When you were in primary school, do you remember during recess witnessing other students bullying one or more kids? Recess to many was the eventful part of the school day. I would see the excitement and joy from everyone when recess was announced. However, I must admit I dreaded the idea of having to go to recess. I was not particularly fond of my classmates because they reminded me how alienated I really was from everyone else. I was never the popular kid so I did not participate in the bullying. Nor was I the one being bullied so I did not do anything to stop it. As a result, as a spectator I am equally responsible to the perpetuating torture of that poor kid, who till this day I ask myself, would I have done anything different?
This question is a daunting one and continues to linger in the international community: Would a country have acted differently to an event in retrospect?
Since the late Qing Dynasty, “the popular kids” aka Western powers have bullied China. Similar to a kid being bullied during recess, China was being bullied in the international arena. China was terrorized for most of the late Qing Dynasty until they finally overthrew the last emperor. This is around the time when you are the helpless kid in elementary and decide to reinvent yourself in middle school. However, during this transition if you recall correctly, everyone from elementary goes to the same middle school you end up going to. So you can change your style, but you are still you. And this is what happened to China. Even after renaming themselves the Republic of China (ROC), Western powers continued to punk it around because they knew it was still fundamentally weak and had no support from other countries, who were just spectators of their misery.
You have this continue on until you get another opportunity to reinvent yourself in high school. Then you think to yourself maybe that kid, who keeps getting bullied, will get it right this time. Sadly, those “popular kids” somehow trickle into the same school you go to. And time and time again you observe the “popular kids” bully the newly formed People’s Republic of China (PRC). During the mid-20th century, the PRC got their act together and was a bit more ambitious. They got support from the USSR. Nothing makes more of a difference in recess than having your group of friends. Somehow when you have a friend during recess the entire dynamics of how people treat you change. Especially when you are friends with the kid who intimidates the “popular kids.”
Therefore, having a powerful friend makes all the difference in the world. Until that unfaithful day when you and them do not get along and you get stuck on the same boat you were before. This unfortunate event occurred to China during the Sino-Soviet split in the 1960s. So … China was left with two options: conform to the Western powers or create their own hangout spot. The answer is become friends with everyone who was not part of the Soviet or Euro-American camp: the developing countries, such as, Africa and Latin America.
Towards the end of high school you start actually identifying what your true identity is. Even though, “popular kids” exist it does not bother you anymore because you start realizing your niche. As a result, when you go to college you are aware of the “popular kids,” but unlike elementary and middle school somehow your experiences have empower you to look pass this. Thus, in the 21st century China has reinvented itself into a developing nation, who has gone through an economic transformation. Now, this is similar when you are in high school and you witnessed that even though that one kid got picked on continuously, he makes the best of the situation and outshines everyone. Goes to a college you did not expect them to go. And you are left in the dust. Then you think to yourself, what if I was nicer to him? What if I tried to be his friend earlier? Would things may have been different?
Now that China is on top of the world and can defend itself, do countries in the world regret taking advantage of China during the 20th century? Or are these countries similar to myself and ponder on the question would they have done things differently?
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