ASIA SOCIETY PRESENTS “GLOBAL POWER AND PERSPECTIVES”

December 4, 2006

NEW YORK—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)--In December a series of roundtable discussions on Global Power and Perspectives moderated by Asia Society President Vishakha Desai will air on WNYE/WNYC’s “Asian America,” the only nationally syndicated Asian affairs television show in the U.S. The show uses as a takeoff point a multi-nation survey that the Asia Society conducted on the rise of China and India and what peoples from different countries think about various issues. The discussions addressed questions and issues such as which will be the most powerful country, stereotypes and sensitivities, and views among Asian-Americans. A more detailed outline of the programs follows.

ASIA SOCIETY PRESENTS: Global Power and Perspectives

DECEMBER 10: STEREOTYPES OR SENSITIVITIES?

A large part of the polling centered around public attitudes and perceptions about friends and foes, problems and threats. So what is behind some of these findings?

FROM THE SURVEY:

• The Asian countries surveyed all have warm feelings toward China, though Americans give it a cool rating.
• Asian countries surveyed have a positive view of China's role in resolving key problems in Asia, while a plurality of Americans have a negative view. Many do not trust China to act responsibly in the world, and more Americans, South Koreans, and Indians think China practices unfair trade than think the opposite.
• Chinese have by far the warmest regard for South Korea. Americans have cooler feelings toward South Korea; many say relations are worsening.
• Feelings toward India are warm, though trust of India is generally low; the Chinese mistrust the U.S. more.
• A plurality of Indians and Chinese are positive about their relationship, seeing it as a partnership more than a rivalry. Americans, however, think the two are rivals.

DISCUSSION:

There are complex feelings around the rise of China. How much is due to rivalry or desire for partnership?

How does the view from the outside affect a country's power and rise?

Is fear--of military power, for example--good or bad?

GUESTS:

Lu Xiaobo , Columbia University

Sadanand Dhume, Asia Society fellow, author and reporter (Far Eastern Economic Review, WSJ)

DECEMBER 17: ASIAN AMERICANS - THE VIEW FROM HERE

The survey tells us a great deal about the concerns of Asians. For "Asian America's" audience, we now want to ask if concerns overseas have any resonance for Asian-Americans here. Do the same things matter to young Asian-Americans? Why or why not?

FROM THE SURVEY:

• The threat of epidemics such as AIDS and avian flu is considered critical in China.
• Indians agree but are also very concerned about international terrorism, unfriendly countries becoming nuclear powers, and Islamic fundamentalism.
• Disruption in energy supply ranks near the top of the list of critical threats in all countries surveyed except India. Chinese and Indians think countries should have the right to go to war with another country to preserve access to vital resources such as energy.
• Asians agree with Americans that the Iraq war has not reduced the threat of terrorism.

GUESTS:

Wendy Chan, Definity Marketing

Tracy Hong, Asian American Justice Center

Dr. Sunita Mukhi, Director of Asian and Asian American programs, Charles B. Wang Center, Stonybrook

Contact:

jennifers@asiasoc.org