New Books in East Asian Studies Ho-fung Hung, "The China Question: Eight Centuries of Fantasy and Fear" (Cambridge UP, 2026)
Apr 6, 2026
Ho-fung Hung, a Johns Hopkins professor of political economy, argues that both romanticizing and demonizing China are simplistic. He discusses how stereotypes persist despite data, how Western politics and Chinese authorities shape narratives, and why open, plural debate and inter-Asian perspectives are needed to dismantle long-standing Orientalist images.
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Idealization Is The Flip Side Of Contempt
- Romantic idealization of China is as harmful as contempt because both reduce China to simplistic, monolithic images.
- Ho-Fung Hung argues the real problem is reductionism not valence, so praise and blame can both block nuanced debate.
The Myth Of China’s Debt Trap Loan Strategy
- Hung uses contemporary debates over Chinese lending to the developing world to show polarized myths: altruistic partner versus predatory 'debt trap' lender.
- He finds lending stems from China's need to export excess capacity and chaotic bank practices, not deliberate malice.
Plenty Of Data Doesn’t Stop Stereotypes
- Abundant data exists on many China topics, but entrenched stereotypes and vested political interests make people ignore it.
- Self-censorship and Chinese state propaganda further narrow accessible perspectives and reinforce simplistic frames.
