Patriots and Propaganda

Patriots and Propaganda

Chinese Australians and the politics of loyalty, 1930s–1940s

Bolin Hu

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Format: hardback
300 pages
ISBN: 9781761540424
Publication: 01 Oct 2025
Series: China and the West in the Modern World
Publisher: Sydney University Press

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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.


Tags: 20th Century, Asia, Asian studies, Australasia, Australia, Australian, Australian Chinese, Australian Chinese history, Bolin Hu, China, CULTURAL HERITAGE, diaspora communities or peoples, Early 20th century c 1900 to c 1950, Ethnic groups and multicultural studies, General, hidden, History, History - specific events & topics, Modern, Political ideologies and movements, POLITICAL SCIENCE, Propaganda, Relating to migrant groups, Sino-Australian relationship, Social groups, Sydney University Press, World War Two

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

  1. Loyalty to Republican China
  2. Long-distance political rivals and nationalism
  3. Diasporic Chinese commemorations and patriotic mobilisation
  4. Chinese patriotic fundraising campaigns
  5. Reformation of fundraising and political landscapes
  6. Sino-Japanese propaganda contest in Australia
  7. Chinese wartime propaganda

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

“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

Format: hardback
Size: 210 x 148 mm
Pages: 300
Copyright: 2025
ISBN: 9781761540424
Publication: 01 Oct 2025
Series: China and the West in the Modern World
300 pages