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Geoffrey Sampson says his comments on race "were informed by years of study of Chinese civilisation" ("Professor under fire for racist views", THES , May 17). No work by him has come before any research assessment exercise panel in Asian studies this past decade, so his evidence has not been submitted by this routeto the scrutiny of his peers.

His institution has no programme in Chinese studies, so he will have no immediate institutional opportunity to prove his case before recognised experts. We do not know of any work in Chinese studies that would support his views.

T. H. Barrett
Chair, Asian studies panel, RAE 1996, 2001;
Chair, Universities China Committee in London