Are Asian Americans treated fairly?
A new report released at the beginning of AANHPI Heritage Month points to the enduring gap between the recognition and inclusion of Asian Americans.
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #64
AANHPI Heritage Month is now: May marks Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to recognize the achievements and contributions of some of the country’s most historically underrepresented groups. The month-long observance — officially recognized since 1992 — traces its origins to May 1843, when the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the U.S., and May 1869, when Chinese laborers helped complete the transcontinental railroad.
Survey: 40% of Americans say Asian Americans more loyal to other countries than US
A new report released at the beginning of AANHPI Heritage Month points to the enduring gap between the recognition and inclusion of Asian Americans.
The Asian American Foundation’s fifth annual STAATUS Index reveals troubling trends: 40% of Americans now believe Asian Americans are more loyal to their countries of origin than to the United States — a perception that has doubled since 2021.
Perpetual foreigners
The nationally representative survey of 4,909 Americans found that more than 1 in 4 Americans are concerned Chinese Americans could pose a national security threat. Meanwhile, public opinion remains divided on past injustices: only 44% of Americans strongly agree that the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was wrong.
While nearly half of Americans (48%) believe Asian Americans are treated fairly — a five-year high — Asian American respondents reported a very different reality. Sixty-three percent said they feel unsafe in everyday spaces and nearly half said they had been insulted or called a derogatory name within the past year. Physical assaults were reported by 15% of respondents.
Despite being the fastest-growing racial group in the U.S., only 23% of Asian Americans said they feel fully accepted and just 40% reported a strong sense of belonging. Many cited underrepresentation in leadership and media, as well as experiences with discrimination, as reasons for this disconnect.
“Our communities continue to be viewed through the lens of toxic stereotypes that invisibilize our lived realities like the model minority, yellow peril and perpetual foreigner myths,” Chen tells The Rebel Yellow.
Why the data matters
The perception that Asian Americans are not fully loyal Americans has historically led to exclusion, surveillance and incarceration. Today, 41% of Americans support proposals to ban land ownership by foreign nationals from countries like China — even when those individuals live in the U.S. Political rhetoric and media narratives appear to be contributing factors, particularly as 1 in 4 Americans report having no personal relationships with Asian Americans.
Virginia school officials address middle schooler’s bullying of 5-year-old Asian boy
Aaron Spence, superintendent of the Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia, issued a statement on Tuesday condemning a now-viral video showing a middle school student harassing a 5-year-old Asian boy with racial slurs.
Catch up: The April 5 incident saw the perpetrator from Eagle Ridge Middle School use ethnic slurs while following the frightened preschooler, who repeatedly pleaded “Don’t hurt me!” as he ran to his home’s door. At one point, the younger child is seen covering his face with a blanket while other kids laugh in the background. The victim’s parents, Ashley Long and Sean Yang, who immigrated from China, previously shared that their son appeared confused by the slurs, having never heard of them before. The video was reportedly shared in a student chat group before another parent discovered it and alerted the family.
What school officials are saying: In his open letter Tuesday, Spence stressed that “hate speech and racial slurs have no place in our schools or in our community” and encouraged families to “teach our children to see their classmates and their neighbors not as ‘others,’ but as fellow human beings deserving of compassion and respect.” He also shared steps the school district is taking to address the situation, including offering mental health support to the victim and his family and resources to the school through its Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility. The middle schooler, on the other hand, is expected to undergo “restorative practices.”
The incident has been reported to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. The Rebel Yellow has reached out to Long’s legal team for updates.
A 2021 survey by Act To Change, Admerasia and NextShark found that 80% of Asian Americans have experienced bullying, either in-person or online, while only 38% of Asian American youth report bullying to adults, compared to 63% of their non-Asian peers. Resources are available here.
Inventory shortages, rising prices expected as Trump’s China tariffs continue
President Donald Trump’s 145% tariffs on Chinese imports are causing significant supply disruptions and threatening higher prices for U.S. consumers as retailers warn of impending inventory shortages.
What you need to know: U.S. shipments from China have dropped since Trump’s tariffs took effect in early April. The Port of Los Angeles, for one, reported a 10% decrease in shipments last week compared to the same period one year earlier, with Executive Director Eugene Seroka predicting that arrivals will drop by 35% in two weeks. Major retailers such as Home Depot, Walmart and Target have reportedly cautioned Trump in private that his sweeping tariffs could lead to gaps on store shelves if it remains in effect. On Wednesday, the Commerce Department reported that the economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025.
What China is saying: Beijing has been approached by U.S. officials seeking talks over the tariffs, according to state media outlet Yuyuan Tantian. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated on Wednesday that “there have been no consultations or negotiations between China and the U.S. on tariffs,” echoing previous positions. Still, sources told Reuters that China has quietly listed U.S. products it will exempt from its retaliatory 125% tariffs, including select pharmaceuticals, microchips and jet engines.
Palpable impact: The tariffs are starting to affect seasonal industries particularly hard, with fireworks companies reportedly canceling shipments for this year’s Fourth of July celebrations and ceasing manufacturing for the U.S.’ 250th anniversary next year. Consumers will likely face higher prices and limited selection for imported goods in the coming months, with retailers warning they may need to implement price increases once “tariff surcharges” are applied to products that manage to reach store shelves.
LA Times’ big financial, subscriber losses in 2024 coincides with conservative shift
The Los Angeles Times reportedly lost approximately $50 million in 2024 under owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, following a roughly $30 million loss in 2023.
How it happened
The paper’s financial struggles coincided with several contentious decisions that moved the paper politically rightward, including the addition of conservative writers and Soon-Shiong’s move to revoke the paper’s presidential endorsement of Kamala Harris in October. The latter decision reportedly triggered the loss of some 23,000 digital subscribers by January.
According to internal metrics reported by AdWeek, total subscribers had fallen to about 335,000 by early 2025, far below the publisher’s goal of 5 million readers. The Pacific Palisades fires further damaged revenues by destroying homes in wealthy neighborhoods with high concentrations of valuable print subscribers.
What Soon-Shiong is saying
Soon-Shiong, who has reportedly become more hands-on with the paper’s operations, previously defended his editorial decisions. In a March podcast interview with far-right host Tucker Carlson, the 72-year-old billionaire surgeon and inventor defended his decision to pull the Times’ endorsement of Harris. “I said, ‘This is unacceptable.’ And as you can see, because it’s a left lean, they wrote terrible stories about President [Donald] Trump,” he said. “So my statement to them was, ‘You may have an opinion, but all of us should have opinions based on facts.’”
Soon-Shiong admitted to Carlson, “We lost a lot of viewers. Thousands of people unsubscribed. But I don’t think it’s right that we should be this canceling society.”
In an earlier letter to readers, Soon-Shiong announced new digital initiatives including AI-generated “Insights” features to offer “a wide range of different AI-enabled perspectives” and “Voices” labeling to distinguish opinion content from news reporting. He also stressed the publication’s mission statement, which said, “We strive to take into account different perspectives, particularly if they don’t align with our own, to inform our views.”
Vietnamese Gen Zers embrace shifting Vietnam War perspectives
Thousands of Vietnamese youths gathered in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. The event featured a vibrant military parade, cultural performances and aerial displays, all amplified through platforms like TikTok and Instagram, drawing young audiences with little direct connection to the war.
Shift in rhetoric
Officially ending on April 30, 1975, the Vietnam War has historically been portrayed in state-controlled media and educational curricula as a definitive victory over foreign intervention. Symbolized by North Vietnamese tanks breaching Saigon’s presidential palace gates, this narrative remained largely unchallenged domestically for decades.
However, recent government efforts signal an intent toward reconciliation by adjusting language associated with the anniversary. Historically divisive terms like "Liberation Day" have given way to more inclusive language such as "Reunification Day." Analysts suggest Vietnam’s softened rhetoric aligns with a broader diplomatic strategy, strengthening economic partnerships through inclusive historical discourse.
Change in perspectives
Many Gen Z participants of this year’s celebrations have expressed openness toward the view that North Vietnam’s victory was justified — a perspective contrasting significantly with older generations.
"We are grateful for what the veterans did for us, for the country, pulling us out of war," 17-year-old Hoang Ha Linh, who traveled from Hanoi to attend the parade, told AFP. "Even if we hate history lessons at school, we can learn so many things from this event that the teachers have tried again and again to tell us."
Le Anh Dung, a 23-year-old graphic designer whose grandfather fought for North Vietnam, reflected on global conflicts, appreciating domestic peace. "I feel so lucky that I don’t have to endure the smell of gunpowder or crawl into a bunker once in a while, like previous generations did," he told the Los Angeles Times.
“Vietnam is Vietnam”
Among overseas Vietnamese communities such as Little Saigon in Orange County, California, April 30 is still observed as "Black April," a solemn day of mourning. Yet even there, younger Vietnamese Americans are increasingly seeking to understand and reconcile with their complex heritage.
Linda Nguyen, a business leader in Westminster whose parents were refugees, tells the AP, “I don’t really think about it in a negative light. For my generation, it’s about honoring what happened, but also celebrating our future and our current successes. The political theme that was once significant to our parents did not carry on to us. To us, Vietnam is Vietnam.”
New U.S. ambassador to China previously said Beijing wants to “destroy democracy”
The Senate confirmed former Georgia Sen. David Perdue as ambassador to China on Tuesday with a 67-29 vote, placing the longtime China critic at the forefront of the U.S.’ most consequential diplomatic relationship amid a deadlocked tariff war.
Confirmation details: Perdue’s nomination received bipartisan support, with 15 Democrats and one independent joining 51 Republicans in favor of confirmation. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) called it “certainly one of the most important appointments” to come before the chamber, describing the role as a challenge that will require “a strong leader” to execute President Donald Trump’s vision.
“Anti-China” label: Before entering politics, Perdue, 75, built a career as an international business executive and lived in Hong Kong during this time. Despite this global experience, Perdue has been labeled “anti-China,” with Beijing-based think tank Grandview Institution describing him as “a proponent and practitioner” of the “China threat” theory.
In a September 2024 article in the Washington Examiner, he called Xi Jinping a “modern-day emperor” and accused Beijing of seeking to “destroy capitalism and democracy.”
During his confirmation hearing in April, Perdue described the U.S.’ relationship with China as the “most consequential diplomatic challenge of the 21st century” and advocated for a “nuanced, nonpartisan and strategic” approach while identifying fentanyl precursor chemicals as among his top priorities.
4 Hong Kong pro-democracy figures released after 4 years behind bars
Four former Hong Kong opposition lawmakers were released on Tuesday after being detained for more than four years on national security charges stemming from the city’s landmark “47 democrats” trial.
Catch up: Gary Fan, Kwok Ka-ki, Claudia Mo and Jeremy Tam were part of the “Hong Kong 47,” a group of pro-democracy activists arrested in early 2021 for organizing an unofficial primary election in July 2020. Prosecutors alleged that the group conspired to paralyze the government by winning a legislative majority and blocking bills to force the resignation of the city’s leader. The primaries reportedly drew over 600,000 voters but authorities postponed the subsequent official election, citing COVID-19 public health risks.
All four pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit subversion and were sentenced in November to four years and two months, taking into account their pre-trial detention since 2021.
Why this matters: The four’s release marks the first of the Hong Kong 47 to regain freedom following the largest trial under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law enacted shortly after the 2019 protests. Western governments, including the U.S. and the U.K., have condemned the trials as politically motivated, while Beijing and Hong Kong authorities maintain the law is necessary to restore stability.
The former lawmakers are now expected to resume free lives. Mo’s husband, Philip Bowring, told reporters she is “well and in good spirits” but “has to get used to life again in the outside world.”
600 North Koreans killed fighting in Ukraine, South Korea reports
Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, South Korea’s intelligence agency told lawmakers on Tuesday. The figure reflects a growing military partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow amid Russia’s ongoing war.
High casualties in foreign deployment
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) shared the death toll during a closed-door parliamentary briefing on April 30. Lawmakers were told that approximately 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Ukraine, with 4,700 reported killed or wounded since their arrival. Of those injured, roughly 2,000 troops were repatriated to North Korea between January and March 2025.
Pyongyang's alliance with Moscow
The deployment of combat troops represents an escalation in North Korea’s support for Russia. Pyongyang has publicly backed Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and invoked a 2024 defense treaty requiring mutual assistance in armed conflicts.
In exchange, North Korea is believed to be receiving both economic and military benefits from Russia. Analysts say this includes defense equipment, food aid and industrial development support across sectors like energy, tourism and aviation.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced this week that construction has begun on a new 2,789-foot-long bridge over the Tumen River, which forms part of the border between the two countries. The road bridge, expected to be completed by mid-2026, was agreed to during President Vladimir Putin’s 2024 visit to Pyongyang.
Pakistan braces for possible global record-breaking heat
Pakistan faces potentially record-breaking temperatures as a massive heat dome stretches across South Asia, with forecasts earlier this week showing readings could reach 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius).
Hellish conditions: Temperatures in central and southern Pakistan already reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit last weekend and were forecast to climb through Wednesday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, which issued heat wave warnings from April 26 to 30, the Washington Post reported. Nawabshah, a city in southern Pakistan that recorded the global April temperature record of 122 degrees Fahrenheit in 2018, could match or exceed that mark this week.
Impact: The extreme heat is exacerbating Pakistan’s malaria crisis, with 2 million confirmed cases reported in 2024, according to the World Health Organization. The heat is also disrupting education — UNICEF documented that heatwaves were the predominant climate hazard affecting schools last year, with over 118 million students impacted in April alone across various countries, including Pakistan. Last May, temperatures in parts of South Asia reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius), placing children at risk of heat stroke.
The big picture: The scorching conditions in Pakistan attest to the pervasive impact of climate change. Scientists have found that heat waves in South Asia are now 4 degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer over the past three decades compared to the period between 1950 and 1986. Climate scientist Davide Faranda of the French National Center for Scientific Research told Vox, “Future projections indicate that heat waves in South Asia are likely to start earlier in the year, last longer, and reach even higher peak temperatures.” Early-season heat waves are particularly dangerous as people have not physiologically acclimatized to high temperatures, potentially leading to more heat-related illnesses than later summer events.
Bain says his K-pop bandmates rallied behind him after he came out to them
Just B member Bain, who recently made history as the first active K-pop boy group idol to come out as gay, received overwhelming support from his groupmates after coming out to them first. “It’s been about two years since I came out to my members and the company,” the 23-year-old, whose real name is Song Byeong-hee, told Dazed.
He said he first confided in fellow member Geonu before another bandmate, Jimin, directly asked him about his sexuality during a group conversation. “Jimin’s words gave me the strength to speak up and be honest about who I am. The members accepted me with calmness and warmth, smiling and nodding as if they’d already known,” he shared.
Bain came out during the group’s world tour concert at The Vermont Hollywood in Los Angeles on April 22. Fellow member Siwoo later shared on fan platform Fromm, “Byunghee (Bain) was amazing. Applause for his courage. I was watching backstage, and I teared up. Knowing how hard and painful this must’ve been, it hit me even harder.”
The rising idol’s announcement represents a watershed moment in K-pop, known for its strict control over artists’ personal lives, especially in conservative South Korea where LGBTQ+ rights remain limited.
Charli XCX to star in and produce Takashi Miike’s next movie
Renowned Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, best known for his provocative work on “Audition” (1999) and “Ichi the Killer” (2001), has cast British Indian pop star Charli XCX as the lead in his next feature film. Charli, whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison, will also co-produce the film through her newly established company, Studio365.
While the title and plot remain undisclosed, Miike's history of genre-pushing cinema suggests the project may venture into similarly intense territory. The project marks a new chapter in Charli XCX's foray into film, expanding her creative reach beyond music. Earlier this year, it was also announced that she will produce and star in a new A24 movie called “The Moment,” based on her own original idea.
14-year-old Indian cricket prodigy shakes global stage with explosive debut
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, delivered one of the most explosive debuts in professional cricket history Monday, scoring a 35-ball century for the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur and becoming the youngest male player to reach the milestone in any T20 league.
He hit 101 runs from 38 balls, including 11 sixes and seven fours, dismantling the Gujarat Titans’ attack and helping the Royals chase 210 in just 15.5 overs. His performance came in the Indian Premier League, one of the sport’s most pressurized stages, where even seasoned stars struggle. Though he fell for a two-ball duck in his next game, Suryavanshi’s century has already made waves.
Suryavanshi signed his first IPL contract at 13 following a bidding war that ended with the Royals paying roughly $130,000. Questions over his exact age persist, but he remains the league’s youngest debutant, ahead of the previous mark of 16 years, 157 days.