Paola Calanca

Paola Calanca is a Lecturer in Maritime History at the French School of the Far East (EFEO), based at the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, in Taipei, Taiwan. Since 2011, she has served as director of the EFEO Taipei Center. Her research focuses on Chinese maritime history, particularly piracy, coastal defense systems, border dynamics, and nautical practices during the Ming-Qing period.

• PhD in History from EHESS (1999)
• Graduate in Chinese from INALCO (1989)
• BA in History, Paris-I University (1991)

Calanca's scholarly work examines maritime illegality, naval administration, and the intersection of law/non-law in pre-modern China. She has contributed to understanding military-civilian interactions, fortification systems, and the tactical use of naval forces. Her current research explores Xiamen's history through urban epigraphy, analyzing territorial appropriation and elite-government relations.

Her publications analyze maritime policy (e.g., China and the Maritime World handbook), shipbuilding practices (via Etienne Sigaut's notebooks), and border concepts. Though no specific awards are mentioned, her leadership in collaborative projects like 'Maritime Security History' (2010-2012) and 'China Seas' workshops demonstrates her influence. She has advised PhD candidate Qiu Dandan on Grand Canal transport studies.