This is quite rich for China to ask while constantly complaining about being victimized by Japan during WWII while not a peep has come out of them about the shaming they suffered during Opium wars when western nations effectively carved up China to spheres of influence. Not to mention the seizing of neighbor's islands and territories through force while proclaiming it as theirs because an insane Chinese monarch once sent out a bunch of rickety boats into the seas centuries ago. I suggest Chinese tidy up their over-all diplomatic messaging and strategy first.

[–] Krause@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 1 year ago

not a peep has come out of them about the shaming they suffered during Opium wars when western nations effectively carved up China to spheres of influence

The century of humiliation is something that is mentioned by the Chinese government a lot, I'm not sure what you meant by this.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If you’re talking about Zheng He and his fleet, those boats were not rickety. It was an impressive fleet. That said, that doesn’t magically give their claims in the South China Sea any more credence than arguing the British still have a rightful claim over Ireland.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

while not a peep has come out of them about the shaming they suffered during Opium wars when western nations effectively carved up China to spheres of influence

This is the underlying reason why they don't like or trust the west. It's pretty much their whole MO and why they think Japan and South Korea will rally with them.

[–] gary_host_laptop@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Are you saying China benefited from the Opium Wars?

[–] redtea@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 1 year ago

That would make about as much sense as criticising China for complaining about what Japan did to it in the past.

Luckily westerners never talk about WWII and what the Nazis did. No films, no books, no memorials. It's like none of it ever happened. Good thing, too; imagine how embarrassed you'd be to try to work in good faith with people you've been at war with after spending years funding them.

[–] Jimmycrackcrack@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Far from not a peep, China mention their "unequal treaties" and the "century if humiliation" a lot, it's a rallying cry and something they would definitely use to bolster the case they're making here. What did you mean by this?