Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.

China Reaches Out to Taiwan

Time seems to be on the mainland’s side was the feeling I got from a recent speech by Senator Dianne Feinstein. She mentioned that President Hu is making friendly gestures to the Taiwanese. Some are

1. Increasing imports from Taiwan.

2. Allowing the Taiwanese to sell fish to the mainland.

3. Recognizing degrees granted in Taiwan on the mainland.

4. Allowing Taiwanese doctors to practice on the mainland.

Oh, and the mainland offered to send over a couple of Pandas as ambassadors. (She didn’t mention this.)

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yaun. Tuanyuan, btw, means ‘reunion’ in Chinese. Coincidence?

President Chen of Taiwan doesn’t want to accept the Pandas, but he does what the Mainland’s business. Go figure.

The people of Taiwan support better ties with the mainland. Double-digit growth of China’s military budget while Taiwan did nothing and 800 ballistic missiles pointed at them may have something to do with that.

Right now, Taiwan is more vulnerable than ever, Feinstein said, and more reliable on the US than ever. This makes the situation much too volatile.

The key – maintain the status quo – Taiwan promises to NOT claim independence and China foreswears the use of force – and the US pledges to mind its own business.

Another key – the American business community taking steps to improve relationships and ease tensions rather than seek self-gain. Yeah, right?

Are we in trouble when we leave relationships to the results of business deals? I saw a friend tip over the Monopoly board the other day when he lost.

What happens when real countries play Monopoly for real and one side loses big?

Talk to Bill and others about their experiences raising bi-cultural Japanese-American kids.