SJS 5: "Trans-Pacific Destiny"

Unit 5 SJS: "Trans-Pacific Destiny"

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.

SJS 5: China's Population Destiny: A Looming Crisis

SJS 5: China’s Population Destiny: The Looming Crisis

Source:

Feng, Wang. "China's Population Destiny: The Looming Crisis." Current History:

China and East Asia 109.728 (2010): 244-51. Print.

Author:

Wang Feng is the author of this article and he belongs to the Foreign Policy program while also being a professor in California and Shanghai. Feng is known for his knowledge of China’s demographic and social changes. He also has multiple degrees in courses like sociology and economics that give him a better understanding of China’s economy and population. With his knowledge, he is a reliable source on why China’s population growth can cause social and economical challenges. This article hardly has bias because the majority of the article uses statistics and reasoning to make educated predictions for China’s future. In conclusion, Wang Feng is an intellectual individual who uses data to make reasonable predictions on how China’s economy will react if the population were to decline or change.  

Summary:

“China’s Population Destiny: The Looming Crisis” uses statistics to explain how the decreasing population in China will affect their economic and political future while also affecting foreign countries. This article starts off with how China is the most populated country in the world, and how their population is of utmost importance to their economy. Recently, China has had a low fertility rate which makes their population decline more and more. Some historians say that the cause of the low fertility rate was the one child policy, which ironically, is no longer active. China’s depends on its young workers to work and produce goods to help keep their economy alive and well. The issue comes in with if the amount of young workers start to decline, and the older folks maintain their large population, the economy will drop because the older citizens cannot work as efficiently and promptly as the younger individuals. China’s economy is not only important to them, but to the entire world because of their role in the global economy. Trade is a vital aspect for the world, so if China’s trade drops with other countries, those countries will be affected negatively which can cause internal conflicts. Also, the article describes how China’s male to female ratio is getting so extreme that in the coming years, men will not have wives. Feng goes on the say that those unmarried, angry men could resort to criminal intentions that possibly could affect other, surrounding countries. Overall, this article describes how important maintaining population is and how a change in demography in one country can affect the rest of the world.

Analysis:

This article delves into China’s mass population and its economy system that can change if its demography alters enough to less working people in the upcoming era. Historically, China’s working industry has been composed of younger people, but will population declining, there will be less younger people to fulfill those jobs. The amount of older citizens will increase, so China will then have to support the demands and benefits that the aging population demand. This pressure and change in China’s economy can affect its politics and foreign relations because the growth rate of the net producers will increase and the net consumers will decrease, leaving economic unstableness. As for the foreign relations, China was able to get involved in the global factory due to its economy and productive labor force, but if China’s economy becomes less secure, foreign countries, like the United States, will not interact with China as much. China’s population change relates back to class because it describes how countries affect one another, like Kim Jung-Un controlling North Korea and affecting the rest of the world. In addition, this article also provides an example of how population affects policies in China, which was found in the Globalization and Diversity book.

SJS 5: Evidence and Insights from East Asia

Source: Furman, Jason. "Economic Crises: Evidence and Insights from East Asia." 

     Economic Activity 2 (1998): 1-135. Print.

Author Credentials: Jason Furman graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in social studies in 1992. He was appointed the position of chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) in 2013 by Barack Obama. He has also served as deputy director of the National Economic Council which helped Barack Obama economically during the 2008 Presidential election. He also earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in economics at Harvard. 

Summary: This article explains the East Asian economic crisis in developing countries. Its shows many negative effects on these East Asian countries that are going through the economic crisis such as banking systems within the country having zero or no net worth. Many factors that contribute to economic instability are; failure to pay off debts, internal credit crunches, withdraw of foreign capital and overshooting exchange rates. Many economic instabilities have occurred after WWII as that war destabilized most of the world. Many countries effected by this economic crisis are Malaysia, Korea, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, and $100 billion being sent in as international rescue. 

Analysis: The economic crisis in East Asia effects many countries in primary and secondary aspects wether it be economy, resources, outsourcing and/or occupation/work. Many countries such as Thailand, Korea and Indonesia have felt the crisis first hand while other countries like Japan, China and the United States are effected second hand as offshoring, and resources are not as readily available with the crisis. 

PDP5: Constitution of the Empire of Japan, 1889

Author Bio: The Constitution of the Empire of Japan did not have a specific author. This was due to the fact that it is more of a transcription of the commentaries on the constitution of the empire of japan, along with its subsequent articles. 

Date/Context: The Constitution of the Empire of Japan was created in the year 1889, which was the 22^nd year of Meiji. The constitution was written in reaction to the Meiji Restoration, which provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, this was a new system based upon British and Prussian influences. This constitution set into motion new laws and provisions give the emperor more power. In other words, this document was conceived in order to help improve and stabilize the considerable political power that the Emperor would now hold over the people, including the cabinet, of Japan. Thus, this document called for Japan to become truly united under the new imperialistic rule of the Emperor.

Summary: The document begins with the imperial oath, which was sworn in the sanctuary of the imperial palace; stating that as the successors to the throne, they must continue to uphold the ideals of Japan, and consistently work for the benefit of all people. The document then goes on to also state that all power that the rulers hold is a gift from the ancestors and will uphold them to the best of their ability. In the first chapter, The Emperor, it states the provisions that the emperor must live under and do to keep his power, along with the roles the emperor must play, including control of the army. This essentially gives the emperor supreme power over the government. In the second chapter, Rights and Duties of Subjects, it states the conditions necessary to be a Japanese citizen and the rules and rights that apply to them. In the third chapter, the Imperial Diet, it details the way in which the government is to be structured; into two houses, a house of peers, and a house of representative, along with the members they will be composed of, and what they can control. In the fourth chapter, the Ministers of State and the Privy Council, which talks about what abilities the ministers and council will have over the state. The fifth chapter, the Judicature, details the courts of law and what they shall control within the ordinance of the emperor. In the sixth chapter, Finance, discusses the uses and controls over the federal tax system including the modification of rates or the creation of one, including the parameters involved. In the seventh chapter, supplementary rules, it includes reasoning and procedure behind how to add new information to the constitution and some extra rules on how the country is to be run. Overall, the Constitution explained the new rules and guidelines of the nation of Japan, the most important of which being the almost absolute control of the Emperor over the nation. 

Key Quotation: “Our Ministers of State, on our behalf, shall be held responsible for the carrying out of the present Constitution, and our present and future subjects shall forever assume the duty of allegiance to the present Constitution.”

PDP5: The People's Democratic Dictatorship

Author Bio: Mao Tse-tung was one of the founding members of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921. Later in 1927, the Kuomintang Nationalist Party sought to expunge communism from China. In response, Mao and the other communists fled to south east China. Eventually, the nationalists had the communists surrounded, but Mao had retreated along with his followers to north west China, leading them on the Long March.  In the aftermath of World War II, another civil war erupted between the two parties, but this time the communists won. On October 1, 1949, Mao established the People's Republic of China and became leader.

Date/Context: In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party was in the midst of a civil war against the Kuomintang Nationalist Party. This speech was written months prior to the communist victory, and was meant to celebrate the twenty-eighth anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. It also praise the communist ideas that were produced by Marx and Lenin.

Summary: Mao gave this speech on June 30, 1949. He begins by talking about the twenty-eight years of hardships and fighting that the party had to endure. He then thanks various communist ideologists for giving them their so-called weapon which is Marxism-Leninism. These new ideas changed the way that the Chinese thought and the way that they lived as well. He states that communism has significantly altered China. He states that the fundamental structure for the new China will be a people's democratic dictatorship that is controlled by their single working class. In addition, he wants to ally China with other communist powers and eventually create an "international united front." During his speech, Mao also addresses the conflict with the nationalist, stating that all Chinese citizens must choose a side, either socialism or imperialism. Not only do they resent the nationalists, who they also associate with imperialism, but they also dislike the idea of any option other than their own. He states that the his followers must remain strong and steadfast if they are to defeat the opposition. Mao recognizes that the communist party would need help from another nation in order to be victorious and consolidated. But, he rules out asking the U.S. or British governments for help because he classifies them as imperialists. His method for destroying imperialism is create a dictatorship that is controlled by the working class. They peasants and others that comprise the working class will have the power to elect the government. This system combines democracy with dictatorship, but he needs full cooperation between the working class and the peasants in order to reach their goal.

Key Quotation: "There are bourgeois republics in foreign lands, but China cannot have a bourgeois republic because she is a country suffering under imperialist oppression. The only way is through a people's republic led by the working class..."

PDP 5: Analects

Author Bio: Confucius, known as Master K'ung in Chinese, was born in what is present-day China in 551 BCE. He was a Chinese teacher and philosopher. One of Confucius' most notable contributions was his creation of Confucianism, which was a philosophy that revolved around personal and governmental morality, social relationships, justice, and honesty. It has been the most influential philosophy in world history. Furthermore, Confucius is credited with having written or partially written each of the Five Classics, which are historical Chinese texts. Perhaps his most well-known quote is "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself," a quote that has been dubbed the "Golden Rule." Evidently, Confucius is a credible source due to his various accomplishments as a historical figure in philosophy.

Data/Context: The exact date on which "Analects" was written is not known, but is believed to have been published somewhere near the year 500 BCE. It was written during the Warring States period (475-221 BCE), but was completed during the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). The title of the book, "Analects," roughly translates to "selected sayings," which was also the origination of the term, "Confucius says." Throughout the past two millennia, "Analects" has become one of the most read books in China, and continues to have a strong influence on East Asian thoughts and values. It is widely regarded as the most important work of Confucianism, and serves as a foundation for China's moral values.

Summary: This excerpt from "Analects" details various Confucian ideals. A number of these principles deal with morality. In an analogy from the reading, Confucius compares a leader who rules by moral force to a pole-star that all of the dimmer stars pay their respects to. In another section of the excerpt, Confucius' beliefs deal with parental treatment. Although their are many specific values stated within this portion, all revolve around the idea that parents should be respected by their children, regardless of circumstance. As the text progresses, the subject of Confucius' beliefs changes to knowledge. Confucius states that people must not be biased, and must view a situation from all sides. In continuation, he emphasizes that people must both think and learn at the same time. Confucius then delves into the topic of governance, where he stresses that only if a leader respects his people, will the people respect the leader. Confucius concludes this excerpt by stating that a true gentleman never deviates from the Way of Goodness, but then clarifies that it is nearly impossible for one to be completely Good.

PDP 5: Te-Tao Ching

PDP 5: Te-Tao Ching

Author Bio: It is debated whether the Te-Tao Ching was written by a single person or multiple people, one of these people being Lao-tzu. Not much that is known about Lao-tzu is definitive, because his biography, written in 100 BCE, is discredited. In the biography, it is suggested that Lao-tau is biased against pride because of his insult to Confucius about his vanity. Because the Te-Tao Ching is a philosophical theory, it is entirely the opinion of the author(s). There is very little point of view, omniscient if any, because this text is written as fact.

Date/ Context: In this time period, one needed to be a shaman or be powerful to become enlightened. Lao-tzu proposed that one could be enlightened in their own home by meditating rather than with assistance in a certain place, because Taoism proposed that the Way was in everything. This was a very radical idea at the time. In addition, at this time, there was no singular Chinese language, which is why the Te-Tao Ching has so many interpretations.

Summary: The Tao, or "way" is the way in which the entire universe works. One can understand the Tao by observing it, but it is much more vast than anything that can be seen. The Tao can be seen in two ways; the first is that it can be presented through the physical world, such as landscapes and living creatures, and the second is beyond the physical world, and one has to "detach" from the world to experience this Tao. The Tao presented in the physical world is the 'exterior' Tao, and the one presented beyond the physical world is the 'interior' Tao. Both are distinctly different, but they are always together and equal; one cannot exist without the other.

Key quotation: "The way floats and drifts; / it can go left or right. / It accomplishes its tasks and completes its affairs, and yet for this it is not given a name."