https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3221506/chinas-jobless-youth-liken-themselves-kong-yiji-beijings-tone-deaf-response-not-helping

Last week, I attended the opening reception of the major exhibition – China’s Hidden Century – at the British Museum. I got the invitation because I helped them with the section on Qiu Jin, China’s first feminist and revolutionary. I am just finishing a historical novel inspired by Qiu Jin. In fact, I was quoted… Continue reading China exhibition

As G7 leaders gathered in Hiroshima, Jonathan Cohen of Conciliation Resources asks: when are is on the rise, why are these leaders not investing in peace? https://twitter.com/crbuildpeace/status/1659202239632920577

Dear Friends: I look forward to welcoming you to my party on the 20th. No gifts please, particularly no flowers. If you like, please consider making a donation to charity Engage With China. Please see below my note on my birthday fundraising. Absolutely no pressure. I hope you don’t mind my raising the issue. Many… Continue reading birthday fundraising

I am not a royalist. I think a monarchy is undemocratic and out of line with modern life. I am certainly not a fan of the British royal family, which has been mired in controversy (Prince Andrew, Harry and such). Will the King Charles III be an enlightened king? Hard to imagine. At this Coronation,… Continue reading Coronation

Worth A few days ago, I went to see play Worth at Arcola Theatre. It is a dark comedy about inheritance and sibling rivalry in a British Chinese family. The day before their mother’s funeral, four siblings get together in their family home, expecting to find inheritance. They only find 44 pounds. Along the way,… Continue reading Okay Worth

I had a story in the latest issue of Index Censorship magazine, a heartbreaking tale of a left-behind child. https://www.indexoncensorship.org/magazine-2/

Last night, I took part in a panel titled “Chinese and British”, discussing personal identity – being both Chinese and British, in conjunction with the exhibition of the same title at the British Library. The UK has the oldest Chinese community in Europe and there are plenty of Chinese (just under 1% of the total… Continue reading Chinese and British panel discussion

The Latest Podcast I hosted, interviewing Tania Branigan on her book Red Memory I co-host NoVoices, a global network of people who are interested in China and gender issues. In this episode, I interviewed Tania Branigan, who served as the Guardian’s China Correspondent for seven years. Now she writes foreign policy editorials for the Guardian.… Continue reading my interview with Tania Branigan on her book Red Memory

I claim to be on ‘workcation’ – on holiday abroad while working. Here’s one result. My oped on the lawyer who defends China’s supposed most notorious female serial killer Lao Rongzhi, a case that has fascinated China. Back in the 90s, Lao worked at a seedy bar where she lured rich men to her rented… Continue reading China’s supposed most notorious serial killer