Chinese Nationalism and Sino-US Relations

The rise of modern Chinese nationalism was largely a response to the invasion of, and pressures exerted on, China by Western imperialism and colonialism. The humiliation suffered by the Chinese nation over 150 years made nationalism a significant force affecting China’s political development and foreign relations. Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), nationalism has always been an important factor in Sino-US relations. During the 1990s, a dominant perception emerged in China that the US position on China’s human rights record, bilateral trade and position on Taiwan is both arrogant and hegemonic. Strong anti-US nationalist feelings with emotional connotations surfaced in China concomitantly.