The Global China Studies Lecture Series of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, together with the Department of Chinese and History, invited Professor KUO Tai-chun, Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, to deliver a lecture at CityU on 1 November 2016. The event attracted a large turnout.

The lecture was entitled “Chiang Kai-shek and the Second Sino-Japanese War Reappraised”. Professor Kuo explained that the Second Sino-Japanese War has long been interpreted by historians as a crucial turning point in 20th century Chinese history. However, partisan study, political calculations and fragmented historical records have distorted the war’s narrative. In 2004, many primary historical records were made publicly available at the Hoover Institution, such as Chiang Kai-shek’s diaries, Kuomintang party archives and the personal papers of some of the modern Chinese leaders (such as T. V. Soong, H. H. Kung, Huang Chen-chiu and Huang Chieh, etc.). Access to these resources immediately triggered a new wave in modern China studies. The documents not only cast light on China’s modern history but also revised that history to a significant extent.

In her lecture, Professor Kuo used these newly released documents, particularly Chiang Kai-shek’s personal diaries, to analyse Chiang’s strategic planning during the Second Sino-Japanese War, offering a new perspective on his role in the events of that period. Her talk attracted more than 130 attendees, including veterans, academics, and students from various universities.

Cover photo: Prof Jiang Yi-huah (first on the right) introduces Prof Kuo Tai-chun (second from the right) to the audience.

Photo 2: Prof Kuo (fifth from the left) after her talk, accompanied by members of the Global China Studies committee and guests.