Asian American Defiance / Japan Wins Big / DeepSeek Frenzy
How Korematsu’s defiance shaped civil rights, China’s AI leap rattled Big Tech, and U.S. deportations are ramping up
The Rebel Yellow: Issue #24
Asian American defiance matters: Tomorrow, we remember Fred Korematsu, who stood up against the U.S. government’s incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, challenging the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066 all the way to the Supreme Court. His courage in 1942 to defy unjust orders, even as his own community urged compliance out of fear, reminds us that resistance in the face of injustice is not just an option, but a duty. The impact of his fight extends far beyond Japanese American history, laying groundwork for civil rights battles that Asian Americans continue to wage today.
“My father, Fred T. Korematsu, is a civil rights hero and the first Asian American honored with a U.S. holiday,” Dr. Karen Korematsu, founder and president of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, said in a statement to The Rebel Yellow. “We are pleased the Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution has become law and now is recognized in perpetuity in seven states and one city on Jan. 30.”
“At the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, we advocate for education to fight hate and prejudice and to prevent us from repeating the mistakes of the past. On this day, and every other day of the year, we hope that his story of perseverance in the face of adversity inspires others to become more civically involved, to uphold our democracy, and when you see something is wrong, become an advocate and ‘stand up for what is right.’ This is about all of us!”
As we honor his birthday on Jan. 30, we reflect on how one person’s refusal to accept discrimination can ripple through generations, inspiring us to recognize and challenge injustice in all its forms. Read our stories about him here, here and here.
How a Chinese AI startup is shaking up the tech world
DeepSeek, a relatively unknown AI startup based in Hangzhou, China, sent shockwaves through the artificial intelligence landscape with the release of its r1 language model on Jan. 20.
The model, which gained attention for its ability to achieve remarkable results with limited resources, immediately disrupted financial markets, with tech giants like Nvidia experiencing significant stock drops.
What is DeepSeek?
Founded in May 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, a former co-founder of the Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, DeepSeek is the first company to match the performance of OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model, surpassing competitors like Google DeepMind, Anthropic and Meta. Its open-weight release and cost-efficient infrastructure have sparked interest in China’s AI capabilities, U.S. export controls and the future of AI competition.
Liang reportedly acquired thousands of Nvidia graphics processors as early as 2021 – before the Biden administration imposed restrictions on AI chip exports to China. With the ambitious goal of developing artificial general intelligence (AGI), a level of AI that matches human intelligence, he reportedly trained its models using 10,000 Nvidia A800 and H800 GPUs.
Why is it suddenly making headlines?
What catapulted the company into the spotlight is the recent release of DeepSeek's r1 ("reasoning" model), which excels in complex tasks such as answering graduate-level science and math questions (GPQA), solving problems from the advanced math competition AIME and competing in coding challenges on Codeforces. The company's decision to release the model's weights and a detailed technical paper has garnered praise within the AI community for its commitment to open science.
Concerns about the potential disruption DeepSeek poses to the established AI landscape have caused a significant sell-off of tech stocks on Jan. 27. Leading AI chipmaker Nvidia saw its stock plummet by 17%, wiping out nearly $600 billion in market value – the largest one-day loss in U.S. stock market history.
What's so great about it?
Cost-effectiveness: DeepSeek claims to have trained its v3 language model, the foundation for r1, for only $5.5 million using Nvidia H800 chips. This is significantly lower than the tens or hundreds of millions typically spent on training frontier AI models in the U.S.
Open-weight models: DeepSeek's commitment to open-weight models allows for greater accessibility and collaboration within the AI community. Researchers, developers, and businesses can freely download, run and modify the models.
Performance: DeepSeek's r1 model has demonstrated impressive performance on a range of benchmarks, matching or exceeding the capabilities of leading U.S. models.
What's not so great?
Data transparency: While the company has released the model weights, it has not disclosed the data used to train its models, raising concerns about potential biases and ethical considerations.
Privacy and security: According to DeepSeek's privacy policy, the company collects IP addresses, unique device identifiers and stores the information “in secure servers located in the People's Republic of China."
Controversial topics: A report from Fortune highlighted that DeepSeek's models refused to respond to questions about sensitive topics like Taiwan, the Tiananmen Square protests and the treatment of Uyghurs in China.
Made in China
While Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella acknowledged the potential benefits of cheaper AI, he also cautioned against underestimating the significance of AI developments coming out of China, stating at the World Economic Forum in Davos: "We should take the developments out of China very, very seriously."
Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), similarly reacted to DeepSeek with skepticism, agreeing with Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang’s claim that DeepSeek may possess around 50,000 Nvidia Hopper GPUs instead of the 10,000 A100s that DeepSeek claims to have.
“Wake-up call”
Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, in a post on X, described DeepSeek R1 as AI's "Sputnik moment," drawing parallels to the 1957 satellite launch that triggered the space race between the Soviet Union and the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the rise of DeepSeek should be "a wake-up call" for the US tech industry. Suggesting that it could ultimately prove a positive, he said: "If you could do it cheaper, if you could do it [for] less [and] get to the same end result. I think that's a good thing for us."
Morgan Brown, vice president of product and growth in artificial intelligence at Dropbox, agrees. “AI is about to become a lot more accessible, and a lot less expensive,” he explained on X. “The question isn't if this will disrupt the current players, but how fast.”
In a statement, Nvidia emphasized that DeepSeek's success illustrates how innovative models can be created using widely available resources and techniques, ultimately driving demand for their chips. "DeepSeek's work illustrates how new models can be created using that technique, leveraging widely-available models and compute that is fully export control compliant," the statement said.
World's got DeepSeek, what's next?
DeepSeek's success with limited resources contrasts sharply with the massive investments undertaken by industry giants like OpenAI, whose $500 billion Stargate project aims to build sophisticated data centers for AI development. This raises the question of whether DeepSeek's leaner, more efficient approach could become a new paradigm for AI innovation.
While OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledges the impressiveness of DeepSeek's model, he remains confident in OpenAI’s edge, emphasizing that “more compute is more important now than ever before to succeed at our mission.” Experts posit that the competition between these companies is likely to intensify in the next few years.
Trump names Indian American ex-journalist as deputy press secretary
Indian American former journalist Kush Desai has been appointed as deputy press secretary by President Donald Trump, the White House announced on Friday. Desai, who most recently served as deputy battleground states and Pennsylvania communications director at the Republican National Committee (RNC), will join the White House communications team under the leadership of Deputy White House Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich. The appointment follows Trump’s earlier selections of Steven Cheung as White House Communications Director and Karoline Leavitt as Press Secretary.
A Dartmouth College graduate and recipient of the James O. Freedman Presidential Research Scholarship, Desai brings extensive experience in political communications to his new role. His career includes positions as deputy communications director for the 2024 Republican National Convention, communications director for the Republican Party of Iowa and a stint at The Daily Caller, where he covered politics as a fact check reporter. Fluent in both English and Gujarati, Desai began his career as a research analyst for the RNC, where he developed expertise in research and communications, particularly in crafting narratives for battleground states.
24 Filipinos deported, more being processed
Twenty-four Filipino nationals were recently deported for alleged illegal activities, according to Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez.
Most of them, however, were only involved in petty crimes. Their cases had also been processed during former President Joe Biden’s final months, with deportations occurring between Oct. 1, 2024 and Jan. 18.
State of play
As of Monday, there are 16 Filipinos in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, though their cases were also processed during Biden’s time. So far, there have been no reports of Filipinos being arrested or detained since President Donald Trump resumed office, Romualdez noted.
Of those currently in ICE custody, 15 already have deportation orders, while one has a pending case. Meanwhile, 80 additional cases are being processed for potential deportation.
Community impact
With an estimated 350,000 undocumented Filipinos in the U.S., community leaders are advising caution. Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega noted that most Filipinos entered the country legally, even if their visas have since expired.
Support is being mobilized. Filipino American lawyers are volunteering at consulates, while some employers are helping undocumented workers secure legal status. The Department of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, advises keeping a “low profile” while pursuing legal pathways.
What’s next
More deportations are expected. Since taking office, Trump has declared a “national emergency” at the southern border, begun using military aircraft for deportation flights and prioritized booting out individuals with criminal records.
“We’re getting the bad, hard criminals out,” Trump told reporters on Friday. “These are murderers. These are people that have been as bad as you get. As bad as anybody you’ve seen. We’re taking them out first.”
What CIA's revised stance on COVID-19's origins means for US-China relations
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) stated in a newly declassified assessment released on Saturday that the COVID-19 pandemic "more likely" originated from a lab leak than a natural source. This shift in stance, which comes after years of the agency maintaining that both scenarios were possible, has reignited the debate surrounding the pandemic's origins.
The COVID-19 origins debate: Two primary theories have dominated discussions about COVID-19’s origins since its emergence in the late 2019.
Zoonotic spillover: This theory posits that the virus naturally jumped from an animal reservoir, likely bats, to humans, potentially through an intermediary animal host. Proponents point to the precedent of previous pandemics like SARS and MERS, and the presence of the Huanan wet market in Wuhan where wild animals were sold. A 2021 WHO-convened team concluded that zoonotic transmission was the most plausible, describing a lab leak as “extremely unlikely.”
Laboratory leak: This theory suggests that the virus accidentally escaped from a research facility, most likely the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), which was known to be studying bat coronaviruses. This theory gained traction due to the proximity of the initial outbreak to the institute and concerns about biosafety practices. Some researchers also highlight the virus's furin cleavage site, a feature not present in other similar coronaviruses, as a potential indicator of genetic modification.
CIA's change in stance
The CIA has previously stated that it did not have enough intelligence to favor either theory. In its updated position, the agency now believes that a research-related incident is more likely the cause of the pandemic. It said in a statement to the press that it would “continue to evaluate any available credible new intelligence reporting or open source information that could change CIA’s assessment.”
It's important to note that this assessment was initiated under the Biden administration but declassified and released by newly appointed CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who was sworn in on Jan 23, under the Trump administration. Ratcliffe told Breitbart News that he wanted the CIA to "get off the sidelines" and make an assessment on COVID-19's origins.
What this means for China
The CIA's assessment, which now aligns with other U.S. intelligence agencies like the FBI and the Department of Energy, puts China in a difficult position. The country has resisted calls for a more transparent investigation into the Wuhan Institute of Virology, vehemently denying any involvement in the pandemic's origins.
Some US officials, particularly those who have long favored the lab leak theory, have welcomed the CIA's assessment. Senator Tom Cotton, for example, called for holding China accountable for "unleashing a plague on the world." He suggested imposing tariffs or repealing China’s permanent most favored nation status via legislation.
The renewed focus on the lab leak theory places China’s research practices, particularly in laboratories like WIV, under intense scrutiny from the global community. This could also deepen international distrust and fuel ongoing accusations that the country has been withholding critical information. How China navigates this issue will be critical in shaping its future global relations and its approach to international cooperation on future health crises.
China warns against “conspiracy theories”
In response to the CIA’s findings, China reiterated the findings of the 2021 WHO-China joint study and shifted the blame to the U.S. “The U.S. needs to stop politicizing and weaponizing origins-tracing at once, and stop scapegoating others,” Mao Ning, Beijing's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said at a Monday press briefing. “The U.S. should respond as quickly as possible to the international community’s legitimate concerns, voluntarily share its data with the WHO about suspected early cases in the U.S., clarify the questions concerning relevant U.S. biological labs and give a responsible explanation to the world.”
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for China's US embassy, also told the Associated Press: “We firmly oppose the politicization and stigmatisation of the source of the virus and once again call on everyone to respect science and stay away from conspiracy theories.”
South Korean president could face the death penalty
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted Sunday on insurrection charges, making him the first sitting president in the country’s history to face criminal charges. The indictment stems from his brief declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, when he allegedly ordered troops to storm the National Assembly and “drag out” lawmakers who were gathering to vote against the measure. Prosecutors say they have “sufficient evidence” to substantiate the charges, including testimony from military commanders who said they received direct orders from Yoon to break down the parliament's doors “with axes” or “by shooting, if necessary.”
Yoon, who was impeached by parliament on Dec. 14 and arrested on Jan. 15, now faces two separate legal battles: a criminal trial for insurrection that could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty, and an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court that will determine whether he should be formally removed from office. Speaking through his lawyers on Tuesday, Yoon defended his actions, claiming everything was done “within the boundaries of the Constitution” and that he had never intended to keep martial law for an extended period of time.
Recent polls show the governing and opposition parties running neck-and-neck in a possible presidential by-election. While a majority of South Koreans approved of Yoon’s impeachment, his supporters have turned increasingly aggressive, as evidenced by a violent riot at a Seoul courthouse on Jan. 19 that left 17 police officers injured. The protests have also taken on religious overtones, with evangelical Christian groups gathering outside Yoon’s detention center for daily prayer circles, many waving both South Korean and U.S. flags alongside banners reading “stop the steal” — echoing claims of election fraud that Yoon cited to justify his martial law declaration.
The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on Yoon’s impeachment before its June deadline, with observers anticipating a decision within two to three months based on previous impeachment cases. Meanwhile, Yoon will remain in the Seoul Detention Center as his criminal trial for insurrection begins, which prosecutors estimate could last about six months.
Japan defeats France to win Pastry World Cup gold
Japan won its fourth Pastry World Cup gold on Jan. 24-25 in Lyon, narrowly beating France for the top spot. The competition, held every two years, challenges teams to create three desserts in just five hours. Japan’s team, composed of pastry chefs Masanori Hata, Yuji Matoba and Ryu Miyazaki, presented a lemon, pear, marigold and chocolate granita shaped like an Asanoha leaf, as well as a frozen apricot dessert resembling a spinning top. "We packed the history and culture of Japan into the design," said Team Japan’s leader Hata. "We were able to incorporate taste and delicate traditional patterns to showcase our techniques."
Team France took silver for their creations that included chocolate eggs filled with chocolate-hazelnut souffle mousse and paired with clementine confit and grilled vanilla ice cream. Malaysia, who previously won gold in 2019, claimed bronze with a frozen dessert that blended citrus, apricot and spices, reflecting the country’s multicultural heritage.
Make your own “prosperity toss” salad for Lunar New Year!
The "prosperity toss," also known as yusheng or lo hei, is a Lunar New Year tradition where diners toss a colorful salad of raw fish, shredded vegetables and various condiments high in the air with chopsticks while shouting auspicious phrases like "Huat ah!" (prosperity) and "Da ji da li!" (great luck and great fortune). The practice, popular in Singapore, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries, symbolizes unity and the hope for abundance in the coming year.
While its origins remain unclear (Singapore attributes its creation to four chefs in the 1960s, while some in Malaysia believe it originated in the 1940s at a local restaurant), the prosperity toss remains a beloved tradition symbolizing a fresh start. Chefs continue to innovate with new ingredients, but the core elements remain: the communal tossing of the salad and the recitation of wishes.
Assembling your own prosperity toss kit: While you can find pre-packaged kits at some Asian grocery stores, you can assemble your own prosperity toss salad using fresh ingredients.
Here's a guide to get you started:
Raw fish (usually salmon): Represents abundance and excess throughout the year .
Shredded vegetables: Use a variety of colorful vegetables like carrots (good luck), white radish (prosperity in business) and green radish (eternal youth).
Pomelo or lime: Symbolizes luck and auspicious beginnings.
Crushed peanuts: Symbolize a household filled with valuable possessions.
Sesame seeds: Represent a flourishing business and growth .
Golden crackers (or fried wonton strips): Symbolize wealth and prosperity .
Plum sauce: Adds sweetness and represents strong family ties .
Other condiments: Consider adding pepper (attracting wealth), five-spice powder (good fortune) and oil (money flowing in from all directions).
Bringing them all together: Arrange the ingredients in separate sections on a large platter, starting with the shredded vegetables, followed by the raw fish and then the garnishes like nuts and crackers. The sauces and condiments are usually placed in small bowls around the platter. As each ingredient is added, family and friends take turns reciting auspicious phrases, wishing for good luck, prosperity and happiness in the new year. Once all the ingredients are in place, everyone grabs their chopsticks and joins in the tossing, shouting wishes for good fortune and prosperity!
Where to celebrate Lunar New Year 2025 across the U.S.
The Year of the Snake begins today, bringing vibrant parades, cultural performances and festive activities to cities across the U.S. Over the next two weeks, communities will celebrate with traditional dragon and lion dances, fireworks and culinary delights. Here are just a few of the major events nationwide to welcome the Year of the Snake:
San Francisco
San Francisco hosts one of the most famous and historic Lunar New Year celebrations in the country, featuring a multi-day festival in Chinatown.
Chinatown Street Fair (Jan. 29 - Feb. 15): A marketplace filled with food vendors, arts and crafts, and live performances.
Lantern Festival at Portsmouth Square (Feb. 15): A display of lanterns symbolizing hope and unity.
Chinese New Year Parade (Feb. 15, 5:15 PM): Featuring elaborate floats, lion dancers, and a 288-foot-long Golden Dragon, this parade starts at 2nd and Market Streets.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles' Asian American communities, particularly in Chinatown and the San Gabriel Valley, organize grand festivities.
Golden Dragon Parade (Feb. 8): A historic parade in LA’s Chinatown featuring intricate dragon and lion dances, cultural performances and fireworks.
The Grove’s Lunar New Year Celebration: A popular shopping destination featuring themed decorations, performances, and special dining experiences.
Pacific Asia Museum Events: Hands-on workshops, storytelling sessions and special exhibitions celebrating Asian culture.
Disneyland, Anaheim
Disneyland transforms its theme park into a Lunar New Year wonderland.
Disneyland’s Lunar New Year Festival (Jan. 17 - Feb. 16): Mulan-themed parades, special food menus and live performances celebrating Asian culture.
Cultural Arts and Crafts: Interactive activities for children and families to learn about Lunar New Year traditions.
New York City
New York City’s Chinatown and Flushing neighborhoods host some of the most anticipated Lunar New Year celebrations.
Firecracker ceremony and cultural festival (Jan 29): A lively event at Sara D. Roosevelt Park featuring cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations and food vendors.
Lunar New Year Parade (Feb. 16, 1:00 PM): The parade in Lower Manhattan’s Chinatown starts at Mott and Hester Streets, showcasing dragon dancers, acrobats and community organizations.
Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Celebrations: Special exhibits, workshops and storytelling sessions dedicated to the Year of the Snake.
Chicago
Chicago’s Chinatown and Uptown neighborhoods hold impressive Lunar New Year festivities.
Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade (Feb. 9, 1:00 PM): A vibrant parade featuring traditional Chinese performances, marching bands and cultural showcases at 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue.
Argyle Lunar New Year Parade (Feb. 8, 1:00 PM): Located in Uptown’s Vietnamese community, this parade features lion and dragon dancers, cultural performances, and community festivities.
Art Institute of Chicago & Chicago Cultural Center Workshops: Special exhibits and family-friendly activities focused on Asian heritage.
Houston
Houston's diverse Asian American population brings rich cultural celebrations to the city.
Texas Lunar Festival (Feb. 1, 10:30 AM): A major event at Alief Marshall Center featuring live performances, traditional dances and cultural vendors.
Chinese Community Center New Year Celebration (February 1, 2025, 10:00 AM): Cultural activities, food stalls and performances in honor of the Year of the Snake.
Asia Society Texas Lunar New Year Festival: Featuring theatrical performances, lion dances and workshops.
Boston
Boston’s Chinatown, the third-largest in the U.S., hosts one of the most festive Lunar New Year celebrations in the Northeast.
Boston Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade (Feb 9, 10:00 AM): The parade at Phillips Square showcases lion dances, cultural performances and a beauty pageant.
Chinese Historical Society of New England Events: Walking tours and exhibitions celebrating Boston’s Chinese American history.
Local Chinatown celebrations: Traditional feasts and community events throughout the neighborhood.
Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital hosts a grand Lunar New Year Parade.
DC Chinese Lunar New Year Parade (Feb. 2, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Starting at 6th and I Streets NW, featuring dragon dancers, musical performances and a firecracker ceremony.
Smithsonian Lunar New Year Exhibits: Special displays at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia has a strong Asian American presence, with Chinatown serving as the hub of Lunar New Year events.
Philadelphia Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade (Jan. 28, 10:00 PM & Feb. 2, 11:00 AM): Featuring the Philadelphia Suns dance troupe and traditional performances.
Penn Museum Lunar New Year Celebration (Jan. 25): Cultural exhibitions, workshops and special performances.
Dilworth Park Festivities (Feb. 1, 5:00 PM): A community gathering with food, live music and skating at the Rothman Orthopedics Ice Rink.
Seattle
Seattle's Chinatown-International District is a vibrant hub for Lunar New Year festivities.
Lunar New Year Family Festival at Seattle Art Museum (Feb. 1): Lion dances, storytelling, and art activities.
Chinese tea tasting at Volunteer Park Conservatory (Feb. 1): Learn about the art of tea preparation and enjoy the delicate flavors of Chinese black tea .
Lunar New Year Night Market (Feb. 8): This 21+ event features a dance party, food trucks and a makers' market with AAPI-owned businesses.
Lunar New Year Celebration (Feb. 22): Hing Hay Park comes alive with lion and dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations, and cultural performances.
Additional cities:
Atlanta
Atlanta embraces the Lunar New Year with a blend of traditional and contemporary celebrations.
Lunar New Year Festival at Stone Mountain Park (Jan. 25 - Feb. 9): A drone and light show, a parade, cultural activities, and live entertainment .
Lunar New Year Celebration in Johns Creek (Feb. 1): Cultural performances, vendors and food
Dallas
Dallas boasts a growing Asian American community with vibrant Lunar New Year events.
Celebrations in the Asia Times Square District: Enjoy live music, lion dances, and a variety of Asian cuisine.
Lunar New Year Festival at the Crow Collection of Asian Art: Explore special exhibits, cultural demonstrations and family activities.
Southlake Spring Festival (Feb. 1): Performances, food and drinks, and activities and run a Lunar New Year-themed Half Marathon on the Trinity River Trail.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas adds its own unique flair to Lunar New Year celebrations.
Las Vegas Spring Festival Parade (Feb. 1): Elaborate floats, dragon dances and cultural performances.
Lunar New Year at Resorts World Las Vegas (Feb. 1): Dim sum brunch and explore the special Lunar New Year menus at various restaurants.
Lunar New Year at Fashion Show Las Vegas (Jan. 13 - Feb. 3): A dazzling lantern display and a spectacular lion dance performance.
New Jersey
New Jersey offers a variety of Lunar New Year events for families and communities to enjoy.
Lunar New Year Celebration (Feb. 1): Diverse range of cultural performances, including those representing Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Southeast Asian cultures.
Lunar New Year Spectacular at American Dream (Feb. 1): Lion dances, kung fu, music dance and more.
Hawaii
Hawaii offers a unique blend of Lunar New Year traditions and island spirit.
Lunar New Year Celebration at Ala Moana Center (Jan. 29 - Feb. 2): A Wishing Wall and cultural performances, including lion dancing and calligraphy.
Lunar New Year Celebration at SALT at Our Kaka'ako (Feb. 1): A martial arts demo, a lion dance, and a chance to meet the Miss Chinatown Hawaii Queens.