China and Israel

Aron Shai is Shaul N. Eisenberg Professor of East Asian Studies and Pro-Rector of Tel Aviv University. He earned his Ph.D. from St. Antony's College, Oxford University. His research focuses on imperialism in Asia, China’s role in international relations, diplomatic and economic history, and Sino-Israeli relations. He lectured at international conferences, and served as guest professor at Oxford, Paris, Toronto, New York and in China. Shai has authored and edited numerous books in Hebrew, English, and Chinese, including Origins of War in the East; From the Opium War to Mao Zedong; Britain and China 1941-1947; The Fate of British and French Firms in China 1949-1954; and Twentieth Century China; and Zhang Xueliang – The General Who Never Fought. He has also written two historical novels.

Aron Shai is Shaul N. Eisenberg Professor of East Asian Studies and Pro-Rector of Tel Aviv University. He earned his PhD from St. Antony's College, University of Oxford. His research focuses on imperialism in Asia, China’s role in international relations, diplomatic and economic history, and Sino-Israeli relations. He lectured at international conferences and served as guest professor at Oxford, Paris, Toronto, New York and in China. Shai authored and edited numerous books in Hebrew, English, and Chinese, including Origins of War in the East; From the Opium War to Mao Zedong; Britain and China 1941-1947; The Fate of British and French Firms in China 1949-1954; Twentieth Century China; and Zhang Xueliang—The General Who Never Fought. He has also written two historical novels.

“In Aron Shai’s new book, China and Israel, we can clearly see a road map of how the Sino-Israeli relationship has evolved from the strong influence of Eurocentrism in its early days to an extent that sometimes gives rise to anxiety and worry today. … It is also noteworthy that Shai describes his own experiences and connections with China as a scholar who has long studied Sino-Israeli relations. As an expert on the history of foreign relations, he can also incisively call attention to both the problems and achievements of the period of bilateral relations. His own experiences reflect the ups and downs of those relations.” —Wang Zhen, Center for Jewish Studies in Shanghai and the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Israel Studies Review

“Aron Shai ... has packed a tremendous amount of information in a very readable form into this well-researched book. He realizes that the all-important question of the nature of Sino-Israeli relations in the future can only be contemplated with knowledge of the past, which is why the book looks at relations from the ancient Jewish community of Kaifeng to the present.” —Liat Collins, The Jerusalem Post

“A small corpus of literature probing the historical relationship between the Chinese and Jewish peoples has accumulated over the years. A very welcome recent addition to this literature is Aron Shai’s comprehensive, illuminating and accessible review of the relationship from its origins to the present day. Shai, a professor at Tel Aviv University and an internationally known Sinologist, manages to weave together nimbly three separate strands of inquiry into a single volume. In alternating chapters, he examines the communal, economic and political strands of the relationship, even sewing in to the fabric of the book his own particular experience with the Chinese people. … This book should indisputably be at the top of the reading list of anyone interested in either the broader Jewish–Chinese relationship or the narrower Israeli–Sino relationship. It is sure to become a core work in these fields.” —David Rodman, Israel Affairs

“Shai paints a fascinating picture of Israeli/Jewish–Chinese history and the present relationship between the two peoples. The book is not only descriptive, but also an important piece of academic research, revealing information not widely known until now. … The book is an excellent read that once again demonstrates that Aron Shai is a true expert in the field.” —Shai A. Kivity, Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs

Jonathan Goldstein:

“Shai provides an overview of Chinese–Jewish relations from medieval Kaifeng to the present. In 239 pages of text and a ten-page quatro-lingual bibliography, he surveys the corresponding academic field now known as Sino-Judaica. … Shai condenses this vast corpus of scholarship as context for what is the strength of this volume: his profiles of Sino-Judaic personalities. These include Sun Yat-sen’s English bodyguard Morris Cohen (1887–1970) and Chinese Communist Fourth Army physician Jacob Rosenfeld (1903–1952), originally from Austria. Shai also offers vignettes about lesser-known individuals who are arguably of equal historical significance. Drawing upon hard-to-get interviews and the Yad Tabenkin archive of the kibbutz movement, he profiles leaders of the Israel Communist Party (ICP) and their Chinese initiatives. … Shai’s persistent sleuthing about [Israeli businessman Shaul] Eisenberg and the ICP is matched in Sino-Israeli historiography only by Yitzhak Shichor’s startling revelations about Israeli nuclear cooperation with Taiwan.” —Jonathan Goldstein, The China Quarterly, 238

“This volume systematically studies the relations between Chinese and Jews, as well as China and Israel. Over the past hundred years, with their unique business skills and courageous pioneering spirit, Jews won the laurel of ‘World Merchants,’ which aroused many Chinese scholars’ study interest in Jews, and the general public’s admiration for Jews. For the first time, the author here vividly depicts many historical figures and describes the twists and turns of the relations between Chinese and Jews and China and Israel in different historical periods, with a huge collection of historical files. The author also captures many fascinating stories, taking advantage of his close relationship with the upper class of China. I firmly believe that this is not only a book with great academic value but also a book that inspires entrepreneurial courage.”
— Zhang Tiejiang, Deputy Director and Fellow, Jewish Studies Center, Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, China

“With insider knowledge of both China and Israel, Aron Shai lifts the lid on the transformation of relations between the People’s Republic and the Jewish state from estrangement to alliance. Vividly written with compelling character sketches of the Israeli adventurers, businessmen and academics who paved the way to a special relationship with Asia’s economic giant.” —Eugene Rogan, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History, University of Oxford

“China and Israel are not always considered together, but Aron Shai’s new book shows unexpected and fascinating connections between the two countries. The book highlights how the shifting geopolitics of the wider world have brought these two countries into contact in ways both friendly and more troubled. Showing prodigious research and careful and well-written analysis, Aron Shai tells a story that deserves wide attention.” —Rana Mitter, Director of the University China Centre, Professor of the History and Politics of Modern China, University of Oxford

“This book will fascinate all those interested in the complex relations between China and Israel, and in the question of how to approach China’s incredible success of the past few decades.”

Professor (Maj. Gen.-Ret.) Isaac Ben-Israel, Head of the National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University and Chairman of the Israel Space Agency

“Required reading for those who wish to understand the special story of China-Israel relations from aspects that have never before been expressed.”

Efraim Halevi, Former Mossad Director