Modern China's Century of National Humiliation Map

Author: People's Publishing House Cartographic Department
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, reform and opening-up have achieved remarkable achievements worldwide. We remain committed to reform and opening-up. The People's Republic of China has always advocated handling relations between countries based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. However, in the process of opening up to the outside world, the colonial cultural mindset of some individuals has resurfaced. For a period of time, various kinds of fallacious arguments have misled people. Some claim that the theme of modern Chinese history is not about invasion and resistance; others say, "The Opium War brought modern civilization to China with a single gunshot"; and some even assert, "Only after three hundred years of colonialism can modernization be achieved." But if a country cannot save itself from peril, what modernization can it achieve? For China to realize socialist modernization, it is naturally necessary to absorb and utilize advanced science, culture, and technology from foreign countries. However, this is entirely different from recognizing and developing the "colonial culture" imposed on colonies by imperialism. This map serves as a powerful critique of the colonial cultural mindset and also serves as an excellent teaching material for patriotism education. By looking at this map, the masses, especially the younger generation, are encouraged to learn from history, remember the bitter lessons of the past, remain highly vigilant against the scheming of reactionary forces within the country that seek to split the nation, and against the anti-China trend abroad. They must forever defend the independence and unity of the nation, striving to build a modern socialist strong nation and develop socialist material and spiritual civilization.