Yanwen’s blog

There has been extensive post-mortem analysis of Kamala Harris's loss in the 2024 presidential race. Some blame Biden for staying in the race too long, leaving Harris little time to establish herself. Others criticize his "garbage" remark about Trump supporters or point to Harris's VP choice as a factor.

Initially, I thought Harris’s identity as both Black and female posed a challenge in a country not yet ready for such a leader. 

However, the epiphany came when a friend reminded me of Bill Clinton’s famous slogan: "It’s the economy, stupid." That insight redirected my focus to the issue most affecting voters: the economy.

I have noticed how inflation has made even Walmart's prices feel less like a discount store. Walmart remains essential for many, but it no longer feels like the reliable low-cost option as it once was. This reflects broader inflationary pressures that have affected the average American’s wallet, especially under Biden’s administration.

Voters prioritize economic stability, and Biden’s economic policies, which have contributed to inflation, likely played a central role in Harris’s defeat.

In Chinese, the phrase 搬起石头砸自己的脚 (bān qǐ shí tóu zá zì jǐ de jiǎo) means "lifting a stone to smash your own foot," similar to "shooting oneself in the foot." Biden’s reputation in foreign affairs led him to prioritize overseas projects, pouring billions abroad while neglecting domestic issues. His decision to keep Trump-era tariffs, while intending to hurt China, ended up shooting in the foot of American consumers.

Biden's focus on overseas engagements, including maintaining trade tensions with China, has contributed to record-high inflation domestically. It’s no exaggeration to say that his failed economic strategy may have unintentionally paved an easier path for Trump’s return in 2024.

Ultimately, Harris’s loss finalizes Biden's legacy —a vivid example of "lifting a stone to smash his own foot."

On October 29, an article titled "TikTok’s Founder Is Now China’s Richest Person" caught my attention. The extraordinary popularity of TikTok has propelled Zhang Yiming, the 41-year-old cofounder of ByteDance, to the top of China’s wealth list. I wrote down some thought on the news that day.

For the first time, Zhang has claimed the title of China’s wealthiest person, with a reported net worth of $49.3 billion, according to the Hurun China Rich List 2024 by the Hurun Research Institute.

Zhang’s wealth surge is largely driven by TikTok's global success and ByteDance’s extensive portfolio, which includes platforms like Toutiao and Douyin. With 150 million active users in the U.S. and over a billion worldwide, TikTok’s influence has substantially boosted ByteDance’s valuation, placing it among the world’s most valuable tech companies. Remarkably, TikTok’s popularity remains strong despite looming threats of a U.S. ban.

There’s a Chinese saying, “树大招风” (shù dà zhāo fēng), meaning “big trees catch strong winds.” This proverb suggests that those in high positions often attract attention, criticism, or challenges. Just as a large tree is more susceptible to strong winds, prominent figures or organizations frequently face scrutiny or envy, encountering greater risks or opposition than those who stay out of the spotlight. It serves as a reminder of the potential pitfalls of sticking out—a caution to keep a low profile.

With the new US administration next year, for Zhang, being China’s wealthiest person and the founder of ByteDance and TikTok may mean as many unexpected challenges as it does prestige.

Whether TikTok will be banned in the U.S. remains uncertain, but various factors make it a possibility, especially given the shifting political climate. Future regulations might range from a complete ban to operational restrictions on TikTok within the U.S. There’s also a chance that the Trump administration could negotiate a compromise.

Ultimately, TikTok’s fate will likely hinge on the next U.S. administration’s stance, ByteDance’s lobbying efforts, and potential concessions. Amid this uncertainty, however, its 150 million active American users remain without a voice in the debate.

On election morning, I went to the YMCA. In the pool, I typically see more women than men, but that day, it was all women—I figured the men might be out voting. Later, as I passed by the NY homeless shelter, I noticed, as usual, only men outside and no women. It made me wonder why. Driving home, I reminded myself to look up data to see if these patterns I observed at the pool and shelter were supported by any trends.

Reading journalism books, I learned the value of a first-person eyewitness account. But I’m beginning to question the limits of this approach. Without relevant data, historical context, and multiple perspectives, a first-person narrative alone feels inadequate for truly understanding what one observes.

Now, days after the election, we know who will be the next occupant of the White House. America's policy toward China is likely to remain one of its most strategically significant areas of foreign policy, with far-reaching implications for global security and trade.

This story began during Trump’s first term, when he labeled China a "strategic competitor" and imposed tariffs on Chinese imports, sparking retaliatory tariffs from Beijing on U.S. goods. Also always remember China Initiative and Chinese Virus. Biden retained many of these Trump-era tariffs, which some believe has contributed to inflation in the U.S. and potentially impacted his VP in her White House bid.

There is a bipartisan consensus on getting tough with China, largely to appeal to American voters. Politicians find it easy to frame the loss of American jobs as a result of competition with China. However, many of these job losses in traditional industries, like steel, can be attributed more to automation and technology advances than to global competition alone. Unfortunately the average Americans do not dwell deep on this.

With Trump returning to the White House, we could see a significant shift in approach. While Biden has focused on building security alliances with other regional powers to contain China, Trump may favor direct, unilateral actions that could intensify the rivalry between the two nations. Keep in mind Trump’s unpredictability and anything is possible. A Chinese scientist could lose his job instantly under a new wave of Red Scare.

A Chinese saying goes, 山雨欲来风满楼 (shān yǔ yù lái fēng mǎn lóu), meaning "As the mountain rain looms near, the winds sweep through every corner of the building." The saying implies a brewing storm—a situation filled with mounting tension and anticipation of dramatic events. It reflects the sense of unease and the inevitability of coming shifts in U.S.-China relations with a new administration.

There’s certainly more to what the next four years could hold under Trump. One can’t fully prepare for the unpredictability that often accompanies his leadership.

A Chinese saying offers some perspective at times like this: 乱哄哄你方唱罢我登场 (luàn hōng hōng, nǐ fāng chàng bà, wǒ dēng chǎng), which means, "In a chaotic whirl, as soon as your song ends, I take the stage." It captures the unceasing drama of political life, where one leader’s turn is quickly followed by another’s. However dramatic Trump’s entrance, in four years, the stage will be set for someone else.

Not long ago, Chinese social media was flooded with the story of a young woman who shared her final journey to Switzerland for euthanasia after a lost battle with lupus. This story spread quickly, reaching me through family, friends in Beijing, and my high school and college groups. 

Her father traveled with her and would return with her ashes. His choice to support her wish for euthanasia, despite the emotional cost, adds a profound sadness to her story. His presence reflects a compassionate role, underscoring the emotional toll on loved ones who accompany someone to their end. This journey was undoubtedly agonizing for him—fulfilling her wish while confronting the heartbreaking reality of losing his child.

Though rare, her decision to choose euthanasia, document and share it publicly may have been an attempt to raise awareness of the severe pain and limitations lupus can bring, or perhaps to find comfort in a virtual community during her final days. Or perhaps it reveals her deep-harbored desire to be understood and remember. Or simply to connect with as many as possible in her last moments. Drawing a virtual audience to witness her experience, she also opened a broader conversation about chronic illness, euthanasia, and personal autonomy.

A Chinese saying, “雁过留声, 人过留名" (Yàn guò liú shēng, rén guò liú míng), which translates to “As a wild goose flies by, it leaves a call; as a person passes, they leave their name." This saying emphasizes the idea that just as geese leave echoes when they pass, people also leave behind their legacy or reputation, so when they leave this world, people still remember them. It also implies a reminder to live a life that leaves a positive mark or influence, as our actions and character will be remembered long after we’re gone. To leave her name behind, perhaps that's what was in her mind.

By sharing her story in real time, rather than reflecting privately, she invited the world to see and feel her journey. This immediate, digital narrative brought a rawness and urgency that would be lost in a retrospective account.

Her courageous choice sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media about her decision.

From a parent’s perspective, supporting a child in this choice may be the ultimate act of love and empathy, despite being one of the deepest heartbreaks. While his daughter is now free from suffering, the father must bear the weight of her absence and the memories of her struggle. This is an enduring form of grief—a loss that offers no resolution. Parents hope to see their children grow, flourish, and find happiness, so losing a child, especially in such a way, creates a void that nothing can fill.

This transition—from being a parent to facing life without his child—is a unique form of ultimate loss, leaving him in a painful state of “un-parenting” and a vacancy that defies words.

In honoring his daughter’s choice and standing by her to the very end, this father showed remarkable strength and acceptance. His presence in her final moments speaks to a love that embraces even the most painful goodbye.