Handwriting on the Wall

AFTER NATO mistakenly bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, menacing anti-American demonstrations took place outside the U.S. embassy in Beijing. These demonstrations were clearly tolerated, if not actually sponsored, by the Chinese government—but they will nevertheless worry that government.

Anti-foreign passions have exploded in China throughout this century, with nationalism transporting anger and frustrations from other areas of life into the political arena. That is what happened 80 years ago this May 4, when anti-Japanese demonstrations quickly metamorphosed into the first of China’s great mass democracy movements. And it could well happen again.

AW

About the Author

Arthur Waldron

Mr. Waldron is the Lauder Professor of International Relations in the department of history at the University of Pennsylvania.

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AFTER NATO mistakenly bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, menacing anti-American demonstrations took place outside the U.S. embassy in Beijing. These demonstrations were clearly tolerated, if not actually sponsored, by the Chinese government—but they will nevertheless worry that government.

Anti-foreign passions have exploded in China throughout this century, with nationalism transporting anger and frustrations from other areas of life into the political arena. That is what happened 80 years ago this May 4, when anti-Japanese demonstrations quickly metamorphosed into the first of China’s great mass democracy movements. And it could well happen again.