What’s the origin of the conflict between the 14th Dalai Lama and China? What is the history of the relationships between Tibet and the Mongols…
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Tag: Asian Politics
When The Red Gates Opened – Part 1
Unless you are Arundhati Roy, whose memoir on her relationship with her difficult but distinguished mom, ‘Mother Mary Comes to Me’ (published 2025), was reviewed…
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From Mao to Modernity
On 2 Sep 1945, Japan formally surrendered. China designated 3 Sep 1945 as “Victory Day” to commemorate its victory over Japan. This year, on 3…
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A Father’s Journey that Influenced a Nation
The Life of Xi Zhong Xun by Joseph Torigian (2025) is a very interesting biography of one of the key lieutenants of Mao. He also…
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Yellow and two recent books on China
These 2 recent books were bought by me to understand how far China has progressed since 1949. China Resurrected (2025) is a political history from…
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The Chinese Civil War 1946-1950—Part 1
Decisive Encounters by Odd Arne Westad, published in 2003, is the only English book on the entire span of the Chinese Civil War, from post-WWII…
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Tianjin Cosmopolis – Part 1
The Siege of Tianjin was part of a wider assault on foreigners in northern China, including the more famous Siege of the Legations in Peking…
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China and Japan – Part 1
Emperor Hirohito’s surrender speech, delivered on August 15, 1945, over the radio, was in classical Japanese that was heavily influenced by classical Chinese, especially in…
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China under Mao – Part 2
Was Mao essential to the CCP’s victory over Chiang Kai-shek? The Long March was not a glorious trek to avoid encirclement by CKS as presented…
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The Leader Who Divided History
What did Mao do to deserve his reputation to be remembered as a top leader of China? From the time the CCP defeated Chiang Kai-shek…
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