In March 2004, the last time controversy over the Senkaku (Diaoyutai) islands surfaced, the US State Department affirmed that the United States Mutual Security Treaty with Japan covered the islands.
Story of a Cantonese tycoon over a century ago
BY :丝路云帆
Share this with Zhang Bishi, a name that may sound unfamiliar to many people today, was actually a remarkable tycoon in history. As one of the Hakka (migrants in southern China who originated from regions adjacent to the Yellow River) people from Guangdong, he had so many stunning achievements that two streets in today s Guangzhou are related to him.
In 1869, his fortune reached 80 million liang of silver 10 million more than the revenue of the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty and 50 million more than the assets of Hu Xueyan, another celebrated merchant from Jiangnan region (south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River). Zhang Bishi therefore stood without any rivals as the richest Chinese in his era.