Jeremiah and David welcome historian Jeffrey Wasserstrom to the show. Jeff is Chancellor's Professor of History at the UC Irvine and is not only a prolific academic scholar but also one of the most sought after China analysts appearing on mainstream news media outlets such as BBC and NPR. His most recent book, Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink, documents the recent political unrest in Hong Kong, putting the movement into historical context. On today’s show, we delve into Jeff’s current project, which is a reevaluation of the Boxer War of 1899-1901. The conversation draws parallels between the xenophobia and anti-foreign sentiment in China during the Boxer incident and the nationalistic and racial divisions between China and the West engendered by the Coronavirus crisis.

Jeffrey Wasserstrom and Maura Cunningham, China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know

Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn, Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn

Zi Zhongyun, "Viral Alarm" (translated by Geremie R. Barmé)