🍵 Temu dismisses Shein

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FBI raids homes linked to O.C. supervisor, nonprofit amid fraud allegations

On Thursday, federal agents, including the IRS Criminal Investigation division, FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office, raided multiple properties linked to Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and his family, including his home, his daughter Rhiannon Do's home, his wife Judge Cheri Pham and properties tied to the nonprofit Viet America Society (VAS), including the home of founder Peter Pham. 

Investigation: The raids follow an LAist investigation into millions of unaccounted taxpayer dollars directed to VAS. The county recently filed a lawsuit alleging that VAS misused these funds, intended to feed vulnerable seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic, to purchase million-dollar homes and benefit the associated individuals. David Wiechert, the attorney representing Rhiannon, stated that she is a “very honest, law-abiding, hardworking young woman” and intends “to demonstrate to the government the error of their ways if they think she’s done something wrong.”  Meanwhile, Supervisor Do has denied any wrongdoing.

Calls for change: Santa Ana City Councilmember Thai Viet Phan, the first Vietnamese American on the council, called for Supervisor Andrew Do's immediate resignation, citing lost community trust. Community organizations VietRISE and Harbor Institute for Immigrant & Economic Justice echoed this call, criticizing Do for allegedly diverting taxpayer dollars for personal gain while residents face “skyrocketing rents, evictions and homelessness.” State Sen. Dave Min expressed support for the federal investigation into public corruption, while O.C. Supervisor Katrina Foley expects the raids to uncover further evidence of the alleged fraud.

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Chinese students report harassment during U.S. inspections

Many Chinese students and tech professionals are raising alarms on social media about harassment during secondary inspections by U.S. immigration and border authorities. They describe these experiences as occurring in a "small dark room" and have led to heightened concerns among international students about traveling to the U.S., according to Chinese state media China Daily. 

Interrogation: In one case, a student who was accepted into Harvard Medical School, faced an 18-hour secondary inspection upon arriving in Boston in 2022. Despite holding a valid visa, he was deported after the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers scrutinized his digital records and found a news screenshot celebrating the launch of a Chinese satellite. “They made me stand against a wall with a measuring scale for a photo; isn't that how criminals are photographed? I never thought I would face such mental humiliation,” he said.

“China threat”: Over 30 Chinese tech students have reportedly faced undue harassment and deportation by U.S. authorities, linked to rising "China threat" rhetoric and national security concerns. The Chinese government formally protested the alleged mistreatment in January, and the number of Chinese students in the U.S. has significantly dropped, with India now leading in international graduate students. Visa rejection rates for high-tech doctoral students are high, leading many to seek education in other countries. Experts suggest that the U.S. is overstretching national security concerns, negatively impacting cultural and educational exchanges between the two nations.

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Temu slams Shein for lawsuit alleging design theft, trademark infringement

On Aug. 19, Chinese retail company Shein filed a lawsuit against rival Chinese fast-fashion retailer Temu, accusing it of stealing designs and engaging in counterfeiting, intellectual property infringement and fraud. 

The lawsuit: Shein alleges that Temu encourages sellers to copy designs and prevents them from removing infringing products. The lawsuit also claims Temu uses deceptive tactics, such as misleading ads and false social media claims, to divert customers from Shein. "Temu draws U.S. consumers into downloading and using its mobile application with promises of extremely low pricing. But Temu is not profiting from the sale of these products, which are priced so low that Temu must subsidize each sale, losing money on every transaction," the complaint said.

Temu’s response: Temu has dismissed Shein's accusations as hypocritical. “SHEIN, buried under its own mountain of IP lawsuits, has the nerve to fabricate accusations against others for the very misconduct they're repeatedly sued for," said a Temu spokesperson. Shein is currently involved in similar allegations from a variety of brands and independent artists, including Levi Strauss and H&M. Last year, Temu also filed a lawsuit against Shein, accusing the company of copyright violations and alleging that Shein employs “mafia-style intimidation” tactics to pressure suppliers into signing exclusivity agreements.

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Chinese students are spending up to $50K on career coaching

Chinese students are increasingly seeking expensive career coaching services, spending as much as $50,000 to land finance jobs in a challenging job market. Even with the growing demand for these services, many students still struggle to find employment as Wall Street firms reduce hiring, according to Bloomberg. 

Career coaching services: Numerous consulting firms are offering services like resume building, interview preparation and internal referrals, but the competition remains intense, with acceptance rates at top firms like Goldman Sachs as low as 0.8%. Some career coaching companies, such as New York-based OfferBang and Hong Kong-based HKCareers, have seen significant growth in clients since 2020. 

Jobs not guaranteed: However, success is not guaranteed, and some students have been left jobless despite spending large sums on coaching services. The industry faces criticism for over-promising and under-delivering, with reports of fake internships and internal referrals. Local media reports have also uncovered a "gray supply chain" where coaching agencies and employees at major firms exploit students through fake internships, leading to revoked applications. Banks like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have distanced themselves from these practices, warning against third-party offers of internships for purchase.

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Most East, Southeast Asians back free speech criticizing government

A 2023 Pew Research Center survey reveals strong support for free speech and openness to societal change among adults in East and Southeast Asia. The survey was conducted in 11 countries and territories.

Support for free speech: A large majority of adults in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan believe in the right to publicly criticize the government, with 83% of South Koreans and Taiwanese supporting this view. Despite legal restrictions, 81% of Hong Kong residents also back this right. In Southeast Asia, significant support exists in Indonesia (75%) and Singapore (55%). Interestingly, majorities in Cambodia (69%), Indonesia (67%) and Singapore (64%) say harmony with others is more important than speaking one’s opinion freely. Most adults in Thailand (59%), South Korea (53%) and Vietnam (52%) hold the opposite view.

Openness to change: The majority of adults in East Asia and Vietnam favor societal openness to change over sticking to traditions. This view is particularly strong in South Korea (78%) and Japan (67%), while people in Hong Kong are split evenly (49% to 49%) on the issue. Younger adults (those aged 18 to 34) and those with higher education levels are also more inclined to support change. In Vietnam, 61% of younger adults favor openness, compared to 48% of older adults (35 and above).