Rising China, Resilient Japan, Resourceful ASEAN

The late Professor Lee Poh Ping had an active and distinguished scholarly career in Malaysia spanning at least five decades, in both University of Malaya (UM) and National University of Malaysia (UKM).

His academic interests included studies of the ethnic Chinese communities in Malaya/Malaysia and Singapore, their historical and contemporary relations with China, Japan-Southeast Asia relations, Malaysia’s politics and foreign policy, and international relations in the Asia-Pacific.

In all these areas he made important contributions, in terms of research, teaching, mentoring, academic networking, and engagement with the general public. Due to his scholarly achievement in the field of Japanese Studies, Professor Lee was conferred the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan in 2010.

China has emerged as a major great power today, not just in East Asia but perhaps also in the world. China’s rise has many ramifications, not only to the major established great powers such as Japan and the United States, but also to middle powers such as ASEAN countries.

Indeed, East Asian international relations are perhaps entering the most volatile period in many decades. This book, Rising China, Resilient Japan, and Resourceful ASEAN, is a collection of some of Lee’s popular commentary writings and some of the more serious, but still accessible to the reading public, academic articles, on these issues.

In addition, two young colleagues of Professor Lee, Dr. Ngeow Chow-Bing of UM and Dr. Kuik Cheng-Chwee of UKM, jointly contribute an introductory chapter that highlights the intellectual biography of Professor Lee Poh Ping.