Understanding China Through the Lens of a British Historian

SACU President Michael Wood OBE was interviewed for China Today by staff reporter ZHOU LIN. “Unless you understand China, you won’t understand what are truly common values in human society on Earth, or what are just Western idiosyncrasies.” – Michael Wood quoted Simon Leys in his interview with China today. Michael Wood is no stranger to Chinese TV audiences or readers. A famous British historian, broadcaster, and author, he has presented lots of well-known television documentary series from the late 1970s to the present day. His China-themed works – The Story of China, The Story of China’s Reform and Opening-up, and Du Fu: China’s […]

Some Observations on Differences between East and West, by Walter Fung

There are differences between East and West as discussed below but we have a lot in common with the East as a basis for friendship and understanding as the photographs below show. I bought a copy of the book East Side Voices edited by Helena Lee. It presents a wide spectrum of experiences and views from a variety of East and Southeast Asian individuals living in Britain. I have only ‘dipped’ into it so far, but can see some parallels with my own experience, although as a senior British Born Chinese, I am at least a generation removed from most, […]

The Chinese Conundrum: Engagement or Conflict – Book Talk with the Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable

SACU welcomed the Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable for a discussion on his new book, The Chinese Conundrum: Engagement or Conflict. Fred Hobby (SACU) Fred is currently a Global Affairs MSc student at King’s College London specialising in Chinese and Middle Eastern Politics. He graduated at the University of Manchester in History and Politics, whilst focusing on Chinese history.  How does the West wish to view China in the next 50 years? Ten years ago, it was seen as a land of opportunity, sadly times have changed. In Europe, the importance of a working economic relationship with China is often […]

China and the Ukraine Crisis: SACU Panel Discussion

SACU brought together a panel of expert speakers on Wednesday 25 May 2022 to discuss China’s response and position on the Ukraine Crisis.  This free Zoom event was recorded and is available on SACU’s YouTube Channel here SACU ChinaChat, Thursday 9 June SACU held a follow up members-only discussion meeting. SACU ChinaChats enable members to discuss and develop their own understanding of  issues. The meetings are not recorded and are for SACU members only. Panel Victor Gao is Vice President of CCG (Centre for China and Globalisation), the Chair Professor of Soochow University, and the Chairman of China Energy Security Institute. He […]

Afghanistan – Earthquake on the Edge of Empires, by Andrew Hicks

President Joe Biden has described the American evacuation from Kabul as, ‘one of the most difficult airlifts in history’. Since July 2021, 18,000 evacuees were flown out and since the military airlift began on 14 August a further 13,000. Presumably he is making comparison with airlifts of people, though the Berlin airlift and the American supply of Nationalist China over the Himalayas from Assam during WWII, both of cargoes not people, were in fact far more challenging. As for the unfortunately named Operation Frequent Wind when the US evacuated Saigon in 1973, 50,000 evacuees were flown out of the frequently […]

The Communist Party of China Celebrated 100 Years in July 2021, by Walter Fung

This article was first published in China Eye, Issue (71) Autumn 2021. The CPC has been in governance for 72 years since the founding of the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. In that time 97% literacy has been achieved (about 30% in 1949), longevity has more than doubled to 77 years and about 850 million people have been pulled out of poverty. The standard of living of the entire population has improved immeasurably and about 400 million are now middle class, believed to be buying 47% of the luxury goods of the world. Many new cities have been […]

Gansu and SACU meeting, Friday 27 August 2021

Gansu Provincial Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and SACU held a video conference, Friday 27 August 2021   Adapted from the report by the Gansu Sister City Affairs Office    On the afternoon of August 27, the Gansu Provincial Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries organized a video conference with the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding to further promote George Hogg’s internationalist spirit, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding, and promote the development of sister city relations between Shandan County and George Hogg’s hometown of Harpenden.   Zoë Reed [Sun Ruyi], Chair of the Society for […]

SACU member Michael Crook in Beijing in conversation with SACU Vice President Dr Frances Wood, Saturday 26 June 2021

Michael Crook was in conversation with SACU Vice President Dr Frances Wood, telling the fascinating story of the Crook family in China and their connections with many SACU friends. This event was open to everyone and followed the SACU-Peking University Essay/Art Competition 2020-2021 Awards Ceremony held online for students from both the UK and China. SACU member Michael Crook, British / Canadian, was born in Beijing in 1951 of British and Canadian parents who met in China. His Canadian mother Isabel was born in Chengdu in 1915 of missionary parents. His British father David came to China in 1938 as a communist. After they […]

Living and teaching in Beijing in the 1970s: by Michael Sheringham

Living and teaching in Beijing in the 1970s  Michael Sheringham  Michael is a regular contributor to China Eye. He was an early member of SACU. This article was first published in China Eye, Issue (51) Autumn 2016. It is the second of Michael’s personal memories of the early days of SACU, (see China Eye, Issue 50), and of his time in the Peoples Republic of China.  I was excited and privileged to be invited to teach at Peking University (Beijing Daxue – Beida) in 1972 after years of anticipation while I continued with my Chinese studies in London. It all comes […]

Standing Up to Sinophobia – From Fu Manchu to Bat Soup!

SACU is alarmed by the increase in hate crime against people of Chinese heritage here in the UK and therefore invited an expert panel on Tuesday 6th April 2021 to look at the distinctive nature of Sinophobia and how we might tackle it: Dr Jenny Clegg, SACU Vice-President, opened the event with a presentation on Fu Manchu. Our distinguished panel included: Dr Diana Yeh Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Culture and the Creative Industries and Associate Dean (EDI), School of Arts and Social Sciences, City, University of London Anna Chen Chinese British writer, Poet and Broadcaster who blogs as Madam Miaow @MadamMiaow Yeow […]