THE DRAGON’S EYE

Official Publication of US-China Peoples Friendship Association, Chicago Chapter, www.uscpfa.org/chicago

Roger Noback, Chapter President and Editor, 630/762-8225, rogernoback@msn.com Oct. 21, 2007

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Scheduled venue, time, topic, and activity for the USCPFA October 21, 2007 meeting

are **12:30-2:30 p.m.** @ House of Fortune Restaurant, 2407 S. Wentworth Ave., Chinatown, Chicago

THE OVERSEAS CHINESE: AN EXCEPTIONALLY

IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR EAST ASIA, CHINA AND THE WORLD

by Dr. Tze-chung (Richard) Li

Please Note: Event Starts at *12:30 pm*, To Avoid 3:15 pm Bears Football Game

Dr. Li reports on a Sept. conference at Peking University on the topic, THE OVERSEAS CHINESE, which Richard attended and spoke at. The Chapter is very appreciative that Richard is sharing with us the information presented at such distinguished conference. The subject of the Overseas Chinese is as important as it is broad and varied, as illustrated by the following examples:

· Singapore, a “de facto” capital of Overseas Chinese in SE Asia: Reportedly, Suzhou has been the recipient of the highest amount of foreign direct investment of any Chinese city other than Guangzhou, and Singapore, the city state island of Chinese businessmen, provided much, if not most, of such investment funds (starting with its long-ruling first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and at his direction and request). Singapore has become the chief Asian city for the headquarters of hedge funds in East Asia, and has long maintained the model for Sovereign Investment Funds, which the PRC is now initiating with over $200 Billion of its foreign exchange reserves.

· Differences. The overseas Chinese of SE Asia have been considered different in major respects from mainland Chinese. For example, in religion, many think of the overseas Chinese of SE Asia as Roman Catholic to a large degree.

· Return to China. Since China joined the WTO, in recent years the P.R.C. government has made a concerted effort to encourage the return to China of many scientists and technicians who have established professional careers in the West, with a view to strengthening the increasing resources of the Chinese scientific and technical communities. According to published reports, significant numbers of such overseas scientists and technicians have returned to China, lured in part by the promise of top flight laboratory and support resources and attractive compensation packages.

· Mistreatment. The Chinese make up small, but disproportionately productive and wealthy portions of the populations of many SE Asian countries (e.g. Indonesia, Vietnam), but in the past have been subject to periodic campaigns of discrimination and physical violence, which the PRC has recently declared it is against.

In part because the topic is so vast and its implications so important, the precise combination of sub-topics Richard will cover in his report cannot be predicted in advance, but whatever aspects he covers will be extremely worthwhile to hear. Again, we are most fortunate that Dr. Li is sharing with us his report on these proceedings and this most important topic.

BIO: Dr. Li is Professor and Dean Emeritus, Dominican University, and President of the One China Committee. He served in Taiwan as judge, officials at the Ministries of Justice, Defense, and Education, and the Provincial Government. He has been visiting professor in a number of universities in Taiwan and China, including National Taiwan and Peking Universities. Dr. Li has written and edited some twenty books in English and Chinese and authored numerous articles and book reviews. He has spoken previously to our Chapter and our Annual China Symposium 2005 on the One China Policy: Policy and Practice. Richard reminds us that 2007 is the 125^th anniversary of the U.S. legislation barring Chinese ingress. Dr. Li’s wife, In-lan Wang (Dorothy) Li, recently was awarded, in China, a PRC State Council 2007 Friendship Award, the supreme award conferred by the PRC to foreign experts for contributions to China. Richard and Dorothy are Chicago Chapter members.

This talk continues our China and Other Countries Series, which has included the following talks: Cultural Connections Among China’s May Fourth Writers and the 1920’s Japanese Avant-Garde, presented by Annika Culver, a University of Chicago Ph.D. candidate, and Let the Dragon and Elephant Tango: China and India, or CHINDIA by Prof. Emeritus, Tan Chung, Center for East Asian Studies, University of Chicago.

Trade Sanctions Vs. China: The Sleeping “Countervailing Duty” Dragon Awakes Breathing Fire (it’s a Western style Dragon with big teeth) is the working title and topic of our November 18 Talk (in Evanston).

The regular monthly Chapter meeting includes a delicious traditional Chinese multi-course meal, which begins, in October, at 12:30 pm; the hour long luncheon talk (with Q&A) begins at 1:30 pm; and all this is only $15.

Please renew your membership for Calendar Year 2007 if you haven’t yet done so.

CfaDE52007DraftUsMail1011Dr

Official Publication of US-China Peoples Friendship Association, Chicago Chapter

October 21, 2007 [**Starts @ 12:30 pm**]

US-China Peoples Friendship Association

Chicago Chapter

1404 Second St. So.

St. Charles, IL 60174

THE DRAGON’S EYE