Academics and students in the West consider future China studies without access to China

On a November afternoon, some 750 people logged into a webinar by the Fairbank Centre for Chinese Studies at Harvard University, eager for answers to a perplexing question: how to study China when border controls prevent researchers from entering the country?

China’s rules to try to contain Covid-19 restrict entry for most foreigners, including tourists, some business visitors and those planning family get-togethers. But they have also had a sweeping impact on overseas professors, researchers and PhD candidates who have made understanding China their life’s work.