Deng Yu

Education:
B.A, History, Beijing Normal University (2016)
M.A., Chinese Studies, National University of Singapore (2019)

Research interests:
Studies in Modern China; Studies in Chinese Overseas; The Chinese in British Malaya and Singapore; Hakka Communities in Southeast Asia

Introduction:
My primary research interest was in modern Chinese history during my undergraduate studies. Since 2016, after beginning my studies at the National University of Singapore, my extended experience of studying and living in Singapore has significantly deepened my interest in studying Overseas Chinese and the history of Chinese communities in British Malaya and Singapore. I have also contributed to the editing of several academic volumes on Overseas Chinese history. As a result, my current research combines two major fields: modern Chinese history and the history of the Overseas Chinese. Some of my research projects include: “A Study of Cross-Regional Activities of Malayan Chinese Tin Miners during the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries,” “Cross-Regional Business Activities of Nanyang Chinese Merchant Foo Choo Choon,” and “China and Southeast Asia: Cross-Regional Field Work and Essays.”

Supervisor: A/P Wong Sin Kiong

Thesis Title: (Per)forming Overseas Chinese Affairs: A Study on the Chinese Consul-Generals in Singapore during the Republican Era (1912-1942)

My research centres on the Chinese Consul-Generals in Singapore during the Republican period (1912-1942), utilizing a combination of prosopography studies and case studies. Drawing on insights from Overseas Chinese history, modern Chinese history, and diplomatic studies, I explore their work and the interactions among various groups, including the Chinese government, the colonial administration, local Chinese communities, and the Kuomintang. This study aims to reassess the historical role of the Chinese Consul-Generals during this period, examining their impact on the local Chinese community, their relationship with the colonial government, and the changing dynamics between Overseas Chinese communities and modern China.