GEORGE TOWN, February 9 – Penang Institute, in collaboration with Gerakbudaya Bookshop, hosted the launch of Silk Silver Opium: The Trade with China that Changed History by award-nominated historian Michael Pembroke on January 26, 2026.
Held in Penang, the event explored more than 2,000 years of trade between China and the West, from early Roman контакts to the exchange of silk, silver, tea and porcelain, and the era known as the “century of humiliation.”
The discussion, moderated by Penang Institute executive director Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng, examined how historical trade encounters continue to shape modern geopolitics and global commerce.
Pembroke’s book offers an accessible yet deeply researched account of how trade, diplomacy and conflict intertwined across centuries, influencing today’s economic and cultural landscapes.
