At a personal level, I can easily imagine Joyce Lau being a friend, and perhaps that may end up being one day. As some of you know, she reads this blog. Her latest article in the New York Times about the recent curriculum protest in Hong Kong over "patriotic" education is tantamount to pushing a British propaganda line. It's misguided. Her article said nothing about the … [Read more...] about Curriculum protest in Hong Kong a sign some still prefer wearing dirty British laundary
Analysis
The Tragicomedy of Errors: China, British Imperialism, and the Opium Wars
Julia Lovell, in her new book The Opium War: Drugs, Dreams and the Making of China, finds something funny in the tragedy Great Britain has many reasons to feel great about itself. Its empire was the largest in history and covered over a fifth of the world's population. It had more Asian and African colonies than any other European power. It came, it saw, it divided, and it … [Read more...] about The Tragicomedy of Errors: China, British Imperialism, and the Opium Wars
My Reflections on Shanghai
I have now spent a week in Shanghai roaming around and mingling with friends, relatives, and locals. Lately, I have asked myself what were the most revealing this past week. Looking at Luzhiazui’s seemingly endless number of artfully designed skyscrapers and noticing a sea of stylishly dressed Chinese pouring through Shanghai’s modern subway system, I can honestly say … [Read more...] about My Reflections on Shanghai
To the Victorian British Empire, Hong Kong was a ‘notch’
Every June 4th, the British press tries to indoctrinate the view that Hong Kong was a grand and benevolent design in "freedom and democracy" under threat from Mainland China. There was never such a design. As perspectivehere points out for us in the book, "Collaborative Colonial Power: The Making of the Hong Kong Chinese," by Law Wing Sang, who teaches at Lingnan University … [Read more...] about To the Victorian British Empire, Hong Kong was a ‘notch’
Fine line between journalism and activism
Yesterday I tweeted this Global Times article, "Do not foment youngsters to protest," and to my surprise, I got a retweet response from Tom Lasseter, who is currently Beijing Bureau Chief for McClatchy Newspapers. Now, I can understand it is human nature to agree or disagree with truths. But, the central tenet to freedom of the press is to make sure there is balance in … [Read more...] about Fine line between journalism and activism