By George H. Tsai
Local residents interested in world events may recall China’s ping-pong diplomacy that played a vital role in ending the Sino-American hostility and opening the doors to cultural exchanges, which have benefited both countries in many ways.
They were foes during the Korea and Vietnam wars; they are now major trade partners. Japan and Germany were our archenemies during World War II; they are now our close allies. History is devoid of permanent enemies.
President Nixon and his secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, deserve the credit for their vision that led to the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries during the Carter administration.
To Nixon, it was by no means an easy mission since he had to make a big change in his perception of the Chinese communists. Nixon as a U.S. senator was known for his strong anti-communist stand before he was chosen to be President Eisenhower’s running mate in 1952.
Since 1972, hundreds of thousands of young Chinese intellectuals have come to pursue their graduate studies in the United States. In recent years, quite a few have returned to their homeland to jump on the modernization bandwagon.
To most Chinese college graduates, being able to advance their studies in the United States signifies the realization of a lifetime dream.
Chinese students perhaps are more mindful of the reputations of American colleges than their American counterparts. There is a reason. A certificate from a prestigious American college means a passport to fame and fortune in corporate China. Therefore, they set their sights on Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT and Chicago. The supply of the U.S.-trained scholars under the age of 35 can hardly meet the growing demand in China.
A fellow with a MBA from Stanford recently returned to China after five years working as a business editor at a Chinese-language daily in Long Island City. A corporation in Shanghai has quadrupled his newspaper salary as a consultant. He is just one of scores getting such an incredible remuneration.
But the phenomenon has prompted some crooks to resort to illegal means to achieve their avaricious goals. According to the Sino-Vision, a TV station in Manhattan, a man in his late 30s landed a $120,000-a-year job as the dean of a foreign-language institute in Shantung Province. Thus he became a member of the super rich club overnight in that communist country. On the average, a urban family’s annual income is about $2,000.
He convinced the school authority that he did graduate work at Stanford and Harvard, so he was the right person who could boost the prestige of the school. He was hired, thanks to his phony credentials. But he never thought he would be fired after 50 days. It’s a shame he was unable to present the school with academic certificates from those two American universities.
After China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in December, foreign investors began pouring into that Asian country. Therefore, those who have advanced degrees from American colleges surely have an edge on their peers at home in getting better-paying corporate jobs.
A certificate from a prestigious American college is as valuable as gold these days. Unfortunately, the Chinese job market is flooded with bogus diplomas. As a result, China has launched a crackdown on counterfeits, particularly ones carrying the names of American institutes of higher learning.
The cultural exchange apparently sparked the start of the Americanization of China. Learning English has become a priority for people from all walks of life. Even pre-K kiddies begin to learn their ABCs. Not surprisingly, English teachers are in great demand throughout China. Top privately owned language schools prefer Americans to homegrown English teachers. Russian study is history now.
Is any Queens resident interested in teaching English as a second language? Twenty hours a week. Free meals, accommodations and medical coverage are part of the deal, plus a monthly salary of about $500 to $600. It’s a lot of money by Chinese standards.
I encourage local retirees in their 60s with some teaching experience to apply online (job@glvchina.com) for a position at a language school in that part of the world. Why not to serve as a cultural ambassador to promote East-West understanding while enjoying a relaxing life by the ocean of Zhuhai near Canton. That kills two birds with one stone!
Recently I surfed through a couple of China’s English-language Web sites dedicated to English as Second Language programs. With state-of-the-art facilities, they seem more efficient than their equals catering to the new immigrants in Flushing.
