WHAT: "Blood Dawn: World War II and the Making of Modern Asia", an online talk by Hans van de Ven, moderated by David Rennie

WHEN: 8-9PM (Beijing time), July 17, 2026 (Friday), on Zoom

ABOUT THE EVENT: In this online talk organised by RASBJ and Yale Center Beijing, renowned Cambridge historian Hans van de Ven discusses how his new book reframes our understanding of World War II in Asia, in conversation with The Economist's geopolitics editor and former Beijinger David Rennie. The book, according to David, "will reset how many Western readers understand the second world war in Asia [and] challenges framings of the conflict as a heroic saga ending with the Allied defeat of Japan… [with lessons that] could hardly be more timely today, as nationalist movements and leaders reshape a world order that is in tumult once more."

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK: Drawing on deep archival research across continents, historian Hans van de Ven tells the dramatic story of how Asia's people mobilised to defeat both Japanese aggression and European imperialism, forging modern Asia in the process.

By the early twentieth century, from India to China, Western imperial powers dominated Asia. Then, in the 1930s, Japan began to tear down this old order in pursuit of its own imperial ambitions―first by invading China, and then by launching its assault against British, Dutch, and American outposts across Asia and the Pacific in December 1941. As Japanese forces seized vast swaths of territory and pressed toward India, the brutal fighting cost millions of lives across the continent. Simultaneously, the war's chaos and suffering supercharged anti-colonial movements from British India to Dutch Indonesia. Ultimately, it was the charismatic leaders of these movements―Mao, Nehru, Sukarno―who built the new Asia of independent nation-states that emerged in the war's bloody wake.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Hans van de Ven is a historian of modern China and the Second World War, and teaches at Cambridge University and Peking University. Besides the history of the Second World War especially in China and Asia more broadly, he has written extensively on the history of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Maritime Customs Service. Van de Ven is a Fellow of the British Academy.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR: David Rennie is Geopolitics Editor of The Economist and author of "Telegram", a column. He joined The Economist in 2007. He has been EU correspondent and "Charlemagne" columnist, based in Brussels, British political editor and "Bagehot" columnist, in London, "Lexington" columnist and Washington bureau chief, before being Beijing bureau chief and "Chaguan" columnist 2018-2024.

HOW MUCH: Free for members of RASBJ and members of the Yale Center Beijing. 50 RMB for members of RAS partner branches (London, Shanghai, Hong Kong). 100 RMB for non-members. Alipay may be an easier payment method than WeChat. You can also pay by credit card. Interested in becoming an RASBJ member? Please sign up at rasbj.glueup.cn/org/rasbeijing/memberships/​

HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT: Those who wish to register directly with Yale Center Beijing should do so here: https://yalecenterbj.glueup.cn/event/blood-dawn-world-war-ii-and-the-making-of-modern-asia-50830/​

Those who wish to register with RASBJ should click "Register" or "I will attend" on this notice and follow the instructions. After successful registration you'll receive a confirmation email with a link to join the event online. If you seem not to have received it, please check your spam folder. Members of partner RAS Branches: Please register 72 hours in advance to allow time for membership verification. You'll receive three emails from us: the first confirming receipt of your registration request, the second requesting payment, and the third confirming receipt of your payment, with a link to join the event online. Please check your spam folder to ensure you see all RASBJ emails.

REFUND POLICY: If the event is cancelled by the organisers, registrants will be refunded in full.