1.jpg
Students and professors are having a heated discussion

The Youth Association of International Affairs of the University of Macau (UM) held on 10 October a seminar in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911. Prof. Ngo Tak Wing of the Department of Government and Public Administration, Prof. Chu Xiongwei of the Department of History, and Prof. Hao Zhidong of the Department of Sociology attended the seminar and analyzed the historical significance of the Revolution of 1911. They also discussed some questions with the audience following the seminar.

During the seminar, Prof. Chu expatiated on the historical role of the Revolution of 1911 in the modern Chinese history, as well as the evolution of research methods and viewpoints for this historical event. He also raised a fresh point that Macao and Hong Kong could be seen as the cradle of the idea of Chinese Revolution.

Prof. Ngo approached the topic from a different perspective, commenting that there are fundamental contradictions between republicanism and national affairs. He reflected, by taking into account the current situation, on the failure of the Revolution of 1911 to fully achieve the political ideals it set out to achieve.

Prof. Hao focused on the development of republicanism in Taiwan and mainland China. He also proposed federalism as an ideal means of achieving peaceful reunification.

The speeches by the three professors well complimented each other. Their speeches are at once a reflection on history, an analysis of the present, and a contemplation of the future.

During the last section, the audience and the speakers had a heated discussion, and in answering the questions from the audience, the professors further expounded on their viewpoints. Students reported having gained a lot of knowledge and new perspectives from the seminar, adding that the original viewpoints of the professors have enormously inspired them to continue to study the related topics.