What does the world look like as reported on the pages of California's growing ethnic newspapers? PNS monitors the Chinese-, Spanish-, Vietnamese-, Japanese-, Korean-, Arabic-language news media as well as English-language newcomer and native-born ethnic press published and/or distributed widely in California. "Gleanings from the Ethnic Media" is a regular weekly column compiled by Emil Guillermo, host of "NCM: New California Media TV" (seen on PBS station KCSM-TV60 in the Bay Area); assisted by Pacific News Service and the NCM Network. Just as the alternative news media connected the disaffected populations in the 1960s, so in the 1990s the ethnic media connects the new ethnic majority communities of California -- to one another and to the larger public forum.

BAD LEAK OR CHINA BASH?: Chinese language papers responded forcefully to accusations that a Chinese spy stole U.S. military secrets. The Chinese Times (San Francisco) criticized Congressional reaction, "This new round of China bashing serves no purpose. It's no different from the China campaign financing scandal."

In this case, the paper noted, "security" is being used as a way of destroying China's image, but "just as there is no way ants can bring down a tree, so China-bashing is small-time stuff that's going nowhere."

The World Journal (San Francisco) editorialized. "In the past there were spy cases involving France and Israel but the mainstream press treated them lightly. . . A well known Chinese scientist said in a press conference that while working for the Energy Department he avoided secret projects because as a Chinese he feared getting into trouble."

The paper concludes: "This whole thing shows how powerless the Chinese-Americans are in this country. How many more lessons must we be taught before we Chinese-Americans can mount a protest movement and call for reforms?"

ASIA'S U.S. ADDICTION: Asian nations are getting very dependent on exports to America, reports the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Tokyo). The current financial crisis has brought slumping demand on domestic markets -- for example, exports to the U.S. last year accounted for 22.3 percent of total Thai exports, the highest in 6 years. Until recently Asian nations exported more to other countries in the region than to the U.S., but recession has brought a growing reliance on the West.

OIL, MODERATION AND THE POPE: Iranian president Muhammad Khatemi's triumphant visit to the Pope marked Iran's entry into the international community, reports As-Sharq al-Ausat (London). It came only a week after the moderates' victory in Iran's municipal elections -- and after a key OPEC meeting where all members agreed to cut production and thereby raise oil prices.

PHO FOR THE VATICAN?: A Vietnamese archbishop, Bartholomew Nguyen Song Lam, said he is optimistic regarding diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Vatican, reports Viet Nam Daily (San Jose). A delegation sent from the Vatican has just finished a five day discussion with Vietnam to pave the way for a visit from Pope John Paul II.

KRISHNA MISREPRESENTED?: Some 150 people representing 70 Hindu organizations protested the television show, "Xena: Warrior Princess," for portraying the god Krishna as a fictional character, reports India West (San Leandro, Ca.). The demonstrators, gathered in front of Universal Studios in North Hollywood, demanded an apology. "This smacks of both racism and religious discrimination," said Tusta Krishnadas of the World Vaishnava Association. The show's publicists' say "all references to the Hindu religion were treated with the greatest respect."

INSURING HEALTHY HISPANICS: Officials of the National Hispanic Medical Association are teaming up with the White House in a new program aimed at insuring nearly 11 million children who lack health insurance, an estimated 25 percent of them Hispanic, reports La Prensa (San Diego).

"One out of three Hispanics in this country have no health insurance and that figure is even higher for Hispanic children," said Dr. Elena Rios, association president. The new program is aimed at Hispanic medical personnel and their communities.

A KINDER, GENTLER INS?: The Immigration and Naturalization Service may be changing. A recently published set of policies appears to be stating "it is better to go after the causes that bring illegal aliens to the United States rather than to go after the illegal aliens themselves," writes La Prensa (San Diego).

The paper goes on, "Is it possible that what the activists have been saying since the 1960s -- that 'the illegal alien problem' was a labor problem and not a police problem, has finally resonated?

"The time has come to... turn over the function of controlling the ingress and outflow of temporary laborers to the State and Labor departments and remove that function from the Justice Department that by nature carries out a police function."

'A'SIAN CONFUSION: The Korea Times (San Francisco) reports on an ad by the Oakland "A"s baseball team featuring Chan Ho Park, a Korean player for the Dodgers, but identifying him as a Japanese man standing next to a Japanese flag. The "A"s also displayed a Korean flag next to another Korean player, but with the symbols misplaced.