Texas moves to ban Chinese citizens from owning property
The Texas House of Representatives voted 86-59 on Friday to advance legislation that would bar citizens from China and other nations from purchasing property in the state.
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #69
The U.S. and China have agreed to a 90-day tariff truce — but plenty of uncertainty remains. Texas moves forward with a bill targeting Chinese property ownership. Global trust in the U.S. has plunged since Trump’s return. Meanwhile, preservationists are racing to save the last Japanese American buildings on Terminal Island, and a new study links the world’s richest 1% to one-fifth of all global warming. From immigration rulings to pop culture flashpoints, here’s your breakdown of Issue 69.
Uncertainties linger as U.S., China agree to 90-day tariff truce
President Donald Trump and China reached a dramatic de-escalation in their trade war, slashing tariffs by 115 percentage points effective Wednesday. But while the news sends global markets soaring, it leaves significant uncertainty hanging over businesses and consumers.
Catch up
After weekend talks in Geneva led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the U.S. cut tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China reduced its retaliatory duties from 125% to 10%. The White House also issued an executive order lowering tariffs on lower-value packages from Chinese e-commerce sites like Shein and Temu from 120% to 54%, though a minimum $100 fee will remain.
The agreement ends what had become a de facto trade embargo between the world’s two largest economies, reducing the chances of barren shelves for the holidays.
How China is responding
Chinese officials are celebrating what many analysts view as a diplomatic victory achieved by matching Trump’s tariffs point-for-point and restricting critical minerals exports. “This is called, ‘victory,’” Hu Xijin, former editor of the state-run Global Times, posted shortly after the announcement, comparing it to driving “the Americans back to the 38th parallel.”
President Xi Jinping took a more diplomatic tone on Tuesday, saying “bullying and tyranny will only lead to self-isolation” and “there are no winners in trade wars.” He pledged a 66 billion yuan ($9.2 billion) credit line for Latin American and Caribbean countries, positioning China as a reliable trade partner amid U.S. policy uncertainty.
What’s next
While the 90-day agreement provides temporary relief, it leaves unresolved tensions. Trump warned that if China does not agree to a deal within this window, tariffs will return at “substantially higher” rates. Notably, tariffs from his first term — including a 20% duty imposed in February over fentanyl precursor chemicals — will remain in place.
For now, companies are expected to restock while lower rates apply. Meanwhile, economic policy uncertainty has reportedly hit record highs, surpassing levels seen during the 2008 financial crisis and 2020 pandemic.
Texas House passes bill barring Chinese citizens from owning property
The Texas House of Representatives voted 86-59 on Friday to advance legislation that would bar citizens from China and other nations from purchasing property in the state.
Catch up
Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), specifically targets citizens from countries designated as national security threats — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — in the U.S. Director of National Intelligence’s annual assessment.
The House-amended version exempts visa holders, lawful permanent residents and dual citizens from the ban, significantly narrowing the original Senate version. An amendment introduced by Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth) specifically grants Gov. Greg Abbott unilateral power to add other countries and “transnational criminal organizations” to the restricted list without legislative oversight.
Security or xenophobia?
Supporters frame the bill as essential for national security. “We must not allow oppressive regimes who actively seek to do us harm to seize control and dictate their terms over our economy, supply chain and our daily lives,” said Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant), the bill’s House sponsor.
Critics, on the other hand, call the measure xenophobic and harmful to immigrants. “This is a loud and clear message that Asians don’t belong in this country,” said Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston), the chamber’s top Democrat and lone Chinese American legislator. “When the attacks come, when the hate crimes start, it will be against all Asians — anyone with an Asian face.”
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Austin on Sunday, carrying signs that read “stop the hate” and “housing is a human right.” Organizer Alice Yi, co-founder of Asian Texans for Justice, called the bill “racist” and stressed, “This is our country too.”
The big picture
The legislation reflects mounting political tensions between Washington and Beijing following President Donald Trump’s return to office, with similar bans targeting Chinese property ownership emerging in multiple states. Around 5.7 million acres in Texas are foreign-owned, with China reportedly accounting for 3.6% of that land. Leaders of multiple Chinese American organizations are now considering challenging the bill in federal court should it become law, similar to how a comparable Florida law was temporarily halted by a federal appeals court.
The bill now returns to the Senate, which must approve House amendments before it goes to Abbott’s desk. If signed, the law would take effect on Sept. 1 and apply to property purchases after that date.
World opinion of U.S. has plummeted since Trump’s return
Global perceptions of the U.S. have deteriorated dramatically since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, with China overtaking in popularity for the first time, according to the 2025 Democracy Perception Index released on Monday.
Key findings: The annual survey, conducted by Nira Data and the Alliance of Democracies Foundation from April 9 to April 23, gathered responses from more than 111,000 people across 100 countries. The U.S. net perception rating dropped to -5% from +22% last year, while China improved to +14% from +5%. The share of countries with a positive image of the U.S. also dropped to 45% from 76% last year. Meanwhile, Trump, whose domestic approval ratings have also plummeted, has a negative perception in a whopping 82% of the countries surveyed, performing worse than both Russian President Vladimir Putin (61%) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (44%).
Why this matters: The dramatic decline of the U.S.’ standing reflects growing international concerns about American leadership and policies. “I’m not surprised that perceptions of the United States have fallen so sharply,” said Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister and founder of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, which coauthored the index. Washington’s reputation especially suffered in EU countries after Trump reportedly called the bloc “horrible,” “pathetic” and “formed to screw the United States.” Notably, the findings parallel other concerning assessments, including research from Sweden’s V-Dem Institute that warned the U.S. government regime could be “definitely” reclassified from its status as a democracy in next year’s report if current trends continue.
The big picture: Amid the U.S.’ declining position, global commitment to democratic values remains strong, with more than two-thirds of respondents saying it is very important to have democracy in their country. Nira Data said the index “isn’t just data,” but a call-to-action that transforms public sentiment into insights that shape policy and inform advocacy. Among major countries, Switzerland (+48%), Singapore (+46%) and Canada (+40%) earned the most positive perceptions, while Israel emerged as one of the least popular nations (-23%), even among traditional European allies like Germany, reflecting growing discomfort with its government’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Ronny Chieng likens his new U.S. citizenship to joining the “evil empire”
Comedian and “The Daily Show” correspondent Ronny Chieng recently likened becoming a U.S. citizen to joining an “evil empire” during an appearance on Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast.
A practical decision: Chieng, who was born in Malaysia, moved to the United States in 2015 to pursue his comedy career. He applied for citizenship while President Barack Obama was in office and officially became a citizen in April. He explained the decision was primarily practical, aimed at avoiding travel complications.
Life in the “Death Star”: “It’s like you’re joining this evil empire, but that’s not why you joined it,” Chieng said. “It just so happened, the evil empire had some really nice TV shows and they do stand-up comedy in the Death Star.”
Daily disaster: Chieng also reflected on the political climate during his time in the U.S., noting that since his arrival, President Donald Trump's influence has been a constant presence. He likened covering Trump's second term on "The Daily Show" to working in an emergency room, describing it as a "car wreck every day."
Terminal Island’s last Japanese American buildings are under threat
The last two surviving buildings from a once-thriving Japanese American fishing village in Terminal Island, Los Angeles, have been included in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of America’s 11 most endangered historic places in 2025.
About Terminal Island and the buildings
Built in 1918 and 1923, respectively, dry goods store Nanka Shoten and grocery A. Nakamura Co. stand as the only remaining structures from a community of roughly 3,000 Japanese Americans who lived on Terminal Island before World War II. Located on Tuna Street, which served as the commercial center of “Fish Harbor,” the buildings now sit empty on a waterfront street in what has become a heavily industrialized port dominated by container storage facilities.
“Terminal Island is unrecognizable from the once happy loving place where I was born,” former resident Miho Shiroishi said in a statement. “Having the two buildings there when everything else is gone from the village is a huge comfort ... Without the two Tuna Street Buildings what do you have? Nothing.”
A substantial contribution
Terminal Island represents a crucial but often overlooked chapter in American history. Its residents were reportedly the first Japanese Americans forcibly removed after Pearl Harbor, with FBI agents arresting fishermen in February 1942 and families given just 48 hours to evacuate. “Japanese fishermen’s contribution was substantial,” Donna Reiko Cottrell, a board member of the Terminal Islanders Association, told the Los Angeles Public Press. “If you don’t believe me, take a look at the LA County flag ... in the bottom left-hand corner, there’s a tuna ... that’s how important fishing was.”
The Port of Los Angeles is reportedly considering demolition of the buildings to make room for container storage, despite their pending nomination for Historic-Cultural Monument status initiated in February 2025 by Councilmember Tim McOsker.
What’s being done
Preservation efforts are led by the Terminal Islanders Association, which has partnered with the National Trust and LA Conservancy to propose solutions, including potentially repurposing the buildings as stores serving port workers.
“We have to have hope,” Terry Hara, president of Terminal Islanders Association, told Pacific Citizen earlier this year. “Our hope is to preserve the buildings, the last piece of what was part of the Japanese village on Tuna Street to repurpose and help contribute cultural value.”
Chinese laundry exhibit spotlights discrimination in San Francisco Chinatown
A new exhibit at the Chinese Historical Society of America in San Francisco’s Chinatown explores the legacy of Chinese laundries and the systemic racism faced by their operators. “Challenging a Whitewashed History: Chinese Laundries in the U.S.,” which opened May 10, features historical artifacts such as irons and collars, alongside details of discriminatory laws like an 1880 city ordinance that targeted Chinese businesses. The show was developed in collaboration with graduate students from San Francisco State University and the Academy of Art University.
Lawsuit seeks to stop relocation of L.A. Zoo’s aging Asian elephants to another zoo
A Los Angeles resident has filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Los Angeles Zoo from relocating its two Asian elephants, Billy, 40, and Tina, 59, to Oklahoma, demanding instead they be sent to an accredited sanctuary.
About the suit: John Kelly, who initially supported the relocation plan — even donating $50 — reportedly filed the 35-page complaint against Zoo Director Denise Verret in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday. His change of heart came upon discovering that the Elephant Experience and Preserve in Tulsa was “just a fancy name for the somewhat larger elephant enclosure at the Tulsa Zoo.” The suit seeks both preliminary and permanent injunctions to block the transfer to Tulsa or any other zoo, requiring instead that the aging elephants be sent to a sanctuary accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
What people are saying: Melissa Learner, Kelly’s attorney, told KCAL News that “the zoo environment and science confirm it’s an inhumane environment” and that the elephants “will suffer mental and physical harm.” Singer Cher, who has been advocating for Billy and Tina for years, also submitted a declaration supporting the lawsuit, stating in part, “Billy and Tina have served their time in confinement. They deserve the chance to live out their lives in peace and dignity.” Meanwhile, Verret defended the decision before the City Council’s budget committee, saying she believed Tulsa would provide “an environment where they can thrive,” citing social benefits of living with other elephants.
No date has been set for the elephants’ relocation as the Los Angeles and Tulsa zoos have not yet signed a contract.
Rodrigo Duterte wins mayoral race while detained for crimes against humanity
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been elected mayor of Davao City in a landslide victory, despite being detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity. The 80-year-old secured over 660,000 votes — eight times more than his closest rival — according to official results announced on May 13.
Political dynasty endures
Duterte's victory underscores the enduring influence of his political dynasty in Davao, a city he previously led for more than two decades. His son, Sebastian Duterte, was elected vice mayor, while another son, Paolo Duterte, retained his congressional seat. Two of Duterte's grandsons also won local council positions.
The election results bolster the political standing of Vice President Sara Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte's daughter, who faces an impeachment trial in July over allegations of corruption and plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. A conviction would bar her from holding public office and derail her potential 2028 presidential bid. Five Senate candidates aligned with the Duterte family secured seats, potentially aiding her defense in the upcoming trial.
Legal challenges ahead
Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in March under an ICC warrant accusing him of orchestrating extrajudicial killings during his tenure as mayor and president. He is the first Asian former head of state to face trial at the ICC. The court has scheduled a confirmation of charges hearing for September 23.
Despite his detention, the Commission on Elections stated that Duterte could be proclaimed mayor in absentia. His legal team is exploring options for him to assume office, though it remains unclear how he would fulfill his duties from detention.
Richest 1% linked to 20% of global warming, study finds
A study published in Nature Climate Change finds that the wealthiest 1% of the global population are responsible for roughly 20% of global warming since 1990. The study examines emissions by income level rather than by country, revealing that wealthy individuals, regardless of nationality, are disproportionately responsible for rising global temperatures and extreme weather events.
Carbon inequality: The study, led by Sarah Schöngart and colleagues, found that the top 1% — those earning over about $160,000 annually — emit more than 20 times the carbon of the global average. The poorest half of the world’s population, by contrast, contributed just 16% of warming since 1990.
Most emissions from the top earners are tied to high-consumption lifestyles, including air travel, luxury goods and fossil fuel investments. The gap between high and low emitters has widened over the past three decades.
Global damage, local costs: The study links emissions from wealthy individuals in high-emitting countries to rising heat and drought risks in vulnerable regions such as the Amazon, Southeast Asia and central Africa. In the Amazon, for example, emissions from the top 1% of Chinese earners have driven an 80% increase in extreme heat events. U.S. top 10% emitters are linked to more than 20 times the average global contribution to once-in-a-century heat waves.
National disparities: The study also highlights sharp inequalities within countries. In the U.S., the top 10% emit about three times more than the average citizen and 17 times more than the global average. In China and India, the top 10% also emit significantly above their fair share despite lower national averages.
Call for equitable climate policy: Researchers warn that climate action will fall short unless it addresses emissions from the top income groups. They call for policies such as progressive carbon pricing, restrictions on luxury emissions and increased climate finance for affected regions. The study concludes that without curbing emissions from the wealthiest, efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels are likely to fail.
One of the world’s most prestigious opera houses has its first Asian conductor
South Korean conductor Myung-Whun Chung has been named the next music director of Milan's famed Teatro alla Scala, becoming the first Asian and one of the first born outside Italy to hold the position in the opera house's 247-year history. The appointment, announced on May 12, will take effect at the end of 2026, following the conclusion of Riccardo Chailly's tenure, and will run through February 2030.
Longstanding ties: Chung, 72, has maintained a close relationship with La Scala since 1989, conducting nine operas across 84 performances and leading 141 concerts—more than any conductor not previously holding the music director title. He has also led the La Scala Philharmonic on international tours throughout Europe and Asia. La Scala praised Chung for enhancing the opera house’s international prestige.
Distinguished career: Chung’s career includes leadership roles with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also served as artistic director of the Busan Opera and Concert Hall in South Korea.
Azealia Banks continues Thailand trolling with transphobic attack on Lisa
Controversial rapper and singer Azealia Banks has ignited a social media firestorm — particularly in Thailand — after directing transphobic slurs at Blackpink’s Lisa following her appearance at the Met Gala last week.
What she said: Banks commented on photos of Thai-born Lisa’s controversial Louis Vuitton bodysuit on the Met Gala blue carpet with a series of inflammatory posts on X. “I’m sorry but this is giving ladyboy. It’s giving Adam’s apple and a not so taut tuck,” Banks posted later that evening. “Lisa is a man. I’m not walking that comment back.” She escalated tensions on May 7 with racially charged language, writing, “Lmfao why did I wake the rice farmers up ugh they are so third world and annoying.”
Fans fight back: Hashtags criticizing Banks — who came out as bisexual in 2012 — have since gone viral across Thai social media platforms. Fans began sharing screenshots of her past anti-LGBTQ comments, highlighting what they called a pattern of bigotry. “Don’t mess with the Thai internet. The message has reached Banks,” said one top-voted post. However, some fans’ responses reportedly included racist imagery, which drew further condemnation online.
Fans on X also slammed Banks, who previously called Thailand the “child sex trafficking capital of the world.” “Racist and transphobic? Damn, you’re not just ugly, you’re a whole walking red flag. Must be exhausting being that shitty of a person 24/7,” one noted. Internet personality/rapper-turned-pop singer Lil Tay also chimed in, writing, “Azealia, please shut the hell up.”
Sim game set in a boba tea shop serves up more than milk tea
A quirky indie game blending cozy vibes with psychological horror, “The Boba Teashop” invites players to run a bubble tea shop that slowly unravels into something much darker. Developed and self-published by solo creator Mike Ten, the game was released on April 20 for PC at $4.99 and is already gaining traction among fans of experimental horror.
Players step into the shoes of Risa, a former office worker chasing her dream of opening a teahouse — only to discover that something sinister lurks beneath the surface. The gameplay unfolds over seven in-game days as you take customer orders and uncover eerie events. Though brief, the experience has been praised for its narrative twists and atmospheric tension. Early reception is overwhelmingly positive, with 96% of over 280 reviews on Steam rating the title favorably.
Tsuru Aoki, the forgotten first lady of Asian American cinema
Tsuru Aoki quietly carved a path through the silent film era, becoming likely the first Asian actress to achieve leading-lady status in Hollywood.
A pioneering star
Born in Tokyo on Sept. 9, 1892, Aoki immigrated to the U.S. with her aunt and uncle — who owned the Imperial Theatre of Japan — in 1903 and began her acting career on stage before transitioning to film in the early 1910s. She debuted onscreen in “The Oath of Tsuru San” (1913), but it was her role in “The Wrath of the Gods” (1914), opposite future husband Sessue Hayakawa, that cemented her place in film history.
Over the next decade, Aoki appeared in about 40 films, including “The Dragon Painter” (1919), in which she portrayed a woman whose beauty inspires a tormented artist. Her performances were often dignified and emotionally complex, offering a counter-narrative to the racialized caricatures typical of the time.
Fading from the spotlight
While Anna May Wong is often celebrated as the first Chinese American and international Asian movie star, it was Aoki who laid the groundwork a decade earlier. Though she did not achieve the same lasting fame, her work challenged early 20th-century Hollywood’s deeply entrenched stereotypes about Asian women — and she did it while occupying center stage.
Despite her groundbreaking achievements, Aoki’s legacy has been largely overlooked. Her career declined in the 1920s as Hollywood’s racial climate worsened, and she faded from the spotlight after her marriage to Hayakawa. Still, her impact reverberates through the history of Asian American cinema.
Death and legacy
Aoki died on Oct. 18, 1961 from acute peritonitis. In recent years, modern film scholars and institutions like the Women Film Pioneers Project have begun to recover her story. Information and clips from her films are available online, and retrospectives now include her name among the earliest Asian faces in American film.
As AAPI Heritage Month invites us to revisit the narratives we remember, Aoki stands out not only as a pioneer, but as a reminder that some of the most influential figures are also the most forgotten.