[Explanation] On February 5, Zhu Yunhan, a famous scholar and professor of Political Science Department of National Taiwan University, passed away at home at the age of 67.
[Explanation] As a long-time friend and academic partner of Zhu Yunhan, Zheng Yongnian, dean of the Qianhai Institute of International Affairs at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and chairman of the Academic Committee of the Public Policy Research Institute of South China University of Technology, accepted China News Agency's "East and West Questions" During the exclusive interview, they recalled the common experience of a group of scholars of their generation traveling between East and West and the formation of academic thoughts.
He particularly emphasized Zhu Yunhan's unique perspective on East Asian and Chinese politics in Taiwan.
[Concurrent] Zheng Yongnian, Dean of the Qianhai Institute of International Affairs, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Institute of Public Policy, South China University of Technology
If you want to tell stories about China and the Chinese model, you must compare it with other models, Western models, East Asian models, and even Eastern European models. If you have a world perspective, then you can understand It is what the West wants to know about China and what it wants to understand.
In Yun Han’s words, the reason why he is influential not only in China but also in the world in this respect is (because) he (has) a global perspective (world perspective), so our scholars should actually learn from this point.
You can't see clearly just by looking at China, and you can't see clearly just by looking at the United States.
[Explanation] Zheng Yongnian summarized the development of Zhu Yunhan's academic career into three stages, that is, looking at East Asia from the west, then reflecting on East Asia, and then looking at mainland China and thinking about how the mainland of China rose.
Regarding the transformation of Zhu Yunhan's academic thinking, Zheng Yongnian believes that this is a natural process, and it will also be accompanied by certain pressure.
[Concurrent] Zheng Yongnian, Dean of the Qianhai Institute of International Affairs, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Institute of Public Policy, South China University of Technology
As Professor Yunhan said, when he was doing research on the "third wave" of democracy (wave of globalization), his (viewpoint) was very popular (popular) in Taiwan.
When he wants to reflect on Taiwan's democracy, because people have regarded Western-style democracy as an ideology, as a value, then you will be under pressure to criticize it or reflect on it.
Just like in Western classrooms, it is very difficult for you to criticize Western democracy, because it becomes politically incorrect.
I think Professor Yunhan is a very realistic social scientist.
(He) starts from experience, from practice, not from ideology or values.
[Explanation] Talking about Zhu Yunhan's most important inductive findings in the study of the Chinese model and his inspiration to the academic community, Zheng Yongnian said that Zhu Yunhan provided a different perspective, conceptualizing and theoreticalizing East Asian experience and Chinese experience at the same time, Thereby promoting mutual understanding between China and the West.
[Concurrent] Zheng Yongnian, Dean of the Qianhai Institute of International Affairs, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Institute of Public Policy, South China University of Technology
Yun Han told us that we understand the logic of the West, then we understand the logic of East Asia and China, and we know how to integrate it.
I think we are going to play the role of a bridge (bridge), cross-cultural, right, a bridge (bridge) across civilizations.
So why do we, you see, many people among us (say) how great China is, but they don't understand.
Because you don't understand others, you talk to yourself.
You see, including the West, you see why many ordinary people in China don't believe in Western scholars, (Western scholars) are also talking to themselves.
(Using) ideology to speak, our good is good.
So I think how do you build a bridge (between) China and other countries (between) China and the West, everyone should understand each other and have a consensus.
[Explanation] Recalling the time of acquaintance and academic exchanges with Zhu Yunhan, Zheng Yongnian also expressed his regret and regret for the "quiet departure" of his best friend.
[Concurrent] Zheng Yongnian, Dean of the Qianhai Institute of International Affairs, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Institute of Public Policy, South China University of Technology
I also told Yun Han that when discussing Japan, including Taiwan, it is actually difficult to explain it with Western things.
If the entire knowledge system of the "Four Asian Tigers" has been accepted and "digested" by the West, then it is (say) the hope for the future, that is China or India, because these are large economies that cannot be "digested" by the West, so Only then can we have hope and develop our knowledge system.
On the basis of the critique of "Orientalism", we don't mean deconstruction, but just deconstruction, we also need to construct.
How to construct your thing after deconstruction is the most important thing, deconstruction alone is not enough.
So I feel very sorry, and I said that if Professor Yun Han hadn't left so early, there would be more grand things under him.
Reported by Yang Chengchen, Chen Jianxin and Sui Zhiyuan
Responsible editor: [Luo Pan]