"Return our Looted Treasures" Chinese tell Britain
China has risen to great influence and is now a superpower in the 21st century. Western nations are now becoming wary of the Asian giants influence, and have criticized the country on everything from their environmental issues, to their human rights approach, cyber attacks on Western computer networks and more. To understand the root of China's sometimes incompatible behaviors, one must consider China's history with Western nations. To this day, Chinese people harbour much humiliation due to the events of the 19th century, known as the "century of shame". They believe they have been victimized by European nations and feel the need to avenge their predecessors. While belief this is certainly not true for all Chinese people, the anti-western worldview is very much alive in China, and has been through their rise to power.
The feeling of resentment left by the Westerners is a huge legacy of imperialism, but China has also been affected in other ways. The British empire kept Hong Kong until 1997, when it had been taken from China over 100 years ago. In the 1930s, 10% of the population (50 million people) were still addicted to opium. British and French troops looted the Imperial Palace during the Boxer Rebellion and took many valuable artifacts with them. In 2010, more than 150 years since the Palace was looted, the Chinese government asked for the 1.5 million rare antiquities back. The British and French governments refused.
The feeling of resentment left by the Westerners is a huge legacy of imperialism, but China has also been affected in other ways. The British empire kept Hong Kong until 1997, when it had been taken from China over 100 years ago. In the 1930s, 10% of the population (50 million people) were still addicted to opium. British and French troops looted the Imperial Palace during the Boxer Rebellion and took many valuable artifacts with them. In 2010, more than 150 years since the Palace was looted, the Chinese government asked for the 1.5 million rare antiquities back. The British and French governments refused.