Asian countries have been a popular exit strategy for many expats that used to call China their home. “We have done some mass moves into Malaysia from China as certain people choose to do research and development and manufacturing there.”

READ: Northern Smog Forcing Expats South to Cleaner Guangdong

Lewis revealed that the majority of UniGroup’s clients are multinational employees (93 percent), but that Chinese companies are starting to use its services as well.

Expats are familiar with the many issues they face living in China: air pollution, visa hassles, food safety scandals, and overcrowding just to name a few. However, for those who do choose to stay, be sure to take advantage of the robust, economically priced and lightly worn second-hand furniture market. After all, one person’s trash can be another’s treasure, or living room set.

Related:

• Coke Now Paying Expat Staff Extra To Deal With China’s Air Pollution
• READ: Is There An Expat Exodus in China? Not Quite…
• Banker Writes Heartfelt Letter on Why It’s Time to Leave “Hedonistic” Hong Kong
• Reasons to leave China: two prominent and long-term expats have thrown in the towel
• China’s Heard Enough About “Western Values”, Bans Them from Classrooms

The post It’s Official: Expats are Leaving China in Droves appeared first on The Nanfang.

Eddie Huang

It’s unclear if the upcoming ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat will use awkwardness as a comedic device to get audiences laughing, but a meeting between the press and the cast and crew of the first American-Asian network comedy in 20 years was undeniably awkward.

Fresh Off the Boat joins a modern trend that celebrates ethnic diversity by casting actors from all types of backgrounds. However, the press might not be quite as ready for an Asian sitcom as audiences seem to be. This was the first question posed to the cast of Fresh Off the Boat at a media event in California:

I love the Asian culture. And I was just talking about the chopsticks. And I just love all that. Will I get to see that? Or will it be more Americanized?

But Asian culture didn’t prove to be the main source of friction at the press junket. The show is based on the memoirs of Eddie Huang, a famous chef and author of Taiwanese descent who had previously been very critical of the way ABC was turning his book into a TV show. Huang wrote in the New York Magazine that the network turned his life into a “universal, ambiguous, cornstarch story about Asian-Americans resembling moo goo gai pan written by a Persian-American [writer and producer Nahnatchka Khan] who cut her teeth on race relations writing for Seth MacFarlane.”

When a reporter asked Khan for her reaction to Huang’s suggestion that she shouldn’t be writing for the show because she’s not Taiwanese, the following happened:

“That’s actually not the point of the article,” Huang interrupts before Khan could answer.

“I’m not asking you the question,” replied the reporter. “I’m asking her reaction to that.”

“I’m just debating your reading comprehension skills,” Huang replied.

The critic quotes Huang’s article: “And why isn’t there a Taiwanese or Chinese person who can write this? I’m sure there’s some angry Korean dude in Hollywood who grew up eating Spam, watching his dad punch his mom in the face, who knows how to use Final Draft.”

“Absolutely let me ask you sir–“

“So I would now ask Ms. Khan to answer the question–“

Khan tries to answer: “I mean, I would–“

Huang interrupts again: “But when you frame the question incorrectly that’s why we have terrible laws and the EPA doesn’t have to talk to scientists any more—it’s because the framing of questions. So sir, I’m going to debate you and make you frame this question in the proper manner. Because that statement was made on about Page 3 and … it’s a 15-page article and people’s opinions change and meta-morph and they reach resolutions. I mean, that’s even how TV shows work.”

Counters the reporter: “If there was a point in that article where you went back and said you were wrong, I didn’t read it. If you can point that out–”

“It’s an experiential inversion article.”

“This question is not about you, and this press conference is not about me,” the reporter says. “Could [Khan] please answer the question–“

And with that, Khan is able to reply: “Absolutely. When I read his memoir, the specifics were different to my growing up experience, being Persian-American and him being Taiwanese-American, but what I related to was the immigrant experience of the show, being first generation and having parents who weren’t born here. And that, to me, was my access point. When you take something from the source material that’s such a strong voice and make it into an 8 p.m. family sitcom on broadcast TV, you need a lot of access points. And feeling like you don’t belong, and trying to figure out the rules, and trying to help your parents figure out the rules… to me that’s what a lot of people will relate to. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider, this show is one you’ll be able to relate to.”

Fresh Off the Boat will make its debut on February 10.

Photo: EW

The post Press Conference For New US Sitcom Based on an Asian Family Gets Awkward appeared first on The Nanfang.

The roads of Guangdong remain a dangerous place as newly released provincial statistics show almost 5,000 people have lost their lives in traffic accidents so far this year.

As of November 25, there were 23,527 traffic accidents in Guangdong, resulting in 4,816 fatalities, 52 of which involved three or more fatalities, totalling 192 deaths.

Surprisingly, these numbers are actually an improvement over last year’s figures, representing a drop of 4.6 percent.

By way of comparison, the roads in Guangdong are safer than the roads in the United States on a per capita basis. California, a state almost as big as Guangdong but with approximately 60 million less people, had 3,081 traffic fatalities in 2009, almost twice that of Guangdong.

For National Traffic Safety Awareness Day, which takes place December 2, provincial police announced they will be focussing on speeding, overcrowding, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, running red lights, occupying designated traffic lanes, and stopping inside pedestrian walkways.

The number of motorists in China continues to grow at an alarming rate, now exceeding 300 million.

Photo: wzauto

The post 5,000 People Have Died in Traffic Accidents This Year Alone in Guangdong appeared first on The Nanfang.

The first ten-year travel visa with multiple entries have been issued to Americans just days after the US and China reached a deal on visas at APEC in Beijing, reported ECNS. 

23-year-old researcher Edmund Downie was the first US citizen to receive the newly extended visa at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. Under the agreement, student visas will be valid for five years, while tourist and business visas will be valid for ten years. The agreement does not change the length of time a visitor is allowed to stay in the country, but the validity of the visa itself. In other words, people will still only be able to stay for 30 days on each entry in most cases.

Visas for each country were previously only valid for one year.

“It eases the process of visa acquisition and makes it more affordable,” Downie said, while adding this will help Americans to learn more about China.

US Secretary of State John Kerry was present at a ceremony at the US Embassy in Beijing last week where the first ten-year visas were issued to Chinese citizens.

Kerry emphasized the mutual benefit both countries will gain, saying, “This will pay huge dividends for American and Chinese citizens and it will strengthen both of our economies.”

Through this agreement, the White House hopes to attract more Chinese tourists as a way to boost employment and inject billions into the US economy. A White House statement said that by 2021, Chinese travelers will contribute $85 billion to the US economy and support 440,000 jobs. The agreement will also “quadruple” the current number of Chinese visitors coming to the United States.

Previously, China represented an untapped source of tourism for the US.  The White House noted “Chinese travelers persistently rank the United States as their top desired travel destination, but only slightly more than 1.8 percent of total outbound travelers go to the United States.”

President Obama made the visa policy announcement at a speech during APEC in which he said he wanted China “to do well”, saying, “”The United States welcomes the rise of a prosperous, peaceful and stable China.”

In light of the many tensions between the two countries, President Obama also raised US concerns over China’s stubbornly fixed exchange rate, restricted markets, and press freedoms and human rights.

Obama also touched upon the protests happening in Hong Kong over universal suffrage, saying, “Our primary message has been to make sure violence is avoided,” adding that the US would “continue to have concerns about human rights” in China.

President Obama emphasized he would stick to his ideals, saying, “We’re not going to stop speaking out on behalf of the things that we care about.”

Photo: ecns

The post China Hands Out First 10-Year Visas to Americans Following Deal With Obama appeared first on The Nanfang.