Ozawa v. U.S. Race and Citizenship, 35 Killed in China's Deadliest Attack, Trump Win Stirs Asia Anxiety, SpaceX Relocation Angers Taiwan, 4 Die in Toronto Tesla Fire, South Korean Actor Found Dead

Good Morning – November 14, 2024

Your daily update on stories impacting the Asian and Asian American community, along with key insights into business, culture, and trends.

TOP STORIES

4 dead after Tesla bursts into flames, doors won’t open in Toronto crash

Four individuals of Indian descent were killed after a Tesla Model Y EV burst into flames following a crash in Toronto last month.

• What happened: The crash occurred at around 12:10 a.m. on Oct. 24 when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while speeding eastbound on Lake Shore Boulevard East near Cherry Street. The car, which was carrying three men and two women, struck a guardrail before slamming into a concrete pillar and catching fire. The four deceased, who all hailed from India’s Gujarat state, were identified as Jay Sisodiya, Digvijay Patel, Ketaba Gohil and her younger brother Neelraj Gohil. Their ages ranged from 26 to 32.

• Lone survivor: A 25-year-old woman survived the incident after a passing Canada Post driver, Rick Harper, used a metal pole from his car to smash a window and helped her escape the burning car head first. “You couldn’t open the doors,” Harper, 73, told the Toronto Star. “I would assume the young lady would have tried to open the door from the inside, because she was pretty desperate to get out.” Harper added that he could not see other people inside the car as the smoke was too thick. Calgary Fire Department Captain Randy Schmitz noted that EVs like Teslas require power to open doors, which can become inoperable due to power interruption after a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into the incident.

South Korean actor Song Jae-lim found dead at 39

South Korean actor Song Jae-lim, known for his role in “Moon Embracing the Sun” and the reality show “We Got Married,” was found dead at his Seoul home on Tuesday at the age of 39, police confirmed. A friend who had arranged to meet him for lunch discovered his remains at around 12:30 p.m. Authorities reported no evidence of foul play and noted the presence of a letter at the scene. Tributes flooded in from devastated fellow actors, including Yoo Sun, who co-starred with him in the 2016 drama “Our Gap Soon.” The actress wrote, “It's too sad, it hurts so much... May you find peace and rest.” Meanwhile, fans around the globe — many still cherishing memories from Song's stint as a virtual husband to actress Kim So-eun on "We Got Married" — shared heartfelt messages in multiple languages, remembering his enduring charm and kindness. “I will remember the good times. Thank you, Oppa, for making us laugh. You're the best ‘fake husband.’ No more pain. RIP,” one noted.

“The color of skin is controlled by climate” - Takao Ozawa

On Nov. 13, 1922, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Ozawa v. United States that Takao Ozawa, a Japanese immigrant who had lived in America for nearly three decades, was ineligible for naturalization because he was not considered "white" under the Naturalization Act of 1906. Ozawa, who had studied in American schools and raised his children in American culture, argued that Japanese people should be recognized as "free white persons" eligible for citizenship. However, the Court, led by Justice George Sutherland, unanimously held that "the words 'white person was only to indicate a person of what is popularly known as the Caucasian race'" and excluded Asians. The decision, rooted in xenophobic fears of the time, reinforced racial barriers in U.S. immigration policy, cementing the exclusion of Asians from citizenship despite even demonstrated acculturation and loyalty.

POST-ELECTION INSIGHTS

Trump’s re-election sparks economic, geopolitical anxiety across Asia

Donald Trump's re-election is raising major questions across Asia as countries brace for the impact of his renewed “America First” agenda and threats of high tariffs. 

• Economic protectionism and trade tensions: Trump’s "America First" approach is set to upend trade dynamics across Asia, with threats of tariffs up to 60% on Chinese goods and 20% on all imports, mirroring his first term’s trade wars. The ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima is President Joe Biden’s last, marked by unease about Trump's return. Taiwan and South Korea have heavily invested in U.S. semiconductor production to decrease U.S. reliance on Asia, but now fear Trump's potential rollback of subsidy programs. Malaysia and Japan face uncertainties too; Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that tariffs would devastate his nation’s crucial semiconductor exports, while Japan’s equity markets are bracing for export-heavy firms to be hit hard. Goldman Sachs warned of a "whack-a-mole" effect, as Trump could impose tariffs on various Asian economies, echoing Biden's CHIPS Act tensions.

• Supply chain shifts and investment adjustments: Companies across Asia are reevaluating their U.S. investments in light of looming tariffs and trade barriers. South Korean EV battery makers fear losing essential tax credits, while Japanese automakers brace for steep tariffs that could force production relocation. Trump’s hardline stance could also spur more aggressive export controls against China, affecting firms like Huawei and ByteDance. Meanwhile, Vietnam, benefiting from past supply chain realignments, may gain further investment but also become a tariff target. In Japan, investor interest is moving toward firms less dependent on the U.S., and fund managers are diversifying portfolios in anticipation of market upheaval.

• Geopolitical shifts and alliance strains: The unpredictability of Trump's second term raises concerns over U.S. alliances in East Asia. David Fields, associate director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for East Asian Studies, noted that while American power remains strong, it is also fragile. “I don't think American power is declining, but I think it could very rapidly because I think the core of American power in the world is allies. Without allies, the United States is just a hyper-capable regional power,” Fields said. Trump’s transactional diplomacy, as opposed to Biden's collaborative support, could threaten stability in South Korea and Japan. Tensions with China are a looming backdrop, as President Xi Jinping’s assertive agenda continues to worry U.S. officials.

BUSINESS AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS

Elon Musk’s SpaceX angers Taiwanese over supplier relocation request

The request made by Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX for its Taiwanese suppliers to relocate manufacturing operations to other countries due to "geopolitical concerns" has sparked anger and accusations of ingratitude in Taiwan. Suppliers have since reportedly shifted operations to Vietnam, Thailand and elsewhere.

• Controversial move: Taiwan's Economic Affairs Minister JW Kuo acknowledged the government is closely monitoring the situation, noting that short-term political factors should not disrupt the relationship between international companies like SpaceX and Taiwanese manufacturers. One supplier, Chin-Poon Industrial, confirmed that it was asked to move manufacturing to Thailand due to geopolitical considerations. Other suppliers, including Wistron NeWeb Corporation (WNC) and Universal Microwave Technology, have expanded into Vietnam this year, citing similar concerns.

• Suppliers feel betrayed: The request has reignited tensions surrounding Musk's relationship with Taiwan. In 2022, Musk stated his belief that a conflict over Taiwan was "inevitable" and suggested Taiwan consider a Hong Kong-style governance model, a proposal widely rejected by the Taiwanese people. Social media platforms in Taiwan have seen an outpouring of anger as a result of the supplier relocation request, with users criticizing Musk for what they perceive as a betrayal of Taiwanese suppliers who have contributed to SpaceX's success.

Vietnam’s richest man adds $1.9 billion support to VinFast as losses continue

Vietnam’s leading EV manufacturer, VinFast, secured a loan totaling 35 trillion Vietnamese dong ($1.4 billion) from its parent company, Vingroup. A Vingroup representative stated that the funding aims to “alleviate short-term financial pressure” on the EV maker and to equip it with “the necessary financial resources to achieve sustainable growth without relying on external capital.” Vingroup is also converting an existing 80 trillion dong ($3.1 billion) loan to VinFast into dividend-entitled preferred shares. Furthermore, Pham Nhat Vuong, Vietnam’s richest man and Vingroup’s founder, pledged a sponsorship of 50 trillion dong ($1.9 billion) to support the EV maker. VinFast, which is yet to turn a profit since its 2017 founding, reported a net loss of $772 million in Q2 2024, exceeding last year’s loss of $525.8 million. Vingroup said the loan will only be accessed if VinFast’s efforts to raise external capital fall short of their goals. The company aims to reach a break-even point and cash flow equilibrium by 2026. Despite its losses, VinFast remains Vietnam’s top-selling car brand, with over 11,000 EVs delivered in October and a total of more than 51,000 units delivered to date.

Nvidia and SoftBank team up to create Japan’s most powerful AI supercomputer

Nvidia and SoftBank have partnered to launch Japan’s most powerful AI supercomputer using Nvidia’s new Grace Blackwell platform. Announced during Nvidia’s AI Summit in Tokyo on Wednesday, the collaboration features SoftBank being the first to deploy Nvidia’s DGX B200 systems to build the DGX SuperPOD, leveraging Nvidia AI Enterprise software and Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking. This system aims to support generative AI initiatives for businesses, universities and researchers. Nvidia, which recently surpassed Apple as the world’s most valuable company, is also planning a new AI and 5G network pilot with Softbank. Known as AI-RAN, which can simultaneously handle telecom and AI workloads, the network demonstrated efficient 5G performance while running AI tasks in trials.

WORLD NEWS

Driver troubled over divorce kills 35 in China’s deadliest attack in a decade

Thirty-five people were killed and 43 were injured after a man rammed his car into crowds at a sports center in the city of Zhuhai in China’s Guangdong province on Monday. Police say the driver, a 62-year-old surnamed Fan, acted in frustration over a divorce settlement in what has become the country’s deadliest public attack since 2014.

• What happened: The tragedy unfolded at around 7:48 p.m. when Fan’s SUV crashed into multiple fitness walking groups at the Zhuhai People’s Fitness Plaza, striking victims across the sports field's circular track. The rampage occurred just before Zhuhai was set to host the Zhuhai Airshow, China’s largest aviation exhibition, on Nov. 12-17. Fan, who attempted to flee but was found in his car with self-inflicted wounds, is currently hospitalized and unconscious. Police reports reveal a history of failed legal actions related to his divorce, but censors removed these details from official statements. This is China’s highest death toll in a public attack since 2014, when terrorists crashed two cars at shoppers in Xinjiang, killing 31.

• Government response: Grieving residents left flowers and messages at the scene, only for authorities to swiftly clear the tributes and restrict access. The government has taken steps to censor footage and online discourse, with President Xi Jinping labeling the attack “extremely vicious” and calling for severe punishment. He has also pushed local officials to strengthen measures to defuse societal tensions. Meanwhile, Guangdong’s governor visited the injured victims in the hospital, emphasizing aggressive medical intervention. Questions about the safety and surveillance at public sites remain as the government continues to manage narratives around events perceived as threats to stability.

Japanese Politician apologizes for suggesting marriage ban on women over 25

Naoki Hyakuta, the leader of Japan’s Conservative Party, stirred controversy on Friday by suggesting that women should be barred from marriage after age 25 and that they should undergo hysterectomy by 30. In his now-deleted YouTube livestream, Hyakuta also proposed that women should not be permitted to attend university from age 18 so they can purportedly focus more on having children. The Japanese official made his proposals in response to Japan’s declining birth rate, which fell for the eighth consecutive year in 2023, down by 5.6% from the previous year. Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura condemned Hyakuta’s comments, calling them “unspeakably hideous.” Sumie Kawakami, a lecturer at Yamanashi Gakuin University, also expressed shock, telling the South China Morning Post, “I cannot believe that a Japanese politician has said such a thing.” The Conservative Party leader apologized on Sunday, noting his comment was only a hypothetical “science-fiction” aimed at highlighting birthrate issues. “I will retract them and apologize as there were people who found them unpleasant,” he said, adding that his ideas are “something that should not happen.”

Man arrested for scamming Japanese woman out of $5.2 million in historic case

A Chinese national was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly impersonating a celebrity to scam a Japanese woman out of 809 million yen ($5.2 million), marking the largest online investment scam against a single individual in Japan. Wen Zhuolin, 34, allegedly posed as well-known Japanese economist Takuro Morinaga using a fake account on messaging app Line to carry out the scam. The victim, a 71-year-old executive from Ibaraki Prefecture, reportedly contacted the scammer after seeing an investment ad on Instagram in October 2023. Wen enticed the victim with an 85% monthly return on gold investments. She initially transferred 10 million yen ($65,000) in November 2023, followed by two cash handovers to the suspect and his purported accomplices at a train station the following month. After being shown fake profit growth, the victim proceeded to transfer a total of 799 million yen ($5.1 million) across 47 transactions. The alleged scheme took place between Oct. 24, 2023, and April 12, 2024.

ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Hiro Murai to make film directorial debut with A24’s “Bushido”

Japanese American filmmaker Hiro Murai is set to make his film directorial debut in “Bushido.” Backed by A24, “Bushido” is described as an original samurai action movie set in feudal Japan. In addition to directing, Murai will serve as producer alongside scriptwriter Henry Dunham. Other producers include Square Peg’s Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen, as well as 2AM’s Julia Oh, Christine D’Souza Gelb and David Hinojosa. Known primarily as a music video director — especially for Childish Gambino’s (Donald Glover) “This is America” — Murai also directed episodes of hit shows like FX’s “Snowfall” and “Legion,” HBO’s “Barry” and Prime Video’s “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” which also stars Glover. The new project will come on the heels of FX’s successful Japanese period drama “Shogun,” which made Emmy history in September.

Henry Golding’s “Snake Eyes” a hit on Netflix … Jon M. Chu open to “G.I. Joe” return?

Director Jon M. Chu has left the door open for a potential return to the “G.I. Joe” movie franchise. Chu, who is currently focused on the upcoming “Wicked” films, teased the possibility of revisiting the world of G.I. Joe, acknowledging his love for the franchise following his directorial work on 2013’s “G.I. Joe: Retaliation.”

• Potential return: In a recent interview with ComicBook, Chu hinted that future projects could spark his return. “G.I. Joe, I’m in Wicked world right now. I love the G.I. Joe world, Snake Eyes, all those people. Henry Golding, I loved his version of Snake Eyes.” Chu made it clear that his focus is on Wicked for now, but added, “You never know.” “Wicked Part 1” is slated for release on Nov. 22, with “Part 2” following in 2025.

• Hit on Netflix: Chu’s comments come amid renewed interest in the G.I. Joe brand, especially after its introduction into the Transformers franchise with “Rise of the Beasts.” While the 2021 Henry Golding-starrer “Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins” was a box office disappointment, earning only $40.1 million by the end of its theatrical run, it debuted as the fourth most popular movie on Netflix last month. The film, which also stars Andrew Koji, Haruka Abe, Samara Weaving and Takehiro Hira, currently sits with a 35% score from critics and a 74% rating from general audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

Could Lucy Liu reprise her iconic 2000s “Charlie’s Angels” role?

Lucy Liu expressed her willingness to reprise her role as Alex Munday if a “Charlie's Angels” reboot were to happen. Liu told Entertainment Tonight at the New York premiere of “Red One” on Nov. 11 that although she hasn't heard any concrete plans for the project, she would “never say no to that.” The 55-year-old star fondly recalled the original films as lighthearted fun centered on strong female characters. With the 25th anniversary of the 2000 film approaching in 2025, fans are speculating about the possibility of a reunion with co-stars Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz, though Liu admits such projects are unpredictable: “You just never know until it happens.”

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” Season 2 expands its cast

Netflix's live-action “Avatar: The Last Airbender” has expanded its cast for Season 2 with eight new actors joining the ensemble. Chin Han (“Mortal Kombat,” “Skyscraper”) will portray Long Feng, leader of the secret police in Ba Sing Se. Hoa Xuande (“The Sympathizer”) takes on the role of Professor Zei, while Justin Chien (“The Brothers Sun”) will play King Kuei, ruler of the Earth Kingdom. Other new cast members include Amanda Zhou as Joo Dee, Crystal Yu as Lady Beifong (Toph's mother), Kelemete Misipeka as The Boulder, Lourdes Faberes as General Sung and Rekha Sharma as a new character, Amita. The new additions, which signal a deeper exploration of the Earth Kingdom, are set to join returning cast members Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu, Elizabeth Yu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Daniel Dae Kim, Momona Tamada and Thalia Tran. Netflix has also previously confirmed a third season for the hit show.

World’s oldest soccer pro to play 40th season at age 58

Japanese soccer legend Kazuyoshi "King Kazu" Miura, currently the world's oldest active professional player at 57, plans to return for his 40th season. Miura, who began his career in 1986 with Santos in Brazil, will continue playing for Japan Football League (JFL) side Suzuka, on loan from Yokohama FC. His extensive career includes stints with clubs in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal, along with 89 appearances for the Japanese national team. Miura's trophy cabinet boasts 18 titles, including four Japanese league championships and the Croatian top-flight title. He will be 58 when the new JFL season commences in March 2025.

Watch Kelly Clarkson surprise Connie Chung with namesakes

Kelly Clarkson surprised legendary news anchor Connie Chung on Monday’s “The Kelly Clarkson Show” by inviting audience members named after Chung to stand up. The heartfelt moment highlighted Chung's profound impact as a trailblazer, being the first Asian American woman on national news. Among her namesakes is an NBC page, who expressed gratitude to her for breaking barriers. “You always remind me to be fearless as well as stay curious,” the page said, prompting Chung

Stay informed, stay inspired. We’ll be back tomorrow with more stories that matter to the Asian and Asian American community.