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With reference to Tim Clissold’s letter (“Here’s a solution for students struggling with Mandarin”, December 3) and Yuan Yang’s article “If the UK wants to understand Beijing, it must talk to it” (Opinion, November 19), I am. An Oxford graduate in Chinese (Oriel College, Oriental Institute 1964-1967), a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies in Chinese philosophy (University of London, 2001) and I am a fluent Mandarin speaker and writer. I have maintained a lifelong interest in China, its language, history and culture, having worked in the Far East for 20 years, then lecturing at conferences around the world, although not in the UK, and writing several books and translations, including bilingual translations. Heguanzi, Dao of Unity at the Birth of the Chinese Empire (2022).
Although frequently approached by fund-raisers from Oxford and Soas alumni, I have received little interest in my work or writings, despite donations of my works to their libraries. When starting Chinese 60 years ago, I never dreamed that I would actually find my knowledge of China declining in the UK during my lifetime.
I live in hope that one day I will be invited to participate in a UK campaign to raise knowledge and awareness.
Marnix Wales
London CR0, UK
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