r/Sino • u/SpicysaucedHD • Dec 09 '25
discussion/original content PSA: Chinese embassies provide "The governance of China" for free
The other day I read a post on Twitter, saying that in 2021, someone got one of the volumes of The governance of China for free in the US from an embassy.
Intrigued, I wondered if this is a) still the case and b) was possible in other countries as well. So I wrote a friendly email to my local Chinese embassy in Berlin, Germany to find out.
They answered, saying they could send a volume if I provided them my postal address, which I did.
Today, Volume V arrived in my mailbox.
It seems, that which volume you can get depends on what they have in storage, but it can't hurt to ask. Just remember to be friendly, they aren't Amazon, so be respectful.
That's it, just wanted to let you know :) I have a nice lecture now for the holiday period. Have a great day!
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u/Hasbkv Dec 09 '25
Curious how you write the mail or how to request it? I heard this story many times but unsure how to do that 😅
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u/SpicysaucedHD Dec 09 '25
Just use common sense really.
"Dear sir or madam,
I heard you provide copies of president Xi's " Governance of China", and I wondered if it is possible to send me a copy via post?"
Etc. Etc. I mean it's a simple email.
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u/Peco44 Dec 10 '25
maybe a stupid question, but did you write them in german or english?
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u/Necessary-Hedgehog33 Dec 10 '25
Did it cost a shipping fee?
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u/milonso Dec 10 '25
with small parcels from any chinese online shop being free shipping, i can't imagine it costing anything
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u/BaileyGirlmode Dec 09 '25
likewise, ive considered reaching out to some embassies before but i havent had the heart to
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u/shane_4_us Dec 10 '25
Just did it. Easy as pie. Here's the email (if in US): chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn
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u/Iannelson2999 Dec 10 '25
I did it a few years ago over email. Asked if they had a copy and they asked for shipping info and I got it about a week later. (I got volume 2)
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Dec 09 '25
Thanks for this! I'm going to email the embassy to ask for one. I've got Volume II (I bought it during the Pandemic), I'd like to complete the set.
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Dec 09 '25
It's really a good wholesome read, and so refreshing as compared to the garbage we have here.
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u/Illustrious-Hawk-898 Dec 09 '25
I’ll give this a shot. I have volume 4, bought it while I was in China last year. But I’d like volume 5!
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u/nodabo1 Dec 09 '25
Wow, that's awesome!
Out of curiosity, which email did you use? I'm in Berlin too and I'd love a copy
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u/SpicysaucedHD Dec 09 '25
Hi, I used "presse.botschaftchina@gmail.com", they got back to me within 24 hrs. But if you're in Berlin I'd actually go there in person and ask. Since Germans don't need Visa anymore they generally have less to do and surely are happy to help :)
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u/HydrogenatedWetWater Dec 09 '25
Hey what part of the embassy did you email? The one in Australia has multiple emails for different departments in the embassy it seems.
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u/seafoodhater Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
You can read it online for free:
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u/geekrelief Dec 10 '25
Thanks for the link! I was just thinking, it's almost 2026 right? I get most of my books digitally.
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u/Goldn_230 Dec 09 '25
The only thing that sucks about that book is that I never could find a bilingual version of it. Would be so nice to finally be able to study the Thinking on one hand and the 书面语 of it on the other. Deciphering politicians speeches sometimes feels foreign to non natives.
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u/ThePeddlerofHistory Dec 12 '25
Deciphering politicians speeches sometimes feels foreign to natives too. But that's to be expected, a "courtly" or "high" form of language different from daily speak often appears.
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Dec 09 '25
How did I only just learn this
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u/King-Sassafrass Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
Born too late to order the first 5 when they came out, born too early to order the 28th one later, born just in time to wait for the release of the 6th edition
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u/geekrelief Dec 10 '25
If you were unfamiliar with the books like me, Redpen has a video summary to give you an idea of what they're about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llTZ-drTvSY
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u/AssumeImStupid Dec 11 '25
Okay I really wanna see what free shit I can get from random ass embassies but I live in America and I don't wanna be even higher on the watchlist lmao
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u/PixelHero92 Dec 10 '25
I'm sorry but this needs a better cover design, and this looks like its text is typed in Times New Roman 12
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u/AloewareLabs Dec 12 '25
I wish the USA had politicians with a fraction of his competence. Xi Jin Ping is truly an inspiration.
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u/dimsumchef Dec 10 '25
Is the copy you got in English only? Is that the only option they had?
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u/SpicysaucedHD Dec 10 '25
My copy is English only. They had Volume 4 in German and 5 in English, but I was fine with either.
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u/jikesar968 Dec 10 '25
I've contacted them about something and asked about the book as well. They've replied but ignored my question about the book. :(
•
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Original author: SpicysaucedHD
Original title: PSA: Chinese embassies provide "The governance of China" for free
Original link submission: /img/25kv77qhq76g1.jpeg
Original text submission: The other day I read a post on Twitter, saying that in 2021, someone got one of the volumes of The governance of China for free in the US from an embassy.
Intrigued, I wondered if this is a) still the case and b) was possible in other countries as well. So I wrote a friendly email to my local Chinese embassy in Berlin, Germany to find out.
They answered, saying they could send a volume if I provided them my postal address, which I did.
Today, Volume V arrived in my mailbox.
It seems, that which volume you can get depends on what they have in storage, but it can't hurt to ask. Just remember to be friendly, they aren't Amazon, so be respectful.
That's it, just wanted to let you know :) I have a nice lecture now for the holiday period. Have a great day!
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