Since its founding in 1992, the Centre for Chinese Research (CCR) at SPPGA has been a key hub for Chinese studies at UBC. This academic year the Centre continued its mission to foster interdisciplinary understandings of China, Chinese culture, and Chineseness.
In October 2024, CCR hosted the Northwestern China Forum in collaboration with the University of Washington and the University of Oregon. This three-day event featured a diverse array of panels and discussions, covering topics from both humanities and social science perspectives. The forum greatly promoted interdisciplinary dialogue and inspired scholars, students, and members of the public alike. In addition to the main panels, we organized several graduate student forums, which provided vital intellectual spaces for exchanging ideas, developing academic skills, and building professional networks among emerging scholars.
To celebrate the successful union of scholars and intellectuals, we were honored to host Director Zhang Weimin for a screening of his fascinating documentary, Of Colour and Ink: Chang Dai-chien After 1949. This open to all public event provided a unique cultural experience. The documentary captured the extraordinary and eventful life of Chang Dai-chien, showcasing how his personal journey intertwined with the broader historical transformations of the 20th century. During the Forum, we had the honor of hearing from Professor Yunxiang Yan, a renowned anthropologist from the University of California, Los Angeles, who delivered the keynote speech. Professor Yan shared his recent reflections on the phenomenon of extended youthhood among China’s Generation Z (born between 1995 and 2010). His research illuminated the complexities of this vibrant young generation, highlighting how their enriched yet often inward-facing subjectivities interact with broader societal shifts.
In January 2025, CCR had the opportunity to host Professor Joseph W. Esherick, an eminent historian of modern China from the University of California, San Diego, for a special lecture on Yan’an, the celebrated “holy land” of China’s revolutionary history. Professor Esherick discussed the contingency and necessity behind the formation of Yan’an as the Red Army’s central revolutionary base, challenging linear narratives of historical inevitability.
Screening for "Of Colour and Ink: Chang Dai-chien After 1949", October 2024
Dr. Joseph W. Esherick at the talk on "Rethinking Yan'an", January 2025
Dr. Alex Yu-Ting Lin at his talk on "Creating Status Loss", March 2025
CCR Community at Dr. Lin's talk on "Creating Status Loss", March 2025
In January 2025, CCR held a workshop on Guanxi and Politics in China, convened by Qiang Fu (IAR; Sociology), Timothy Cheek (SPPGA; History), Shoufu Yin (History), and Xiaojun Liu (Political Science). We invited scholars and students to exchange ideas on the meaning and measurement of political ideologies in China. Professor Yang-chih Fu from Academia Sinica in Taiwan, Professor Zhongping Chen, and Professor Min Zhou from the University of Victoria also shared their research on networks and ideological formations in contemporary China.
In March 2025, CCR held a talk to welcome Dr. Alex Yu-Ting Lin to the SPPGA faculty and to give SPPGA students an opportunity to get to know their new professor in advance. Dr. Lin shared with us his recent research on China’s information campaigns over the U.S. He conducted a survey experiment in Canada to see if respondents were affected by China’s propaganda on US failure in the Middle East. His research inspired us to think about the status of two great powers in the international relations through delegitimation strategies. After the talk, Dr. Lin met with SPPGA students to discuss about their expectations and interests about his future courses and their learnings.
The Centre for Chinese Research will continue its commitment to communication, knowledge sharing, and collaborative growth in the study of China, Chinese culture, and Chineseness. We will support a wide range of activities, including events, lectures, conferences, student collaborations, and research grants at UBC. We also actively welcome interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration with scholars, policymakers, and communities both in Canada and across Asia, embracing new opportunities for exploration, exchange, and academic innovation in the future.
