By way of my life circumstance and my professional, academic interests and expertise, I maintain an extensive network of connections with ethnic Chinese people both within and outside China. Not only across the UK, but in other areas such as Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. Regardless of economic or political model, there is a common thread of language and culture which links all these living expressions of ‘Chineseness’ together. Chinese people may differ in their socio-economic outlook around the world, but are united in a common ethnic understanding. This reality is no different to any other ethnic group around the world. To ‘study’ China is to study all these distinct strands of the expression of Chinese culture around the world, and recognise a coherent thread running through its core despite any difference that may or may not exist on the surface.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 