“How China’s History Shapes, and Warps, its Policies Today,” Foreign Policy
A ChinaFile Conversation which asks how does China's imperial past affect its present-day foreign policy. [Read More...]
The Qianlong Emperor
“Cut Off: The Final Days of General Ming Rui,” The World of Chinese
The sad tale of General Ming Rui, who fought and died in a forgotten war between China and Myanmar [Read More...]
“Beijing Emperor and Qing Dynasty Scammer Faces Prison Time in Shenzhen,” The Beijinger
It is a twist on an old scam: A gullible patsy loses a small fortune helping a former monarch recover his royal funds. But what happens when the deposed ruler claims to be the Beijing born and raised Qianlong Emperor who last ruled China in the 18th century? [Read More...]
“Send Lawyers, Guns, and Money: Part III”
The HMS Nemesis was 56 meters long and 29 meters wide. She sailed for the China coast in 1839 carrying two guns that fired 32-pound rounds and four that fired six-pound rounds, plus a launcher for rockets and torpedoes. She could operate by either sail or steam, and her shallow draft meant that she could move as effectively on inland rivers as she could in open ocean. Her hull was protected by iron and designed with watertight compartments to keep the ship afloat even if the outer hull was breached. She was a devastating weapon of war. [Read More...]