His essays on Asian history from an educator’s point of view have been recently published on notable peer-reviewed online journals.

PANG, Yang Huei. “Deciphering the South China Sea Leviathan – A Reflexive Response.” Journal of Social Studies and History Education, vol. 8, no. 1 (Oct 2024). https://www.uhd.edu/academics/public-service/urban-education/jsshe/current-articles.aspx

This essay is a reflexive rumination on how an educator can approach one of the most contentious geopolitical issues in Asia – the South China Sea. The approach is to recognize a set of “inherently asymmetric” relationships between China and the smaller Asian countries from a historical perspective. Drawing upon the resources from my Modern China and East Asia Nexus undergraduate electives courses, we start with the early modern period from which there are documentary records of Ming China’s assertion of power in its contacts with its East Asia and Southeast Asian nations. We then examine the longue durée of the 20th century, with considerations for the Japanese imperium interregnum, which acts as a foil for our discussion about Chinese power in this region. Finally, we will consider contemporary Chinese nationalism and Chinese strategies for the South China Sea. Notwithstanding the focus on China, this reflection will also delve into the implications for Singapore.

PANG, Yang Huei. “Pursuing the Global in a Local Setting: Particularistic Silences in the Teaching, Deconstructing, Researching, and Writing of Asian History,” The Middle Ground Journal – World History and Global Studies 28(Fall/ Winter 2025). https://middlegroundjournal.com/2025/01/10/pursuing-the-global-in-a-local-setting-particularistic-silences-in-the-teaching-deconstructing-researching-and-writing-of-asian-history/

This essay draws on M. R. Trouillot’s idea of “silencing the Past” to explore three historical episodes and their implications for teaching history. Firstly, it critiques a biased Cold War account of the Vietnam War, revealing the author’s political agenda and its impact on historical interpretation. Secondly, it reflects on the complexities of conducting oral history of survivors of the Second World War, considering both personal experiences and potential state agendas. Lastly, it examines British imperialism through a local lens, highlighting present-day concerns in a modern metropolis. These episodes illustrate the interconnectedness of global and local history in the classroom, prompting questions about narrative construction, counter narratives, and pedagogical approaches. By delving into these topics, this essay aims to enrich the teaching of Asian history, particularly in the context of Singapore.