Author Daniel Bell Applies Confucian Thinking to Chinese Invasion of Taiwan at Belfer Center Talk
Frank S. Zhou
John L. Cameronand
Samuel B. Kahn, Contributing Writers
Daniel A. Bell, a professor of political theory at the University of Hong Kong, discouraged a Chinese invasion of Taiwan through the lens of Confucianism at a Wednesday talk at the Harvard Kennedy School.
The event, hosted by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, was the second talk in a new speaker series called Thinking About China, meant to interpret China’s place in the world from varying political, philosophical, and economic perspectives.
Bell centered the talk around his book, “Why Ancient Chinese Political Thought Matters,” which he published last spring. He said that ancient Chinese philosophy maintains relevance during political conflicts, such as China’s relationship with Taiwan.
“Great debate between the Confucians and the Maoists is still very much alive in today’s China, and the debate we’re going to talk about today: when is warfare morally justified, or does morality matter in warfare?” Bell said.
According to Bell, Confucian debates have gained relevance in China’s schools over the...