China watcher
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
China watcher, or Pekinologist, is a term used to describe a person who monitors the current events from and about the People's Republic of China (especially the part that is Mainland China).
Generally, it is applied to a person integrated to or native of western society. For instance, an Asian American journalist who specializes in reporting such affairs is a Pekinologist. On the contrary, an overseas Chinese embassador who temporarily works in the US with an immediate plan to return to Mainland China would--despite his interest and knowledge of news from China--not be considered a Pekinologist.
A Pekinologist is almost never used to referred someone with an academic interest in Pekin (Beijing). For these people, the term Sinologist is employed. In some other languages where the term Pekinologist doesn't exist, the usage of these terms are less rigidly delineated. In French for instance, a sinologue would refer to both a researcher in Sinology and a reporter of Pekinology.
