Political Science

The chapters of the book all indicate or underscore how Chinese nationalism has evolved throughout Chinas history.  In looking at how China defines nationalism, it is more than the mere love of country, but also as pride in ones country for everything that it is and along with that, an antagonistic attitude towards those perceived as rivals or threats to its interests and security.

When the communists under Mao Zedong took over power in China in 1949, they vowed to erase the stigma brought about by the century of humiliation China had to endure and at the same time elevate China back to its place as a great nation.  After Maos death and the rise of Deng Xiaoping, China was finally able to get out of its slump and aggressively pursue economic development and after Dengs death in 1997, China has been able to arrive at the level of prosperity it wanted and is still asking for more.  Along with this increasing prosperity, Chinese nationalism has evolved.  Mao-inspired nationalism gave way to popular nationalism.  This was one of the legacies left behind by Deng.  Even though the Chinese people were not granted poltical rights to change their government, they were still granted individual rights which made them more loyal to the government than they would have had Maos policies continued. Deng also extolled pride in anything made in China as well as erase the stigma of the past.  This was evident as steps had been taken in erasing a century of humiliation when Hong Kong (1997) and Macau (1999) were returned respectively by Britain and Portugal to China which was widely celebrated.  The turnover of these territories was regarded as a moral victory on the part of the Chinese.  This would be repeated again in Chinas successful hosting of the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008.

On the distaff side of this nationalism is a remnant of the May 4th Movement where the Chinese people have not forgotten the  sins  of the foreign powers in humiliating China and reasserting their pride and the resolve that they will not take anymore bullying from the West nor be deceived by their duplicity.  This was shown in a series of incidents involving the United States and China, beginning with the accidental bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1999.  The Chinese people did not buy into the American explanation that it was an accident and regarded the  attack  as deliberate and demanded a redress. A similar incident would occur two years later when a Chinese fighter aircraft collided with an American surveillance plane resulting in the death of the Chinese pilot and damage to the aircraft and eventual detention of its crew.  Once again, there was public outcry over this alleged affront to Chinese sovereignty and honor and the  United States government had to make an apology to secure the release of the aircrew  (Gries 2004 14, 98).   Based on these two incidents, China is asserting its national pride and wouls refuse to allow history to repeat itself by bowing down to the wills and whims of the west.  Its strong demand for apology and redress is a clear sign that they will no longer allow themselves to be exploited or bullied again and the strange thing about it is they assert this even if they are wrong.

In trying to analyze Chinese (popular) nationalism, Sinologists see it as a case of  Middle Kingdom Mentality,  the kind of attitude reminescent of Chinas imperial past where everything emanates from China and all  barbarians  (outsiders) must kowtow before her.  One peculiar thing about it is that while China demands apology for any affront to its pride and sovereignty, it does not apologize when they commit it.  They are sending a message that they do not owe anything to anyone.  Another peculiar feature about this nationalism is whenever they seek redress from anyone, they often depict themselves as victims such as the case of demanding reparations from the Japanese and seeking redress of American aggression or arrogance in Yugoslavia and Hainan (Gries 2004 14, 90, 98).  It is a very clever move by the government.  By giving their citizens (limited) rights and invoking nationalism, they are able to stay in power.  But looking at it from the Chinese perspective, it is the fulfillment of their wish to see China become strong again.