Ifay F. Chang, US-ChinaForum.com/org Columnist
Dr. George Koo, 顧屏山, was my 'Internet' friend. George passed away on September 24, 2024, after a head injury from a fall on the pickleball court. I learned the terrible news from my Internet correspondents. We were deeply sorrowed. For me, George was a remote acquaintance but a close friend in soul on international affairs. We knew each other at a late age and through the Internet. Thus, we were 'Internet friends.' Hence, I wish to distribute this writing, 'In memory of George' to all my Internet friends through my column on the Internet.
I do not endorse the 'busybody' Apps that popped up like bamboo shoots on the Internet, but I owe the connection between George and me to LinkedIn. George Koo <[email protected]> sent, “Hi Ifay, I'd like to join your LinkedIn network,” on Wed, Feb 24, 2016. It was the start of our closer connection. I chose to communicate with George directly through email and Internet discussion groups rather than my LinkedIn page because it was set up for my technical work (Watson research days and graduate school publications). It was published long before the arrival of the Internet. George was a well-known writer of English geopolitical essays, at least among Chinese Americans. Just from my tracking of George's publications, he has written since 1993 over 596 articles categorized by himself on a web page into 48 topical areas with the top seven categories in US-China Relations (279), China (175), American Politics (151), History and Culture (68), Taiwan (60), Racial Profiling in America (56), and Economics (56). My interest in US-China relations and American politics started around October of 2008, George's work was one of the influences on my future interest in international affairs.
Although George did not list all his papers with publication venue, to my knowledge, he has many of his papers published in newspapers and journals. Most notably, George published more in Asia Times. George became most productive in 2008. He was 70 years old and had written 49 papers. I received, read, and resent many of George Koo's papers only after I differentiated several Georges on my Internet contacts, for example, Tsao, Lo, Young, etc. COVID-19 made Internet communication soar to a peak. I remember corresponding with George on one of his excellently written book reviews published in Asia Times on Clyde Prestowitz's book, “The World Turned Upside Down: America, China and the Struggle for Global Leadership” as the first book published in 2021 on US-China relations. George praised Prestowitz's explanation of mercantilism and his honest description of how the U.S. 'imported' technology from Europe and developed its manufacturing to compete in the world market. This process has been replicated by Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China to success as well. George disagreed with Prestowitz on his echoing the zero-sum view of the US-China relations, which created a paranoia of fear for China's replacing the US as a global hegemon. George also took issue with Prestowitz calling the Chinese communist party a Leninist party implying oppressing its people and conning its way into the WTO. China played by the rules was overlooked.
I agree with George's views in the above book review, and I also agree with George's view on China's BRI Initiative. It happened that I had published my seventh book, “Calculated Rivalry between U.S. & China” in Spring 2021 (ISBN: 9798706380427), which touched many of the issues Prestowitz and Koo were discussing in their book review and replies. I was very much interested in George's opinion of my book, which should give him an in-depth meaning of organic views. Hence, I communicated with him and offered to send him a copy of my book to read. George's first immediate reply on May 14, 2021, was: “Your book arrived today, and I have begun to review the contents. First of all, my compliments to you. You certainly have put the coronavirus lock-down time to constructive use by assembling the book during the enforced stay-at-home. Secondly, I see that we are fellow travelers, while in our retirement, in our separate ways, trying to help the American public better understand China. Unfortunately, the prevailing anti-China feelings are so strong, we face an impossible challenge.” “While skimming your book, I did notice a typo that appeared in more than one place. The English name for Meng Wanzhou, 孟晚舟, is Sabrina Meng. You used some other first names that started with S.” “If you care to spend some time, could you elaborate on what you mean by "organic views." I understand what you mean by “mainstream” and its biases, but I would like to understand your full definition of organic views. Thank you for sending me your book. I will be in touch again as I read more of your book. Best, George”
George is a very rigorous political commentator and writer. We shared some common backgrounds in addition to our interests in international affairs. We were both born in the war capital, Chongqing in China, four years apart during the Sino-Japanese War, and went to Taiwan post World War II, then studied in the U.S. and settled there. He was trained as a chemical engineer, and I was an electrical engineer. He became interested in US-China relations after Nixon went to China. For more than three decades, George used his technical knowledge, bi-lingual language skills, and cultural background to forge the bridge between the American and Chinese industries. Another similarity we shared, perhaps, was that we both put more energy into analyzing and commenting on international affairs, especially on US-China relations, at the age of 70, an age for starting a second life, according to some philosophers. As noted above, George's most productive year was 2008, having written 49 essays. George is very organized in his writing career. His website containing all his 596 papers is a very valuable resource for all interested in US-China relations. Perhaps I was too eager to let the U.S. Congress Library manage my papers by hastily publishing one book each year. George wanted to make a difference, and he did it in his way. His work, career, and writings have inspired me and will motivate many other people as well, especially those communicating over the Internet blocs.
George, a graduate of MIT and SIT (Stevens), and a member of Committee 100, is survived by his wife May, sisters Helen and Linda, children Denise, Doug, and Alyssa, and seven grandsons. George had lived a fulfilled eighty-six years. We friends in his life, Internet or otherwise will remember him dearly.
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