The Century of Humiliation in China

The century of humiliation in China refers to a period starting from 1840 when foreign powers, primarily the British, defeated China in wars, forcing China to sign unequal treaties and cede territories. The Qing dynasty's inability to resist foreign invasions marked the beginning of this era. The Chinese Communist Party views their rise to power in 1949 as the end of this century of humiliation. However, the narrative extends to include the suffering endured under the Communist Party's rule, such as the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and recent policies like the zero-Covid approach, which suggests that while China has progressed significantly, challenges and suffering persist internally.