| | | | Dear Friends, Lunar New Year begins on Tuesday, February 17. We wish you a year of abundance, positive action, and innovation in the Year of the Fire Horse. This is the 100th issue of our 1990 Institute newsletter — a meaningful milestone for us! If you are able to make a charitable donation of any amount to support this newsletter and our programming, we would be grateful to continue our work. You can do so here. You can also explore past issues and subscribe to stay connected. Thank you for your continued support! |
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| | | | COLLEGE ESSAY CONTEST — WIN UP TO $1,000 - The 1990 Institute believes that discovery through education paves the way for Americans to understand more about China, as well as for Chinese to understand more about the United States. We encourage university students to develop a more nuanced understanding of contemporary China and the implications of its rise as a superpower through an annual College Essay Contest.
- The contest is open to college and university students and recent graduates who are enrolled in the 2025-2026 academic year. The contest awards two prizes of $1,000 and four runner-up prizes of $500 each. See the official rules and enter by April 10.
- We welcome evidence-based original essays that engage thoughtfully with one of two topics. Essay Topic 1 is “Cooperation amid Strategic Rivalry: How Can the U.S. and China Find Common Ground in Critical Global Issues?” Essay Topic 2 is “Beyond the Trade War: How Is the U.S.-China Competition Reshaping the Asia-Pacific Regional Order?“
- The contest is organized by China Focus, an online publication of the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego, and jointly sponsored by the 1990 Institute and the Carter Center.
FRED KOREMATSU — CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST - 84 years ago, on February 19, 1942, Executive Order 9066 was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As a result, people of Japanese descent living in the western U.S. were forcibly relocated to concentration camps.
- In May 1942, Fred Korematsu was walking down a California street when he was arrested. He refused to go to the camps and was convicted of defying the government’s order. He appealed his case, Korematsu v. United States, and in 1944, the Supreme Court ruled against him.
- Later in life, he became a civil rights activist, lobbying Congress to pass the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which resulted in compensation and an apology to former wartime detainees. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998.
- Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution occurs annually on January 30 (Fred’s birthday) in seven states and New York City.
- Learn more about Fred Korematsu on New Asian American Voices.
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|  | Are you a college or university student or recent grad passionate about U.S.-China relations? Enter the 2026 College Essay Contest for an opportunity to win up to $1,000. |
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| Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) News ‘Rock Springs’ Review: Kelly Marie Tran and Benedict Wong in a Fresh, Vivid Spin on Grief Horror | The Hollywood Reporter - The Sundance film “Rock Springs” tells a multi-generational story of racism, grief, and trauma.
- Present-day characters live in Rock Springs, Wyoming, while flashbacks show a tight-knit group of Chinese immigrant miners in 1885 before the worst mass shooting in Wyoming history.
- Watch 1990 Institute’s short video about this tragedy and the 140th anniversary commemoration in 2025.
NASA astronaut Suni Williams, who stayed in space for 9 months after spacecraft problem, retires | NBC News - NASA astronaut Suni Williams, who famously stayed in space for an extended nine-month visit instead of one week because of problems with a capsule, has retired after 27 years.
- Read more about Suni Williams on New Asian American Voices.
Why so many people online are leaning into 'turning Chinese’ | NBC News - Recent memes have introduced TikTok users to Chinese-inspired wellness habits.
- Both “turning Chinese” and “a very Chinese time in my life” are humorous ways of showing curiosity and admiration for Chinese culture.
- This trend is part of a broader shift to more positive attitudes toward China in the past year.
Team USA AAPI athletes to watch at the Winter Olympics | Northwest Asian Weekly St. Paul mayor says fear among immigrant communities is apparent in once-busy Hmong Village | CBS News - Mayor Kaohly Her, a Hmong American who represents St. Paul, Minnesota, which has the largest concentration of Hmong in the United States, says fear of immigration enforcement has led to a devastating economic impact on vendors at Minnesota's Hmong Village marketplace.
U.S.-China Relations & China News China Outlook ’26: “The Damage Is Done” On The Trade Front | Forbes - Trump’s anticipated visit to China in April may bring some relief when it comes to trade between the world’s two largest economies but isn’t likely to fully reverse the upheaval resulting from higher tariffs and other economic moves imposed by both sides upon the other, says Ker Gibbs, a leading U.S. business expert on China.
Year of the sad horse: A defective toy goes viral in China — and sums up a nation's mood | NBC News - A stitching mistake that turned a smile upside down on a plush toy for the Year of the Horse has won the hearts of people in China who say it matches their vibe.
Advantage China: Trump’s tantrums push U.S. allies closer to Beijing | The Guardian - In the search for stability, some western nations are turning to a country that many in Washington see as an existential threat — China.
A Harry Potter villain is now an unlikely new-year mascot in China | CNN - An unexpected face has emerged as a symbol of fortune in Lunar New Year decorations: Draco Malfoy, a villain from Harry Potter’s wizarding world.
- The good fortune is in the name: “Malfoy” is transliterated as “Ma Er Fu” in Mandarin. The first word “Ma” means “horse,” while the third refers to good fortune. Read together, it sounds like horses are bringing good luck.
In China, AI is no longer optional for some kids. It’s part of the curriculum | NPR |
| | Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution was celebrated in seven states and New York City on January 30. Head to New Asian American Voices to learn more about Fred Korematsu and his role in gaining an official apology and reparations for Japanese Americans forced into internment centers during World War II. |
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| | CHINA INSTITUTE — Two 2026 summer programs are offered for students. Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT. - Youth Leadership in China (YLC) 2026 (for students of 9-12 grades): develops students’ leadership skills, strengthens cross-cultural understanding, and fosters lasting friendships with Chinese peers. Since summer 2024, more than 70 students from 11 states have participated in this program in China. Sign up for an information session.
- Young Scholar Chinese Bridge Program (YSCB) (for college students): a 17-day (August 2-18, 2026) immersive language and cultural program designed for American college students who are eager to learn the Chinese language and engage deeply with China’s rich heritage and contemporary life across Beijing, Inner Mongolia, and Hong Kong. Participants will have the opportunity to build deep connections with key institutions building bridges to advance cross-cultural understanding between the U.S. and China. Sign up for an information session.
SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHERS STRIKE — All affected parties wish for a speedy resolution so that students’ education is not compromised. |
| | Dim Sum - A Little Bit of Heart |
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| | | | 1990 Institute
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