How China Went from 19th-Century Subjugation to Global Superpower

中国如何从19世纪的屈辱走向全球超级大国

China is one of the world's oldest civilizations. It has been a great power in the past and aspires to become a global superpower in the future. Today’s China it is still grappling with traumas that go back to the 19th century. Back then China sold silk, tea and porcelain to the British Empire, but hardly bought any British goods. To balance its trade with China, the British smuggled Indian opium into Chinese ports, which immediately increased demand for the drug and brought detrimental effects to the Chinese economy and the population. The Emperor's protests did not prevent the British Empire from forcing through the legalization of opium in China after waging two wars. Japan also surprised and devastated the country in what is known as the Century of Humiliation. From then until today, China has focused on steering its destiny and disarming its rivals.

中国是世界上最古老的文明之一，曾在历史上长期作为强国存在，并立志在未来成为全球超级大国。

如今的中国仍在努力治愈始于19世纪的创伤。当时，中国向大英帝国出售丝绸、茶叶和瓷器，但几乎不购买英国商品。为了平衡对华贸易，英国将印度鸦片走私至中国港口，这迅速刺激了对毒品的需求，给中国经济和民众带来了灾难。

尽管清朝皇帝提出抗议，但大英帝国仍通过两场战争迫使鸦片在中国合法化。而日本发动的侵略战争，更是让中国陷入“百年屈辱”的深渊。

从那时起直至今日，中国一直致力于掌控自身命运，并消解对手的遏制。

以下是外国网友的评论：

user-9qGdfBTprb
How can Germany, one of the countries that invaded Beiing in 1900, have the nerve to criticize Chinese imperialism? This is disgusting double standards. I hate the hypocrisy of Europeans more and more.

1900年参与入侵北京的国家中就有德国，它如今哪来的底气批评中国搞帝国主义？这是双标，令人不齿的双标。我对欧洲人的虚伪厌恶至极。

JL050
China is the imperialist but last I checked, it doesn't have any bases or military presence around the US. So who are the real imperialists?

有人说中国是帝国主义，但我记得很清楚，中国在美国周边没有任何军事基地或驻军。那么到底谁才是真正的帝国主义者？

stephenmagic9868
we don't need it, right now we are using better and cheap products to destroy all western industry lol

现在我们正用更优质、更便宜的产品冲击整个西方工业体系呢，哈哈。

charlesjenner1951
Imperialism is 1) historically, imposing tribute on smaller nations (nation = a homogeneous or non-homogeneous population within a territory). Large countries will use force or intimidation to 1) impose border redrawings, 2) impose unequal conditions for the exchange of wealth, or 3) deprive a population of its elites through emigration. All large nations do this to a greater or lesser extent. They were held back by the UN; the largest nations on the Security Council controlled each other. But 1) China is behaving in a way that rejects the legacy of the era when it was weak and Western nations imposed their dominance. 2) Russia, despite being a founding member of the UN, no longer respects the inviolability of borders and the right of peoples to self-determination, which are the basic principles of the UN.

从历史定义看，帝国主义指的是对小国征收贡赋（国家指某一领土内的单一或多元人口群体）。大国会通过武力或恐吓手段：（1）强行重划边界，（2）强加不平等的财富交换条件，（3）通过移民政策掠夺他国精英人口。所有大国都不同程度地有过此类行为，只是曾受联合国制约——安理会常任理事国之间相互制衡。但现在中国的行事方式是对自身曾被西方列强欺压的屈辱历史的反抗；俄罗斯作为联合国创始成员国，却不再尊重国界不可侵犯和民族自决权这些联合国基本原则。

charlesjenner1951
For centuries, Europeans have sailed the seas to explore and discover, and to find resources or opportunities for emigration. Many scarcely inhabited small islands and territories became the property of these European nations, and populations of European origin settled there. China is challenging this situation. China does this childishly by installing military bases on islands in the coastal zone of other countries, or even creating new islands in shallow waters. It does that also by annexng , by claiming provinces that were once Chinese but are now independent or part of other nations… That is an imperialist behavior. Wanting to cancel history is called revisionism: It allows one to challenge everything that has been established in order to play on new power relations. There are other ways to preserve peace and the security of populations.

几个世纪以来，欧洲人跨海航行，以探索资源或开拓移民机会。许多人迹罕至的小岛和领土从此沦为欧洲国家的属地，欧洲移民也在那里定居。中国正在挑战这一现状。但中国的做法显得幼稚：在他国沿海岛屿上修建军事基地，甚至在浅海填海造岛；宣称对历史上曾属于中国、但如今已独立或归属他国的地区拥有主权，这些都是帝国主义行径。试图改写历史被称为修正主义：借挑战现有秩序来重塑权力关系。但维护和平与民众安全本有其他途径。

charlesjenner1951
@fengsun-k8o Interesting. Tribute is demanded from a nation defeated in war, and it is intended to enrich the victor. Perhaps it is therefore necessary to specify at what point in the history of the Chinese empire what you describe exsted. Clearly, this type of tribute then has a political function other than enriching the Center at the expense of the Periphery. For an empire, or an organized power in general, can have its ups and downs. In any human organization, the best-established processes become corrupted over time and softened, to the detriment of the initially intended function.

有意思。贡赋通常是战胜国对战败国的索取，目的是充实自身财富。或许有必要明确你所说的中国帝国历史上的贡赋具体存在于哪个时期。显然，这类贡赋除了以剥削周边来壮大中央外，还具有政治功能。任何帝国或政权都有兴衰起伏，人类社会的任何制度，久而久之都会腐败僵化，背离其初始宗旨。

That said, Europeans devised the notion of the nation-state (incompatible with any empire) to establish peace between great rival powers having an imperial vision of their power. And to protect the small independent states that exsted in Europe at the time, and their specificities, particularly religious ones. The Peace of Westphalia (In German: Westfälischer Friede) is the collective name for two peace treaties signed in October 1648 in the Westphalian cities of Osnabrück and Münster, that created the concept. I think there must be similar advances in Chinese history?

尽管如此，欧洲人提出“民族国家”概念（与帝国模式不相容），旨在让怀有帝国野心的敌对列强实现和平，并保护当时欧洲存在的各独立小国及其独特性（尤其是宗教特性）。1648年10月在威斯特伐利亚地区奥斯纳布吕克和明斯特签署的两份和平条约，共同确立了这一概念，史称《威斯特伐利亚和约》。我想中国历史上一定也有类似的文明进步吧？

yichen-ti6vv
Germany was a participant in the colonial era and the initiator of two world wars, but now it is calling others drial and barbaric? It's so shameless

德国曾是殖民时代的参与者，还是两次世界大战的发起者，如今却指责他国野蛮？真是厚颜无耻。

JunitafluxcyfatriciaJunita
The Berlin agreement also divided the African continent

《柏林会议协定》也曾瓜分非洲大陆。

klofuhdeyfcs
The most important thing is how to act from now on, based on reflection on the past. After the war, Germany incorporated reflection into its laws and institutionalized the debt brake to prevent the expenditure of war funds, right? It is important to look at the history, but the evaluation of the present should be separate from that of the past

最重要的是基于对历史的反思，决定当下如何行动。战后德国将反思写入法律，并通过债务制动机制防止战争资金滥用，不是吗？回顾历史固然重要，但对现状的评价应与过去区分开来。

abbymelcoffee1813
Now you know why China has the most strict ban on drug uses now, lesson learned the hardest way

现在你该明白为何中国对毒品实施最严厉的禁令了——这是用最惨痛的教训换来的。

kxa1094
Why do you consider China’s efforts to maintain military influence in the South China Sea and East China Sea as imperialism? The areas surrounding these regions are crowded with American military bases. Would you want someone else’s arsenal right next to your own home? To make matters worse, the United States is still threatening Beiing with Taiwan Province, and your video clearly mentions that the Taiwan Province administration was the government of the Republic of China that failed in the civil war in 1949. Imagine what the people of the United States would think if another superpower kept sponsoring slave-holding states and providing advanced weapons during the American Civil War.

为何你把中国在南海和东海维护军事存在的举措视为帝国主义？这些区域周边布满了美国军事基地。试问，谁会愿意自家门口堆满别国的武器？更糟糕的是，美国还拿台湾省威胁中国，而你们也明确提到，台湾当局是1949年内战失败的国民党政权。试想，若美国内战时期有其他超级大国持续扶持蓄奴州并提供先进武器，美国民众会作何感想？

jnielsen90
Because those are international waters that no one owns.....a base somewhere around those same waters dont own the international waters around them. The bases were given permission too be there by the Country they are in......international waters are again not owned by anyone. Thats why it's considered Imperialism....do you even understand how analogies work?

因为那些是不属于任何国家的“国际水域”，在这些水域附近修建基地，并不代表拥有周边国际水域的主权。而且这些基地是经所在国允许才建立的，“国际水域”不归任何国家所有。这就是为何被视为帝国主义。你到底懂不懂类比逻辑？

chaosland5325
The UK still thinks Hong Kong somewhat belongs to the UK. Lol. They wanted to colonize China but failed.

英国至今还觉得香港多少属于他们。真是可笑。他们曾妄图殖民中国，却以失败告终。

jasonli2280
As a Chinese, it's hard to watch this. To know how much China was bullied by foreigners is truly hurtful

作为中国人，看这段历史很难受。深知中国曾被外国列强如此欺凌，实在痛心。

a2-bm6vo
It is incredible how much China had suffered and still survived. Hat off

中国历经如此苦难却依然屹立不倒，令人惊叹。致敬。

Eureka7n
Chinese had been there for 5000 years, 98% of the time she had been a global superpower.

中华文明存续五千年，其中98%的时间都是全球超级大国。

jriri355
People always say that the Chinese Party is not good enough. OK. Then can you name a political party with better political achievements? Can it lead 1.3 billion poor and backward people to become one of the most important voices in the world in a few decades? Please give an example

总有人说中国做得不够好。行，那你能否举出一个政绩更突出的政党？有哪个政党能在几十年内带领13亿人口脱贫，成为世界上最具影响力的群体之一？请举例说明。

Fu-2-Dai
As a Taiwanese, we believe we are also Chinese, we will unify with mainland China again. It's sad and pitiful. The Western always hope both parties have war again. This is the reason USA support the Taiwan Independent party.

作为台湾人，我们认为自己也是中国人，终将与中国大陆实现统一。可悲的是，西方总希望两岸再次爆发战争，这正是美国支持“台独”势力的原因。

cbont7
Overseas Chinese agree

海外华人表示认同。

sealtrader
Another Taiwaner agreed with you. 來自高雄的贊。

我是另一位赞同你观点的台湾同胞。来自高雄的赞。

KVUAA
It's very clear Westerners don't want a prosperous and stronger China. We in ASEAN are aligning more towards China lately for a Shared Stronger Asia.

很明显，西方人不希望看到中国繁荣强大。最近我们东盟国家正更多地向中国靠拢，共同打造一个更强大的亚洲。

chriscarrol9373
Unfortunately, a lot of today’s wars can be blamed on the British Empire under Queen Victoria. Then some were later carried on by the USA. It's that simple.

遗憾的是，当今很多战争的根源都能追溯到维多利亚女王统治下的大英帝国，后来又由美国延续。道理就是这么简单。

TheHammer70
China is a five-thousand-year-old civilization that has overcome many exstential challenges. It would be unwise to underestimate a civilization like that.

中国是拥有五千年历史的文明古国，历经无数生存挑战。低估这样的文明绝非明智之举。

therezaa.soares4954
It is interesting the mention of Chinese imperialism in Asia without mentioning US imperialism in the region.

有意思的是，有人大谈中国在亚洲的“帝国主义”，却对美国在该地区的帝国主义行径只字不提。

aloud9738
Japan was very cruel.

日本当年极其残忍。

Charles_The_Texan_youtuber382
As a white man, this is why I respect China.

作为白人，这就是我尊重中国的原因。

dunzhen
There's two common reactions for white guys. They can either appreciate and respect China's achievements, or they will be really nasty because their egos and sense of superiority is challenged. I find the latter much more common, but the people with the first reaction are genuinely cool people.

白人通常有两种反应：要么欣赏尊重中国的成就，要么因自身优越感受挑战而变得恶毒。我发现后者更为普遍，但前者才是真正豁达的人。

fusenahabib2533
sooo DW couldn't get any Chinese historians to provide more insight? I mean it's 2025, it will be great to hear from the Chinese - no?

所以德国之声（DW）找不到中国历史学家提供更多见解吗？都2025年了，听听中国人的观点不是很好吗？

jeremyhodge6216
China went from ancient and rural to modern and futuristic in one century.

中国用一个世纪，从古老的农业社会迈向现代化的未来社会。

luckarl
Why don’t you all talk about the famine was also due to sanctions by the West? Not allowing the Chinese to trade. That was debating to the entire society which caused FAMINE. Purposely defamed the current .

为何你们从不提饥荒也源于西方制裁？他们禁止中国贸易，整个社会因此陷入困境，最终引发饥荒。这是对中国的蓄意抹黑。

armchairwarrior963
What is not said is US, Japan, Italy, Austria/Hungary, Germany, France, UK, Russia, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium all had treaty ports. I'm sure I miss some. Treaty ports are basically colonies.

美国、日本、意大利、奥匈帝国、德国、法国、英国、俄罗斯、西班牙、荷兰、葡萄牙、比利时等国都曾在中国设有通商口岸（我肯定还漏说了一些）。通商口岸本质上就是殖民地。

bcu9479
Don't be surprised by China's rise — it's not a sudden emergence, but rather a return to the position it historically held as a global power. This is not merely a matter of politics or economics — it also reflects the enduring strength and resilience of the Chinese people and culture.

不必对中国的崛起感到惊讶——这并非突然的崭露头角，而是复兴，回归历史上全球大国地位，这不仅是政治或经济现象，更体现了中华民族和中华文化的持久力量与韧性。

lili-kb3ie
China only cares about its own affairs, but is criticized by others. However, the United States, floating in the distant ocean, wants to intervene in all kinds of things that have nothing to do with its country, but no one dares to say anything. This is double standards.

中国只关心自身事务，却遭他人指责。而远在大洋彼岸的美国，却妄图干预与本国无关的各种事务，却无人敢置喙。这就是双重标准。

dsjadenvarghese5157
Competent leadership that has prioritized the welfare of the people and the progress of the nation above all else—unlike other countries and ‘superpowers’ that are beholden to their religious and corporate masters.

中国拥有将人民福祉和国家发展置于首位的高效领导——这与其他受制于宗教和资本巨头的“超级大国”截然不同。

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