Atatürk in Republican China: Representations of Modernization and Anti-Imperialism in Shenbao (1919–1939)

Atatürk’s influence on Asian liberation movements is well known, yet his reception in China is underexplored. How did Chinese intellectuals and the public engage with Atatürk’s example, and how did these perceptions intersect with China’s struggles for independence and reform? This study offers the first systematic, theme-driven content analysis of Chinese press coverage of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the Turkish Revolution, showing how Shenbao (申报) and other newspapers actively appropriated Atatürk’s legacy to frame China’s debates on national liberation, modernization, and leadership. Focusing on 1919–1939, from Türkiye’s liberation struggle to Atatürk’s death and World War II’s onset, the study highlights a period when both nations pursued nation-building and reforms, making Türkiye’s experience resonant for Chinese discussions on sovereignty and modernization. Using qualitative content analysis of Shenbao, known as the ‘encyclopedia of modern Chinese history’, the study identifies four themes: anti-imperialist struggle and liberation, modernization and reform, international recognition, and Atatürk’s leadership and symbolic legacy. These reveal the multifaceted ways Atatürk and the Turkish Revolution were understood in Republican-era China, illustrating how Shenbao used Türkiye’s example to reflect, debate, and inspire China’s quests for independence, reform, global stature, and transformative leadership, shedding light on cross-cultural exchanges in nation-building.