The Fenqing Manifesto
Just at the moment we are seeing lots of reviews, reports, and discussions about the nationalistic-fueled bestseller ”Unhappy China.” Read more over at Time and at China Media Project.
I tend to agree with the view that this book’s chief motivation is to exploit the widespread and growing nationalism that exists in China right now. But that’s the point: there is a disturbing level of nationalism that exists to be exploited.
The greater problem for Hu Jintao and the boys is how to control nationalistic sentiment in the face of increasing calls for aggressive and punitive responses to perceived attacks on China by the west. As China becomes more emboldened by rising influence, how necessary is it going to become to pacify the mob with a military strike or incursion?
I’m sure to get accused of being alarmist, but anyone who dismisses the possibility that China’s gearing up for confrontation is kidding themselves.