Citation: Wu, Ellen D. “Trans-Pacific Destiny.” Current History China and East Asia.September (2015): 244-46. Print.
Author Credentials: Ellen Wu has received her bachelor's degree from Indiana University, her master’s degree from the University of California and her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Her research focuses primarily on the problems of race, citizenship, migration, and nation through the lens of Asian American history. In addition, she is an historian of the twentieth century United States, and offers classes on the modern U.S. history survey and an intensive writing course on Cold War America. Furthermore, Wu teaches the histories of Asian Americans, the inextricable connections between immigration and the race in the United States, and America’s Pacific entanglements.
Summary: Essentially, this article takes on the role as almost a review and analysis for Gordon H. Chang’s book, Fateful Ties: A History of America’s Preoccupation With China. She begins the article by summarizing the key points that Chang makes in the book. The main idea being that the United States relies heavily on China. Even before the United States was what it is today, it has viewed China in being a critical factor to their future. She also mentions how some of America’s paramount moments such as the American Revolution and the Vietnam War require China to be added into the equation. Wu then goes into details about the condoned people mentioned in Chang’s book and what their significance was. From here, the article turns to the procession of missionaries. The conviction that Americans possessed a mission for the gospel widened the nation’s sense of it’s superiority. Later on, this turned into an, “extensive network of humanitarian institutions…” in China. The article then comes to a conclusion with Wu discussing how continuing changes allow for anything to occur between the United States and China’s relationship. Also, how the political, cultural, and economical systems between to two countries are so similar that a “United States of China” could possibly become a reality.
Analysis: This piece did not provide that many original thoughts, opinions or ideas, but was nevertheless an informative read. One may not have realized the significance that China has to the United States and how involved it has been. The article provided a significant amount of details and examples to amplify the information given to the readers. Wu accomplished the task of pulling the paramount ideas given from Chang and compiling them into one commentary. On the other hand, she could have included more of her own opinions or bias into the article to provide the audience with other insights to the relationship.
This is a book review.
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