碎篇 // Suipian // Fragments no. 6 (May 31, 2025)
By TABITHA SPEELMAN
Welcome to the 6th edition of Suipian, my personal newsletter in which I share thoughts and resources that help me make sense of Chinese society and its relationship to the rest of the world. You’re receiving this because you were previously subscribed to Changpian, my earlier newsletter sharing Chinese nonfiction writing – or if you recently subscribed. See here for more introduction to Suipian.
Suipian is coming to you from Rotterdam on this 端午节. I have spent the last few months mostly here for personal reasons, but China never feels far. Whether it is the ever-expanding range of authentic Chinese food offerings, the number of high-quality events, or the first European museum designed by a Chinese architecture firm that recently opened in my neighborhood (see this video and pictures below), these cultural trends feel energetic and like they have their own momentum apart from the political cycle, at least for now.
The below selection is as random as ever – hope there’s something you enjoy.
随笔 // Suibi // Notes
Sharing thoughts or resources related to my work as a correspondent
Like many, I am struggling to keep up with political developments, let alone my emotions around them. So I was touched when, on podcast 不合时宜, I heard Chinese semiconductor industry strategist Lu Ming discuss how every day he has to remind himself of what has changed: “我们已经处于一个不短的历史趋势的可能是头部,然后它在一时半会是结束不了的,抱着一种侥幸心理去期待世界不是这样子不会有任何的帮助,” he says, adding that: “这是我经常,每天,都跟自己在说的一件事情.” Continue reading Suipian no. 6