Jasper Roctus is a doctoral researcher at the Department of Languages and Cultures (Sinology) at Ghent University in Belgium. The name of his main research project is: "Narrating Sun Yat-sen: Explaining The People’s Republic of China and Republic of China’s (Taiwan) Developments Concerning Leninism, Christianity, and Democracy."
Jasper is also interested in modern geopolitics, especially Sino-EU relations. Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Bart Dessein
Cross-Strait Relations are often defined by questions like “why does China want Taiwan?” or “(Whe... more Cross-Strait Relations are often defined by questions like “why does China want Taiwan?” or “(When) Will China be able to get Taiwan?” In this lecture, however, a concise clarification of cross-Strait Relations “under a Taiwanese light” will be provided through a narrative of the island’s history, which will be connected to the enduring present-day issues.
This policy brief discusses the prospects for EU-China relations in the wake of the June 2024 Eur... more This policy brief discusses the prospects for EU-China relations in the wake of the June 2024 European Elections.
Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), the first provisional President of the Republic of China in 1912, spent ... more Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), the first provisional President of the Republic of China in 1912, spent most of his formative years in what Marie-Claire Bergère called ”coastal Blue China” – a dichotomic concept she put in opposition to ”continental Yellow China.” Bergère’s Blue China consisted of the treaty ports in (mainland) China where Western forces enjoyed considerable privileges after the advent of the unequal treaties, as well as overseas areas with Chinese communities under Western control/influence. Around the turn of the twentieth century, the increasingly Modernist teachings of Protestant missionaries in Blue China aligned wellwith the revolutionary aims of Sun and his followers, allowing for a ”window of opportunity” for considerable mutual cooperation to take place. This chapter expands upon Bergère’s concept of Blue China by linking Sun and his revolutionary movement to the influence of Protestant modernism in Blue China – this in contradistinction to an often generalized ”Western learning” or ”Christianity” in (all of) ”China.” The sequential focus is on the first part of the aforementioned ”temporal window,” when the goals of the Chinese revolutionaries prominently aligned with those of the Protestant missionaries (i.e., from just before the turn of the twentieth century until Sun’s short tenure in office in 1912). To emphasize that Protestant modernism – specifically – has been understated as a formative influence on the Republic of China, this work provides a ”zoomed-in” case study of the religion’s influence on Sun in inspiring him to change China. This is done through an overview of his educational background and occasional replication of his religious credo.
This article discusses China's economic woes and asks the question "who is standing in the shadow... more This article discusses China's economic woes and asks the question "who is standing in the shadow of whom?" concerning its domestic issues and (re)engagement abroad. The authors argue that reviving EU-China relations remains a possibility, but geoeconomic dynamics and the conviction that diversification of dependencies is necessary have become part of the game.
Confusion reigns not only in Europe toward Taiwan, but also in Taiwan toward Europe. Especially t... more Confusion reigns not only in Europe toward Taiwan, but also in Taiwan toward Europe. Especially the cross-Strait position of the EU, which does not recognize Taiwan due to ‘its “one China” policy’ but has over the last two decades increased the scope of engagement with Taiwan, is little understood. As exchanges between Brussels and Taipei intensify, there is an increasing urgency to consolidate the EU’s position on Taiwan. Taking political developments over the last several decades into account, this article argues that no zero-sum choice between Beijing and Taipei should have to be made. Explicit clarification of the EU's previously rather implicit position to de jure uphold ‘one China,’ while gradually normalizing the de facto existence of Taiwan on the world stage is entirely in line with the Union’s foreign policy guideline of ‘principled pragmatism. Consolidating the cross-Strait status quo while gradually normalizing warranted Taiwanese engagement abroad should be concretized as Brussels’ Taiwan policy.
This policy brief discusses ongoing debates on China policy within the EU and elaborates the pote... more This policy brief discusses ongoing debates on China policy within the EU and elaborates the potential remonstrative power of Chinese officials over economic policy.
The chief political philosophy of Sun Yat-sen 孫逸仙 (1866-1925), the famed San Min doctrine (三民主義, ... more The chief political philosophy of Sun Yat-sen 孫逸仙 (1866-1925), the famed San Min doctrine (三民主義, lit. the Three Principles of the People), has over the years been subject to ample academic speculation on its true connotations. Sun's views on the question of labour, communism, Marxism, Leninism, etc., disseminated through the minsheng (民生) constituent of his ideology, is particularly notorious for its ambiguity. Strikingly, even the term "minsheng" per se has been translated and interpreted in many ways, sometimes as "socialism, " other times as a much more Confucian-imbued "people's livelihood. "Three periods deemed crucial in de development of Sun's minsheng doctrine are singled out in this article for further investigation: 1905, the year Sun Yatsen initially elaborated on the San Min doctrine (incl. minsheng); 1921, the year Sun published his The International Development of China (Shiye jihua 實業計畫) after two years of isolated self-reflection in Shanghai; and 1924, when Sun systemized his ideas to some extent during the First United Front (di yi ci Guo Gong hezuo 第一次国共合作, 1923-1927) between his KMT and the CPC under Soviet auspices. Special attention will be given to the last period, where Sun's ideas vis-à-vis Marxism allegedly underwent a noteworthy transformation during the summer of 1924. The argument will be made that an ideological evolution in Sun's discourse is indeed present during this summer, but not at all unanticipated when one takes Sun's citations of 1905 and 1921 in mind and considers his inspirators.
The 20th National CCP Congress of October 2022 suggested that ideology had prevailed over economy... more The 20th National CCP Congress of October 2022 suggested that ideology had prevailed over economy – a development that can be traced back to the 18th National Party Congress of 2012 when Hu Jintao (Youth League) was replaced by Xi Jinping (Princelings) as General Secretary of the CCP. The abrupt change in the PRC’s Covid policy in early December 2022 after considerable civil unrest can, however, at once be interpreted as a setback for the ideological line of Xi Jinping, and a prominent return of economic realism within Chinese leadership.
After achieving a resounding victory in the local elections of November 2022 over the Democratic ... more After achieving a resounding victory in the local elections of November 2022 over the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of incumbent Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) started its preparations for Taiwan’s general (legislative and presidential) elections scheduled for January 2024 in earnest. Chances that the KMT's eventual nominee will be a traditional “true Blue” (zheng lan) stalwart who will enjoy the full approval of the party’s conservative leadership seem slim, however.
A devastating fire in Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang autonomous region in the People’s ... more A devastating fire in Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang autonomous region in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on 24 November 2022, caused the first large-scale nation-wide protests since the 1989 Democracy Movement. Demonstrators, many of whom were convinced that the deaths and injuries could have been entirely prevented had there not been a lockdown in Urumqi, took to the streets in almost all major Chinese cities. Before the end of the weekend of 26-27 November, the events were branded as the “White Paper Revolution” (bai zhi geming) – a reference to the blank white sheet of paper that many protesters brought with them to state their dissatisfaction with the constrained possibilities to express their frustration over the strict zero-Covid measures.
De perceptie van een machtsevenwicht in de wereld dat stilaan naar Azië lijkt te verschuiven ener... more De perceptie van een machtsevenwicht in de wereld dat stilaan naar Azië lijkt te verschuiven enerzijds, en het besef dat actuele problemen zoals de klimaatwijziging en de covidpandemie een internationale aanpak vereisen anderzijds, confronteren de Europese beleidsmakers met de vraag hoe de Europese Unie (EU) zich in die wijzigende verhoudingen in de wereld moet opstellen.
Dat vooral China daarbij een bepalende factor is door haar niet te ontkennen economische opgang en groeiende geopolitieke invloed blijkt onder meer uit het in 2019 gepubliceerde Europese beleidsdocument EU-China - 'Een strategische visie'. In dat document stelt de Hoge Vertegenwoordiger van de Unie voor Buitenlandse Zaken en Veiligheidsbeleid: ‘China is tegelijkertijd op verschillende beleidsterreinen een partner met wie de EU samenwerkt en veel doelstellingen deelt en met wie de EU onderhandelt om een belangenevenwicht tot stand te brengen.
The 2,340 odd teacups have been rearranged in their cupboards, and sobriety has returned to the G... more The 2,340 odd teacups have been rearranged in their cupboards, and sobriety has returned to the Great Hall of the People. What is the national and international impact of the 20th CCP Congress that was concluded on Saturday, 22 October 2022? Stability is the key word.
Up until the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s and China’s worsening relations with the Europ... more Up until the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s and China’s worsening relations with the European Union and the United States meant that the world order was at risk of falling apart into two rival blocs, as during the Cold War: Europeans and Americans against Russians and Chinese. Since 24 February 2022, that is not so clear anymore. The more Russia escalates the violence in Ukraine, but also the strategic anxiety (by putting its nuclear forces on alert), the more difficult it becomes for other powers to stay completely aloof, let alone to simply align with Russia. The more EU and US sanctions reverberate throughout the global economy, the more it becomes impossible for other powers to avoid going at least partially along. China in particular has in fact already made a defining choice.
China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been subject to ample scrutiny since its... more China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been subject to ample scrutiny since its inception in 2013. Practical results could be said to be severely lacking in contrast to the project’s ambitious plans. Chinese engagement abroad has irrefutably intensified since Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012, but whether this can be classified as the fruits of BRI remains unclear. China, in fact, is developing BRI on the go. That gives the EU an opportunity to engage with BRI and remold it into a more desirable form. Because China increasingly sees Europe as BRI’s “final destination”, the EU has a lot more leverage than it commonly assumes.
The article discusses the prospects of Taiwan's upcoming 2024 general elections after last month'... more The article discusses the prospects of Taiwan's upcoming 2024 general elections after last month's puzzling momentary cooperation agreement between Ko Wen-je and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
After its victory in the 2022 local elections over the pan-Green coalition led by the Democratic ... more After its victory in the 2022 local elections over the pan-Green coalition led by the Democratic Progressive Party (民主進步黨, DPP) of incumbent Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, the Chinese Nationalist Party (中國國民黨, KMT), which heads the opposition pan-Blue coalition, started its preparations for Taiwan’s general (legislative and presidential) elections scheduled for January 2024. However, as of early May, while the DPP has already selected William Lai as its presidential contender, the KMT is much less unified.
Cross-Strait Relations are often defined by questions like “why does China want Taiwan?” or “(Whe... more Cross-Strait Relations are often defined by questions like “why does China want Taiwan?” or “(When) Will China be able to get Taiwan?” In this lecture, however, a concise clarification of cross-Strait Relations “under a Taiwanese light” will be provided through a narrative of the island’s history, which will be connected to the enduring present-day issues.
This policy brief discusses the prospects for EU-China relations in the wake of the June 2024 Eur... more This policy brief discusses the prospects for EU-China relations in the wake of the June 2024 European Elections.
Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), the first provisional President of the Republic of China in 1912, spent ... more Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), the first provisional President of the Republic of China in 1912, spent most of his formative years in what Marie-Claire Bergère called ”coastal Blue China” – a dichotomic concept she put in opposition to ”continental Yellow China.” Bergère’s Blue China consisted of the treaty ports in (mainland) China where Western forces enjoyed considerable privileges after the advent of the unequal treaties, as well as overseas areas with Chinese communities under Western control/influence. Around the turn of the twentieth century, the increasingly Modernist teachings of Protestant missionaries in Blue China aligned wellwith the revolutionary aims of Sun and his followers, allowing for a ”window of opportunity” for considerable mutual cooperation to take place. This chapter expands upon Bergère’s concept of Blue China by linking Sun and his revolutionary movement to the influence of Protestant modernism in Blue China – this in contradistinction to an often generalized ”Western learning” or ”Christianity” in (all of) ”China.” The sequential focus is on the first part of the aforementioned ”temporal window,” when the goals of the Chinese revolutionaries prominently aligned with those of the Protestant missionaries (i.e., from just before the turn of the twentieth century until Sun’s short tenure in office in 1912). To emphasize that Protestant modernism – specifically – has been understated as a formative influence on the Republic of China, this work provides a ”zoomed-in” case study of the religion’s influence on Sun in inspiring him to change China. This is done through an overview of his educational background and occasional replication of his religious credo.
This article discusses China's economic woes and asks the question "who is standing in the shadow... more This article discusses China's economic woes and asks the question "who is standing in the shadow of whom?" concerning its domestic issues and (re)engagement abroad. The authors argue that reviving EU-China relations remains a possibility, but geoeconomic dynamics and the conviction that diversification of dependencies is necessary have become part of the game.
Confusion reigns not only in Europe toward Taiwan, but also in Taiwan toward Europe. Especially t... more Confusion reigns not only in Europe toward Taiwan, but also in Taiwan toward Europe. Especially the cross-Strait position of the EU, which does not recognize Taiwan due to ‘its “one China” policy’ but has over the last two decades increased the scope of engagement with Taiwan, is little understood. As exchanges between Brussels and Taipei intensify, there is an increasing urgency to consolidate the EU’s position on Taiwan. Taking political developments over the last several decades into account, this article argues that no zero-sum choice between Beijing and Taipei should have to be made. Explicit clarification of the EU's previously rather implicit position to de jure uphold ‘one China,’ while gradually normalizing the de facto existence of Taiwan on the world stage is entirely in line with the Union’s foreign policy guideline of ‘principled pragmatism. Consolidating the cross-Strait status quo while gradually normalizing warranted Taiwanese engagement abroad should be concretized as Brussels’ Taiwan policy.
This policy brief discusses ongoing debates on China policy within the EU and elaborates the pote... more This policy brief discusses ongoing debates on China policy within the EU and elaborates the potential remonstrative power of Chinese officials over economic policy.
The chief political philosophy of Sun Yat-sen 孫逸仙 (1866-1925), the famed San Min doctrine (三民主義, ... more The chief political philosophy of Sun Yat-sen 孫逸仙 (1866-1925), the famed San Min doctrine (三民主義, lit. the Three Principles of the People), has over the years been subject to ample academic speculation on its true connotations. Sun's views on the question of labour, communism, Marxism, Leninism, etc., disseminated through the minsheng (民生) constituent of his ideology, is particularly notorious for its ambiguity. Strikingly, even the term "minsheng" per se has been translated and interpreted in many ways, sometimes as "socialism, " other times as a much more Confucian-imbued "people's livelihood. "Three periods deemed crucial in de development of Sun's minsheng doctrine are singled out in this article for further investigation: 1905, the year Sun Yatsen initially elaborated on the San Min doctrine (incl. minsheng); 1921, the year Sun published his The International Development of China (Shiye jihua 實業計畫) after two years of isolated self-reflection in Shanghai; and 1924, when Sun systemized his ideas to some extent during the First United Front (di yi ci Guo Gong hezuo 第一次国共合作, 1923-1927) between his KMT and the CPC under Soviet auspices. Special attention will be given to the last period, where Sun's ideas vis-à-vis Marxism allegedly underwent a noteworthy transformation during the summer of 1924. The argument will be made that an ideological evolution in Sun's discourse is indeed present during this summer, but not at all unanticipated when one takes Sun's citations of 1905 and 1921 in mind and considers his inspirators.
The 20th National CCP Congress of October 2022 suggested that ideology had prevailed over economy... more The 20th National CCP Congress of October 2022 suggested that ideology had prevailed over economy – a development that can be traced back to the 18th National Party Congress of 2012 when Hu Jintao (Youth League) was replaced by Xi Jinping (Princelings) as General Secretary of the CCP. The abrupt change in the PRC’s Covid policy in early December 2022 after considerable civil unrest can, however, at once be interpreted as a setback for the ideological line of Xi Jinping, and a prominent return of economic realism within Chinese leadership.
After achieving a resounding victory in the local elections of November 2022 over the Democratic ... more After achieving a resounding victory in the local elections of November 2022 over the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of incumbent Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) started its preparations for Taiwan’s general (legislative and presidential) elections scheduled for January 2024 in earnest. Chances that the KMT's eventual nominee will be a traditional “true Blue” (zheng lan) stalwart who will enjoy the full approval of the party’s conservative leadership seem slim, however.
A devastating fire in Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang autonomous region in the People’s ... more A devastating fire in Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang autonomous region in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on 24 November 2022, caused the first large-scale nation-wide protests since the 1989 Democracy Movement. Demonstrators, many of whom were convinced that the deaths and injuries could have been entirely prevented had there not been a lockdown in Urumqi, took to the streets in almost all major Chinese cities. Before the end of the weekend of 26-27 November, the events were branded as the “White Paper Revolution” (bai zhi geming) – a reference to the blank white sheet of paper that many protesters brought with them to state their dissatisfaction with the constrained possibilities to express their frustration over the strict zero-Covid measures.
De perceptie van een machtsevenwicht in de wereld dat stilaan naar Azië lijkt te verschuiven ener... more De perceptie van een machtsevenwicht in de wereld dat stilaan naar Azië lijkt te verschuiven enerzijds, en het besef dat actuele problemen zoals de klimaatwijziging en de covidpandemie een internationale aanpak vereisen anderzijds, confronteren de Europese beleidsmakers met de vraag hoe de Europese Unie (EU) zich in die wijzigende verhoudingen in de wereld moet opstellen.
Dat vooral China daarbij een bepalende factor is door haar niet te ontkennen economische opgang en groeiende geopolitieke invloed blijkt onder meer uit het in 2019 gepubliceerde Europese beleidsdocument EU-China - 'Een strategische visie'. In dat document stelt de Hoge Vertegenwoordiger van de Unie voor Buitenlandse Zaken en Veiligheidsbeleid: ‘China is tegelijkertijd op verschillende beleidsterreinen een partner met wie de EU samenwerkt en veel doelstellingen deelt en met wie de EU onderhandelt om een belangenevenwicht tot stand te brengen.
The 2,340 odd teacups have been rearranged in their cupboards, and sobriety has returned to the G... more The 2,340 odd teacups have been rearranged in their cupboards, and sobriety has returned to the Great Hall of the People. What is the national and international impact of the 20th CCP Congress that was concluded on Saturday, 22 October 2022? Stability is the key word.
Up until the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s and China’s worsening relations with the Europ... more Up until the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s and China’s worsening relations with the European Union and the United States meant that the world order was at risk of falling apart into two rival blocs, as during the Cold War: Europeans and Americans against Russians and Chinese. Since 24 February 2022, that is not so clear anymore. The more Russia escalates the violence in Ukraine, but also the strategic anxiety (by putting its nuclear forces on alert), the more difficult it becomes for other powers to stay completely aloof, let alone to simply align with Russia. The more EU and US sanctions reverberate throughout the global economy, the more it becomes impossible for other powers to avoid going at least partially along. China in particular has in fact already made a defining choice.
China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been subject to ample scrutiny since its... more China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been subject to ample scrutiny since its inception in 2013. Practical results could be said to be severely lacking in contrast to the project’s ambitious plans. Chinese engagement abroad has irrefutably intensified since Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012, but whether this can be classified as the fruits of BRI remains unclear. China, in fact, is developing BRI on the go. That gives the EU an opportunity to engage with BRI and remold it into a more desirable form. Because China increasingly sees Europe as BRI’s “final destination”, the EU has a lot more leverage than it commonly assumes.
The article discusses the prospects of Taiwan's upcoming 2024 general elections after last month'... more The article discusses the prospects of Taiwan's upcoming 2024 general elections after last month's puzzling momentary cooperation agreement between Ko Wen-je and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
After its victory in the 2022 local elections over the pan-Green coalition led by the Democratic ... more After its victory in the 2022 local elections over the pan-Green coalition led by the Democratic Progressive Party (民主進步黨, DPP) of incumbent Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, the Chinese Nationalist Party (中國國民黨, KMT), which heads the opposition pan-Blue coalition, started its preparations for Taiwan’s general (legislative and presidential) elections scheduled for January 2024. However, as of early May, while the DPP has already selected William Lai as its presidential contender, the KMT is much less unified.
EATS News No.19 (January 2022) features several articles:
(I) Book/Special Issue Reviews
* Keywo... more EATS News No.19 (January 2022) features several articles:
(I) Book/Special Issue Reviews * Keywords of Taiwan Theory * The Great Exodus from China: Trauma, Memory and Identity in Modern Taiwan * Reflection on the Special Issue, ‘Taiwanese-language Films (taiyupian)’ * Taiwan’s Economic & Diplomatic Challenges and Opportunities * Taiwan’s Contemporary Indigenous Peoples
(II) Institutional Profile: * UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative * Taiwan Studies and the Digital Transition * Managing Ljubiljana’s Taiwan Study Center during the Pandemic
(III) Covid Impact, Reflections & Responses * Teaching during Epidemics: New Models * A Reflection on the Impact of Pandemic on Our Research on Migration * Facing up to Sustainable Development Goals in the Wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic * A Case Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Milan
We hope you'll enjoy reading EATS News. Look forward to even more collaboration and engagement with you and the global Taiwan Studies community in the new year.
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Dat vooral China daarbij een bepalende factor is door haar niet te ontkennen economische opgang en groeiende geopolitieke invloed blijkt onder meer uit het in 2019 gepubliceerde Europese beleidsdocument
EU-China - 'Een strategische visie'. In dat document stelt de Hoge Vertegenwoordiger van de Unie voor Buitenlandse Zaken en Veiligheidsbeleid: ‘China is tegelijkertijd op verschillende beleidsterreinen een partner met wie de EU samenwerkt en veel doelstellingen deelt en met wie de EU onderhandelt om een belangenevenwicht tot stand te brengen.
Newsletters by Jasper Roctus
Dat vooral China daarbij een bepalende factor is door haar niet te ontkennen economische opgang en groeiende geopolitieke invloed blijkt onder meer uit het in 2019 gepubliceerde Europese beleidsdocument
EU-China - 'Een strategische visie'. In dat document stelt de Hoge Vertegenwoordiger van de Unie voor Buitenlandse Zaken en Veiligheidsbeleid: ‘China is tegelijkertijd op verschillende beleidsterreinen een partner met wie de EU samenwerkt en veel doelstellingen deelt en met wie de EU onderhandelt om een belangenevenwicht tot stand te brengen.
(I) Book/Special Issue Reviews
* Keywords of Taiwan Theory
* The Great Exodus from China: Trauma, Memory and Identity in Modern Taiwan
* Reflection on the Special Issue, ‘Taiwanese-language Films (taiyupian)’
* Taiwan’s Economic & Diplomatic Challenges and Opportunities
* Taiwan’s Contemporary Indigenous Peoples
(II) Institutional Profile:
* UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative
* Taiwan Studies and the Digital Transition
* Managing Ljubiljana’s Taiwan Study Center during the Pandemic
(III) Covid Impact, Reflections & Responses
* Teaching during Epidemics: New Models
* A Reflection on the Impact of Pandemic on Our Research on Migration
* Facing up to Sustainable Development Goals in the Wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic
* A Case Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Milan
We hope you'll enjoy reading EATS News. Look forward to even more collaboration and engagement with you and the global Taiwan Studies community in the new year.