In the turbulent years of China’s War of Resistance against Japan (1931–1945), a unique and complex narrative unfolded far from the battlefields – in Australia. Patriots and Propaganda: Chinese Australians and the politics of loyalty, 1930s–1940s delves into the intricate web of Chinese wartime propaganda efforts, revealing how the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) and Chinese Australian communities mobilised support for China’s struggle against Japanese aggression.
Patriots and Propaganda uncovers the multifaceted relationships between China, Australia, and the Australian Chinese diaspora, highlighting the political, racial and class dynamics that shaped these interactions.
Bolin Hu explores the pivotal role of Chinese-language newspapers and schools in preserving Chinese heritage and loyalty; the intense political rivalries within the Australian Chinese community; and the profound impact of memorial services and fundraising campaigns on fostering Chinese patriotism and community cohesion. Hu also brings to light the diverse contributions of various Chinese Australian groups – including leftists, women, and Australian-born Chinese – to China’s war effort, and the fierce propaganda battles between Chinese and Japanese authorities on Australian soil.
Patriots and Propaganda offers a nuanced exploration of the socio-political dynamics within the Australian Chinese community, while challenging the traditional narrative of distant allies, presenting new evidence and perspectives on the Sino-Australian relationship during a critical period in history.
Bolin Hu is a lecturer at Huaqiao University, with research interests focusing on the history of the Chinese diaspora in Australasia, as well as the history of Sino-Australian and Sino-New Zealand relations.
Introduction
Chapter 1 Loyalty to Republican China
Chapter 2 Long-distance political rivals and nationalism
Chapter 3 Diasporic Chinese commemorations and patriotic mobilisation
Chapter 4 Chinese patriotic fundraising campaigns
Chapter 5 Reformation of fundraising and political landscapes
Chapter 6 Sino-Japanese propaganda contest in Australia
Chapter 7 Chinese wartime propaganda
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
“Patriots and Propaganda draws on rich bilingual archives to reconstruct, in careful detail, how between 1931 and 1945 Chinese communities in Australia mobilised sympathy for China’s resistance against Japan through newspapers, fundraising campaigns, commemorative rituals, and associations. The book situates these efforts within the broader vision of the Kuomintang (KMT) while also acknowledging the contested voices within the diaspora, where loyalty, identity, and patriotism were argued over as much as they were proclaimed. During the war, Chinese propaganda in Australia took on a more institutionalised and overtly political form. It urged support for China’s struggle against Japan while also demanding fairer rights and recognition for Chinese migrants. Hu shows that propaganda was more than political messaging: it was a plea for understanding, a demand for recognition, and a call for justice across racial divides. This is a rigorous and engaging study that shows how the history of war is also a history of resilience, aspiration, and the human search for recognition.” – Dr Mei-fen Kuo, Macquarie University “In Patriots and Propaganda, Bolin Hu skilfully martials Chinese and English-language sources to unpack diasporic responses to the Republican Kuomintang. From 1931, Chinese officials sought unified support from the diaspora in the face of the advancing Japanese occupation, but Hu reveals multiple nodes of opposition to Kuomintang narratives from within Australia’s politically diverse Chinese diaspora.” – Professor Julia T. Martínez, University of Wollongong “Australia’s engagement with Asia has a long, complex and intriguing history. Hu adds appreciably to that history by charting the shifting loyalties of Australia’s diasporic community through the turbulent 1930s and ‘40s. His book takes the first deep dive for this period, into important but largely overlooked sources from the Chinese print media in Australia. An original, well-written and accessible study.” – Professor David Walker AM “Patriots and Propaganda is a compelling and meticulously researched study that illuminates the transnational experiences of Australia’s Chinese diaspora during the 1930s and 1940s. Drawing on a rich array of historical sources in both Chinese and English, the book offers original insight into wartime propaganda, diasporic activism and community building at a time of shifting and often conflicting political interests and national imperatives in Australia and China.” – Dr Kate Bagnall, University of Tasmania “Between the wars, Australia’s Chinatowns were the site of fascinating political debates and contestatations. What kind of political system would augur a better world? Patriots and Propaganda, a wonderful new contribution from Bolin Hu, takes us on a journey deep into the hearts and minds of Chinese Australians as the world came to Chinatown in the 1930s and 1940s; it is a journey worth taking for anyone invested in community building, geopolitics and the life of the mind.” – Dr Sophie Loy-Wilson, University of Sydney “This work sets a new benchmark in how Chinese Australian history should be done. Bolin Hu’s work is a deeply insightful contribution to Australian historiography – rich in nuance, rigour and originality.” – Dr Michael Williams, University of Hong Kong
Format:
paperback
Size: 210 x 148 mm
Pages: 300
Copyright: 2025
ISBN: 9781761540233
Publication: 01 Oct 2025
Series: China and the West in the Modern World
Size: 210 x 148 mm
Pages: 300
Copyright: 2025
ISBN: 9781761540233
Publication: 01 Oct 2025
Series: China and the West in the Modern World