In the second episode of the seminar series delivered on April 6 2024, Dr. Augustine Pan from the University of Auckland in New Zealand discussed the significant impacts of Japan and the Soviet Union on the Republic of China. Particularly noteworthy was Sun Yat-sen’s transition from aligning with Japan to seeking inspiration from Russia, leading to a major shift in Chinese politics and the precarious state of the nation. When a country faces perilous times, what kind of attitude should its leaders adopt? Dr. Pan thus raises a crucial question: