Indian writer Pankaj Mishra is an amazingly talented writer ‘whose magic pen can produce flowers’, as the Chinese would say. Run and Hide is his second novel, after a 20-year break, and I loved it. With his poetic prose and his insight into the Indian society, it is a deeply satisfying novel about the new… Continue reading My Review of novel Run and Hide
The Coming War on China In 2016, award-winning journalist John Pilger made a documentary titled ‘The Coming War on China. I was one of the ‘talking heads’. In this documentary, Pilger, a rather radical film maker, explores how two military and economic superpowers, the United States and China, may be on the road to war.… Continue reading The Coming War on China
I am saddened to hear about the passing of Gorbachev, the reformist Soviet leader, and one of the towering figures of the 20th century. He helped to end the Cold War and had a significant role in the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Chinese media reported his death, describing him as ‘the tomb digger… Continue reading Gorbachev, Xi and China’s Current Situation
I’ve been interested in the question of dual citizenship for a while. I am glad to have an occasion to discuss it. https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3188535/reverse-its-brain-drain-china-should-be-more-flexible-dual
I am thrilled to have joined Lasswho, which connects fans with their heroes and other inspiring people for live video chats. Here’s my profile. https://lasswho.com/speakers/share/802
My Caucasus Adventure Finally, this will be my last dispatch from the Caucasus. I hesitated to use the world ‘adventure’, because it suggests something daring and even dangerous. But there’s nothing really dangerous about travelling in Georgia and Armenia. Sure, these are far-flung places, off the beaten tracks, and in close proximity to Russia. I… Continue reading My Caucasus adventure
Stalin’s Underground Printing Workshop In Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, there was an underground printing workshop. In those inter-connected underground tunnels, Stalin and his revolutionary colleagues printed revolutionary magazines and pamphlets, calling to overthrown the Tsar. I heard about this place from my friend Wei. He, in turned, had read about it in a Chinese… Continue reading Stalins underground printing workshop
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3184342/top-censorship-chinese-writers-now-have-contend-attacks-patriotic Here’s the link to my latest oped about the worrying trend of the so-called ‘patriotic trolls’ attacking writers. Patriotism has become a cheapened weapon in China. If you don’t like your opponent, you accuse them as ‘pro-west’ or even ‘hanjian’ – traitor! I worry about the literary scene in China.
Stalin’s Museum In his Hometown Funny that I should write a dispatch from Georgia one week after I have returned home. While travelling, I was too busy exploring and meeting all sorts of interesting people that I hardly had time to write any FB posts. But some of those experiences/stories are worth-telling. In any case,… Continue reading 7 July, 2022 20:14
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