At the time of the publication of the English issue of "Contemporary China Review", domestic floods are rampant, causing thousands of people to suffer and die. Throughout thousands of years of Chinese civilization, emperors would issue a "self-critique proclamation during times of great disasters." Today's so-called "prosperous monarchs" are akin to France's Louis XV of the past, who famously said, "After I die, the deluge can come." For thousands of years, the Chinese have steadfastly believed in a cosmic principle: "Those who do injustice will meet their demise." People are the actors, and heaven is the observer. Recently, the author Guang Mu stated, in the afterword of the novel "The Gate to Rebirth", "The Chinese nationality is now at a turning point in a new era, at a historical moment to eliminate imperial authoritarianism. Every Chinese citizen is responsible for saving the Chinese nationality from being expelled from human civilization. They are obliged to promote truth and the natural order, ignite the beacon of righteousness in the world, and guide the Chinese nationality through the gate of rebirth into freedom and democracy."

As the Year 2024 has already passed half, I sincerely hope and pray for world peace and for people to live and work in peace. But looking ahead, I believe the future will still not be peaceful. The Russian-Ukrainian war is still raging, and the people are suffering. The Israeli-Hamas conflict seems to have no signs of stopping, and the US election is surging. As I said before, the three major divisions facing the world are presented at the same time this year: the Russian-Ukrainian war is a major division between the democratic and dictatorial camps, the US election is a major left-right division, and the Israeli-Hamas conflict has surpassed the left-right division and the democracy-dictatorship division. Is the world heading for doomsday ？ We wait and see.

This is the Inaugural Issue of an English version of Contemporary China Review. Contemporary China Review was published by Bouden House in New York. A group of Chinese intellectuals have courageously stepped forward to overcome all difficulties and publish an independent periodical that seeks to discuss important issues relating to China openly and honestly.

Running 3,000 miles from the east-coast boomtown of Shanghai to the border of Kazakhstan in the north-west, Route 312 - China's 'Route 66' - is a road that Rob Gifford has always wanted to travel. Gifford's journey and his desire to get to the heart of this country make China Road an outstanding and funny travel narrative - part pilgrimage, part reportage - which illuminates a country on the move.

This work chronicles the history of China for over four hundred years through the spring of 1989.

In October 2022, the 20th Party Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) concluded, extending Xi Jinping's leadership indefinitely, which many view as a one-party dictatorship. Exploring Confucian and socialist principles, this book examines the relationship between the citizens and leaders in the Chinese autocracy. By applying a Foucauldian twist to a range of topics - from discussing the politics of love and pandemic nationalism to analysing Xi's personality - it challenges the binary of authoritarianism and democracy. Interdisciplinary in nature, it will appeal to scholars and students working in the fields of politics, international relations, culture studies and critical theory.

Taiwan is a place of contradictions. Its successful economic and political modernization has stimulated the imaginations of most observers. Still, its nation-state status has been constricted and weakened. It covets and pursues peace, yet it is a vortex actor in global strategic/military competition. It is small, yet its importance far exceeds its size. It has long occupied a crucial place in history even though it has not sought this status, yet it appears inevitable that it will continue to do so. Historical Dictionary of Taiwan (Republic of China), Fifth Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 600 cross-referenced entries on important personalities as well as aspects of the country’s politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Taiwan.