{"id":2326,"date":"2026-02-09T23:18:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T15:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/mssc-in-government-and-politics-greater-china-gpgc\/background\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T23:18:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T15:18:55","slug":"background","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/tc\/mssc-in-government-and-politics-greater-china-gpgc\/background\/","title":{"rendered":"Background"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section block-name=\"banner\" class=\"relative\">\n    <div class=\"bg-banner-gradient w-full h-full absolute left-0 top-0 z-[1]\"><\/div>\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/wp-content\/themes\/cuhk-sgps\/public\/images\/our-mission\/mission-banner.png\" alt=\"MSSc in Government and Politics (Greater China) (GPGC)\"\n        class=\"w-full aspect-[1920\/480] object-cover min-h-[400px]\" \/>\n\n    <div class=\"container py-5 md:py-10 lg:py-[60px] w-full h-full flex items-end absolute left-0 bottom-0 z-[2]\">\n        <div class=\"container-lg\">\n            <h1 class=\"heading1 text-white pb-4 lg:pb-6\">\n                MSSc in Government and Politics (Greater China) (GPGC)            <\/h1>\n\n            <div class=\"flex items-center flex-wrap breadcrumbs-row gap-3\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/tc\/\" class=\"opacity-60 [&#038;.active]:opacity-100\">\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\">\n                        <path\n                            d=\"M9.99863 19V14H13.9986V19C13.9986 19.55 14.4486 20 14.9986 20H17.9986C18.5486 20 18.9986 19.55 18.9986 19V12H20.6986C21.1586 12 21.3786 11.43 21.0286 11.13L12.6686 3.59997C12.2886 3.25997 11.7086 3.25997 11.3286 3.59997L2.96863 11.13C2.62863 11.43 2.83863 12 3.29863 12H4.99863V19C4.99863 19.55 5.44863 20 5.99863 20H8.99863C9.54863 20 9.99863 19.55 9.99863 19Z\"\n                      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(GPGC)                        <\/a>\n                                        \n                <svg class=\"opacity-60 [&#038;.active]:opacity-100 active\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\"\n                    height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\">\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                        d=\"M5.83594 15L10.8359 9.99996L5.83594 4.99996L7.5026 3.33329L14.1693 9.99996L7.5026 16.6666L5.83594 15Z\"\n                        fill=\"white\" \/>\n                <\/svg>\n\n                <p class=\"text-body-1 text-white opacity-100 active\">\n                    Background                <\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<style>\n    .sidebar-wrapper ul,\n    .sidebar-wrapper li {\n        list-style: none !important;\n        margin: 0 !important;\n        padding: 0 !important;\n    }\n\n    .sidebar-wrapper li::before,\n    .sidebar-wrapper li::after {\n        display: none !important;\n        content: none !important;\n    }\n\n    .sidebar-link.active {\n        background-color: #D1F0E9;\n        color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary, #005A54);\n    }\n\n    .sidebar-toggle.active-parent,\n    .sidebar-sub-toggle.active-parent {\n        background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary, #005A54);\n        color: white;\n    }\n\n    .sidebar-toggle img,\n    .sidebar-sub-toggle img {\n        transition: transform 0.3s ease, filter 0.3s ease, opacity 0.3s ease;\n    }\n\n    .sidebar-toggle.active-parent>img,\n    .sidebar-sub-toggle.active-parent>img {\n        filter: brightness(0) invert(1);\n        transform: rotate(180deg);\n        opacity: 1;\n    }\n<\/style>\n\n<section  class=\"programme-container container py-[60px] md:py-[100px]\">\n    <div class=\"container-lg\">\n        <div class=\"flex flex-col md:flex-row gap-10 xl:gap-20\">\n\n            <div class=\"md:flex-[0_1_25%] md:max-w-[25%]\">\n                <div\n    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last:border-0 w-full block\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/mssc-in-government-and-politics-greater-china-gpgc\/course-description\/\" class=\"sidebar-link w-full px-5 py-4 flex items-center justify-between transition-colors sidebar-main-link text-dark\">\n                                            <span class=\"heading6 font-bold text-left\">Course Description<\/span>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/li>\n                                                                \n                                                                    <li class=\"hasAccordion group border-b border-gray-200 last:border-0 w-full block\">\n                                        <button type=\"button\" data-href=\"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/mssc-in-government-and-politics-greater-china-gpgc\/faculty\/\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"sidebar-menu-3\" class=\"sidebar-toggle w-full px-5 py-4 flex items-center justify-between transition-all duration-200 cursor-pointer text-dark hover:bg-light-green hover:text-primary\">\n                                            <span class=\"heading6 font-bold text-left pointer-events-none\">Faculty and Students<\/span>\n                                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/wp-content\/themes\/cuhk-sgps\/public\/icons\/arrow-down.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"w-4 h-4 object-contain opacity-60 pointer-events-none\">\n                                        <\/button>\n\n                                        <ul id=\"sidebar-menu-3\" class=\"sidebar-sub-menu bg-light-grey hidden w-full pb-2\">\n                                            \n                                                                                                    <li class=\"w-full block\">\n                                                        <a 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class=\"sidebar-link block w-full pl-8 pr-5 py-3 heading6 font-medium flex items-center gap-3 transition-all text-dark sidebar-main-link\">\n                                                            <span class=\"dot-indicator w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full flex-shrink-0 bg-dark transition-colors\"><\/span>\n                                                            Alumni Sharing                                                        <\/a>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                \n                                                \n                                                                                                    <li class=\"w-full block\">\n                                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/mssc-in-government-and-politics-greater-china-gpgc\/who-should-apply\/\" class=\"sidebar-link block w-full pl-8 pr-5 py-3 heading6 font-medium flex items-center gap-3 transition-all text-dark sidebar-main-link\">\n                                                            <span class=\"dot-indicator w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full flex-shrink-0 bg-dark transition-colors\"><\/span>\n                                                            Who Should Apply                                                        <\/a>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                \n                                                                                        <\/ul>\n                                    <\/li>\n                                                                \n                                                                    <li class=\"border-b border-gray-200 last:border-0 w-full block\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/mssc-in-government-and-politics-greater-china-gpgc\/admission\/\" class=\"sidebar-link w-full px-5 py-4 flex items-center justify-between transition-colors sidebar-main-link text-dark\">\n                                            <span class=\"heading6 font-bold text-left\">Admission<\/span>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/li>\n                                                                \n                                                                    <li class=\"border-b border-gray-200 last:border-0 w-full block\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/mssc-in-government-and-politics-greater-china-gpgc\/policy-and-resources\/\" class=\"sidebar-link w-full px-5 py-4 flex items-center justify-between transition-colors sidebar-main-link text-dark\">\n                                            <span class=\"heading6 font-bold text-left\">Policy and Resources<\/span>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/li>\n                               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w-full px-5 py-4 flex items-center justify-between transition-colors sidebar-main-link text-dark\">\n                                            <span class=\"heading6 font-bold text-left\">Enquiry<\/span>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/li>\n                                                                \n                                                                    <li class=\"border-b border-gray-200 last:border-0 w-full block\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/sgps.visibleone.dev\/news-and-events\/?event_view=list&#038;event_cat%5B%5D=news&#038;prog%5B%5D=mssc_in_public_policy\" class=\"sidebar-link w-full px-5 py-4 flex items-center justify-between transition-colors sidebar-main-link text-dark\">\n                                            <span class=\"heading6 font-bold text-left\">News<\/span>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/li>\n                                                                                        <\/ul>\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"md:flex-[0_1_75%] md:max-w-[75%]\">\n                <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<div  class=\"program-tab-content section-block mb-16 scroll-mt-32\">\n\n    <h3 class=\"heading3 border-l-[6px] border-primary pl-5 mb-5 lg:mb-8\">\n        Background    <\/h3>\n\n    <div class=\"custom-content custom-content-debating-team prose max-w-none text-dark\">\n        <p>Message from the Programme Director<\/p>\n<p>Professor ZHAN Jing, Vivian<\/p>\n<p>No matter how we see it, drastic historical changes are descending. The sleeping lion of China has not only awaken but also started to spread its footprints around the world. Looking back at the thousands of years of world history, each time when a power rises, it generates shocks that impact on even the far corners of the world. For us who live in the 21st century, we are destined to witness the arrival of a new era. Then the question is: how do we position ourselves and prepare for the extraordinary uncertainties ahead?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For those who are curious about what a rising China means and how we can get ready for the upcoming challenges, it is crucial to unpack the gigantic entity that\u2019s called Greater China, including its political institutions and thoughts, economic system and development, social structures and movements, internal relations between the Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao, and external relations with the outside world. Only when we understand where the China we see today comes from, can we make informed judgments about where its goes in the future.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Against this background, the MSSc Programme in Government and Politics (Greater China) was launched in 2012 to provide a platform for students to learn about the aforementioned aspects of the Greater China, to engage in intellectual dialogue and exploration with established China scholars, and to develop the capabilities of independent and critical thinking based on facts and from multiple angels. Our graduates are now pursuing divergent and flourishing careers in public service, civil society, academia, media, business etc. In the years to come, the GPGC programme aims to continue to train independent, forward-looking China analysts who can use their knowledge to turn the formidable challenges associated with China\u2019s rise into precious opportunities for not only the advancement of their own careers but also the betterment of the whole society.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<script>\n    document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function () {\n        const allToggles = document.querySelectorAll(\".sidebar-toggle, .sidebar-sub-toggle\");\n        const allLinks = document.querySelectorAll(\".sidebar-link\");\n        const tabContents = document.querySelectorAll(\".program-tab-content\");\n\n        function resetLinks() {\n            allLinks.forEach(l => {\n                l.classList.remove(\"active\", \"text-primary\");\n                l.classList.add(\"text-dark\");\n\n                const dot = l.querySelector(\".dot-indicator, span.rounded-full\");\n                if (dot) {\n                    dot.classList.remove(\"bg-primary\");\n                    if (l.closest('.sidebar-grand-menu')) {\n                        dot.classList.add(\"bg-transparent\", \"border\", \"border-dark\");\n                    } else {\n                        dot.classList.add(\"bg-dark\");\n                    }\n                }\n\n                if (l.parentElement.classList.contains('border-b')) {\n                    l.classList.remove(\"bg-primary\", \"text-white\");\n                }\n            });\n        }\n\n        function activateLink(linkElement) {\n            resetLinks();\n            linkElement.classList.add(\"active\");\n            linkElement.classList.remove(\"text-dark\");\n\n            const dot = linkElement.querySelector(\".dot-indicator, span.rounded-full\");\n            if (dot) {\n                dot.classList.remove(\"bg-dark\", \"bg-transparent\", \"border\", \"border-dark\");\n                dot.classList.add(\"bg-primary\");\n            }\n\n            if (linkElement.parentElement.classList.contains('border-b')) {\n                linkElement.classList.add(\"bg-primary\", \"text-white\");\n            }\n        }\n\n        function openAccordion(btn) {\n            const menu = btn.nextElementSibling;\n            if (!menu) return;\n\n            const parentUl = btn.closest('ul');\n            if (parentUl) {\n                const siblingButtons = Array.from(parentUl.children).map(li => li.querySelector('button')).filter(b => b && b !== btn);\n                siblingButtons.forEach(otherBtn => {\n                    closeAccordion(otherBtn);\n                });\n            }\n\n            btn.classList.add(\"active-parent\", \"text-white\");\n            btn.classList.remove(\"text-dark\");\n\n            const dot = btn.querySelector('.dot-indicator');\n            if (dot) { dot.classList.replace('bg-dark', 'bg-white'); 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