The Statue of Liberty is lit up ahead of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of US independence, as seen from Bayonne, New Jersey, US, July 1, 2026. [Photo/Agencies]
When Richard Woo first arrived in the United States from Taiwan, China, as an international student nearly five decades ago, he remembers a United States that embodied opportunity, optimism and affordability.
"The economy was much stronger and the cost of living was much lower," said Woo, a former technology executive who has lived in Southern California for about 50 years. "Today, political polarization and social divisions have, in my view, weakened many of America's traditional values and institutions."
As the US prepares celebrations on Saturday to mark 250 years since declaring independence, Woo believes the country has reached another pivotal moment in its history.
"America's traditional values are facing significant challenges," Woo told China Daily.
