How modern China rose from decay
Throughout the ages, China has been the leader of global civilization. Whether it is the glory of ancient Greece, Egypt or Rome, or the once illustrious empire of Alexander, it cannot be compared with the excellence of the land of China.
The key to China's leading position since ancient times is its unique East Asian geography – rich in climate types and landforms, vast plains and fertile land, which have fueled agricultural prosperity.
This superior condition gave birth to a diversity of tribes, peoples, and nations, and fierce internal competition promoted the improvement of overall strength. East Asia's uniqueness has given it a global lead, and the climate and soil of other regions have failed to replicate such miracles.
China's influence is like an invisible bond, radiating to the surrounding area, and is clearly reflected in its neighbors, and the wide spread of Chinese characters is one of its strong marks. From the expansion of the territory of the Han, Tang, Yuan, and Qing dynasties to Central and West Asia, China's influence is pervasive, profoundly shaping the pages of world history.
The resilience of modern China can be seen. In the 16th century, when European powers were rampant all over the world, Asia, Africa and Latin America suffered from aggression, and many peoples and countries were either exterminated by force or forced to integrate into Western culture.
Latin American languages are almost Spanish and Portuguese, and indigenous languages have all but disappeared. Although European powers such as Portugal and Spain came to China early, they did nothing in front of the eastern powers, such as Portugal's lease of land in Xiangshan, Guangdong, which was not easy, and it was necessary to pay rent every year, and they were respectful to the local government.
Although this puts Portugal in a difficult position, it also allows them to see the best opportunities. Spain and the Netherlands were even more difficult to get their hands on. Until the Qing Dynasty replaced the Ming Dynasty, the Opium War of 1842, although defeated, had little impact on China and did not touch the roots.
However, the First Sino-Japanese War was the real blow, and the Western powers squeezed the wealth of the Qing Dynasty through indemnities and financial and ** means, resulting in an empty treasury and a great loss of vitality.
And the signing of the "Xinchou Treaty", like a long-term high debt, ensures that it can continue to suck China's wealth through finance and ** every year, forming a shackle that cannot be shaken off.
How can such a predicament not be heartbreaking!
China has faced an unprecedented crisis, and it seems difficult to reverse the decline. However, the wheel of history has not stopped, and China has achieved a counterattack with two key twists. First of all, the neglected peasant power was tapped as a potentially huge resource, and despite their long exploitation, the peasant revolt rewrote history again and again, overthrowing the old system, ushering in a new era, breaking class rigidity, and avoiding a social structure like India.
Second, great power strife provides an opportunity. The post-Xincho Treaty world order was turbulent, and although China's territory was retained, its economic lifeline fell into the hands of outsiders.
The struggle between the great powers has provided a respite for the Chinese people to strive for independence and self-determination. From the awakening of the peasants to the changes in the international situation, China has taken this opportunity to shake off the shackles and achieve a historic turnaround.
When the dust of World War II history settled, the struggle for hegemony among the great powers came to an end, and the world's attention shifted, China quietly staged a legendary transformation. The power of the peasants was discovered by wise mentors, China rose in the face of adversity, President Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan, and a new China was born.
It can be said that in modern times, China's fate once hung by a thread, but with the combination of the wisdom of the leaders and the strength of the peasants, as well as the favor of historical opportunities, China achieved an earth-shattering reversal and a phoenix nirvana from the crisis.
The strife between the great powers has weakened its grip on China and provided valuable respite and growth space for China's development. Among them, there is not only the subtlety of the strategy, but also the favor of fate.