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The article discusses the political and social atmosphere in China in 2012 in light of two newsworthy global incidents involving separate attempts by an allegedly corrupt Chinese police chief named Wang Lijun and blind activist Chen Guangcheng to garner support from the U.S. government and diplomatic agencies. Wang reported to the U.S. on the alleged involvement of Chinese politician Bo Xilai and his wife actress Gu Kailai in the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood. Guangcheng reportedly sought asylum in the U.S. because he was facing jail time for his defense of women in the Shandong province of China who were forced to receive abortions or sterilizations.

The article looks at professional basketball player Jeremy Lin, a point guard for the New York Knicks basketball team. Topics discussed include his contributions to the Knicks' five-game winning streak in early 2012, stereotypes against Asian basketball players and Asian athletes in general, and how he broke the record for points scored in his first five starts. Lin's experience playing basketball in high school and in college at Harvard University are noted. Also considered are the racial taunts Lin has faced while playing, Lin's Asian American fans, and his Evangelical Christianity.

The article presents brief commentary on assorted people and events in the news. Topics noted include a terrorist bombing in Nigeria that the radical group Boko Haram claimed credit for, the killing of Al Qaeda figure Atiyah Abdel Rahman by a missile fired from a U.S. drone aircraft, and violence against civilians in Syria committed by forces loyal to President Bashar Assad.