Uneasy Encounters: Christian Churches in Greater China

“This fascinating study illuminates the survival, development and negotiation strategies of Christian churches operating under authoritarian conditions in China and Taiwan across time. Extensive fieldwork and a raft of empirical data is effectively marshalled in the service of a sophisticated conceptual argument that goes beyond simplistic ‘domination-resistance’ models to establish how Christian groups respond to constraints imposed by authoritarian regimes and distinct local cultures. The book complicates traditional depictions of the role and behaviours of both the Presbyterian church in Taiwan and Catholic groups in the PRC, making a substantial contribution to our understanding of organized Christianity in Greater China.” (Dr Jonathan Sullivan, Associate Professor, School of Politics and IR, University of Nottingham, UK)

“This book successfully fulfils its mission in dealing with relations between the powerful totalitarian regimes, the Nationalist government in Taiwan under Chiang Kai Shek administration, and in the People’s Republic of China since 1949. For Taiwan, the author was able to have a very exhaustive archival and library research on the historical development of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. However, the distinguished scholarship of the author was manifested on her capacity in grasping the difficult Catholic issues in the PRC whose political system with its policy making are operating in a black box, with complicated “guanxi” 關係. Researchers both Chinese and foreigner regard it as the “heavenly book with no words” 無字天書. However, the author was able to read the official documents between lines and listen to the voiceless by personal contacts. Among all kinds of restriction, although she was unable to contact the clandestine section of the Chinese Catholics, yet she was able to infiltrate into the depth of Catholic life in the government sanctioned section of the Catholic Church and to paint a very comprehensive picture on the problem of the Church-State conflict in the PRC.” (Sr. Beatrice Leung, Ph.D., Honorary Research Fellow, National Chengchi University, Taiwan)