Committee of 100 Newsletter

From the Committee of 100 Chairman

Dominic Ng

December 2012

We conclude 2012 with another strong year of advancing C-100’s mission. Three signature achievements benchmark my strategic priorities of leveraging C-100’s convening power in the U.S.-China dialogue, our leadership role on Chinese American issues, and our capabilities in delivering products that elevate the quality of discourse on U.S.-China relations.

China Policy Debate.  Leveraging our convening power, the Committee in partnership with the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington DC convened a China policy debate – the only China policy-focused debate endorsed by both U.S. presidential campaigns – in October, two weeks before the U.S. presidential election. Senior representatives from both campaigns engaged in a highly substantive exchange on U.S. policy toward China. As one seasoned Washington insider commented, “This debate was high in content, low in polemics; one of the very few debates of deep substance in Washington DC.” Over 400 attended the event and even more viewed the debate on C-SPAN and contributed questions via social media.

From the Executive Director

Angie Tang

December 2012

As we approach the end of 2012, the organization’s vibrant health reflects strengthened staffing capabilities and focused program-based development – two strategic objectives set by the Chairman and Board in April 2012.

Staffing Capabilities. This year's milestones were amplified by the gains from the team's continuous strategic learning journey. I am grateful to have engaged Columbia Business School to provide us with professional development opportunities via a series of high impact executive education courses. Our team’s valuable takeaways include grasping the fundamentals of change leadership and creating breakthrough strategies for C-100. C-100 applications of key lessons learned already produced impressive results in strategically positioning C-100 in the Washington DC policy community.

Committee of 100 22nd Annual Conference: Common Ground

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Washington, D.C.
 
April 24: Opening Reception
April 25: Conference and Gala

The public is invited to register for the Committee of 100’s Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., April 24-25, 2013. Conference Roundtable topics will likely focus on building U.S.-China strategic trust, energy and environment security, U.S.-China trade and investment, and Asian Americans in public service. Distinguished global thought leaders will deliver keynote addresses on the future of U.S. China relations.

Look out for updates in February on Committee of 100 honorees and speakers, sponsorship, and registration information, visit the Committee of 100 webpage.

Bay Area Teachers Affirm Impact of Committee of 100 – Wanxiang Teaching Scholars Program

On December 16, Committee of 100 hosted a reunion for Bay Area-based teachers who participated in the 2012 China study tour program. Nine teacher-participants reflected on their China experience and its impact on their teaching methodology, as well as their views on China. C-100 Southern California Regional Vice Chair Stewart Kwoh presented an overview of C-100 programs and C-100 Member Leslie Tang Schilling provided a history of C-100’s Summer Teachers Institute.  C-100 Bay Area members Daniel Chao and Lawrence Low read reflections on behalf of teachers not present during the program.

Committee of 100 Leads 2012 Journalist Delegation to China

From November 25 through December 3, the Committee of 100 led five journalists from U.S. media to China as part of its Educational Exchange Program. Journalist delegation participants were: Clive Crook, senior editor of The Atlantic and columnist at Bloomberg View; Brian Lehrer, host of The Brian Lehrer Show;WNYC, Winnie O’Kelley, deputy business editor of The New York Times; Gary Silverman, U.S. news editor and deputy managing editor of the Financial Times; and Jonathan Tepperman, managing editor of Foreign Affairs.

2012 C-100 Leadership Delegation at the Bund

The Committee of 100 Mourns the Death of Senator Daniel Inouye

The Committee of 100 mourns the death of Senator Daniel Inouye and extends our warmest sympathy to his family.

Senator Inouye was a trailblazer in leading the progress of Asian Americans in the United States. For more than half a century, Senator Inouye has been a paragon of public service and personal sacrifice. Along with his wife Irene Hirano Inouye, the Senator actively advanced the Committee of 100's mission of bridging US-China relations and empowering the Asian American community. Mrs. Inouye is a devoted member of the C-100 Advisory Council.

America lost a giant in Senator Daniel Inouye. The Committee of 100 will greatly miss our friend, teacher and hero.

Members of Note: Ronnie Chan Funds Restoration of Forbidden City Site

This October, China Heritage Fund Founder Ronnie Chan celebrated the opening of the newly restored Hall of Rectitude Prayer Compound in the Forbidden City. The compound was built by Emperor Kangxi in 1697 for the practice and preservation of Tibetan Buddhism, the religion of Qing emperors. This was the second palace complex in the Forbidden City restored by the China Heritage Fund in collaboration with the Palace Museum. In 2005, the Fund completed restoration of the Palace of Established Happiness, built by the Qianlong Emperor as his private retreat and art gallery. Both palace compounds were burned to the ground in 1923. Chan and Restoration Project Director Happy Harun described the restorations in a talk at the Asia Society in Hong Kong on October 10.

Making Moves: C-100 Members in Transition - John Chen, Senior Adviser, Silver Lake Private Equity Firm

Former Committee of 100 Chairman John S. Chen has been appointed Senior Adviser to Silver Lake Partners, a global technology private equity firm. Silver Lake Managing Director Charles Giancarlo said of Chen: “His deep roots in the technology sector, with more than three decades of operational experience, as well as expertise on a range of political and economic policy issues, especially in Asia, will be extremely valuable.” Chen was formerly Chairman and CEO of Sybase, an enterprise mobility and database firm that he led on an upward trajectory for the past 15 years.

Members in Print: New Publications by and about C-100 Members - George Koo

Dori Jones Yang features an oral history told to her by George Koo in her book, Voices of the Second Wave: Chinese Americans in Seattle (2011). In “George Koo: Americanized Boy, Business Diplomat to China,” Yang highlights Koo’s involvement in Asian American civil rights activities, including the Wen Ho Lee case, and Koo’s conviction that Chinese Americans must stand up for their rights. He proudly describes his membership in the Committee of 100 and its mission to ensure that “the Chinese Americans in this country participate fully in all aspects of life in America.”

C-100 Issues Update: Asian Americans and the 2012 Elections

2012 was a banner year for Asian American candidates for national office—30 ran for office, of whom 14 were elected, compared to only 10 in 2010. First-time Asian American Members of Congress from their respective states are Chinese American Grace Meng (NY) and Thai American Tammy Duckworth (IL). Senator-elect Mazie Hirono is the first foreign-born Asian woman Senator and the first female Senator from Hawaii. Indian American Ami Bera (CA) won a close Congressional election. The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies also notes the election to Congress of the first Hindu American, Tulsi Gabbard (HI), and the first openly gay minority, Japanese American Mark Takano (CA). In addition, all eight current Asian American Members of Congress were re-elected.